Which International Airlines Offer US Credit Cards?

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Every once in a while, I’ll see a post about a credit card from an airline outside the United States. The card is from a bank in the U.S. and marketed to Americans, but why should I be interested in a card that earns points from a foreign airline program? The answer depends on the program you’re collecting miles from and what you can do with them.

While some of these cards are for programs I’m familiar with, others are for programs I admittedly don’t know much about. While I have never flown on that airline, there are plenty of opportunities to use miles on partner airlines.

While a single sign-up bonus might not be enough for an award ticket, you can combine those points to get the desired award if the program is affiliated with a flexible points currency.

Employing a strategy of earning points in airlines outside the U.S. involves more work than just earning Membership Rewards, ThankYou Points or Ultimate Rewards. You need to know beforehand if you’ll have any use for the points you’re receiving. However, international carriers give you additional options if you’ve already applied for cards from major U.S. airlines. I’d categorize this as a medium risk, medium reward approach to earning points and miles.

Here are some, but not all, of the cards available in the U.S. that earn miles for foreign airlines:

Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus Visa Signature Credit Card from Chase allows you to earn Avios in the Aer Lingus AerClub.

Spending on the card earns 3 Avios per $1 spent on Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Iberia, 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations purchased with the hotel and 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

This card’s appeal lies in its ability to transfer Avios between Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia to make the best possible use of your points. Unfortunately, applications to this card are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule.

You can also transfer Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards into AerClub to have enough points for an award ticket if necessary.

Air Canada

The Aeroplan Card from Chase earns points in Air Canada’s Aeroplan program.

The card earns 3 points per dollar spent with Air Canada, as well as purchases at grocery stores and restaurants (including takeout and delivery). All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar. There is a 500-point bonus for every $2,000 spent in a calendar month.

To add to your Aeroplan mile balance, you can transfer points from AMEX Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards or Capital One cards that earn transferrable points. Unfortunately, applications to this card are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule.

Air France/KLM

Bank of America offers an Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard, allowing you to earn Flying Blue points.

The card earns 3 miles per dollar spent directly on Air France, KLM and SkyTeam member airlines and 1.5 miles per dollar for all other purchases.

Cardholders who spend more than $50 on the card over the past year receive 5,000 miles yearly on their account anniversary.

Flying Blue partners with all the major transferrable point currencies, so adding them to your account balance is easy when you want to make an award booking.

British Airways

The British Airways Visa Signature Card from Chase earns you Avios in the British Airways Executive Club program(me).

You earn 3 Avios points for each $1 spent on flight purchases made directly with British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia, 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations purchased with the hotel and 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

This card’s appeal lies in its ability to transfer Avios between Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia to make the best possible use of your points. Also, cardholders get a 10% discount for new bookings made by US resident Executive Club members paying in USD with their valid British Airways Visa card issued by Chase for travel on flights operated by British Airways starting in the US booked through the link provided in the welcome packet.

You can also transfer Membership Rewards, Capital One, and Chase Ultimate Rewards into Executive Club to get enough points for an award ticket if necessary.

Cathay Pacific

Synchrony Bank issues the Cathay Pacific Visa Signature card, which earns points in the Asia Miles program.

The Cathay Pacific card has a very interesting bonus point structure. With the card, you can earn 2 Asia Miles per $1 spent on eligible Cathay Pacific travel and in-flight purchases. You also earn 1.5 Asia Miles per $1 spent on dining in the US or abroad and 1.5 Asia Miles per $1 on purchases outside the US. All other purchases in the US earn 1 Asia Mile per $1 spent.

It’s easy to accumulate Asia Miles as the program is a transfer partner with Bilt Rewards, Membership Rewards, ThankYou points and Capital One cards that earn transferrable points.

Asia Miles is one of the more complex programs to understand because point charts vary for each airline partner.

Emirates

Barclays offers the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard, which earns Skywards miles.

With the card, you’ll earn 3x Skywards Miles on eligible Emirates purchases, 2x miles on eligible travel purchases, and 1 mile on all other purchases. The annual fee is $99.

New members also receive Emirates Silver tier status during their first year and can retain that status by spending $20,000 each card member year.

For those interested, there’s also a premium card with a $499 annual fee that comes with Gold status for the first year, Priority Pass Membership, and Global Entry/PreCheck reimbursement.

Adding to your Emirates Skywards balance is easy as you can transfer points from every bank, including American Express, Bilt Rewards, Chase, Citi, Capital One and Marriott Bonvoy.

Iberia

With the Iberia Visa Signature Card, you’ll earn Avios in the Iberia Plus program. 

Cardholders earn 3 Avios for each $1 spent on flight purchases made directly with Iberia, British Airways, or Aer Lingus, 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations purchased with the hotel and 1 Avios for each $1 spent on all other purchases.

This card’s appeal lies in its ability to transfer Avios between Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia to maximize your points. Cardholders can also save 10% on Iberia flights purchased on Iberia.com. Unfortunately, applications to this card are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule.

You can also transfer Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards into the Iberia Plus program to have enough points for an award ticket if necessary.

JAL USA Card

FNBO issues the JAL USA Card, earning points in the JAL Mileage Bank program.

The Basic Rewards card has a $20 annual fee and earns 1 mile per $2 on qualifying purchases. For an additional $50, you can upgrade to the Premium Rewards and earn 1 mile per $1 spent.

The only way to add miles to your account is to transfer them from Marriott Bonvoy.

Korean Air

The Skypass Visa Signature card from US Bank earns points in the Korean Air SKYPASS program.

You’ll earn 2 miles for every $1 you spend on Korean Air ticket purchases, 2 miles for every net eligible $1 at Dining and Hotels and 1 mile for every $1 you spend on all other purchases. 

Cardholders also receive 5% off Korean Air ticket purchases each year and 2 KAL Lounge coupons each year. 

Unfortunately, Korean Air’s only major credit card transfer partner, Chase Ultimate Rewards, ended its relationship in 2018.

Miles & More (Lufthansa)

The Miles & More World Elite Mastercard from Barclays earns points in the integrated program for AirDolomiti, Austrian Airlines Group, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Luxair and SWISS.

The card earns 2 award miles per $1 on ticket purchases directly from Miles & More integrated airline partners and 1 award mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. The card’s additional yearly benefits are a companion ticket subject to taxes and fees and 2 Lounge Vouchers valid for one card member or one travel companion for one visit at Lufthansa Business Lounges worldwide.

If you are a Lufthansa Frequent Flyer, the Annual Fee will be waived for Senator and HON Circle Members as long as they maintain their Senator or HON Circle Member status.

Virgin Red

Synchrony Bank will issue the Virgin Red Mastercard, the combined loyalty program of Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels, and Virgin Voyages.

The Virgin Red card earns 3 points per $1 spent directly on Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages, 2 points per $1 at dining, grocery stores, select streaming services and EV charging, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Unlike other cards, spending on the Virgin Atlantic card helps you get status with the airline. You earn 25 tier points per $2,500 in purchases (maximum of 50 per month).

Final Thoughts

Many foreign airlines offer co-brand credit cards to U.S. residents. Unless you fly with that airline frequently, you might not be familiar with the program or the airline. However, it doesn’t mean that the program is worthless. Many sweet spots with airline points don’t lie with flying the sponsor airline but when you fly a lesser-known route on a partner airline.

Getting points from a signup bonus with a foreign airline co-brand card might make sense, but you need to ensure you know what points you’re earning and what you plan to do with them once you have them.

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary