American Airlines is the world’s largest carrier, with 913+ mainline aircraft in its fleet flying to more than 350 destinations in 50 countries. Here, this post tells you about different types of credit cards for American Airlines to take the best advantage of your travel with them.
Whether you’re a frequent or infrequent American Airlines flyer, it’s a good idea to consider getting a credit card that makes flying cheaper, easier, or more rewarding.
With its new “Loyalty Points” programme, American Airlines has revamped the way flyers can earn elite status by rewarding not only flying but also spending on co-branded credit cards and other non-flying activities. You can read more about the changes here, but in general, you’ll earn one Loyalty Point for every qualifying AAdvantage mile you earn from qualifying activities.
Here are the requirements for elite status in 2024:
- 200,000 Loyalty Points for Executive Platinum.
- 125,000 Loyalty Points for Platinum Pro.
- 75,000 Loyalty Points for Platinum.
- 30,000 Loyalty Points for Gold.
These changes are especially beneficial for co-branded cardholders, as your spending can directly help you advance to elite status. Here are the best American Airlines credit cards for 2024, as well as why you should apply for one now more than ever.
Best credit cards for American Airlines
If you want an American Airlines credit card, you have several options. Due to the merger of US Airways and American Airlines in 2013, American Airlines credit cards are still issued by two different banks: Citi and Barclays. As an American Airlines flyer, you have more options than a United Airlines flyer, because all United credit cards are issued by Chase.
CCCI (CreditCardsCryptoInfo.com) independently gathered information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, Citi AAdvantage Business Platinum Select, AAdvantage Aviator Red, and AAdvantage Aviator Business cards. The card information on this page has not been reviewed or provided by the card company.
These are the cards that are available for new customer sign-ups; however, some other Barclays-issued American Airlines cards may only be available to current Aviator cardholders. Note: The bonus valuation is an estimate calculated by CCCI, not the card issuer.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the best American Airlines cobranded credit cards and who they best serve as American Airlines flyers.
Here’s a comparison of the American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards issued by Citi and Barclays that are currently available for new sign-ups:
American Airlines AAdvantage® Mileup Card
Welcome bonus: After spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, you will receive 10,000 American miles and a $50 statement credit.
Annual fee: $0.
Earning potential: $0.2 miles for every $1 spent at grocery stores and on eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile for every $1 spent elsewhere.
Bonus valuation: $227 in bonus valuation (including statement credit).
Benefits: As the no-annual-fee, entry-level option, this card rounds out Citi’s American Airlines card lineup. It’s lacking in features, but it does include the following in addition to the current sign-up bonus:
- Every $1 spent at grocery stores and on eligible American Airlines purchases earns you two AAdvantage miles, for a 3.54% return based on CCCI valuations.
- All other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar.
- On AA in-flight purchases made with the MileUp card, you can save 25% on food and beverages.
Who should get it:
This card is ideal for those who want to earn American Airlines miles but do not want to pay an annual fee and do not fly American Airlines on a regular basis, so waived check bag fees are not important.
AAdvantage MileUp Card official application link.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
Welcome bonus: AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® offers 50,000 bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying your annual fee within the first 90 days of card activation.
Annual fee: $99.
Earning potential: Earn two miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and one mile for every dollar spent elsewhere.
Bonus valuation: The bonus valuation is $885.
Benefits: Benefits include a $25 annual statement credit for in-flight Wi-Fi purchases, a $99 companion ticket after spending $20,000 on the card, waived check bag fees for the cardholder and up to four companions on the same American Airlines reservation, and a 25% statement credit for eligible onboard AA purchases. The bonus categories are fairly standard:
- Every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases earns you two AAdvantage miles.
- All other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar.
Who should receive it:
The AAdvantage Aviator Red card is an excellent choice for those looking for a large sign-up bonus that can be earned after purchasing as little as a pack of chewing gum. The benefits are adequate for the occasional American Airlines flyer.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® Card official application link.
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Welcome bonus: 50,000 miles after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening with the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard.
Annual fee: $99 (waived the first 12 months).
Earning potential: 1 mile for every $1 spent elsewhere, 2 miles for every $1 spent at gas stations, restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases.
Bonus valuation: The bonus valuation is $885.
Benefits: In addition to the current sign-up bonus, you will also receive the following:
- Every $1 spent at restaurants, gas stations, and on eligible American Airlines purchases earns you two AAdvantage miles.
- On domestic AA itineraries, the first bag checked is free for you and up to four companions on the same reservation.
- After spending $20,000 or more on purchases during your card year and renewing your card, you will receive a $125 American Airlines flight discount.
