The best airline and travel credit cards for bad credit

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.

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

How to choose the best airline or travel credit card for bad credit

The choices for airline and travel credit cards for bad credit are limited compared to similar cards for good credit or higher. Despite that, there are certain factors you can take into account before choosing the right card for your situation. Consider the following:

• 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. The only no-annual-fee card on our list is the Discover it Secured card.
• 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.
• 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 card we’ve listed in this article falls under the Oneworld alliance. Check if you fly with carriers in this alliance, 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, look for a 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.