Best American Airlines Credit Card

The best American Airlines credit card is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® because it offers 50,000 miles for spending $2,500 within 3 months of opening an account. You’ll also earn 2 miles / $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Plus, the card’s $99 annual fee is waived for the first year, and there are no foreign transaction fees.

In other words, this card promises to quickly add altitude to your airline earnings, thanks to a good initial bonus, solid ongoing rewards and no annual fee during the first year. You need good credit to get approved, though, plus at least $2,500 in expenses to truly take flight.

You can save your company hundreds on American Airlines airfare just by spending $5,000 within 90 days of opening an account. Plus, you’ll earn 2 miles per $1 spent through American Airlines and on common business expenses.

More specifically, new customers get 60,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first 90 days. You’ll also receive an annual bonus equal to 5% of the miles you earn each year, as well as 2 miles per $1 spent on American Airlines airfare, office supplies, telecom and rental cars. Additionally, you get 1 mile per $1 spent on everything else, a $99 companion ticket each year you spend $30,000, preferred boarding, and a free checked bag for you and up to four companions.

This card requires good credit or better and charges a $95 annual fee. There is no foreign transaction fee.

Spending at least $7,000 within 3 months of account opening will score you 70,000 bonus miles, worth up to $826, depending on how you redeem. In terms of regular earning rates, you’ll receive 4 miles per $1 spent with American Airlines, as well as 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. And that’s all in addition to Admiral’s Club access, which gets you into nearly 50 airport lounges worldwide. That benefit is worth hundreds of dollars per year, if you actually use it.

However, this is an extremely expensive option that should only be considered by very frequent flyers who are brand-loyal to American Airlines and spend a lot of time in airport lounges.

Only a few credit cards charge more than Executive World Elite’s whopping $595 annual fee. Plus, good credit is needed for approval.

The best American Airlines credit card with no annual fee is the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® because it gives 10,000 miles + $50 statement credit to new cardholders who charge at least $500 within 3 months of opening an account. The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® also rewards users with 2 miles per $1 spent on American Airlines and grocery store purchases, and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. Cardholders receive 25% back on in-flight food and beverage purchases, too.

All in all, the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is a good choice for people who don’t fly a lot but want to enjoy frequent-flyer perks when they do.

You get 60,000 miles after first purchase within the first 90 days. That’s worth roughly $590 in American Airlines airfare, according to WalletHub’s calculations - enough value to cover the cost of the card’s $99 annual fee for roughly seven years.

All the other rewards you earn and perks you enjoy are nothing but gravy as a result. They include 25% off in-flight refreshments, preferred boarding and a free checked bag for you and up to four companions on domestic flights. You’ll also earn 2 miles per $1 spent through American Airlines and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.

The American Airlines AAdvantage® Aviator™ Red Credit Card isn’t known for financing, but it does offer 0% for 15 months on balance transfers, with a balance transfer fee of 5% (min $5). There is no foreign transaction fee. You need at least good credit to qualify for approval.

The best American Airlines credit card is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® because it offers 50,000 miles for spending $2,500 within 3 months of opening an account. You’ll also earn 2 miles / $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Plus, the card’s $99 annual fee is waived for the first year, and there are no foreign transaction fees.

In other words, this card promises to quickly add altitude to your airline earnings, thanks to a good initial bonus, solid ongoing rewards and no annual fee during the first year. You need good credit to get approved, though, plus at least $2,500 in expenses to truly take flight.

New applicants who get approved and spend $4,000 within 4 months of opening an account earn an initial bonus of 65,000 miles for a limited time.

In addition to its big initial bonus, the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® gives 2 miles per $1 spent with American Airlines, telecommunications providers, cable and satellite companies, car rental agencies and gas stations. All other purchases yield 1 mile per $1.

This card also offers a free checked bag, 25% back on in-flight Wi-Fi, and priority boarding on American Airlines flights. It has a $0 annual fee the first year and charges $99 per year after that. There are no foreign transaction fees.

You can save your company hundreds on American Airlines airfare just by spending $5,000 within 90 days of opening an account. Plus, you’ll earn 2 miles per $1 spent through American Airlines and on common business expenses.

More specifically, new customers get 60,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first 90 days. You’ll also receive an annual bonus equal to 5% of the miles you earn each year, as well as 2 miles per $1 spent on American Airlines airfare, office supplies, telecom and rental cars. Additionally, you get 1 mile per $1 spent on everything else, a $99 companion ticket each year you spend $30,000, preferred boarding, and a free checked bag for you and up to four companions.

This card requires good credit or better and charges a $95 annual fee. There is no foreign transaction fee.

The Iberia Credit Card is one of the best credit card offers affiliated with American’s oneworld Alliance partners. Among other perks, that means you can redeem rewards for American Airlines flights. And this card provides plenty of opportunities to earn miles, or Avios, as Iberia calls them.

The offer starts with an initial bonus of 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months your account is open. This bonus helps offset the card’s $95 annual fee. Plus, the Iberia Credit Card gives 1 - 3 points per $1 on purchases. 

The JetBlue Plus Card is one of the best credit cards affiliated with an airline that is partnered with American Airlines, and cardholders can use their points to book flights at aa.com. The JetBlue Plus Card offers an initial bonus of 40,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee and gives 1 - 6 points per $1 spent on purchases.

The JetBlue Plus Card comes with an annual fee of $99.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Those bonus points can be redeemed for up to $750 in travel though Chase.

You’ll also earn 1 - 5 points per $1 on purchases with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. There is a $95 annual fee, but you won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees.

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is the best no annual fee credit card for earning free flights with any airline. This card gives new cardholders an initial bonus of $200 for spending $1,500 in the first 6 months. Cardholders also earn 5% cash back on up to $500 spent per billing cycle in a category of their choice,  and airfare is an eligible category. All the other purchases earn 1% cash back.

In addition, you can temporarily avoid interest charges with an introductory APR of 0% for 15 months.