Best American Airlines Credit Card

Yes, American Airlines credit card miles expire, after 18 months of inactivity. AAdvantage loyalty program rules state that miles expire when a member does not “earn or redeem miles on American or with an AAdvantage partner at least once every 18 months.” All American Airlines credit cards, whether issued by Citi or Barclays, reward the cardholder with AAdvantage Miles.

So, to stop your American Airlines credit card miles from expiring, all you have to do is use your credit card to earn miles or redeem any miles you've already accrued. Or, you can book a flight with American Airlines (or another OneWorld Alliance airline) – with or without your credit card, as long as you fill in your AAdvantage membership number. As long as your loyalty account stays active in at least one of these ways every 18 months, your miles will last forever.

If your American Airlines credit card miles expire, all is not lost. You can reactivate up to 500,000 miles through your online AA account or by calling American Airlines, for a fee. AA does not disclose the prices on their website and they differ depending on the number of miles.

Note: Mileage expiration is temporarily suspended through June 30, 2021 due to COVID-19.

Yes. There are six American Airlines credit cards that offer free checked bags on flights: Citi's AAdvantage Executive, AAdvantage Platinum Select and CitiBusiness Platinum Select, plus AAdvantage Aviator Red, Aviator Silver and Aviator Business from Barclays. All of those American Airlines cards offer at least one free checked bag when traveling on a domestic itinerary operated by American Airlines.

For all but two of the cards, the benefit covers the primary cardholder and up to 4 other guests on the same reservation. AAdvantage Executive and AAdvantage Aviator Silver give one free checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation.

You don't have to pay for your flight with an American Airlines credit card to get the free checked bag, but your account must be open at least seven days prior to the date of your flight in order to be eligible. All American Airlines credit cards that offer a free checked bag also give at least 2 miles for every $1 you spend on American Airlines purchases, including airfare.

Elite Qualifying Dollars are units in the American Airlines AAdvantage rewards program that count toward the program's “Elite” status tiers. Each real dollar spent on qualifying American Airlines purchases, or with AA affiliates, earns an Elite Qualifying Dollar (EQD). Taxes and carrier-imposed fees don't earn EQDs. Some American Airlines co-branded credit cards give EQD bonuses for hitting annual spending thresholds.

EQDs are one of 3 tier-earning currencies you can earn through the AAdvantage program. The others are Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) and Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs). To earn an AAdvantage Elite status tier with EQD, you'd ordinarily need to earn at least $3,000 EQD, along with either 30 EQSs or 25,000 EQMs. That normally qualifies you for the lowest Elite tier, Gold oneworld Ruby. But in 2020, due to global slowdowns in air travel, all the AAdvantage Elite status thresholds have been lowered. For instance, Gold oneworld Ruby status only costs $1,500 EQD + 15 EQSs or 15,000 EQMs.

AAdvantage's Elite status tiers come with benefits, such as automatic unlimited flight upgrades and bonus miles. Altogether, there are 4 Elite tiers: Gold oneworld Ruby, Platinum oneworld Sapphire, Platinum Pro oneworld Sapphire, and Executive Platinum oneworld Emerald.

You need at least 7,500 miles for a free flight on American Airlines. You can redeem 7,500 AAdvantage miles for a free one-way domestic MileSAAver award flight of up to 500 miles in distance. For a domestic flight longer than 500 miles, you'll need 20,000-30,000 award miles.

American Airlines' flight awards chart is divided into four different award levels: MileSAAver, MileSAAver Off Peak, AAnytime Level 1, and AAnytime Level 2. The award levels differ based on availability, date, and region. MileSAAver and MileSAAver Off Peak are the cheapest options with the least availability. AAnytime Level 1 and Level 2 have much better availability, but require more miles (up to twice as many).