Who should receive it:
The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select is the best card for the casual American Airlines flyer who isn’t interested in earning elite status but wants a better experience when flying American. It has a lower annual fee and minimum spending requirement than some of the higher-tier American Airlines cards, such as the Executive World Elite card.
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard Card official application link.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard
Welcome bonus: After spending $2,000 in the first 90 days, you’ll receive 80,000 miles and a $95 statement credit with the AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard.
Annual fee: $95.
Earning potential: Earn 2 American Airlines miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, office supply stores, telecommunications expenses, and car rentals; earn 1 mile for every dollar spent elsewhere.
Bonus valuation: $1,511 in bonus value (including statement credit).
Benefits: The AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard provides the following benefits to business travellers:
- Checked bags are free for you and up to four people travelling on the same American Airlines reservation.
- After spending $30,000, an annual $99 companion voucher is awarded.
- Every year, you’ll get a 5% bonus on American Airlines miles you earn with the card.
- 2 American Airlines miles for every dollar spent at eligible office supply stores, telecommunications expenses, and car rentals, and 1 mile for every dollar spent elsewhere.
Who should receive it:
This small business card is ideal for frequent American Airlines travellers looking for an extra push toward elite status or the opportunity to earn a companion certificate with their small business spending each year. The card’s 5% annual bonus on miles earned raises the effective earning rate above the other options on this list.
AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard Card official application link.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Welcome bonus: 65,000 American Airlines bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months of account opening with the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®.
Annual fee: $99 (waived the first 12 months).
Earning potential: 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, telecom, cable, satellite, car rentals, and gas stations, and 1 mile for every dollar spent elsewhere.
Bonus valuation: $1,151 is the bonus valuation.
Benefits: The CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard has fewer benefits than the Barclay Aviator Business Mastercard, but they are still valuable to small business owners:
- After spending $30,000 or more on the card in a calendar year and renewing the card, you will receive a $99 companion certificate (account must remain open for at least 45 days after the anniversary date).
- 2 AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, 2 miles for every dollar spent at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations, and 1 mile for every dollar spent elsewhere.
Who should receive it:
This small business card’s additional spending category bonuses make it an appealing option for small business owners who want to earn extra American miles on various charges.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® Card official application link.
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Welcome bonus: 50,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $450
Earning potential: Earn two American Airlines miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and one miler for every dollar spent elsewhere.
Bonus valuation: The bonus valuation is $885.
Benefits: The Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard comes with the following benefits in addition to the sign-up bonus:
- Full Admirals Club membership, including access to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges for authorised users. To use these lounges, you must have a same-day boarding pass from American or a partner airline.
- When travelling on an American Airlines domestic flight, the first checked bag is free for you and up to eight travelling companions.
- Priority check-in, airport screening, and boarding.
Who should get it:
This is a card for American Airlines elite flyers — or those who fly American frequently but not enough to achieve meaningful status. This card is similar to having elite status, but without the first-class upgrades.
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard official application link.
Excellent cards for purchasing American Airlines tickets.
When you fly with a paid ticket, you’ll earn American AAdvantage miles based on the base price of your ticket minus taxes and fees. The number of miles you earn is also affected by your AAdvantage elite status. While having and using an American Airlines cobranded credit card for your American ticket purchases makes a lot of sense, there are some situations where other credit cards may be a better choice.
For example, if you want to earn more flexible rewards, you could use a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Citi ThankYou Rewards Points to pay for your American Airlines ticket. Consider the following cards for your American Airlines tickets, some of which come with more generous built-in travel protections than the Barclays or Citi cobranded American Airlines cards.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Welcome bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $95.
Earning potential: All travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards earns 5 points per dollar. 3 points for every dollar spent on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out, 3 points for every dollar spent on select streaming services, 3 points for every dollar spent on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), 2 points for every dollar spent on all other travel, and 1 point for every dollar spent on all other purchases.
Bonus valuation: The bonus is worth $1,200.
Benefits: For a low annual fee, this card offers 2 points per dollar on all other travel and 3 points per dollar on dining purchases (not just American tickets). Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to United, British Airways, Southwest Airlines, and a variety of other airline and hotel loyalty programmes.
You can also use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book flights and other travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card also includes primary rental car insurance as well as travel and purchase protection.
Chase Sapphire Preferred official application link.
American Express Platinum Card
Welcome bonus: American Express Platinum Card offers 100,000 Membership Rewards points after new cardholders spend $6,000 on purchases within six months of card membership. Terms and conditions apply.
Annual fee: $695.
Earning potential: 5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked through Amex or directly with the airlines up to $500,000 per calendar year, and 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases. Terms and conditions apply.
Bonus valuation: $2,000 bonus valuation.
