Which American Airlines Credit Card Is Best for You?

Some offers mentioned on this page may be outdated. To confirm offers and credit card details, check the issuer’s website.

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There is no shortage of American Airlines cards available to consumers. The trick is knowing which one will suit your financial needs and lifestyle the best. This American Airlines credit card review will break down your options and help you find the one that belongs in your wallet.

In this review:

• Compare the Cards
• American Airlines Credit Card Offers
• American Airlines Credit Card Reviews
• What About the AA Aviator Card?

How Do the American Airlines Credit Cards Compare?

	Sign-up bonus	Rewards rate	Free checked bags	Priority boarding	Annual fee
AAdvantage MileUp Card	10,000 miles plus a $50 statement credit after spending $500	2x miles on groceries and AA flights 1x miles everywhere else	No	No	$0
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card	50,000 miles after spending $2,500	2x miles at restaurants, gas stations, and AA purchases 1x miles everywhere else	First bag	Preferred boarding (after Priority, but before Economy)	$99 ($0 first year)
Citi / AAdvantage Executive Card	50,000 miles after spending $5,000	2x miles on AA purchases 1x miles on everything else 10,000 EQMs if you spend $40,000 in one year	First bag on domestic flights for you and up to 8 guests	Yes	$450
CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card	60,000 miles after spending $3,000	2x miles on cable, satellite, telecommunications, American Airlines, gas stations, and car rentals 1x on everything else	First bag for you and up to 4 companions	Preferred boarding (after Priority, but before Economy)	$99 ($0 first year)

What are the Best American Airlines Credit Card Offers Right Now?

If you’re hoping to maximize how many free flights you can get with a sign-up bonus, you should check out the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard. The Platinum Select card offers 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles if you spend at least $2,500 within three months of account opening.

If you’re a business owner, the AAdvantage CitiBusiness Platinum Select card offers a bonus of 60,000 miles after you spend $3,000 within three months.

The value of these bonuses can vary based on how you redeem them, but generally, they’re worth $500 and $600 in American Airlines travel expenses, respectively.

American Airlines Credit Card Reviews

Best for Most Flyers: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select card

Benefits

The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card is a good overall pick for most people because it’s got a sizeable sign-up bonus and attainable spending limits.

It’s also a good all-purpose card because it balances a relatively low annual fee with a fair amount of travel perks. The 2x categories lend themselves to the average person—most people buy gas and eat in restaurants frequently.

The card comes with some solid perks, such as:

• No annual fee for the first 12 months
• An American Airlines flight discount if you spend at least $20,000 in the first year and renew your card for the second year
• No extra charge for authorized users
• No foreign transaction fees
• First checked bag free—if you travel with luggage, this can easily make up for the annual fee in future years

Downsides

There aren’t a lot of downsides to this American Airlines rewards card. The annual fee is the biggest drawback, but if you use the free checked bag feature, it can help offset the fee.  There’s also a Balance Transfer Fee of $5 or 3% of the total transferred amount, plus no 0% APR offer, so it’s not ideal for those trying to pay down current credit card debt.

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Best for No Annual Fee: Citi / AAdvantage MileUp card

Benefits

This card offers some pretty solid rewards rates considering its lack of an annual fee. Other airline credit cards with high annual fees offer similar rates, and everybody can earn with double miles on groceries.

Also, if you’re looking for a card without an annual fee that doesn’t require much spending in the first three months to get the bonus miles, this is it. Everyone can spend $500 in three months, just on things like groceries or gas alone.

Finally, if you like to wine and dine while you’re in the air, this card allows you to save 25% on inflight purchases.

Downsides

Although this airline card doesn’t have an annual fee, it doesn’t have many travel perks, either.

Since this card is light on travel perks, it’s only a good choice for those who fly infrequently and those who take quick flights without much luggage. If you fly two or more times a year, you’ll likely get more benefits from one of the other cards on this list.

Recommended Credit Score

Good

Best for Lounge Access: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

Benefits

The Citi AAdvantage Executive card carries a hefty annual fee, but it’s loaded with travel benefits to make up for it. You’ll get a free checked bag for yourself and up to eight of your travel companions on domestic American Airlines flights. Plus, you’ll enjoy priority boarding, check-in, and airport screening. You’ll also get complimentary Admirals Club membership, which is worth as much as $650.

You’ll also get 2x the miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, 1x the miles on all other purchases, and 10,000 Elite qualifying miles (for free flight upgrades)if you spend at least $40,000 in the first year on the card.

These perks are great for American Airlines frequent fliers who check their bags and sometimes have layovers. If you fly for business but use a personal card to pay for it, this is a good pick.

Downsides

That high annual free is a tough pill to swallow. But if you look at what you get—including the free checked bags and the Admirals Club membership—it is one of the best American Airlines credit cards for frequent fliers.

If money is tight, however, you may be better off with another card. If you’re too worried about how you’re going to pay that fee off and you carry a balance, the interest you’ll pay will chip away at the benefits. Likewise, not everyone will have the disposable cash to spend $5,000 in three months to get the sign-up bonus. Even if you factor in ordinary purchases like gas and groceries, many households still won’t spend that much. If you find you’re overspending compared to what you would normally spend to meet that bonus requirement, this card wouldn’t be a good pick for you.

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent

Best for Businesses: CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card

Benefits

This card comes packed with opportunities to earn miles. The sign-up bonus alone is worth up to $600 when redeemed toward American Airlines flights, and you also get the chance to earn double miles from all sorts of regular business expenses, like paying your internet and phone bills.

The card also comes with some good perks, including:

• Preferred boarding for you and up to four of your travel companions if they are listed in the same reservation
• 25% savings on inflight Wi-Fi, food, and beverages
• First checked bag free for you and up to four of your traveling companions
• $99 domestic economy fare American Airlines companion certificate if you spend at least $30,000 in a calendar year

Downsides

The biggest downside to this card is that it does have an annual fee, but the first free checked bag feature more than makes up for it if you travel with companions. There’s also a balance transfer fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, and no promotional APR period, so this isn’t a good card for businesses with existing credit card debt.

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent

What About the AA Aviator Card?

American Airlines has additional cards you might be interested in at some point. They have five AAdvantage Aviator cards that are offered in partnership with Barclays and Mastercard. They are the:

• AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard
• AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard
• AAdvantage Aviator Blue Mastercard
• AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard
• AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard

If you want an AA Aviator card right now, you’re out of luck. Currently, the cards aren’t accepting new applications. But current cardholders can still use their Aviator cards, so you should keep an eye out for them in the future if you’re interested.