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Best American Airlines Credit Cards

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Citi is an advertising partner.

For frequent American Airlines flyers, having a co-branded airline credit card can provide valuable perks and rewards within the American AAdvantage program. However, it can be overwhelming to determine which card is the best fit for your needs. American Airlines co-branded credit cards offer varying annual fees, rewards structures and benefits. Here’s how to choose the best American Airlines credit card for your travel habits and preferences.

Top American Airlines credit cards

  • The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card* is the only co-branded American Airlines credit card with a $0 annual fee, making it a good option for occasional travelers. The welcome bonus is small but easy to achieve, and earning bonus miles on grocery purchases can quickly boost your balance.

    Since the only cardholder benefit is a 25 percent discount on in-flight food or drink purchases, you may want to consider a different card if you value elite travel perks or travel frequently.

  • Pros

    • This American Airlines card is the only one that earns bonus miles on groceries, which can help you accumulate miles quickly.
    • Even though this card carries no annual fee, you’ll earn the same bonus miles on American Airlines purchases as on any card, except the premium Executive card.

    Cons

    • Unlike other American Airlines cards, you won’t get free checked baggage with the card.
    • This card charges foreign transaction fees, which makes it a poor choice for traveling abroad.

  • The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®* is the only co-branded card on the list that isn’t issued by Citi. You can earn a sizable welcome bonus when you make a single purchase and pay the annual fee both within the first 90 days, which quickly jumpstarts your earnings. The intro APR offer on balance transfers can also help consolidate any debt.

    While the card doesn’t have bonus categories outside of American Airlines purchases, you’ll get the first checked bag free for you and up to four companions, in-flight credits, travel coverage and an anniversary companion certificate for one guest ($99 plus taxes/fees) 45 days after account renewal if you spend $20,000 on the card.

  • Pros

    • The welcome offer is easy to earn and provides outsized value, plus you can take advantage of an intro APR on balance transfers.
    • This card offers an alternative for an American Airlines card outside of Citi.

    Cons

    • Earning the companion certificate may be challenging due to limited bonus categories.
    • The annual fee reduces the card’s long-term value if you don’t use the card’s features.

  • With the annual fee waived for the first year and a solid welcome offer, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®* offers excellent initial value. You can rack up rewards quickly with bonus rates in multiple everyday categories, giving it better long-term value than the Barclays card.

    This card offers the same benefits as the Barclays version. However, instead of earning a companion certificate after spending $20,000 and renewing your card, you’ll earn a $125 flight discount. If you prefer an annual fee of under $100, consider evaluating these two cards to determine which one works best for you.

  • Pros

    • This card provides better short-term and long-term rewards value than its Barclays counterpart.
    • You’ll get solid in-flight benefits at a reasonable price point.

    Cons

    • Unlike its Barclays counterpart, this card doesn’t offer an intro APR offer on balance transfers.
    • You can only redeem rewards for flights with American Airlines or partner airlines that can be booked through American.

  • The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is ideal for people who want Admirals Club airport lounge access when flying with American Airlines. If you’re pursuing elite status, you’ll get a 10,000 Loyalty Point bonus when you earn 50,000 points and another 10,000 after earning 90,000 points within a calendar year.

    The high annual fee can be a bargain, considering that Admirals Club membership costs as much as $850. In addition to the benefits of the Platinum card, you’ll also get up to a $100 application fee credit every four years toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® and higher earning rates on American Airlines purchases as well as hotels and car rentals booked through American Airlines’ website.

  • Pros

    • The first free checked baggage benefit covers you and up to eight companions, which can save significant money.
    • Your complimentary Admirals Club membership covers up to two guests or your immediate family, which can benefit a larger family.

    Cons

    • The high annual fee is likely not worth it if you don’t fly with American Airlines often.
    • There are no bonus categories for everyday spending, so it may be harder to rack up points.

  • The Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®* is specifically geared toward business owners since it earns bonus miles in common business-related categories. Each employee cardholder also earns loyalty points, which can help your business quickly qualify for elite status benefits.

