Compare American Airlines credit cards

There are four personal and two business cobranded American Airlines credit cards to choose from. You’ll find all cards share the same main features, such as a signup bonus or earning miles, but each card also offers a unique feature tailored to various travel and financial needs. Depending on how you like to travel and spend, one of these cards could be right for you.

Compare American Airlines credit cards

Quick look at American Airlines cards

	Foreign transaction fee	First checked bag free	Preferred boarding	Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit	Earn companion certificate	Admiral Club membership
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card	3%
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®	0%
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®	0%
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®	0%
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®	0%
AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard®	0%

American Airlines credit cards: Fees, signup bonuses and rewards

	Annual fee	Signup bonus	Rewards
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card	None	10,000 American Airlines miles and $50 statement credit after you make $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.	2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases. 2x miles at grocery stores and grocery delivery services. 1x miles on all other purchases.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®	$99 (waived for the first 12 months)	50,000 American Airlines miles after you make $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.	2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases. 2x miles at restaurants and gas stations. 1x miles on other eligible purchases.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®	$95	60,000 American Airlines miles and an introductory companion certificate after you make your first purchase within 90 days after account opening and pay the annual fee.	2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases. 1x miles on all other purchases.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®	$450	50,000 American Airlines miles after you make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.	2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases. 1x miles on all other eligible purchases.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®	$99	65,000 American Airlines miles after you make $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.	2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases. 2x miles on car rentals, and on spending at gas stations, cable and satellite providers, and telecommunications merchants.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard®	$95	65,000 American Airlines miles after you make $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days. American Airlines miles .	2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases. 2x miles at telecom, office supply and car rental merchants. 1x miles on all other purchases.

Which American Airlines credit card should I pick?

There are several cobranded American Airlines cards that are currently open for applications. They range in annual fees from $0 to $450, but most cost around $99 a year. To pick the right card, consider the American Airlines perks you want and whether you can earn bonus rewards.

Best for no annual fee: American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card

Best mid-tier American Airlines card: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®

Best for easy signup bonus: AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®

Best premium American Airlines card: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®

Did you know, both American Airlines business credit cards are excellent?

American Airlines’ two business cards are very similar, and it’s hard to go wrong with either. However, one is better for gas spending and the other is the right pick if you want to reach elite status faster.

Best business card for gas spending: CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®

Best business card for elite status: AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard®

How we chose our best credit cards

We assembled a list of cobranded American Airlines credit cards you can currently apply for, making distinctions between them based on key features and what types of cardholders would benefit most.

What’s changed in 2019

Prior to May 2019, certain cards offered 10% miles back after reward redemption on up to 10,000 miles each calendar year. This perk has been discontinued.

Typical features of an American Airlines credit card

Each of the American Airlines cards come with specific perks and benefits. But they share a few features in common, such as:

• Earn AAdvantage miles.
  Earn miles on your purchases with the maximum rewards-rate being 2x miles on American Airlines purchases.

• Signup bonus.
  Earn a batch of miles once you meet certain spend requirements.

• In-flight savings.
  Save 25% on in-flight purchases of food and beverages.

• First checked bag free.
  Get a first checked bag free using all cards except the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card.

• Preferred boarding.
  Board your American Airlines flight sooner. All but one card offer this perk.

• No foreign transaction fees.
  Don’t pay fees on purchases made abroad with your card. Again, one card is the odd one, while all other cards have no foreign transaction fees.

How to compare American Airlines credit cards

• Annual fee.
  There’s one no-annual-fee card, a few cards priced at around the $99-a-year mark and one card with a $450 annual fee. Knowing what you want to pay for your card can help you narrow your options immediately.
• Signup bonus.
  Most of the cards have signup bonuses of around 50,000 to 60,000 miles. Also, look for additional bonuses beyond miles. Besides comparing the number of miles you’ll receive, also look at what you need to do to earn the rewards.
• Rewards.
  Each card offers at least 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases. Some cards may offer bonus rewards in other categories, however, such as grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations.
• American Airlines perks.
  If you’re okay with just savings on in-flight food and beverages, you don’t have to pay an annual fee. But if you want privileges such as preferred boarding and free checked baggage, you’ll need to pay an annual fee. For premium perks, such as a TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit, priority check-in and screening, and Admirals Club membership, be prepared to pay a $450 annual fee.
• Companion certificate.
  A few cards give you the opportunity to earn a companion certificate, which lets you take a travel partner on the same flight for $99.

How to make the most of your American Airlines credit card

• Earn the signup bonus.
  This is one of the keys to getting massive value from your card. Make a note of the signup bonus requirement. Then, make a plan to meet that requirement within 90 days of opening your account.
• Use your card for spending on which you earn 2x or more miles.
  This is how you can get a great rewards rate on your purchases. In categories where you’ll earn only 1x miles, consider using a different card that offers a higher rate.
• Use your card’s perks.
  For some perks — such as free checked baggage — you don’t have to pay for your flight with your card. However, make sure your AAdvantage number is on your flight reservation. For your TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit, use your card to pay for your application.

Bottom line

All American Airlines cards share the same features, including a signup bonus and earning miles. But each card offers something unique, which may appeal to your financial situation.

However, if none of the cards mentioned fit your needs, compare other airline credit cards until you find the perfect fit for your wallet.

Frequently asked questions

• Is there another way to get an Admirals Club pass?

  Yes, you can either purchase an Admirals Club membership or purchase a day pass.

• How can I get a seat upgrade on American Airlines flight?

  There are several ways to get an upgrade, but the easiest one is to use your AAdvantage miles.

• How can I earn more American Airlines miles?

  Aside from using your cobranded credit card, you can earn miles by joining the dining program, joining the shopping program, you can buy miles or earn miles with partner travel services.