Airline credit cards have become very popular. The airline companies along with banks, in particular, are sponsoring airline credit cards to provide some incentive to consumers and attract business. But before you select one of these cards for yourself, you need to gather all the information you can about each card you think you might want.

If you happen to be a frequent flyer or business traveler, airline credit cards my be something worth looking into. But you may be wondering just how these airline credit cards actually work. To put it simply, you can earn reward points, called ‘miles’, for each dollar spent using the credit card. The points help you to earn free flights, or free companion tickets, or car rentals, free hotel stays, first class upgrades, and much more.

Today many airlines have formed partnerships with various credit card companies to provide these airline credit card rewards programs. They offer incentives that are quite attractive, mainly due to the high competition within this industry.

When you compare airline credit cards to any standard credit cards, the interest rates may be a bit higher, and they will also charge annual membership fees. But if used correctly, they possess some very attractive features that can offset those costs.

You have two main types of available airline credit cards:

1. Bank-Sponsored Cards

2. Airline-Sponsored Cards

Points you earn from bank sponsored cards are a bit more flexible. Unlike the ones sponsored by the airlines, where they only allow you use one specific airline for redeeming your points, the bank sponsored cards let you use them over a much wider airline selection. As a rule, the points needed to earn your free travel is less through the bank-sponsored cards, but you will find exception to that rule.

The first rule when checking out any credit card is to see what the interest rates are. See if it compares to other credit card offers that are available. Of course you want the lowest rate possible. A few airline credit cards will offer points for specific purchases. You want to take note of these when considering a card for yourself. You need to check the expiration date as well. Your points can run out on you if you don’t redeem them within the specified time. Exactly how many reward points your can earn for each dollar spent, is going to vary from one card to another, as will the points needed for earning reduced or free travel. Be sure to weigh all these factors carefully before choosing your own airline credit card.

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