Benefits: Although this card’s Membership Rewards points cannot be transferred to American, they can be transferred to Oneworld partners such as British Airways, Qantas, and Cathay Pacific, as well as Etihad Guest, one of American’s non-alliance partners. Transferred points from any of these programmes can be used to book award tickets on American-operated flights.
The Platinum Card earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on all flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year on these purchases), as well as prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel.
Other benefits for cardholders include a $200 annual statement credit toward incidental airline fees (but not airfare), monthly Uber credits, biannual Saks credits, Marriott elite status, Hilton elite status, Centurion Lounge access, Priority Pass Select membership, and much more. Certain card benefits require enrollment. Read our Amex Platinum card review for more information.
Amex Platinum official application link.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.
Annual fee: $550.
Earning potential: Earn 10 points for every dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and Chase Dining through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 5 points for every dollar spent on flights booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3 points for all other travel and dining, and 1 point for everything else.
Bonus valuation: The bonus is worth $1,200.
Benefits: Although Chase Ultimate Rewards points do not transfer to American Airlines, you can use them to book American-operated flights through Ultimate Rewards transfer partners such as British Airways for as little as 7,500 Avios points each way. If you’re looking forward to future award travel with a diverse group of airline partners, this card is a great option. Alternatively, if you prefer the simplicity of cash fares. Through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, you can redeem your points for 1.5 cents each for airfare, hotels, car rentals, or cruises.
The Sapphire Reserve earns 3 points per dollar on all other travel and dining purchases (excluding the $300 travel credit) and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. If you spend a lot of money in these two areas, you might be able to book an award flight in no time.
The card also offers 10 points per dollar spent on Lyft until March 2025. Its $550 annual fee is offset by a $300 annual travel credit, which is applied automatically to any eligible purchase, including airfare, hotel stays, and sightseeing tours. Priority Pass Select membership provides access to lounges as well as excellent travel protections if you charge the airfare or taxes and fees on award flights to your card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve official application link.
Who should be eligible for an American Airlines credit card?
I wouldn’t base your entire points-earning strategy on an American Airlines cobranded credit card because putting all your eggs (er, miles) in one basket is dangerous. American implemented dynamic pricing on award tickets, making some awards more affordable while making others prohibitively expensive.
However, if you fly with American even a few times a year, you can save a lot of money by taking advantage of the cobranded cards’ perks. The free checked bags are possibly the most valuable. Many American Airlines cobranded cards provide free checked bags for up to eight additional people on the reservation, saving money for the entire family.
I think of airline credit cards as providing “elite-lite” perks like priority boarding and lounge access, similar to what you might get if you have elite status. If you frequently fly with American but don’t fly (or spend) enough to qualify for AAdvantage elite status, these credit card benefits become even more valuable.
How valuable are AAdvantage miles?
American Airlines AAdvantage miles are valued at 1.77 cents each. The carrier has been rapidly expanding economy web specials utilising miles, which can be a steal if they match your requirements. AAdvantage miles are slightly more valuable than United (1.21 cents) and Delta (1.41 cents), thanks in part to the value you receive when redeeming them for Oneworld partner awards.
Cathay Pacific’s excellent business class can take you anywhere in Asia for just 70,000 miles. You can also fly Iberia business class to Europe for 57,500 miles and avoid some of British Airways’ infamous fuel surcharges.
Is it possible for you to have more than one American Airlines credit card?
Yes! That was simple.
Fortunately, unlike the extremely complex rules that apply to Marriott credit cards issued by both American Express and Chase (also the result of a merger, in this case between SPG and Marriott), having a Citi American Airlines card does not automatically preclude you from applying for a Barclays-issued American Airlines card, and vice versa.
Furthermore, if you want, you can have more than one Citi-issued American Airlines card. For example, if you have the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard but want to get the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard for lounge access, you can have both. It is important to note, however, that you cannot receive a sign-up bonus on a new card if you have previously received one on the same card within the previous 48 months.
As always, carefully read the terms and conditions, but there are ways to have more than one American Airlines branded card if desired.
In conclusion
When travelling on a regular basis, the best American Airlines credit card depends on how frequently you fly the carrier, how much you value lounge access, whether you need assistance achieving elite status, and what other cards you have in your wallet.
If you want Admirals Club access, you might prefer the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, but if you own a small business, the answer will be different.
The Aviator Red is the best option for most occasional American Airlines flyers. The card offers a sizable 50,000-mile sign-up bonus after you meet the spending requirements, as well as some nice perks like your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries.
Option B is to obtain a more versatile travel card. For example, the American Express Platinum Card earns 5 points for every dollar spent on American Airlines ticket purchases (made directly with the airline) and includes Priority Pass access. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is another excellent option for travellers seeking built-in travel protections and bonus points without being tied to American Airlines.
