US Airlines That Have Credit Cards

The first charge card was issued by an airline, at least according to the Universal Air Travel Plan (UATP) people.

Pioneer airline in charge cards

The UATP card was started in the 1930s. Their card is claimed to be the first ever issued with a billing system that required payment in full upon receipt.

The UATP cards, now known as the Air Travel Card, are no longer issued from its Washington, D.C. office. Each airline now issues their own Air Travel Card. Each airline issues a red card for North American travel and a green one for international use. All cards are identical in design except for having the issuing airline’s name. The airline’s name is in black under the words “Air Travel Card”, which is in white.

Issued to corporate accounts

Air Travel Cards were generally issued to corporate accounts. However, Piedmont Aviation was the first to say that they would issue one to individuals who are willing to put down a $400.00 deposit. 

The first 31 airlines with credit cards

The use of airline credit cards didn’t take-off until after World War II. But in that short period, 31 airlines issued their own credit cards:

1. Air Canada
2. Air Idaho
3. Air West
4. Alaska
5. All Nippon
6. Aloha
7. American
8. Braniff
9. Canadian Pacific
10. China Airlines
11. Continental
12. Eastern
13. Hawaiian Air
14. Mackey International
15. National
16. North Central
17. Northeast
18. Northwest
19. Ozark
20. Pacific Western
21. Pan Am
22. Piedmont
23. Prinair
24. PSA
25. Quebecair
26. Republic
27. Southern
28. Trans Australian
29. TWA
30. United
31. Western

Reduction in the number of airline card issuers

Now, there are fewer airlines issuing their own cards. This is because there are fewer airlines around due to mergers, bankruptcies, etc. From the original 31 airlines, there are now only 14 who still issue their own cards. Five of these are issued as bank cards:

1. Air Canada
2. Alaska (Visa)
3. All Nippon
4. Aloha
5. American
6. Canadian Airlines (MasterCard)
7. Continental (MasterCard)
8. Eastern
9. Hawaiian Airlines
10. PSA (Visa)
11. Pan Am
12. Piedmont (Visa)
13. United
14. TWA

Collectible airline cards

Many of these airlines issue interesting and attractive cards, and many are highly sought-after by credit card collectors.

Copyright 1988 by Noel Levy