Best credit cards for flight upgrades

Although first-class flight upgrades aren’t as common as they used to be, it’s still possible for people with elite airline status to get rewarded for their loyalty with a bump into a higher class. With a good travel credit card, earning those upgrades becomes even easier.

Here are some of the best credit cards for first class upgrades.

Top cards for flight upgrades

Best for Delta flyers

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5

4.2

Learn More in our Bankrate review

• Bankrate’s view

  Delta loyalists who like traveling in style can make good use of this top-tier Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, which grants multiple opportunities for seat upgrades to Delta First Class. Enjoy airport lounge access — and bring a friend four times a year — as well as annual credits for Delta Stays, Resy, rideshare and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

  You’ll also earn 3X miles on Delta purchases and 1X miles on all other purchases.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • After earning your annual MQDs credit of $2,500, you’re halfway to the first elite status level, which gets you complimentary seat upgrades for most flights except Basic Economy.
  • Cardholders without elite status can also get on the complimentary upgrade list after elite status members.
  • Access Delta Sky Club lounges, The Centurion Lounges and an annual companion certificate.

  

  Cons

  • The high annual fee is hard to justify if you don’t fly Delta often or tap into all the luxury perks and credits.

Best for American Airlines flyers

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

4.5

Learn More in our Bankrate review

• Bankrate’s view

  If you fly American Airlines often but dream of upgrading to a first-class seat and stopping by the lounge en route, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® can get you there. By using the card for eligible purchases, you’ll get 1 Loyalty Point per mile earned, as well as up to 20,000 Loyalty Points per year toward elite status. Plus, get into more than 100 Admirals Club and partner lounges worldwide after breezing through airport security with TSA Precheck or Global Entry, paid for by the card.

  You’ll also earn 4X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1X miles on all other purchases.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • After earning at least 40,000 points to reach Gold elite status, get complimentary seat upgrades for American and Alaska Airlines flights.
  • Access Admirals Club and partner lounges, priority boarding and free checked bags.

  

  Cons

  • The high annual fee is hard to justify if you don’t fly American Airlines often or use your lounge membership (an $850 value).

Best for United flyers

The New United Quest℠ Card

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

4

Learn More in our Bankrate review

• Bankrate’s view

  The New United Quest℠ Card* has a more modest annual fee than comparable co-branded airline cards, while offering similar miles value and a chance at elite status. Plus, the $200 annual credit covers over half the fee. Reaching elite status takes more spending than other cards, but you can cash in on the first year’s welcome bonus of 70,000 miles and 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQPs) after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

  You’ll also earn 3X on United purchases; 2X on dining, select streaming services and all other travel and 1X miles on all other purchases.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • By earning 10,000 points after spending $20,000, you can become a Premier status member with free seat upgrades.
  • The annual United purchase credit, up to 10,000 miles in flight credits and free checked bags can make the card pay for itself.

  

  Cons

  • The amount you have to spend to reach the first tier of elite status is higher than with other airline cards.

Best for Alaska Airlines flyers

Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card

Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5

4.4

Learn More in our Bankrate review

• Bankrate’s view

  As an Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card* cardholder you can earn Alaska Airline’s $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each year after spending $6,000 or more in the year before your account anniversary — making this a useful card for travelers who often bring a family member or friend on Alaska or partner flights. You’ll also get free checked bags and priority boarding, and you can work your way up to elite status by earning 1 elite-qualifying mile (EQM) for every $3 spent on your card, up to 30,000 EQMs.

  You’ll also earn 3X miles on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases; 2X miles on gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases and 1X miles on all other purchases.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • By earning at least 20,000 EQMs — through $60,000 in purchases — to reach the first tier of elite status, get complimentary seat upgrades for you and your companion. (Companions will be eligible starting later in 2025 for the first tier, MVP status. Companions are already eligible for the upper statuses.)
  • For the lower annual fee, you can get the Companion Fare and free checked bags for you and six other people on the reservation — making it a good travel card for families.

  

  Cons

  • The Alaska Airlines network is somewhat limited in destinations.

Best for Southwest flyers

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5

4.2

Learn More in our Bankrate review

• Bankrate’s view

  Southwest loyalists love the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card for its annual travel credit and anniversary points worth more than the annual fee, on top of its big rewards on Southwest purchases and four free upgraded boardings per year. Southwest doesn’t have first class, but getting on the plane first affords you a better seat. If you can earn the Companion Pass through a limited-time offer, by flying 100 qualifying one-way flights or earning 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year, you can bring a passenger on flights with you for free — getting even more bang for your buck.

  You’ll also earn 4X points on Southwest purchases; 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services and select streaming; 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners and 1X points on all other purchases.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • By spending $116,667 on the card or flying 20 qualifying one-way flights, you can reach A-List status with priority boarding and same-day changes or standby.
  • The $229 annual fee is recouped by the $75 annual travel credit, 7,500 anniversary points (valued at $112.50, according to Bankrate valuations) and four upgraded boardings per year (valued at $30 to $149 per flight).

