These are the most valuable airline partnerships

For American credit card companies, which manage most of the debt associated with household and small business consumption, the importance of having an airline credit card co-branded partnership cannot be understated. Airline loyalty programs, such as United Airlines’ MileagePlus or Delta SkyMiles, rely on partners who will buy their miles in bulk and then offer them to customers as a reward for purchases on their cards.
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As a result, having a major cobranded credit card partnership is essential for most U.S. credit card-managing financial institutions, many of which derive a vast majority of their revenue from cobranded cards. Hence, maintaining these kinds of partnerships is essential for continued revenue growth for issuers like Chase Bank, Bank of America, Barclays, Citibank, and American Express.
Photo: Delta Air Lines
But not all credit card cobranded partnerships are made equal. The partnerships that connect a bank to one of the US’s major legacy airlines will be far more valuable than those made with smaller-budget airline loyalty programs. As a result, some credit card partnerships have valuations that could triple or even quadruple others. Let’s take a deeper look at the four most valuable airline-cobranded credit card partnerships in America today.
5 Delta Air Lines & American Express
Loyalty program: SkyMiles
Major cards on offer:
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
One would not be surprised by our choice of the most valuable airline-cobranded credit card partnership in the market today, which accounts for a significant portion of mileage accrual for the loyalty program. With a total of seven cards on offer, there is a Delta credit card for all consumers.
Photo: American Express
The airline offers a very basic, no-frills attached credit card which does allow you to earn miles on purchases but comes along with almost no other perks and does not charge you an annual fee. American Express also offers the SkyMiles Gold Card, which was our pick for the top airline-cobranded credit card in the United States for 2024.
Related American Express Opens Its Largest Centurion Lounge In Atlanta The new lounge is the newest and largest in the worldwide network.
In the higher annual fee ranges, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve credit cards also offer an impressive combination of rewards and inflight benefits. The primary difference between these two cards is about $300 in annual fees and access to the Delta Sky Club lounge system.
4 United Airlines & Chase Bank
Loyalty program: MileagePlus
Major credit cards on offer:
United MileagePlus Explorer Card
United MileagePlus Quest Card
United MileagePlus Club Card
Another one of America’s most valuable loyalty partnerships connects United Airlines to Chase Bank, allowing consumers to earn miles and other rewards through expenses on a variety of different personal and business credit cards. While also offering a no-frills-attached $0-annual-fee card, the airline’s most popular card is quite likely the Explorer Card, which comes along with a generous $99 annual fee that is even waived the first year.
Photo: United Airlines
More expensive cards like the Quest and Club will also earn you impressive rewards and give you access to an array of inflight benefits. While the Quest is more focused on reward opportunities, the Club will provide you with lounge access, and both will offer you access to complimentary inflight upgrades.
3 American Airlines & Citibank
Loyalty program: AAdvantage
Major credit cards on offer:
AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
AAdvantage Mileup Mastercard
AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard
The AAdvantage cobranded credit card partnership with Citibank is one of two that the loyalty program has with credit card companies. With a high-fee lounge access credit card, the company does have a premium offering that justifies its high annual fee primarily with entry to the Admirals Club.
Photo: American Airlines
The partnership also offers a standard $99 annual fee card, which comes along with a standard slate of benefits. Furthermore, there is a no-frills-attached card which comes along with a reasonably healthy signUp bonus of 15,000 points as well as no annual fee. What American does lack, however, is a mid-tier premium credit card like the Delta American Express Platinum or the United Quest Card.
2 American Airlines & Barclays
Loyalty program: AAdvantage
Major cards on offer:
AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Silver Mastercard
AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Red Mastercard
AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Mastercard
American Airlines has two different sets of cobranded credit cards, one of which was inherited following the airline’s merger with US Airways. While American is trying to consolidate the two sets of credit cards, its current set of 5 AAdvantage Aviator cards are offered through banking partner Barclays.
Photo: American Airlines
These cards range from the Silver card, with a $199 annual fee that offers extensive rewards, to the relatively standard American Airline Red Card, with its $99 annual fee. The airline also offers a no-fee card that comes along with extremely limited rewards and benefits.
Related A Guide To Your American Airlines Credit Card Options Some American Airlines credit cards have no annual charges and come with a sign-up bonus of thousands of travel miles.
1 Southwest Airlines & Chase Bank
Loyalty program: Rapid Rewards
Major cards on offer:
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Photo: Chase Bank
US low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines is still one of the most important air carriers in the market today and, despite recent challenges, still maintains one of the most valuable loyalty programs of any low-cost carrier. The airline’s cards range from ultra-basic offerings to more premium cards that advertise endless perks and benefits, according to Chase Bank. For those who fly Southwest regularly, these cards can provide great value for money.