The Allied Pilots Association has helped American Airlines join the growing trading card trend among US carriers to the delight of AvGeeks around the world. Instead of being produced by the airline, the cards have been made by APA on the initiative of the pilots themselves.

Cards made by Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines have become increasingly popular as they recently went viral on TikTok. Alaska has the oldest running series, going back to the 1990s, but the surging demand has prompted AA pilots and even Hawaiian Airlines to roll out their own editions.

No More Empty Handed Flyers On American Airlines

Credit: Shutterstock

For over two decades, aviation enthusiasts that went to the cockpit of an AA jetliner hoping to add to their collection were left empty-handed as the carrier never issued its own trading cards. Until recently, collectors were part of a small group that were ‘in the know.’ That changed as Delta passengers enthusiastically began collecting large numbers of cards in recent years, helping to bring more attention to the other carriers that issue cards as well.

The Texas-based APA, representing over 16,000 American Airlines pilots, collaborated with its members to produce the cards. That means the way to get a card on your next flight with American is to politely ask the pilot during boarding or deplaning. However, since the airline does not supply them, each individual pilot must get their own supply, so it isn’t guaranteed that cards will be available on every flight.

Some APA members are not happy that their union dues are paying for a product that they believe should be funded by the airlines. Still, others are glad that they can finally stop turning away enthusiastic flyers. One Mile At A Time relayed this comment from an AA pilot that was excited for the card roll out:

“Thank goodness… there is nothing I hate saying more than: sorry, kid, I don’t have any.”

The First Edition: Iconic Jets And Epic Destinations

Credit: APA

There are four different aircraft in the launch collection of the new American Airlines trading card set. The cards feature union branding and high-quality photography of aircraft in their full liveries. The four jetliners are distinct in livery and the backdrop that the planes are featured flying overhead. Below is a breakdown of the cards as shown in the initial release that Paddle Your Own Kanoo published:

While the cards are given away for free by pilots, collectors often trade or sell them on platforms like Etsy or eBay. The collectibility of airline trading cards has evolved from a niche hobby into a high-demand market. The rarest individual cards can fetch prices in the hundreds and full collections can even sell for thousands of dollars.

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Going Viral: A Brief Guide To Delta Air Lines’ Trading Cards

Delta Air Lines has 11 aircraft types pictured on its collectible cards.

Viral Surge: The Delta Air Lines Kick-Start

Credit: Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines saw distribution jump from 1.5 million cars in 2023 to over 5 million cards last year. The success of the carrier’s recent campaign to make the cards more popular has boosted the decades-old tradition to a new level of popularity. United Airlines also saw a significant rise in demand and has indicated that it will expand its series.

The new cards are part of a marketing effort but also a paradigm shift that carriers like Delta are working towards by making the travel experience more personal and enjoyable for travelers. The increasingly strong demand for air travel in the post-covid-19 era has seen Delta and other carriers attempt to address concerns over the dehumanization of air travel in many ways. This has accompanied an increase in ‘premiumization’ of aircraft cabins and features, but has also extended to smaller touches like the cards themselves.

Delta began years after Alaska in 2003 with the first cards commemorating the retirement of the McDonald Douglas MD-11 in 2003. Last year it launched a centennial card celebrating its 100th anniversary, using the moment to create limited edition and holographic cards. Alaska Airlines followed suit by similarly revamping its collection with holographic cards and lenticular finishes in 2025. The first series distributed by Hawaiian Airlines integrated NFC-digital features that allow collectors to acquire digital copies as well.