As the world's biggest airline company, American Airlines® treat their clientele to a vast array of bonuses and perks. One of them is the opportunity to receive mile bonuses with the help of the AAdvantage program. An American Airlines® Credit Card is the simplest way of earning miles, but you should know that there are various AA cards that offer different sets of benefits. The cards are split between two credit card issuers - Barclays and Citi.
What is an American Airlines® Credit Card?
It's a credit card issued by an AA-affiliated bank, either Barclays or Citi. Special feature of those cards is the fact that they help you earn AAdvantage rewards at an accelerated rate. These cards are tailored towards frequent AA flyers, so there are many additional perks to be taken into consideration when you decide to settle on a specific brand of AAdvantage card. You can redeem miles to purchase flight tickets from American Airlines and its partner airlines.
Types of American Airlines® Credit Cards
There exist several types of airline credit cards. The best American Airlines credit cards will be described in more detail below. Make sure to examine their terms before you finally make the decision to apply for a card.
- American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card. It's the basic card that can be used as a great starter option. You will be getting miles for every $1 spent in grocery stores, grocery delivery services, and other eligible American Airlines purchases. After making $500 in purchases in the span of the first three months after account opening, you'll be eligible to get 10,000 bonus miles and $50 in cashback. The APRs for this type of card typically range somewhere between 19% and 28%. The credit score requirements are not the strictest, but nonetheless, it is recommended that you have at least a good credit score. Additional airplane miles can be earned through grocery shopping, airline travel purchases (eligible American Airlines purchases), and more. There's no annual fee, and there are really exciting bonuses like 25% off airplane food and drinks. The cardholder can add some authorized users to earn points on their purchases and receive miles.
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®. Most reviews agree that this brand of airline credit card provides the best value for your money. You are required to pay the yearly fee of $19 and make a purchase in order to get 60,000 bonus miles. APRs available for this card depend mostly on your credit status - it can be as low as 18.24% and as high as over 27%. Once again, you are recommended to have a good credit score, at least. You get 2 miles per every dollar spent on American Airlines flights and related eligible American Airlines purchases. You also get 1 mile per every dollar spent on any other type of purchase. Up to four companions get free bags, it's possible to get cheaper in-flight Wi-Fi, and there are additional benefits and conditions to be examined.
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard. This card has an annual fee of $95. However, the initial bonus is more than enough to compensate for this - you get 80,000 Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles if you spend over $1,000 on any purchases in the first 3 months after account opening (50,000 miles) and if you spend over $6,000 on any purchases in the first year (30,000 miles). Additional bonuses include 25% in-flight savings, a lack of foreign transaction fees, and free bags for you and your four traveling partners. You also earn 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar on travel-related purchases (see the full list to see what qualifies), and 1 mile per dollar on every other purchase made.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard. With this card, it's possible for you to earn 80,000 free miles after spending over $5,500 on purchases in the span of the first three months of account opening. The APRs for this card depends on your financial standing and can be as low as 18.99% and as high as 27.99%. You have to have good or excellent credit to qualify for the favorable terms offered by this credit card. There's a limited-time offer that gives you the ability to earn 4 miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Outside of this deal, you get 2 miles per every dollar spent on other purchases. The other purchase will net you 1 mile on every dollar. The annual fee that you will incur is $450. The holders of this card gain access to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges throughout the country and can add up to two guests. If you're a frequent visitor, it makes sense to select this card based on that benefit alone.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. You can earn up to 50,000 miles after spending a sum higher than $2,500 in the span of the first three months of obtaining this card. The APRs range between 18.99% and 27.99% but are typically on the smaller end of the spectrum. You are required to have a good credit score to qualify for the favorable conditions offered by this card. You can earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, at gas stations, and in eligible restaurants. The annual fee is $99, but you don't have to pay it during the first year. You and four traveling companions get free checked bags, 25% savings on in-flight purchases, and several other goodies. You can additionally earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate.
How to choose an American Airlines® Credit Card?
Since there are many different types of American Airlines credit cards, it's vital that you carefully choose which suits your needs the most. Here are the biggest points of difference between each type of card.
- Yearly fee. The first notable difference is that some types of AA-branded cards have a steep yearly fee. If it's important for you to avoid paying a fixed amount every year, then the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card should be your top pick. You don't have to pay a yearly fee of any kind. Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard has no yearly fee during the first year, but then you'll be charged $99 per year.
- Bonuses for non-travel purchases. Every type of AA-branded card offers generous bonuses for eligible American Airlines purchases. However, some cards also offer sizable rewards for completely unrelated spending. For instance, holders of The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card can earn Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles at a double rate when grocery shopping. The people using Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® are earning extra Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles by making purchases at gas stations and in restaurants.
- Starter bonuses. As already described, each card comes with a special, card-specific sign-up bonus. If you choose the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, you will be eligible to receive 80,000 free miles after making purchases of $5,500 in the first 90 days. Other cards have similar sign-up bonus offers, so it's important to figure out which deal suits you better (based on your spending habits).
- Baggage advantages. The most basic option, American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card, offers zero baggage-related privileges. The more expensive cards, of course, give you more of an advantage in that regard - it's possible to get a checked bag free not only for you but also for your traveling companions (up to four).
- Additional bonuses. Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard gives you free access to American Airlines Admirals Club membership all across the US. AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® qualifies you for a discount for in-flight Wi-Fi. Several cards give you preferred boarding privileges. In other words, it's yet another point that requires closer examination. Compare and contrast the bonuses and rank them in accordance with importance.
- Issuer. There are only two banks issuing these cards, so it's not that hard to figure out which is better suited to you. At a glance, there are no major differences between Barclays and Citi in terms of the quality of their services.
- Requirements. Some of the cards require higher credit scores and better financial standing. Review the requirements for every type of card to determine which one would be the best pick for you.
Applying for an American Airlines® Credit Card
The process of applying for a card can be initiated online. You need to fill out an application form on the official American Airlines website. The form must be filled with information regarding your home address, date of birth, SSN, and other personal data. You will also be asked to provide some financial info, including current loans, wages, and additional income sources. The company will review your application and the information you provided. If you meet their criteria, a card will be issued to your name. Remember that credit score requirements vary by card type, but the minimum is approximately 700.
How to use an American Airlines® Credit Card?
A co-branded card can be used in the same way you would use any other card. The only difference is that you will accumulate miles instead of cashback or some other type of bonus. The miles can be used when purchasing plane tickets with American Airlines. The exact process of redeeming miles can differ based on the terms and conditions stated in the application form or the agreement.
American Airlines® credit cards can be used for online and offline purchases. Since it's a credit card, you don't have to spend your own money until you pay the AA card bill. The bill itself can be paid via different means of payment, including online banking, physical checks, and cash.
