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For frequent American Airlines flyers, having a co-branded airline credit card can provide valuable perks and rewards within the American AAdvantage program. However, it can be overwhelming to determine which card is the best fit for your needs. American Airlines co-branded credit cards offer varying annual fees, rewards structures and benefits. Here’s how to choose the best American Airlines credit card for your travel habits and preferences.

Top American Airlines credit cards

Comparing the best American Airlines credit cards

The best American Airlines credit cards can help you earn more miles and improve your flight experience. When choosing the right card for you, consider the following: how frequently you fly, rewards categories and perks offered.

Card name Best for Highlights Annual fee Bankrate score
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card No annual fee

  • Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $1000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

  • Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
  • Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
  • Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
$0 3.1
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® Welcome offer

  • Earn 60,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.

  • Earn 2X AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
  • Earn 1X AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
$99 4.4
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Frequent American Airlines flyers

  • For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

  • Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases
$99, waived for first 12 months 4.6
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® Admirals Club access

  • Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

  • Earn 4x AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
  • 1 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on other purchases
$595 4.5
Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® Business owners  

  • Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

 

  • Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations
  • Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on other purchases
  • Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible mile earned from purchases

 

 $99, waived for first 12 months 4.1

How to choose the best American Airlines credit card

As you compare American Airlines credit cards, consider these tips to help you determine the best option:

  • Decide if you want to pay an annual fee: The MileUp card is the only co-branded American Airlines credit card without an annual fee, while the Platinum and Business cards waive the fee for the first year. Before you decide if an annual-fee card is right for you, compare credit cards to see if you’ll get proper value from paying an annual fee.
  • Consider whether you need a card for personal or business expenses: You can have a personal American Airlines credit card and a business credit card simultaneously. Decide which option fits your spending needs best.
  • Compare frequent flyer perks: Determine which cards have the benefits you want. Occasional travelers probably won’t want or use all the perks that someone with Executive Platinum status desires. 
  • Compare bonus categories and welcome offers: If a card comes with a bonus category you will frequently use, it’s worth considering. Also, consider the minimum spending requirement to earn the highest welcome offer you can reasonably manage.

Consider flexible travel cards

If you prefer to fly American Airlines but don’t want to be tied down to a single frequent flyer program, you may want to consider flexible travel credit cards in addition to a co-branded credit card. Many of the best travel credit cards let you transfer points to multiple airlines or use points to book travel through a portal with any airline of your choice.

It’s worth noting that none of these flexible travel rewards cards can transfer points directly to American Airlines. However, American Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance. You can transfer points to a partner airline and book American Airlines flights using that partner’s frequent flyer program (subject to award availability). While this can be complicated, you can get exponential value in the right circumstances.

What’s next? 

Check out the resources below to match a card with your travel needs and budget. 

The bottom line

Choosing the right American Airlines credit card can significantly benefit frequent flyers, but it all depends on personal preferences and needs. Travel credit cards with transferable points are also worth considering for those who prefer flexibility. To find the best American Airlines credit card, compare fees, perks and earning rates to determine which card best fits your travel needs.

Frequently asked questions

*The information about the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®, AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®  and Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

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