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Credit Score Ranges Required for Popular Airline and Travel Credit Cards

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Updated on: August 22nd, 2023

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The information for The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express and The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

If you’re looking for an airline or travel credit card, you may be under the impression that those cards are reserved for people with the highest credit scores.

But many lucrative airline and travel credit cards don’t require anywhere near a “perfect” credit score to qualify. However, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact credit score requirements of a new card since issuers use different credit bureaus and criteria to determine eligibility.

The data listed below shows the low and high credit score range required by major issuers for a particular card.

Know that some issuers also impose restrictions on the number of cards you can have or apply for. For example, Chase won’t approve you for a new Chase card if you’ve applied for more than five cards from any issuer in the past 24 months (known informally as the Chase 5/24 rule), and American Express limits the number of American Express cards you can carry to five.

Know also that issuers will also look at your income and current debt levels when reviewing your application to determine whether to approve you for a card.

Credit score ranges for popular airline and travel credit cards
	Low score	High score
American Express
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express*	Excellent	Excellent
The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express*	Excellent/Good	Excellent/Good
American Express^® Business Gold Card	Excellent/Good	Excellent/Good
Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card	Excellent/Good	Excellent/Good
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card	Excellent/Good	Excellent/Good
The Platinum Card^® from American Express	Excellent/Good	Excellent/Good
Bank of America
Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card	Excellent/Good	Excellent/Good
Chase
British Airways Visa Signature® Card	Excellent/Good	Excellent/Good
Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card	Excellent	Excellent
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card	Excellent/Good	Excellent/Good
Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card	Excellent	Excellent
United℠ Explorer Card	Excellent/Good	Excellent/Good
Capital One
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	Excellent/Good	Excellent/Good
Citi
Citi Premier^® Card	Excellent/Good	Excellent/Good
Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Executive World Elite Mastercard^®	Excellent/Good	Excellent/Good

As expected, the combined average credit score for the cards mentioned above falls in the good-to-excellent range (670-850, according to FICO). This isn’t a surprise since these cards are often targeted to the banks’ best customers, and people who travel a lot tend to be a bit more well off than average.

What stands out is the lower credit scores for many cards. The credit scores listed above show that you may not need a 700+ credit score to qualify for the best mile and travel credit cards. Some cards like the Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card and the United℠ Explorer Card offer wider acceptance beyond just “perfect” credit scores as issuers try to make rewards more accessible.

Credit card approval can also depend on your income or relationship with a bank, or even how many other rewards cards you’ve recently applied for.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

| Disclosures

Chase Sapphire Preferred<sup>®</sup> Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 21.49%–28.49% variable

Annual Fee $95

Rewards Rate Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x

Highlights

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Member FDIC

Typical Credit Needed

720 850

Excellent

Get my free score

The information related to the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

| Disclosures

Apply Now

on American Express's secure site

Rates & Fees

| Terms Apply

American Express^® Business Gold Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 19.49% - 27.49% Variable

Annual Fee $295

Rewards Rate Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your

Highlights

Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
MORE REWARDS: Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month. 1X is earned for other purchases.**
**4X points apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year.*
PAY OVER TIME OPTION: Decide whether you want to pay eligible purchases in full each month—or pay over time with interest.*
*Terms Apply

Typical Credit Needed

660 720 850

Excellent/Good

Get my free score

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

| Disclosures

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Apply Now

on American Express's secure site

Rates & Fees

| Terms Apply

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 20.99%-29.99% Variable

Annual Fee $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.

Rewards Rate Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and

Highlights

Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
$100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel.
Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
Terms Apply.

Typical Credit Needed

660 720 850

Excellent/Good

Get my free score

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

| Disclosures

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Apply Now

on American Express's secure site

Rates & Fees

| Terms Apply

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 20.99%-29.99% Variable

Annual Fee $650

Rewards Rate Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at

Highlights

Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months. Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.
$300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card at restaurants worldwide.
With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Brilliant Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
$650 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.

Typical Credit Needed

660 720 850

Excellent/Good

Get my free score

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

| Disclosures

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Apply Now

on American Express's secure site

Rates & Fees

| Terms Apply

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR See Pay Over Time APR

Annual Fee $695

Rewards Rate 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with

Highlights

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Typical Credit Needed

660 720 850

Excellent/Good

Get my free score

What to know before applying

If your credit score is below 700 and you’re looking to open a miles or travel credit card, keep a few things in mind:

Consider an airline-branded credit card. It’s not clear why, but co-branded airline cards from the major airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest and United, tend to have some of the lowest typical credit scores approved. That means if you have just good or fair credit, you may have a better shot at getting approved for an airline card.

Consider checking prequalified offers. See if you’re prequalified for a card before you apply. Many major travel rewards card issuers, including Capital One, Discover, Citi and American Express, have pre-qualification tools that allow you to see if you have a good chance of being approved before you fill out an application. Pre-qualification helps you shop around for the best card offers without hurting your credit score. While pre-qualification isn’t a guarantee of approval, it can help you narrow down your choices.

Review your credit report. Before you apply for a credit card, review your credit report from all three bureaus so you can make sure everything that’s on there is correct. Credit card issuers can pull one or all three reports from the major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). Applicant comments on CreditBoards.com show which credit bureaus the most reports were pulled from for each issuer:

Amex: Experian
Bank of America: Experian
Barclays: TransUnion
Capital One: Tends to pull all three
Chase: Experian
Citi: Experian
Discover: Mix of the three

Once approved for a card, make sure you pay off your balance on time and in full each month. Any earned miles aren’t worth the interest charges and late fees that you’ll incur if you carry a balance month to month or pay late.

Other than that, you shouldn’t be too afraid of rejection. If you have a steady income, aren’t carrying a lot of other debt and a solid credit history, you could be eligible for that coveted miles or travel card.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

| Disclosures

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Apply Now

on Bank Of America's secure site

Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card

Intro Purchase APR 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Regular Purchase APR 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Annual Fee $0

Rewards Rate unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual

Highlights

Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Typical Credit Needed

660 720 850

Excellent/Good

Get my free score

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

| Disclosures

Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>®</sup> Premier Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Annual Fee $99

Rewards Rate Receive 6,000 anniversary points each year. Enjoy benefits including 3X points on

Highlights

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
6,000 anniversary points each year.
Earn 3X points on Southwest^® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
2 EarlyBird Check-In^® each year.
No foreign transaction fees.
Member FDIC

Typical Credit Needed

720 850

Excellent

Get my free score

The information related to the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

| Disclosures

United℠ Explorer Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 21.74% – 28.74% variable

Annual Fee $0 Intro for the First Year, then $95

Rewards Rate Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays and United®

Highlights

Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club^SM with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
Member FDIC

Typical Credit Needed

660 720 850

Excellent/Good

Get my free score

The information related to the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

| Disclosures

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Annual Fee $95

Rewards Rate 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per

Highlights

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

Typical Credit Needed

660 720 850

Excellent/Good

Get my free score

*The information related to British Airways Visa Signature® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card, United℠ Explorer Card and Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Executive World Elite Mastercard^® have been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply to American Express credit card offers. See americanexpress.com for more information.

To see rates & fees for American Express^® Business Gold Card please click here.

To see rates & fees for Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card please click here.

To see rates & fees for The Platinum Card^® from American Express please click here.

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Credit Score Ranges Required for Popular Airline and Travel Credit Cards

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How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

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How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

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What to know before applying

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

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