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Planning a getaway but need to rack up more miles for your trip? The right card can help you earn rewards to make your travels more enjoyable and affordable.
American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, flying to nearly 350 destinations in 48 countries. The airline also offers several co-branded credit cards that cater to frequent fliers. You can receive discounts, preferred boarding, free checked bags, and other rewards.
Here are the top cards for American Airlines based on rewards rates, travel protections, annual fees, and other perks.
- Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Best for loyalists
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: Best mid-tier
- American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card: Best for no annual fee
- AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®: Best for business owners
- Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Best for earning miles on dining and gas
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for flexible travel rewards
Who it’s best for: Luxury travelers who regularly fly American Airlines and want airport lounge access.
Rewards: Earn 10X miles for eligible car rentals and hotels booked through American Airlines. Earn 4X miles for eligible American Airlines purchases and 1X for all other purchases.
Annual fee: $595
Committed to American Airlines and travel regularly? This premium airline card offers an array of high-end benefits worth paying for.
Outside of the rewards, this card comes with a complimentary Admirals Club membership. You’ll also get free first-checked bags for you and up to eight companions, priority boarding, and credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
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Who it’s best for: Regular travelers who want solid perks and benefits without paying a high annual fee.
Rewards: 2X miles for eligible American Airlines purchases and 1X miles for every other purchase.
Annual fee: $99
The Aviator Red World Elite card strikes a balance between enhanced perks and a lower annual fee. You’ll also get 25% back on in-flight food and drink purchases and a free checked bag for up to four travelers.
For American Airlines loyalists who take several trips per year but don’t need the Admirals Club membership offered by the Executive World Elite card, the mid-tier Aviator Red Mastercard brings nice value.
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Who it’s best for: Less frequent travelers who want to earn miles without worrying about an annual fee.
Rewards: 2X miles for groceries and eligible American Airlines purchases and 1X miles for other purchases.
Annual fee: $0
For an airline card without an annual fee, look no further than the MileUp card. You’ll enjoy double the miles at the grocery store and on American Airlines purchases. This makes it easy to rack up extra rewards through your everyday spending.
While this card doesn’t offer free checked bags or priority boarding, the lack of an annual fee makes it a budget-friendly option. You’ll also get 25% savings on in-flight food and drink purchases.
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Who it’s best for: Business owners who want to earn miles quickly across different spending categories.
Rewards: Earn 2X miles on American Airlines purchases and eligible office supply purchases, select telecom merchants, and car rentals. You’ll also earn 1X miles on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $95
Running a business? This card offers a nice combination of rewards and management tools. You’ll earn 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and other select types of business spending.
This card also offers a solid welcome bonus, a companion certificate (after the annual spending requirement), and free first-checked bags for you and up to four companions.
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Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Best for earning miles on dining and gas
Who it’s best for: Frequent diners and drivers who want to turn everyday spending into miles.
Rewards: Earn 2X miles on restaurants, gas stations, and eligible American Airlines purchases. You’ll also earn 1X mile on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $99, waived for the first 12 months
Frequent meals out and fill-ups at the pump can really add up. But with the Platinum Select card, you can transform everyday expenses into miles. Other benefits include discounts on in-flight purchases, free first checked bags for you and up to four companions, and preferred boarding.
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Who it’s best for: Travelers who fly with different airlines and want to earn flexible travel rewards.
Rewards: Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You’ll also earn 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $95
What if your next vacation involves more than American Airlines? Maybe you want to compare shops between carriers or go somewhere that’s only served by one airline. This is where a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card shines.
The flexible travel rewards card offers 2X miles on every purchase — no need to worry about bonus categories. You can redeem your miles for any travel purchase, including flights with any airline, hotels, rental cars, and more.
The Venture Rewards card also offers a fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and has no foreign transaction fees.
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Each American Airlines card has strengths and weaknesses. Knowing what you want can help you decide what to prioritize and can help you choose the right card. Here are some questions to consider:
- Do you fly with American Airlines frequently? If so, lean towards AAdvantage co-branded cards that will reward you the most. Perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and lounge access offer the most value if you fly American Airlines often.
- Do you want to earn miles on everyday expenses? Opt for the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select card which offers 2X miles at restaurants and gas stations — easy to rack up everyday rewards.
- Do you want to pay an annual fee? Consider the affordable MileUp Card to start earning miles with no yearly costs. You still get preferred boarding and in-flight savings.
- Do you want to earn flexible travel rewards? The Capital One Venture Credit Card comes with very flexible redemption towards any travel. This gives you more options beyond just American Airlines.
Comparing each card’s reward programs, annual fees, and interest rates can help. You may also want to consider if a card has travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees.
Elite status with American Airlines comes with more upgrades, free checked bags, and other benefits. There are no credit cards that automatically come with American Airlines status. But co-branded cards can help you earn miles that can lead to status.
For every mile you spend with a co-branded American Airlines card, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point. The more Loyalty Points you have, the higher levels of elite status you can earn.
Remember that sign-up bonuses and category multipliers won’t earn extra Loyalty Points. So if your card earns 2X miles in certain categories, you’ll still only earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent. Some cards, like the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, offer annual bonus Loyalty Points after you reach a certain amount of Loyalty Points in a year.
Many American Airlines cards come with the perks you’d get from having status, like seat upgrades and free checked bags. That’s why you should weigh other factors outside of status-earning potential when deciding if a specific American Airlines card is right for you.
Having a co-branded airline credit card may be worth it for loyal American Airlines fliers. But it largely depends on your travel habits.
Earning miles on everyday purchases like groceries and gas with an airline card is harder. You must also commit to the airline — your American Airlines card won’t do much good if you fly with Delta.
Occasional customers may still benefit from one-time sign-up bonuses that can help cover the cost of upcoming trips. However, frequent travelers who check multiple bags per trip and want to breeze through airports will find the most value. Perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, lounge access, and in-flight discounts can add up.
If you’re not loyal to a specific airline — or want flexibility — consider a general travel credit card. These cards let you earn points or miles for any travel purchase — no matter the airline or hotel chain.
American Airlines credit cards offer valuable rewards if you travel often. You can save a lot of money by accumulating miles on every purchase. However, these cards aren’t the best for everyday expenses since most don’t offer elevated miles on categories like groceries or gas.
Before choosing an American Airlines credit card, consider how frequently you travel. You should also consider if you are loyal to American Airlines. Knowing your goals for a travel credit card can help you find the best match for your needs.
Marc Guberti
Editorial disclosure
Opinions expressed are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
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