The best airline and travel credit cards for bad credit

While it’s easier to get an airline or travel card if you have good credit, a few airlines offer secured cards you can qualify for if your credit isn’t great.

You’ll also find bad-credit products that — while not airline or travel products specifically — can help you earn rewards on all purchases.

Compare airline and travel credit cards for bad credit

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Name	Product	Foreign transaction fee	Welcome offer	Rewards	Filter values
Credit One Bank® Visa® Cash Back Rewards		3% of the transaction value or $1, whichever is higher	N/A	1% cash back on all purchases or in categories based on Credit One Bank’s discretion		Earn 1% cash back on all purchases or in categories based on Credit One Bank’s discretion.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
CardMatch™ from creditcards.com			See terms	See terms		Use the CardMatch tool to find cards you're likely to qualify for with your credit score, without a hard pull on your credit.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Credit One Bank® Unsecured Platinum Visa®		3% of the transaction value or $1, whichever is higher	N/A	1% cash back on all purchases or in categories based on Credit One Bank’s discretion		Earn 1% cash back on all purchases or in categories based on Credit One Bank’s discretion.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Official NASCAR® Credit Card from Credit One Bank®		3% of the transaction value or $1, whichever is higher	N/A	Up to 1% cash back on eligible purchases determined by Credit One and double cash back at the NASCAR Shop		Get up to 1% cash back rewards on eligible purchases determined by Credit One and double cash back rewards at the NASCAR Shop.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
AeroMexico Visa® Secured Card		3% of the transaction value	Receive 3,500 bonus miles after your first card use.	2x miles for purchases on gas, groceries, AeroMexico airfare and vacation packages.		Earn miles while building your credit.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
SKYPASS Visa® Secured Card		3% of the transaction value	5,000 miles after your first purchase and 1,000 miles at renewal	1x miles on all purchases		Earn 5,000 miles after your first purchase and 1,000 miles at renewal while building your credit.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Can I get an airline or travel credit card if I have bad credit?

While not impossible, it can be very difficult to get an airline or travel card if you have bad credit. That’s because these cards often come with the best rewards and perks, which providers usually want to give to highly qualified applicants.

So while that means you have options, you could consider narrowing your choices.

Which are the easiest airline credit cards to get approved for?

If you have less-than-stellar credit, you’ll have the best odds with secured credit cards. There are currently a few secured airline cards on the market.

To get a secured card, you must first put down a security deposit — usually $200 to $300. If you don’t repay your card debt, your provider can take this deposit. With this collateral, banks are more willing to issue secured cards to those with bad credit.

If you’re willing to forego a travel card, you’ll find several secured cards that offer rewards on all purchases. This means you can earn cash back or points on travel purchases such as flights, hotels and car rentals.

The best airline and travel credit cards for bad credit

Airline credit cards — such as those listed below — often come with carrier-specific benefits.

They also offer flexible rewards. LATAM, for example, is part of Oneworld Alliance, so you can redeem LATAM Pass points for flights with other carriers in the alliance. The same concept applies to Aeroméxico and Korean Air, which are part of SkyTeam.

You can also check out cards that offer general rewards. These products can be useful even when you’re not traveling.

Best for airline discount: LATAM Visa® Secured Card

With a $0 intro annual fee your first card year, then $25 each year after that, this card is the most affordable secured airline card on our list.You’ll get a 10% discount on your first LATAM purchase each calendar year. This could result in big savings, especially if you buy multiple flight tickets in one transaction.

• The perks

  • 5,000 bonus points after first card use.
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $25.
  • 1x point on eligible purchases.
  • 10% discount on your first purchase from LATAM Airlines, once a calendar year.

Best for bonus airline miles: SKYPASS Visa® Secured Card

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This card has a $50 annual fee and a foreign transaction fee. But you’ll earn 1,000 miles after every card renewal, which can help offset the card’s cost. Also, you get to earn a solid 5,000 bonus miles as soon as you make your first purchase.

• The perks

  • 5,000 bonus miles after first purchase.
  • 1x miles on eligible purchases.
  • 1,000 miles after renewal.

Best for general rewards: Discover it® Secured

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This card has a $50 annual fee and a foreign transaction fee. But you’ll earn 1,000 miles after every card renewal, which can help offset the card’s cost. Also, you get to earn a solid 5,000 bonus miles as soon as you make your first purchase.

This is one of the best secured cards you’ll find. With no annual fee, solid rewards and an option to check your FICO score every month for free, it’s an excellent choice for building credit.It can be a good card for your next vacation — a road trip, perhaps — as it offers 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%. It also has no foreign transaction fees.

• The perks

  • No annual or foreign transaction fees.
  • 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1% after that and on all other purchases.
  • Discover will match all of the cash back you earn in your first card year.
  • Free FICO score.

Best for business: Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card

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This product is a strong choice if you have an eligible business. You’ll earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases — a solid rate that can apply to a wide array of travel spending. Or, you can earn 1.5x points and 1,000 bonus points each month you spend at least .On the downside, there’s a higher minimum deposit of $500. However, the card has no foreign transaction fees.

• The perks

  • 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Or, earn 1.5x points and 1,000 bonus points when you spend or more in a month.
  • No foreign transaction fees.

Pros and cons of airline and travel credit cards for bad credit

How to choose an airline or travel credit card for bad credit

• Annual fee.
  Annual fees for secured airline cards usually range from $25 to $50. This cost can eat into your rewards, so consider whether you’ll get enough value from a card to offset its price.
• Security deposit.
  Locking down funds to get a credit card can be a drag, but that’s the price of a secured card. If this is an issue, look for a card with a lower minimum security deposit.If you’d like to avoid paying a security deposit, consider an unsecured card. Be very cautious with subprime unsecured products, as they often come with high fees.
• Rewards.
  When considering a card, check its reward structure and what type of rewards you get. Airline miles can be useful, as you can often redeem them with alliance partners. Or you might want cash back, which is usually simpler to redeem.Consider where you spend the most money, as a card may offer bonus rewards for certain categories.
• Airline alliance.
  The airline cards we’ve listed in this article fall under the oneworld and SkyTeam alliances. Check if you fly with carriers in these alliances, as your miles could prove flexible.
• Benefits.
  While bad-credit airline cards don’t offer the best perks, you can find some surprisingly good deals. Consider what kind of flyer you are and whether you can take advantage of your card’s benefits.
• Foreign transaction fees.
  Unfortunately, secured airline cards usually have foreign transaction fees. If this is a problem, you might like a general-rewards card that doesn’t charge these fees.
• Signup bonus.
  In some cases, you can earn a small bonus soon after you open your card. Airline miles are often worth over 1 cent apiece, so they can be more valuable than they seem.

Bottom line

While travel cards are usually aimed at those with good credit, there are a few secured airline cards you may qualify for.

If airline cards aren’t your style, compare other secured card with rewards to find something that suits your needs.

Frequently asked questions

• Is my secured-card deposit refundable?

  Yes. When you close your account, your provider will refund your deposit. Some providers may return your deposit after a certain time and still let you use the card, essentially turning your card into an unsecured product.

• What credit score do I need to get approved for an airline or travel card normally?

  There’s no hard-and-fast rule, but most providers look for good to excellent FICO scores of at least 670.

• How do I increase my credit score?

  One of the best ways to increase your credit score is to consistently make on-time card payments. This helps you build a strong payment record with the credit bureaus.

  Another big factor that determines your credit score is your credit utilization, or how much of your total credit you’re using. It’s best to keep your credit utilization as low as possible.

  Check out our guide to FICO scores for other factors that affect your credit.