Meghan Hunter, a seasoned credit cards writer and editor, shares insights on credit card rewards programs and miles and points. With a background in personal finance, she especially loves advocating for women's financial empowerment. Having visited o.
Meghan Hunter Credit Cards EditorMeghan Hunter, a seasoned credit cards writer and editor, shares insights on credit card rewards programs and miles and points. With a background in personal finance, she especially loves advocating for women's financial empowerment. Having visited o.
Written By Meghan Hunter Credit Cards EditorMeghan Hunter, a seasoned credit cards writer and editor, shares insights on credit card rewards programs and miles and points. With a background in personal finance, she especially loves advocating for women's financial empowerment. Having visited o.
Meghan Hunter Credit Cards EditorMeghan Hunter, a seasoned credit cards writer and editor, shares insights on credit card rewards programs and miles and points. With a background in personal finance, she especially loves advocating for women's financial empowerment. Having visited o.
Credit Cards Editor Dylan Pearl Credit Cards EditorOver a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.
Dylan Pearl Credit Cards EditorOver a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.
Dylan Pearl Credit Cards EditorOver a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.
Dylan Pearl Credit Cards EditorOver a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.
| Credit Cards Editor
Updated: Jul 5, 2024, 9:00am
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Getting an American Airlines credit card can be a smart move for anyone who travels somewhat regularly—as long as that travel is with American. These cards not only help you earn bonus miles on your spending but also come with benefits that can save you money and enhance your travel experience.
This guide will explore each American Airlines credit card and highlight its unique benefits. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just planning your next vacation, understanding these benefits can help you maximize your rewards and make the most of your travels with American Airlines.
American Airlines credit cards include:
Applying for a new American Airlines credit card means you’ll be able to earn a welcome bonus by meeting the card’s minimum spending requirements. Each card offered by American has a different bonus and spending requirement. Here’s what you can earn.
If you decide to apply for a card, be sure that you are able to meet the requirements for earning the bonus without overextending your budget. Also, consider the value you will get out of the card’s bonus and perks to determine if the annual fee is worth the cost.
One primary reason for getting a travel rewards credit card, aside from earning valuable welcome bonuses, is to earn bonus miles or points for your spending. By maximizing the number of miles you earn, you’ll have more AA miles to redeem.
Here’s a rundown of the bonus AAdvantage miles you’ll earn with each American Airlines credit card.
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Mastercard® *Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on groceries and American Airline purchases and 1 mile on all other purchases.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® *Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, restaurants and gas stations and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® *Earn 10 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through aa.com, 4 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® *Earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® *Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on cable and satellite providers, select telecommunications merchants, eligible American Airlines purchases, car rentals, and gas stations and 1 mile for every dollar spent on other purchases. Also earn 1 loyalty point for every one eligible mile earned from purchases.
See More See LessWhen deciding between cards, carefully consider where you spend your money. Do you spend a lot on travel? Groceries? Gas? Maybe you spend an equal amount across a variety of categories. The goal is to pick a card that most closely aligns with your spending habits.
Luckily, for travelers headed outside the country, there’s only one American Airlines credit card on our list above that charges a foreign transaction fee––the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Mastercard® * .
All of the other personal and business AA cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, making them a solid choice for anyone making purchases outside the U.S. If you’re not an AA loyalist but you’re looking for a card to use abroad, check out our roundup of the best no foreign transaction fee cards.
For frequent travelers, holding a card that provides car rental insurance can be invaluable if the unfortunate happens and your rental car gets damaged. The rental benefits offered by credit cards vary, such as whether coverage is primary or secondary, so it’s important to understand the terms and conditions if you plan to use these benefits.
Only two American Airlines credit cards offer car rental insurance: the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® * and AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® * . Both cards provide secondary coverage in the United States and primary coverage in other countries. Certain requirements must be met to qualify for coverage, such as declining the rental agency’s collision damage waiver (CDW). Check the appropriate card member benefits guide for more details.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® * is the AA credit card with the most robust set of travel insurance benefits. AA Excutive cardholders get trip cancellation and interruption, trip delay and lost baggage protection.
The only other AA credit card that offers these benefits is the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® * . With it, you’ll get travel insurance coverages, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance and baggage delay insurance.
The benefits offered by the various AA credit cards can save you money and enhance your travel experience.
American Airlines checked bag fees vary depending on a few factors, but for domestic flights, the first checked bag costs $40 ($35 when paid online). Getting free checked baggage can translate into significant savings, especially if you’re traveling with a group.
Thankfully, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® * , AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® * and Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® * all provide a free first checked bag to the cardholder and up to four travel companions. If you’re using the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® * , this benefit extends to eight travel companions.
The no annual fee American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Mastercard® * doesn’t offer any baggage benefits.
Being allowed to board the plane early comes with many benefits, including more time to situate yourself and your belongings and potentially more overhead bin space. It’s nice to see that almost all American Airlines credit cards offer this benefit to cardholders.
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Mastercard® * doesn’t offer any preferred boarding privileges, but the other American Airlines credit cards do. With the AAdvantage Executive card you’ll get to board in Group 4 and the remaining AAdvantage credit cards allow card members to board in Group 5.
Only the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® * provides cardholders with lounge access—and only at the Admirals Club. But if you’re considering a lounge club membership and fly with AA a lot, this card could make a lot of sense. If not, there are plenty of cards that offer more robust lounge access.
None of the others offer access of any kind––not to American Airlines lounges or any lounge network.
The only AA credit card offering this benefit is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® * , which provides reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years. Global Entry and TSA PreCheck can expedite travelers’ wait time through U.S. customs or airport security, respectively.
With a variety of travel rewards credit cards to choose from, it’s important to consider your unique situation. When deciding if an American Airlines credit card is worth it, consider the following factors:
American Airlines credit cards can be a great asset for frequent AA flyers and those who can make the most of the American Airlines credit card perks. If you don’t fly regularly with American Airlines, you’re likely better off earning rewards with a more flexible travel credit card.
Find the best travel credit card for your travel needs.
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® . The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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Credit Cards EditorMeghan Hunter, a seasoned credit cards writer and editor, shares insights on credit card rewards programs and miles and points. With a background in personal finance, she especially loves advocating for women's financial empowerment. Having visited over 50 countries, she is also passionate about travel, and encouraging and inspiring others to explore the world.
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