    The welcome bonus is generous, and Citi waives the annual fee for the first year. The in-flight benefits are similar to those of the personal version of this card. However, instead of a flight discount, you can earn a companion certificate after you spend $30,000 and renew your card.

  • Pros

    • The absence of foreign transaction fees is ideal for business owners who frequently travel or conduct business internationally.
    • Your business will have a longer timeframe to earn the welcome bonus.

    Cons

    • You’ll need good to excellent credit to qualify for this card.
    • The cost of earning a companion certificate can be high for small business owners.

Comparing the best American Airlines credit cards

The best American Airlines credit cards can help you earn more miles and improve your flight experience. When choosing the right card for you, consider the following: how frequently you fly, rewards categories and perks offered.

Card name Best for Highlights Annual fee Bankrate score
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card No annual fee
  • Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $1000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
  • Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
  • Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
  • Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
 $0 3.1
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® Welcome offer
  • Earn 60,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.
  • Earn 2X AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
  • Earn 1X AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
 $99 4.4
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Frequent American Airlines flyers
  • For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
  • Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases
 $99, waived for first 12 months 4.6
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® Admirals Club access
  • Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
  • Earn 4x AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
  • 1 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on other purchases
 $595 4.5
Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® Business owners  
  • Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

 
  • Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations
  • Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on other purchases
  • Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible mile earned from purchases

 

  $99, waived for first 12 months 4.1

How to choose the best American Airlines credit card

As you compare American Airlines credit cards, consider these tips to help you determine the best option:

  • Decide if you want to pay an annual fee: The MileUp card is the only co-branded American Airlines credit card without an annual fee, while the Platinum and Business cards waive the fee for the first year. Before you decide if an annual-fee card is right for you, compare credit cards to see if you’ll get proper value from paying an annual fee.
  • Consider whether you need a card for personal or business expenses: You can have a personal American Airlines credit card and a business credit card simultaneously. Decide which option fits your spending needs best.
  • Compare frequent flyer perks: Determine which cards have the benefits you want. Occasional travelers probably won’t want or use all the perks that someone with Executive Platinum status desires. 
  • Compare bonus categories and welcome offers: If a card comes with a bonus category you will frequently use, it’s worth considering. Also, consider the minimum spending requirement to earn the highest welcome offer you can reasonably manage.

Consider flexible travel cards

If you prefer to fly American Airlines but don’t want to be tied down to a single frequent flyer program, you may want to consider flexible travel credit cards in addition to a co-branded credit card. Many of the best travel credit cards let you transfer points to multiple airlines or use points to book travel through a portal with any airline of your choice.

  • If you’re interested in travel credit cards that give you flexibility, make sure to compare cards from these programs:

It’s worth noting that none of these flexible travel rewards cards can transfer points directly to American Airlines. However, American Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance. You can transfer points to a partner airline and book American Airlines flights using that partner’s frequent flyer program (subject to award availability). While this can be complicated, you can get exponential value in the right circumstances.

What’s next? 

Check out the resources below to match a card with your travel needs and budget. 

The bottom line

Choosing the right American Airlines credit card can significantly benefit frequent flyers, but it all depends on personal preferences and needs. Travel credit cards with transferable points are also worth considering for those who prefer flexibility. To find the best American Airlines credit card, compare fees, perks and earning rates to determine which card best fits your travel needs.

Frequently asked questions

  • You can book flights with American Airlines up to 331 days in advance through their website or mobile app.

  • You can redeem AAdvantage miles for flights with various partner airlines, including all members of the Oneworld alliance and additional carriers like Air Tahiti Nui, Cape Air, China Southern Airlines, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, GOL Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Remember that booking with certain partners may require a phone call, and award availability can vary among airlines.

  • Having multiple American Airlines credit cards is possible, but be mindful of the restrictions on earning sign-up bonuses and the number of cards you can sign up for within a specific timeframe. Citi and Barclays, the issuers of these cards, have specific rules, such as a 48-month wait period for a new bonus on a Citi card if you’ve already received one. Barclays has similar limitations if you have or had an account in their AAdvantage program.

*The information about the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®, AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®  and Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

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