Last updated on August 24th, 2023
In a world where jet-setting dreams and travel aspirations are constantly blasted at us, separating the good from the great can be tough. But just beyond the glitzy online ads, a realm of hidden gems awaits, with exceptional credit card offerings for travelers to nearly every continent. Here are some of our favorite picks for overlooked and under-the-radar airline cards:
At a Glance
 LATAM Airlines World Elite Mastercard |
 Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® |
 Free Spirit® Points Plus Mastercard® |
 Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® |
What Are the Most Overlooked Airline Credit Cards?
Finding the best credit card for your needs and wants is not always a straightforward process, especially with new cards launching more frequently. And yet, the same rewards credit cards are frequently chosen for “best of” lists – but we propose an alternative. Here are some interesting, under-the-radar airline credit cards you should consider if you’re shopping around for a new one.
LATAM Airlines World Elite Mastercard
LATAM Airlines World Elite Mastercard
LATAM Airlines World Elite Mastercard
- 21.24% to 31.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
At a Glance
The LATAM Airlines World Elite Mastercard hits many of the right notes thanks to an impressive welcome bonus, no hidden fees, and up to 4X miles on purchases. The card also benefits from lounge access, complimentary upgrades, and more – for a $99 annual fee.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn 40,000 miles after spending $2,500 in purchases in the first three months
- Earn 4X miles on LATAM purchases
- Earn 3X miles on dining, plus select transit
- Earn 1X miles on all other purchases
- Two complimentary LATAM lounge passes each year
- Earn three complimentary upgrades after you pay your $99 annual fee every year
- Regular Purchase APR: 21.24% to 31.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Annual Fee: $99
- You travel to South America often
- You prefer to fly with LATAM Airlines
- You want access to premium perks like airport lounges and upgrades
- You plan to spend at least $2,500 in the first three months
The LATAM Airlines World Elite Mastercard is a premium airline card from digital-first fintech, Cardless, and LATAM Airlines – one of the leading carriers within South and Central America. The $99 annual fee card provides the usual perks you’d expect from a premium airline card: there are two complimentary LATAM lounge passes each year, for example, plus three complimentary upgrades after you pay your annual fee each year. These two simple perks combine for more than enough value to easily recoup the annual fee – and that’s without talking about points.
Beyond a lucrative (and variable, based on time of application) welcome offer worth around $500 for meeting minimum spending requirements in the first few months of opening an account, cardholders can earn the following rewards with the card:
- 4X miles on LATAM purchases
- 3X miles on dining, plus select transit purchases
- 1X miles on all other purchases
One disadvantage of the LATAM credit card is the fact that miles earned in the LATAM Pass loyalty program expire after 36 months, with no option to extend that value. Fortunately, there are plenty of great award options, so you shouldn’t have trouble booking free flights – and especially if you frequently hop between North and South America.
The LATAM Pass rewards program is among the richest in the Americas thanks to its partnerships with Delta and the SkyTeam Alliance. Points apply to travel with LATAM, LATAM subsidiaries, and LATAM codeshare partners, including their new partnership with Delta – the world’s largest carrier. Points also apply to seat upgrades, additional baggage allowances, and other travel costs with LATAM and LATAM partners. Additionally, miles apply to hotel stays with partners, including Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG Rewards, World of Hyatt, and more.
The other airline card option from Cardless is the no annual fee LATAM Airlines Mastercard. This card charges no membership fee but doesn’t offer any lounge or upgrade certificates – instead offering rewards miles one point below the World Elite-version (3X, 2X, 1X on bonus categories instead of 4X,3X,1X).
Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®
Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®
Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®
- 20.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 20.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 23.24% to 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
Designed for avid travelers, the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® rewards generously for flight purchases and offers versatility when it’s time to redeem your earnings.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- 3X miles per $1 spent directly on purchases with Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and SkyTeam member carriers
- 1.5X miles per $1 on all other purchases
- Earn 70,000 bonus miles and $100 statement credit after making $2,000 in purchases within 90 days
- 5,000 miles anniversary bonus after spending $50 in purchases within anniversary year
- 20 XP every account anniversary with additional 40 XP after spending $15,000 or more per year
- No foreign transaction fee
- Regular Purchase APR: 20.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 20.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: $10 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 23.24% to 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Annual Fee: $89
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $29
- You travel often, whether for business or pleasure
- You’re a member of the Flying Blue loyalty program
- You want flexibility when redeeming your accumulated miles and the ability to choose from multiple airlines for flight awards
- You’re planning to use a credit card for purchases abroad or in foreign currencies
We’re big fans of the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® from Bank of America because it combines a comfortable ($89) annual fee with a lucrative welcome offer, solid miles, and great award flexibility through Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Flying Blue, or any of the other SkyTeam Alliance carrier.
The card earns 3X miles on purchases made directly on purchases with Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and SkyTeam member carriers, which is much more lucrative than it seems. That’s because over two dozen carriers qualify for maximum points, including major names like Delta, Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, and more.
But the 3X miles apply to even more, meaning they’ll also earn the maximum points with other Flying Blue partners, like the following:
| Le Club Accor Hotels | Budget Rental Cars | IHG Rewards | My Boutique Hotel |
| Hilton Honors | Driving Blue taxi Service | Thrifty Car Rental | Radisson Hotels |
| Marriot Bonvoy | Enterprise Rent-A-Car | World Hotels Collection | Shangri-La Hotels |
| Avis Rental Cars | Europcar Rental Cars | Yotel Hotels | Sixt Ren-A-Car |
| Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet | Golden Tulip Hotels | Radisson | The Bicester Village Shopping Collection |
| Best Western | World of Hyatt |
All other Air France/ KLM Mastercard purchases earn an elevated 1.5X miles per $1 spent, with miles expiring after two years. But, unlike LATAM Pass, Air France miles never expire if the member travels at least once every two years on an eligible flight with Air France, KLM, or one of the partner airlines, or if they are a Silver, Gold, or Platinum elite status member.
And, like the LATAM Mastercard, there is a huge range of award options to choose from – if you can dream it, you can probably book an award flight there using the Air France Mastercard. If the card had a shortcoming, it would be the lack of lounge access – even a complimentary voucher once per year. Still, the miles on offer are more than enough to satisfy the avid traveler.
Related Article: Maximize Rewards with the Air France Mastercard
Free Spirit® Points Plus Mastercard®
Free Spirit® Points Plus Mastercard®
Free Spirit® Points Plus Mastercard®
- 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The Free Spirit® Points Plus Mastercard® is a premium, invite-only airline rewards credit card from Mercury Financial. The card features 3X points on Spirit flights and purchases, 2X on dining and groceries, a decent signup bonus, and no foreign transaction fees – all for an annual fee of $79.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Earn 3x Free Spirit Points per $1 on Spirit purchases
- Earn 2x Free Spirit Points per $1 on grocery and dining purchases
- Earn 1x Free Spirit Points per $1 on all other purchases
- Invitation required to apply
- Regular Purchase APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each Balance Transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each Cash Advance, whichever is greater
- Annual Fee: $0 to $79
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 0% or 3% of each Purchase in U.S. dollars
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
- Minimum Deposit Required: n/a
- You have average credit but want an airline rewards card
- You have a pre-approval mail offer from Mercury
- You fly with Spirit or travel occasionally
The Free Spirit loyalty program from Spirit Airlines offers tons of value for domestic or Caribbean-rim travelers, and the carrier’s Bank of America credit cards are great options for frequent flyers with good or excellent credit scores. But what if you don’t have excellent credit and still want to earn points toward free flights with Spirit? Mercury Financial has you covered.
The Free Spirit® Points Plus Mastercard® is an airline rewards card targeted towards those who might not typically qualify for a travel rewards card: those with near-prime credit scores. Unfortunately, Points Plus is only available by invitation. Invite-only means potential applicants need a Mercury Financial reservation code to apply.
But for those invited to apply, the card offers exceptional value for the annual fee, which starts at $0 ($0 to $79 is the full range), and earns up to 3X points per $1 spent on eligible purchases. Cardholders earn the following rewards with the Points Plus:
- Earn 3X Free Spirit Points on Spirit purchases
- 2X on grocery and dining purchases
- 1X on all other purchases
Cardholders also receive an annual $100 Companion Flight Voucher each year after spending $5,000 on purchases before their anniversary date. The card can help members achieve Free Spirit Silver and Gold Status, as credit cardholders will earn one status qualifying point (SQP) for every $10 spent on purchases.