  

  Cons

  • The card doesn’t offer luxury perks like lounge access, and there’s technically no first-class seating option.

Best for flexible flyers who enjoy premium travel

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5

4.3

Learn More in our Bankrate review

• Bankrate’s view

  If you fly with multiple airlines and want to earn and redeem rewards more flexibly, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a way to earn generous points on travel and dining reservations or takeout. You could use the annual travel credit to upgrade at least one flight a year and you get a Priority Pass Select lounge membership so you can wait for your flights in style. Points are also transferable to Chase partners, but they generally won’t count toward elite status when you do this.

  You’ll also earn 8X points on all travel purchases booked through Chase Travel; 4X points on flights and hotels booked directly with airlines and hotels; 3X points on dining and 1X on all other purchases.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • The $300 annual travel credit covers almost half of the annual fee and could go toward upgrading your flight. The credit covers all travel purchases, not just those through the issuer’s travel portal.
  • Enjoy lounge access, expedited airport entry, travel insurance, a DashPass subscription and more perks.

  

  Cons

  • The hefty annual fee is hard to justify if you don’t maximize the card or value luxury travel and dining.

Best for flexible flyers who prefer a lower annual fee

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

5

Learn More in our Bankrate review

• Bankrate’s view

  The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another upper-tier travel card with flexible rewards earning and redemption through Capital One Travel. The annual fee is easier to swallow with the annual travel credit and anniversary points, which you could put toward upgrading a flight. Points are also transferable to Capital One partners, but they generally won’t count toward elite status.

  You’ll also earn 10X miles on hotel and rental cars through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • The $300 annual credit and 10,000 anniversary points (worth $100) cover the annual fee and could go toward upgrading to first class on a flight through Capital One Travel.
  • Access Priority Pass Select and Capital One Lounges, luxury hotel credits, expedited airport entry, travel insurance, travel guide subscriptions and more perks.

  

  Cons

  • The annual credit is only usable through Capital One Travel, and transfer partners are limited.

Comparing the best cards for flight upgrades

How to choose a credit card for flight upgrades

If you want a more consistent way to upgrade to first class without relying on luck, your best bets are earning elite status or cashing in rewards. But those might call for a rewards card with a high price tag. Here are some considerations for picking a card.

• Decide between a co-branded airline card and a general travel card. An airline card can offer a smooth path toward elite status with first-class upgrades, as well as airline-specific perks like free checked bags and companion passes. On the other hand, a general travel card lets you use rewards with multiple airlines more freely but won’t offer the same boosts toward airlines’ elite statuses.

• Consider whether you’ll spend enough to reach elite status. Airlines’ elite statuses come with great perks like complimentary upgrades — and because of that, the earning requirements are high. Most upper-tier airline cards offer a boost in earnings, but you’ll still have to spend thousands with the card to reach elite status.

• Weigh the value of luxury perks against a high annual fee. Are lounge access, potential for elite status and annual credits worth paying hundreds of dollars in a card’s annual fee? For some people, the answer is yes. For more casual travelers, the answer might be no. You can opt for a lower annual fee travel card — it just may not offer the same potential for flight upgrades.

However, Ryan Flanigan, Bankrate credit cards writer and frequent traveler, points out that an earned flight upgrade may not always be eligible for first class:

What’s next?

The bottom line

The right travel credit card can get you into first class by achieving elite status, cashing in rewards or paying for it with an annual travel credit. You’ll just want to consider how often you fly the airline and whether the credit card annual fee is worth it. You can also try finagling a first-class seat on a less full flight by asking a crew member, but securing it ahead of time is a more reliable route.

Frequently asked questions about cards for flight upgrades

• How can you get a free flight upgrade?

  If you don’t have elite status, you can still improve your odds of getting a flight upgrade. First, you’ll want to be on a flight with empty seats in an upgraded class — which means skipping busy flights in favor of less popular ones. Look for flights that are cheaper and scheduled for the middle of the week outside peak hours. It also helps if you’re a member of the airline’s frequent flyer program.

  You can also ask the gate agent or flight attendant if you can move up — the odds are getting slimmer, but it doesn’t hurt to try. You also might be able to pay for a discounted upgrade at check-in.

• What does airline elite status mean?

  Elite status is something you achieve with an airline’s loyalty or frequent flyer program. It means you’ve spent enough and flown enough to reach one of the elite status tiers, offering perks like free flight upgrades, priority boarding, lounge access, free checked bags and more.

  Hotels, rental car companies and retailers can also offer their own versions of elite status.

• What makes a good travel card?

  The best travel card for you is the one that you can maximize enough to justify an annual fee. That likely means you fly often enough with the co-branded airline or partner airlines to earn rewards, and you can tap into any statement credits, companion passes or lounge access that are offered.

  That said, some travel cards offer better rewards on everyday spending than others. If you prefer to use your travel card for all your purchases, look for at least 2X points or miles on purchases besides travel.

*The information about the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card and United Quest℠ Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.