How Many Miles You Need for a Free Flight on American Airlines:

• One-way flight in the contiguous U.S. and Canada: 7,500-30,000 miles
• One-way flight to Alaska: 15,000-40,000 miles
• One-way flight to Hawaii: 20,000-50,000 miles
• One-way flight to Mexico, Central America, or the Caribbean: 12,500-37,500 miles
• One-way flight to Europe: 22,500-65,000 miles
• One-way flight to Asia: 32,500-80,000 miles

Those mile requirements are all for Main Cabin seats. Business and First Class flights will cost more miles, anywhere from 25,000 to 170,000 more per one-way flight. Regardless of which flight you choose, you'll still have to pay the fees and taxes for the flight.

The best American Airlines business credit card is the American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator™ Business Credit Card because it gives 75,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. You also get 2 miles per $1 on American Airlines purchases and at eligible office supply, telecom and car rental merchants. The American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator™ Business Credit Card gives 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases, plus a 5% miles bonus every year.

The only other American Airlines business credit card option is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, which gives 50,000 miles when you spend $2,500 in the first 3 months and waives its annual fee for the first year. On top of that, you get 2 miles per $1 on purchases with American Airlines, gas stations, and restaurants. Plus, you receive 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.

The American Airlines business credit cards differ in their bonuses and earning rates. But they do have a few things in common. For example, they both give preferred boarding and a free first checked bag for you and up to four companions on American Airlines flights.

There are a few more things you should know about each American Airlines business credit card, too.

2021's American Airlines Business Credit Card Offers:

• American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator™ Business Credit Card: 75,000 points for spending $1,000 within the first 90 days. 2 miles per $1 on American Airlines flights. 2 miles per $1 at eligible office supply stores, telecom providers and car rental companies. 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. 5% miles bonus every year. 25% off on in-flight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines operated flights. Companion ticket for $99 if you spend $30,000 in a year. 3,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars (gives you AA perks) for spending $25,000 in a calendar year. $95 annual fee. Good credit needed.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: 50,000 miles when you spend $2,500 in the first 3 months. 2 miles per $1 on American Airlines flights, gas stations and restaurants. 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Annual fee: $0 1st yr, $99 after that. Excellent credit needed.
• Best Personal American Air Card for Biz: American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator™ Red Credit Card: 50,000 miles for making a purchase in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee. 2 miles per $1 on American Airlines flights and 1 mile on all other purchases. Companion Certificate at $99 if you spend $20,000 on purchases and your account remains open for 45 days after your anniversary date. Up to $25 back as statement credits on inflight Wi-Fi purchases and 25% inflight savings as statement credits on food and beverages on American Airlines operated flights. $99 annual fee. Good credit needed.
• Best Business Card for Travel: Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business: 50,000 miles for spending $4,500 in the first 3 months. 2 miles per $1 on all purchases. Annual fee: $0 for 1st yr, $95 after. Good credit needed.

While your American Airlines business credit card options are limited, you could just use a personal American Airlines credit card for business purchases. Or, you could get a top-notch business rewards card, such as Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business, that gives miles on any airline purchase.

The 2 American Airlines credit cards with no annual fee are the AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard and the AAdvantage MileUp Card. The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select and CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select cards also come with no annual fee for the first 12 months. After that, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card's annual fee jumps to $99, while CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select charges $99 after the first year.

For no annual fee, the AAdvantage Aviator card gets you a 25% discount on all American Airlines inflight food and beverage purchases, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all purchases. The AAdvantage MileUp card gives you that same 25% inflight discount, plus a bonus of 10,000 miles + $50 statement credit when you spend $500 within the first 3 months. And even though the Citi and CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select cards only have no annual fee for the first year, both cards offer lucrative bonuses and travel perks such as a free checked bag on all American Airlines flights for you and up to four guests on the same reservation.

Annual fees are some of the most common credit card fees. They're automatically charged to your card, usually on the month of your account anniversary (rather than every calendar year), and will show up on your statement as a regular purchase. When you're charged an annual fee on an American Airlines credit card, you're effectively paying an advance on any benefits and rewards the card offers. Generally, the higher the annual fee, the more benefits and rewards you'll get. An American Airlines credit card with no annual fee is ideal for budget conscious consumers who occasionally take flights on American Airlines.