The Points Plus also offers a selection of Free Spirit perks, including in-flight savings, priority boarding, and more. Points Plus credit cardholders traveling Spirit Airlines also receive a 25% rebate on in-flight food and beverage purchases when using their card, Zone 2 early boarding, and point-pooling with up to eight additional Free Spirit members – ideal for families traveling together.
Now that sounds like a pretty rewarding way to enjoy your credit-building process.
Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®
Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®
Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®
- 21.24%, 25.24% or 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 21.24%, 25.24% or 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 30.49% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® is a co-branded airline reward credit card from Frontier Airlines and Barclays US. Cardholders earn 5X Frontier miles when booking through flyfrontier.com, 3X miles when dining out, and 1X miles everywhere else Mastercard is accepted. New cardholders can also earn 50,000 bonus miles when they make over $500 in purchases within the first 90 of their account – good for up to 2 round-trip flights with Frontier.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days
- 5X miles for every dollar spent at flyfrontier.com
- 3X miles for every dollar spent at restaurants
- 1X miles for every dollar you spend on all other purchases
- Regular Purchase APR: 21.24%, 25.24% or 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Intro Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months on transfers made within 45 days from account opening date
- Balance Transfer APR: 21.24%, 25.24% or 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 30.49% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Annual Fee: $89
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Minimum Deposit Required: N/A
- You frequently fly with Frontier Airlines and want to earn and redeem miles to book an award ticket
- You’re looking for an impressive introductory mile offer
- You want no foreign transaction fees
- You like to pool miles with friends and family to reach bigger rewards faster
Frontier might not rank highly in customer satisfaction, but it does so in the category of value – the airline makes no qualms about its ultra-low-cost stance. With Frontier, if it is not explicitly spelled out in the terms of the fare, you can expect to pay for it – including baggage. But if you follow the baggage and check-in time rules carefully, you will be pleasantly surprised with what you find.
Frontier often surprises customers with unique sales and special savings, including its impressive GoWild! Pass. Frontier offers several all-you-can-fly plans, including seasonal, yearly, or even month-to-month, with the first month free of charge with the payment of a $49 enrollment fee. The pass provides an unlimited number of flights, with bookings the day before flight departure for domestic travel and starting ten days before flight departure for international travel.
The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® is the $89 annual fee card from the carrier and issued by Barclays Bank. The card features an impressive welcome bonus, no foreign transaction fees, and up to 5X pointer per dollar spent on purchases:
- Earn 5X miles at flyfrontier.com
- 3X at restaurants
- 1X miles on all other purchases
Beyond booking flights with Frontier, miles earned are applicable towards stays with select hotel partners (including Marriott Bonvoy, Radisson, Wyndham, and more); when renting cars with Avis, Hertz, Budget, and other leading companies; or for other goods and services from Frontier partners.
If you are happy squeezing into Frontier’s planes to save some money, this card might be your new best friend.
Sun Country Airlines® Visa Signature® Card
Sun Country Airlines® Visa Signature® Card
Sun Country Airlines® Visa Signature® Card
- 19.99% to 27.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 19.99% to 27.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 29.49% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The Sun Country Airlines® Visa Signature® Card is a dependable airline credit card ideal for those who primarily travel to and from major U.S. cities or whose international travels fall during the popular travel seasons.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- 3 points per $1 spent on Sun Country purchases
- 2 points per $1 spent on gas & groceries
- 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else
- No foreign transaction fees
- Regular Purchase APR: 19.99% to 27.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 19.99% to 27.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 29.49% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $15 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Annual Fee: $69
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $35
- You primarily travel to and from major U.S. cities
- You plan on visiting in Mexico, Central America, or the Caribbean during peak travel season
- You will spend $1,500 within the first 3 months and take advantage of the 35,000 sign up bonus points ($350 value)
- You will spend $10,000 per year to take advantage of the 10,000 bonus points ($100 value)
Another great, overlooked airline card from a low-cost carrier is the Sun Country Airlines® Visa Signature® Card. Issued by FNBO (First National Bank of Omaha), the card features a similar annual fee to the Frontier Mastercard ($69 vs $89 with Frontier) while retaining a similar rewards structure. Sun Country Visa cardholders earn up to 3X points per $1 spent, with those bonus categories breaking down as follows:
- Earn 3X on Sun Country purchases
- 2X on gas and groceries
- 1X on all other purchases
Sun Country Rewards points are redeemable for flights, checked baggage, vacations, and more. You can also donate points to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. There’s no cap to the total number of points earnable, but points expire after 36 months, which is less than desirable. One benefit of the program is that there are no blackout dates when booking an award flight. This is a great feature for cardholders – especially for anyone who travels to the Caribbean for work or pleasure.
