How to Apply for an Airline Credit Card

Getting miles in exchange for purchases charged to your credit card sounds like the best of all possible solutions. However, you should shop before you settle on an airline credit card to make sure that you are getting the best deal.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Fly High With an Airline Credit Card

1. Stay loyal to the frequent flyer club to which you already belong when you start shopping for a new airline credit card. If you've already accumulated miles, it is better to build on this foundation than to start fresh with another airline's frequent flyer club.
2. Look for a credit card that rewards you for your effort. Many airline affiliated credit cards will offer thousands of frequent flyer miles just for successfully applying and using their card. Shop for the card with biggest bonus.
3. Keep considerations like introductory and variable interest rates in mind when comparing airline credit cards. Your flight plans could be cut short if must pay for a card with skyrocketing interest rates.
4. Note the annual fees before you apply for an airline credit card. Airline credit cards typically charge annual fees, many of which may reach into the hundreds of dollars.
5. Read the fine print to discover any black-out dates or restrictions placed on miles earned before applying for a particular card. Your travel plans may be severely limited if you find that you cannot use the miles you've earned when you need them.
6. Find out which purchases will qualify you to earn more miles. Many times, balance transfers and cash advances may be excluded from your mile-earning purchases.
7. Have your frequent flyer account information on hand before you apply for your airline credit card. You will need this information to complete the application, in addition to your social security number and annual gross income.
8. Complete your application online by visiting the website of your favorite airline. There, you should find a link to any credit card affiliated with their frequent flyer club.