One easy way to get airline perks without status is with a travel rewards credit card. While it might seem like the best choice for a credit card for flights is an airline credit card, that’s not necessarily the case. An airline-specific credit card may be the right choice for you if you are loyal to an airline or if you want access to an airline-specific lounge.
If that doesn’t sound like you, you will almost certainly do better with a more flexible travel rewards credit card that is going to offer you bonus rewards no matter which airline you fly and more flexible ways to redeem your rewards, too.