When flying American Airlines, the right airline credit card is all it takes to avoid checked bag fees, receive priority boarding or even relax in an airport lounge. In addition to earning valuable AAdvantage miles, American Airlines co-branded credit cards also help you earn elite status.
CNBC Select rounded up the best credit cards for occasional and frequent American flyers.
Best American Airlines credit cards
- Best for Admirals Club access: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- Best for occasional American flyers: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
- Best for flexible travel rewards: Citi Strata Premier® Card
- Best for fair credit: Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards
- Best for businesses: Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®
- Best for no annual fee: Citi Double Cash® Card
Best for Admirals Club access
Who's this for? The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard stands out if you want Admirals Club airport lounge access for less than the cost of a standard annual membership.
Standout benefits: The Citi AAdvantage Executive card comes with an Admirals Club membership that grants you and your immediate family (spouse/partner and children under 18) or up to two guests unlimited Admirals Club lounge visits when traveling with American Airlines or an eligible partner airline.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is one of the best ways to get access to American Airlines' network of Admirals Club® airport lounges.
- Access to nearly 100 Admirals Club® and partner airport lounges
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit
- High annual fee
- Additional fee for authorized users
- No bonus rewards outside of American Airlines purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $7,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum
Best for occasional American flyers
Who's this for? The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard can provide a lot of value to anyone who travels with American Airlines a few times a year (or more).
Standout benefits: American Airlines charges $50 for your first checked bag on domestic flights, or $45 if you pay in advance online. But with the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card, you'll get the first checked bag free for yourself and up to four companions on domestic American Airlines flights.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is worth considering if you fly with American Airlines once or twice a year because you'll get your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries.
- First checked bag free on eligible American Airlines flights for the cardholder and up to four travel companions on the same reservation
- No foreign transaction fees
- Preferred boarding
- American Airlines Flight Discount has a high spending requirement
- Has an annual fee
Best for flexible travel rewards
Who's this for? The Citi Strata Premier® Card is a great option for those who want to earn travel rewards that transfer to over a dozen hotel and airline programs, including American Airlines.
Standout benefits: The Citi Strata Premier earns up to 10X points on hotels, rental cars and attractions booked via Citi's travel site. You'll also receive a $100 annual hotel benefit for a single hotel reservation of $500 or more (not including taxes and fees) when booked through the same site.
The Citi Strata Premier® Card has competitive rewards rates and unlocks access to all of the Citi ThankYou® transfer partners, which boosts the value of your points.
- Unlocks point transfers to all of the Citi ThankYou® partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges, Flying Blue and more
- Generous bonus spending categories include dining, supermarkets, hotels and flights
- Valuable welcome bonus
- Has an annual fee
- Car rental coverage is secondary, not primary
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Balance transfer fee
Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Best for fair credit
Who's this for? The Credit One Bank Wander Card is ideal if you have fair or average credit (FICO Scores of 580 to 669), since most American Airlines cards require a good or excellent score (670+).
Standout benefits: While the Credit One Bank Wander doesn't earn American miles, the rewards you earn with this card can be redeemed for American Airlines flights — and you earn points at unusually generous rates. Plus, it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards
Rewards
10% cash back rewards on eligible hotel and car rentals booked using the Credit One Bank travel partner, 5% cash back rewards on eligible dining, gas, & travel purchases. 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases, terms apply
Welcome bonus
No current offer
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.74%* Variable
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Fair to Good credit
See rates and fees. Terms apply.
Pros
- Great return on travel purchases
- Available to those with average credit
Cons
- High APR
- No welcome bonus
Best for businesses
Who's this for? The Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard is geared toward small business owners. If you live in an American Airlines hub city or frequently travel to one for business, you'll appreciate what this card offers.
Standout benefits: Every cardmember year, you can earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate after you spend $30,000 or more on your card. With it, you can bring a guest along on eligible domestic American Airlines flights for only $99, plus taxes and fees.
The Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® can help you qualify for AAdvantage® status more easily by turning your business expenses into AAdvantage® miles and Loyalty Points.
- First checked bag free on eligible American Airlines flights for the cardholder and up to four travel companions on the same reservation
- 25% savings on select inflight Wi-Fi and food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights when you use your card
- Preferred boarding
- Annual companion certificate has a high spending requirement
- Has an annual fee
Rewards
- 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 AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
Best for no annual fee
Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash Card is a great option if you're looking to keep rewards earning simple: Earn at least 2% cash back on every purchase (1% back when you buy and 1% back when you pay). Plus, you technically earn cash back as Citi ThankYou® Points, which can be transferred to American Airlines.
Standout benefits: In addition to earning flat-rate cash back on all your purchases, you'll also earn 5% back on select Citi travel bookings. You can transfer the rewards you earn with a Citi Double Cash Card to all of Citi's travel partners, including American Airlines (1:0.7 ratio), which is an uncommon benefit for a no-annual-fee travel credit card.
The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards thanks to its straightforward rewards structure.