Fortunately, the slim redemption options make the card a useful tool for the dedicated Sun Country traveler. Sun Country is based out of Minneapolis/St. Paul, making the card a great option for Midwesterners in the Chicago, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and similar areas. But the carrier flies to a far broader range of destinations, including stops in American hubs like Seattle, San Fransisco, Las Vegas, Los Angelas, Denver, Dallas, New York, Tampa, and more. Sun Country even has extensive routes into Central America and the Caribbean, making the card a great choice for people looking to escape the cold and warm up on the sandy beaches in “sun country.”
Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®
Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®
Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®
- 21.24% or 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 21.24% or 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 30.49% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard® is a co-branded airline rewards card from Hawaiian Airlines and Barclays US. The card offers impressive benefits designed for companies that frequently travel across the Pacific. The card features no foreign transaction fees, complimentary employee cards, and a generous introductory offer. New accounts can earn as much as 90,000 miles when making qualifying purchases within the first 90 days.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- 3X miles on Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- 2X miles on gas, office supply and restaurant purchases
- 1X miles on all other purchases
- One-time 50% off campanion discount
- Free additional employee cards
- No foreign transaction fees
- Regular Purchase APR: 21.24% or 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 21.24% or 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 30.49% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Annual Fee: $99
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $39
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: $39
- You frequently travel with Hawaiian Airlines
- You want a credit card that earns rewards for everyday business purchases
- You don’t want to pay foreign transaction fees.
- You want extra employee cards at no additional cost
If your company requires frequent travels across the Pacific for business, a versatile airline business card is a great way to streamline spending and maximize rewards towards free flights. The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Business Mastercard® is a strong, yet often overlooked, credit card option for companies planning to issue multiple employee cards and frequently put employees on flights.
The card offers valuable HawaiianMiles on every eligible purchase. Cardholders earn accelerated rewards in the following bonus categories:
- 3X miles on Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- 2X on gas, office supply, and restaurant purchases
- 1X on all other purchases
Those lucrative categories are in addition to a generous welcome offer which regularly values around $750 to $1,000 – just for meeting modest spending requirements in the first months of account opening. There’s even an annual spending bonus of up to 40,000 miles if your company spends $100,000 or more in annual purchases with the card.
Hawaiian Airlines flies to over 30 international destinations – not just in the Pacific Rim. Beyond the typical destinations like Honolulu, Tokyo, Auckland, Sydney, Taipei, Beijing, and Seoul, Hawaiian Airlines also flies to decidedly non-Pacific stops like Boston, Austin, and Las Vegas. Even if you don’t exclusively rely on Hawaiian Airlines, the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Business Mastercard® is a great option thanks to its solid codeshare agreements:
| Hawaiian Airlines Codeshare Partners: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China Airlines | Japan Airlines | JetBlue | Korean Air | Virgin Australia |
| In addition, several airlines place their marketing code on Hawaiian-operated flights*: | ||||
| Air China | American Airlines | China Airlines | Delta Air Lines | Japan Airlines |
| JetBlue | Korean Air | Philippine Airlines | Turkish Airlines | United Airlines |
| *See Details | ||||
Other features of this business rewards card from Bank of America include no foreign transaction fees, those previously mentioned free employee cards, and a one-time 50%-off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines.
Check out more
Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Featured image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
