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Get Free Airline Tickets with your Credit Card Application

Want to get away? Below, we’ve compiled a list of credit card promotions that will give you a free airline ticket when you apply, and in some cases, reach a certain spend level. The list has been broken into two parts: 1) a subset of cards that earn points that can be easily converted into miles in your favorite frequent flyer program, and 2) a list of cards that are geared towards earning airmiles with specific carriers.

Points-Earning Credit Cards

Credit Card Bonus Miles Annual Fee Notes
Citi ThankYou(SM) Premier Card 25,000 ThankYou Points (redeemable for $250 in gift cards) $125 (waived first year)
  • 25,000 bonus points after $2,000 in purchases made within 3 months of account opening plus an additional 30,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months of your second year of being a cardmember.
  • No foreign transaction fees on purchases
  • Earn points for the miles you fly when you purchase a ticket with your Citi ThankYou Premier Card
  • Annual complimentary domestic companion ticket and a 15% discount on all air travel when booked through Spirit Incentives

() – Recommended Card

Airline-specific Credit Cards

Credit Card Bonus Miles Annual Fee Notes
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card 25,000 Mileage Plan Bonus Miles $75 25,000 Bonus Miles valid for a Round Trip Coach Saver award ticket in the continental U.S, Alaska or Canada on Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air.
Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® Visa Signature® Card 30,000 AAdvantage® miles $95, waived for first 12 months Earn 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership*
Lufthansa Premier Miles & More World MasterCard Up to 35,000 bonus miles $79
  • 20,000 bonus miles with first purchase
  • Earn up to 15,000 additional award miles when you complete an initial balance transfer
  • Annual fee waived for Senator and HON Circle Members
US Airways Premier World MasterCard Up to 40,000 bonus miles $89
  • 30,000 bonus miles with first purchase
  • Earn up to 10,000 Bonus Miles when you transfer a balance within 90 days of account opening
  • 2 roundtrip companion tickets each year
  • First class check-in
  • Redeem flights for 5,000 fewer miles
Virgin America Visa® Signature Card Up to 25,000 bonus points $49
  • 20,000 bonus points with first purchase
  • Up to 5,000 Bonus Points with a balance transfer in the first 30 days
  • $150 off a companion ticket every year
  • No blackout dates on any seat, at any time for reward flights

A caveat
Do keep in mind that a “free flight” isn’t always completely free. Some airlines and programs may charge a fee to issue the ticket, and you’ll still be responsible for any applicable taxes, passenger facility charges, government imposed surcharges and the September 11 security fee.

7 Responses to “Get Free Airline Tickets with your Credit Card Application”

  1. 17 Credit Cards with Free Plane Ticket Offers · Credit Card Watcher Says:
  2. Jarek Says:
  3. ccwatcher Says:

    Jarek–Thanks for the link, but AirTran (ATA) is out of business now.

  4. Jarek Says:
  5. ccwatcher Says:

    Jarek–Thanks for pointing that out. For some reason I always associated ATA and AirTran together.

  6. Sue Says:
  7. barbara palma Says:

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