The American Airlines credit card foreign transaction fee is $0 for most cards. As of August 2020, all American Airlines credit cards have no foreign transaction fees except for the American Airlines MileUp and Aviator cards.

Foreign transaction fees are charged by some credit cards for transactions processed abroad, and they are usually between 2% and 4% of the purchase amount. If you plan on traveling out of the country – or if you frequently make purchases from foreign merchants online – you should make sure your credit card has no foreign transaction fees. There are plenty of fee-free card options out there, so there's really no reason to pay a foreign transaction fee. You can compare the American Airlines credit card offerings here.

To log in to your American Airlines credit card account, visit the Citi or Barclays website (both issue American Airlines credit cards), then enter your username and password. From there, you'll have access to your American Airlines credit card account and will be able to view details like your balance and rewards. You'll also be able to make payments, report your card as lost, or request a credit limit increase, among other things.

Both the Citi and Barclays American Airlines credit card login boxes also have tools to help you if you forgot your user ID or password. And they have a button for you to set up your online account if you don't have one yet.

The best American Airlines credit card bonus is 50,000 miles from the Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red Credit Card. You'll get these bonus miles after you make your first purchase in the first 90 days your account is open. You'll also get 2 miles per $1 on all American Airlines purchases and 25% discounts on in-flight food and beverage purchases.

If you value travel perks and lounge access, you may like the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard. You'll get free checked bags and priority check in and boarding. Plus, there's complimentary membership in the American Airlines Admiral's Club, a network of lounges with over 110 locations.

Citi American Airlines cards and Barclays AAdvantage Aviator cards are also on the Mastercard network. This means they come with bonuses and benefits including travel insurance, purchase protection and extended warranties.

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

• Best initial bonus: American Airlines AAdvantage Aviator Red
          
  50,000 bonus miles after you make a single purchase and pay the $95 annual fee. Bonus miles worth about $570 in American Airlines airfare.

• Most initial bonus miles: Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard
            
  40,000 miles for spending $2,000 within three months of opening an account. Bonus miles worth a little under $500 in American Airlines airfare.

• Best business bonus: CitiBusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard
                  
  70,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in your first 4 months. Bonus miles worth a little under $800 in American Airlines airfare.

• Best Elite Qualifying Miles Bonus: AAdvantage Aviator Silver
              
  Each level of American Airlines elite status requires you to earn “Elite Qualifying Miles” (EQM). The more EQMs you have, the better AA perks you get. AAdvantage Aviator Silver earns 5,000 EQMs for every $20,000 spent in a calendar year (up to 10,000).
            
  Levels start at Gold (25,000 EQM), Platinum (50,000 EQM), Platinum Pro (75,000 EQM), and Executive Platinum (100,000 EQM).

• Complimentary Admiral's Club membership: AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
               
  Free membership to more than 50 Admiral's Club lounges and 60 partner lounges worldwide. That's worth $450-550. Cardholder and up to 10 authorized users eligible for membership.

• Best bonus rewards categories: AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard
               
  3 miles per $1 on American Airlines purchases and 2 on hotels and rental cars.

• Best for free checked bags and preferred boarding: AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard/AAdvantage Aviator Silver
                 
  Free checked bag and preferred boarding for you and up to 8 travel companions on domestic American Airlines flights.

• 25% discount on in-flight meal & beverage purchases: All AAdvantage cards
                
  The best American Airlines credit card bonus is subjective and depends on a number of factors. Your spending habits, the rewards you're after and whether you're looking for a business or personal card all come into play. Researching and comparing the features, bonuses and fees of each card will allow you to match up the right card with your priorities.

American Airlines will charge your credit card immediately when you book a flight. Once the purchase is confirmed, the transaction will show up as pending until it is settled between the issuer and the merchant. Once the transaction has “cleared,” it will post to your account. Generally, transactions post within 1-2 business days from when you made the purchase.

While your purchase is pending, your card's available credit limit will decrease to reflect the amount of the transaction. Once the transaction posts, the purchase amount will be added back to your available credit.