Is an AAdvantage card worth it?

The cash value of 50,000 American Airlines miles is $645, on average, or the equivalent of at least one round-trip flight between New York and Los Angeles on American Airlines. AA miles are worth about 1.34 cents per mile, slightly less than average for a major airline.

That said, the value of 50,000 American Airlines miles could be significantly more or less than $645, depending on how you redeem them and when you fly.… read full answer

How Far 50,000 American Airlines Miles Could Take You

The upper end of these price ranges are examples of using American Airlines miles to book a first class seat with a flexible cancellation policy. The lower end of each range represents an economy seat, with little flexibility, booked outside of the peak season for travel.

To get a great deal on American Airlines miles redemption, you should check out the AA flight award chart and then browse through offers on the AAdvantage rewards redemption portal. Since each American Airlines mile is valued at around 1.34 cents, on average, you’ll want to look for deals where your miles are worth at least that amount.

Some of the best American Airlines credit card benefits are bonus miles on American Airlines flights, savings on in-flight purchases, free checked bags, preferred boarding, and even airport lounge access on some cards. The long list of AAdvantage credit card benefits also includes more traditional perks like rental car insurance and travel accident insurance.… read full answer

Most American Airlines credit cards charge annual fees, ranging from $49 to $450. So, it’s a good idea to milk your card for all the benefits you can get.

Here are some of the best American Airlines credit card benefits:

• Bonus miles on American Airlines flights:
  Most AAdvantage credit cards give 2 miles / $1 on American Airlines purchases.
• Initial bonus:
  You may be able to get a lump sum of miles for spending a certain amount of money in the first few months your card is open. The best bonus right now is offered by the American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator™ Red Credit Card: 60,000 miles after making the first purchase within the first 90 days and paying the annual fee, which you can get from.
• Free checked bags:
  All but three American Airlines credit cards give you a free checked bag on American Airlines flights. Some even give a free checked bag to 4-8 of your travel companions. The three cards without free checked bags are the American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator™ Credit Card, the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card and the American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator™ Blue Credit Card.
• Preferred boarding:
  All American Airlines credit cards provide preferred boarding on American Airlines flights, except for the American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator™ Credit Card, the AAdvantage MileUp Card and the American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator™ Blue Credit Card.
• In-flight purchase savings:
  You can get 25% off American Airlines in-flight food and beverage purchases with any American Airlines credit card (the American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator™ Silver Credit Card offers up to $25 per day instead of 25% off).
• Lounge access:
  The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® offers a complimentary Admirals Club membership for you and your authorized users. You can also bring your spouse, children or up to two other guests.
• Rental car insurance:
  Only the American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator™ Red Credit Card covers you against collision damage and theft, up to the cash value of most rental cars.
• Travel accident insurance:
  Reimburses you when you or your family die or are seriously injured by a travel provider. The American Airlines Aviator Red Card has this benefit.
• Trip interruption/cancellation insurance:
  Pays out when a situation out of your control (e.g. severe weather, sickness) causes the cancellation or early end of your trip. The American Airlines Aviator Red Card has this benefit.

There are tons of American Airlines credit card benefits. But some cards provide a lot more than others. If you’re looking for the most benefits at the lowest price, consider the American Airlines Aviator Red Card. It offers every major benefit (except for lounge access) and charges a $99 annual fee.

It’s also good to note that you can also get some of these benefits without a credit card – just by joining the AAdvantage loyalty program. Basic members only get priority status on waitlists. But Gold members, who have earned 30,000 loyalty points, are able to get the priority boarding and free checked bag benefits. You also can get complimentary flight upgrades and discounted Admirals club memberships, among other things.