- Balance transfers get a long intro APR
- Generous flat-rate cash-back rewards structure
- No annual fee
- Travelers face a foreign transaction fee
- Intro APR only applies to balance tranfer
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Best American Airlines credit cards comparison
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® | Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® | Citi Strata Premier® Card | Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards | Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® | Citi Double Cash® Card | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit score requirement | Good/Excellent | Good/Excellent | Good/Excellent | Fair to Good | Excellent | Good/Excellent |
| Annual fee | $595 | $0 first year, then $99 | $95 | $95 | $99, waived for first 12 months | $0 |
| Rewards | 10X miles on eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels, 10X miles on eligible rental cars booked through aa.com/cars, 4X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, 5X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases for the remainder of the year after you spending at least $150,000 on your card in a calendar year, 1X miles on all other purchases | 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases; 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases | 10X points on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X points on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations; 1X on all other purchases | 10% cash back rewards on eligible hotels and rental car rentals booked using the Credit One Bank travel partner; 5% cash back rewards on eligible travel including dining, gas and travel purchases; 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases | 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, 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on other purchases, and 1 Loyalty Point for every $1 spent on your business card purchases | Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay. |
| Standout benefits | Airport lounge access; priority check-in; boarding and screening; up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck; Lyft credits; Grubhub credits; car rental credit | Preferred boarding; 25% back on inflight purchases; free first checked bag for you and up to four companions on the same reservation | $100 annual Citi Travel hotel credit; earns flexible travel rewards; elevated rewards when booking through CitiTravel.com | No foreign transaction fees; travel accident insurance; shopping coverages | Preferred boarding; 25% back on eligible inflight purchases; no foreign transaction fees; free first checked bag for you and up to four companions on the same reservation | No annual fee, earn up to 5% cash back when booking via Citi Travel |
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
What are American Airlines miles worth?
Experts typically value American Airlines AAdvantage miles at around 1.6 cents per point. That said, the value of an American Airlines mile depends on how you use it.
You can use miles to pay for Admirals Club lounge access (day passes or annual memberships), and you'll receive 1 cent per mile in value. You can also use miles to pay for seat upgrades, hotels and rental cars. However, you'll typically get the most value when you use your AAdvantage miles to book award flights with American Airlines and its partner airlines.
Maximizing your American Airlines miles
Redeeming AAdvantage miles for flights typically offers the best value. American Airlines uses dynamic pricing for its own flights and has fixed prices for partner awards. By taking advantage of the best deals (like international business-class flights), you can receive exceptional value for your miles.
Awards flights operated by American Airlines start at 7,500 miles in economy and 15,000 miles in business class, though the price can be lower during award sales or much more expensive for flights with high demand.
With international partner business-class flights, your miles are worth significantly more. You can book partner business-class awards from the U.S. to the Middle East for 70,000 miles one-way, including on airlines like Qatar Airways and Etihad. These flights can easily cost well over $5,000, which is an exceptional value of over 7 cents per mile.
How to choose an American Airlines credit card
When comparing AAdvantage credit cards, think about what benefits you value most and how frequently you fly with American Airlines. Once you can confidently answer both of those questions, you'll have a much clearer picture of which card is the best fit for you.
If you rarely fly with American or prefer to keep your options open, rather than stay loyal to a single airline, a no-annual-fee card, such as the Citi Double Cash® Card, may be a good fit. It earns cash back as Citi ThankYou® Points, which means you can transfer your rewards to American Airlines, but you also have other redemption choices.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® doesn't have a large list of benefits, but if you fly with American Airlines more than once a year and usually check your luggage, this card is a no-brainer. With it, you and up to four people traveling on American Airlines under the same reservation get a first checked bag free.
Anyone who travels almost exclusively with American Airlines or wants airport lounge access will appreciate the perks available with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. It comes with unlimited complimentary access to Admirals Club lounges, additional opportunities to earn elite credit and first checked bags free for you and up to eight travelers on eligible flights.
If you're interested in elite perks, but don't travel enough to justify the Citi AAdvantage Executive card's $595 annual fee, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® may be a better fit. It has a more manageable $350 annual fee and comes with four Admirals Club passes per year and free first checked bags for you and up to eight people.
How to apply for an AAdvantage credit card
Before you apply for an American Airlines credit card, you'll want to review the welcome bonus guidelines. For American Airlines credit cards and Citi ThankYou credit cards, you're typically limited to earning the welcome bonus from a card once every 48 months.
Other than the intro bonus restrictions, applying for an American Airlines credit card is straightforward. You'll need the following information to apply:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Email address
- Birthday
- Income
- Mortgage or rent payment amount
- AAdvantage account number (if it's an AAdvantage credit card) or an AAdvantage account will be created for you
- Social Security number
While each American Airlines card may have slightly different credit score or income requirements, in general, you'll need a good to excellent credit score to give yourself the best chances of getting approved.
Pros and cons of an American Airlines credit card
- Money-saving perks: American Airlines travelers will find it easy to save money with an AA card by taking advantage of perks like free checked bags, companion certificates and 25% back on in-flight purchases.
- Elite status boost: All co-branded American Airlines credit cards earn one Loyalty Point per dollar you spend on the card.
- Lower rewards rates: American Airlines cards generally have lower earning rates than many of the top travel and rewards credit cards.
- Limited value outside of American Airlines: Since most perks are specific to the airline, American Airlines cards provide little value when traveling on other airlines.
American Airlines FAQs
Can you earn American Airlines status without flying?
You can earn American Airlines status without flying because you qualify for status based on the Loyalty Points you earn. You can earn Loyalty Points in many ways, including one Loyalty Point per dollar you spend on an American Airlines credit card.
What's the best way to use American Airlines miles?
The best way to use American Airlines miles is for award flights with American Airlines or its airline partners, which include Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, JAL and many more.
Do American Airlines miles expire?
American Airlines miles expire after 24 months of inactivity. You can keep your miles active by redeeming them or earning miles, including the miles you earn with an American Airlines credit card.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best American Airlines credit cards.
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Our methodology
To determine which cards offer the best value for American Airlines flyers, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards, annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
When choosing the best American Airlines credit cards, we focused on cards that earn AAdvantage miles, rewards that transfer to American Airlines or have benefits that are specific to travel with American Airlines.
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Information about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
