The 6 best credit cards for American Airlines in 2024

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Planning a getaway but need to rack up more miles for your trip? The right card can help you earn rewards to make your travels more enjoyable and affordable.

American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, flying to nearly 350 destinations in 48 countries. The airline also offers several co-branded credit cards that cater to frequent fliers. You can receive discounts, preferred boarding, free checked bags, and other rewards.

Here are the top cards for American Airlines based on rewards rates, travel protections, annual fees, and other perks.

Best American Airlines credit cards

• Best for loyalists: Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
• Best mid-tier: AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
• Best for no annual fee: American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
• Best for business owners: AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®
• Best for earning miles on dining and gas: Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
• Best for flexible travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Best for loyalists

Rewards: 

• 10X miles for eligible car rentals and hotels booked through American Airlines
• 4X miles for eligible American Airlines purchases
• 1X for all other purchases

Annual fee: $595

Committed to American Airlines and travel regularly? This premium airline card offers an array of high-end benefits worth paying for.

The card offers complimentary Admirals Club membership, which grants access to over 50 lounges worldwide for the primary cardholder and their immediate family or up to two guests. 

Other notable benefits include priority check-in, security screening, and boarding, as well as a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees. 

AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: Best mid-tier card

Rewards: 

• 2X miles for eligible American Airlines purchases
• 1X miles for every other purchase

Annual fee: $99

The Aviator Red World Elite card strikes a balance between enhanced perks and a lower annual fee. You’ll also get 25% back on in-flight food and drink purchases and a free checked bag for up to four travelers.

For American Airlines loyalists who take several trips per year but don’t need the Admirals Club membership offered by the Executive World Elite card, the mid-tier Aviator Red Mastercard brings nice value.

American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp® Card: Best for no annual fee

Rewards: 

• 2X miles for groceries and eligible American Airlines purchases 
• 1X miles for other purchases

Annual fee: $0

For an airline card without an annual fee, look no further than the MileUp card. You’ll enjoy double the miles at the grocery store and on American Airlines purchases. This makes it easy to rack up extra rewards through your everyday spending.

While this card doesn’t offer free checked bags or priority boarding, the lack of an annual fee makes it a budget-friendly option. You'll also get 25% savings on in-flight food and drink purchases.

AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®: Best for business owners

Rewards: 

• 2X miles on American Airlines purchases and eligible office supply purchases, select telecom merchants, and car rentals
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Annual fee: $95

Running a business? This card offers a nice combination of rewards and management tools. You’ll earn 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and other select types of business spending.

This card also offers a solid welcome bonus, a companion certificate (after the annual spending requirement), and free first-checked bags for you and up to four companions.

Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Best for earning miles on dining and gas

Rewards: 

• 2X miles on restaurants, gas stations, and eligible American Airlines purchases
• 1X mile on all other purchases

Annual fee: $99, waived for the first 12 months

Frequent meals out and fill-ups at the pump can really add up. But with the Platinum Select card, you can transform everyday expenses into miles. Other benefits include discounts on in-flight purchases, free first checked bags for you and up to four companions, and preferred boarding.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for flexible travel rewards

Rewards: 

• Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases

Annual fee: $95

What if your next vacation involves more than American Airlines? Maybe you want to compare shops between carriers or go somewhere that’s only served by one airline. This is where a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card shines.

The flexible travel rewards card offers 2X miles on every purchase — no need to worry about bonus categories. You can redeem your miles for any travel purchase, including flights with any airline, hotels, rental cars, and more.

The Venture Rewards card also offers a fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and has no foreign transaction fees.

How to pick the best American Airlines card

Each American Airlines card has strengths and weaknesses. Knowing what you want can help you decide what to prioritize and can help you choose the right card. Here are some questions to consider:

• Do you fly with American Airlines frequently? If so, lean towards AAdvantage co-branded cards that will reward you the most. Perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and lounge access offer the most value if you fly American Airlines often.
• Do you want to earn miles on everyday expenses? Opt for the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select card which offers 2X miles at restaurants and gas stations — easy to rack up everyday rewards.
• Do you want to pay an annual fee? Consider the affordable MileUp Card to start earning miles with no yearly costs. You still get preferred boarding and in-flight savings.
• Do you want to earn flexible travel rewards? The Capital One Venture Credit Card comes with very flexible redemption towards any travel. This gives you more options beyond just American Airlines.

Comparing each card’s reward programs, annual fees, and interest rates can help. You may also want to consider if a card has travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees.

What’s the best credit card to get American Airlines status?

Elite status with American Airlines comes with more upgrades, free checked bags, and other benefits. There are no credit cards that automatically come with American Airlines status. But co-branded cards can help you earn miles that can lead to status.

For every mile you spend with a co-branded American Airlines card, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point. The more Loyalty Points you have, the higher levels of elite status you can earn.

Remember that sign-up bonuses and category multipliers won’t earn extra Loyalty Points. So if your card earns 2X miles in certain categories, you’ll still only earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent. Some cards, like the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, offer annual bonus Loyalty Points after you reach a certain amount of Loyalty Points in a year.

Many American Airlines cards come with the perks you’d get from having status, like seat upgrades and free checked bags. That’s why you should weigh other factors outside of status-earning potential when deciding if a specific American Airlines card is right for you.

Should I get an airline card?

Having a co-branded airline credit card may be worth it for loyal American Airlines fliers. But it largely depends on your travel habits.

Earning miles on everyday purchases like groceries and gas with an airline card is harder. You must also commit to the airline — your American Airlines card won’t do much good if you fly with Delta.

Occasional customers may still benefit from one-time sign-up bonuses that can help cover the cost of upcoming trips. However, frequent travelers who check multiple bags per trip and want to breeze through airports will find the most value. Perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, lounge access, and in-flight discounts can add up.

If you’re not loyal to a specific airline — or want flexibility — consider a general travel credit card. These cards let you earn points or miles for any travel purchase — no matter the airline or hotel chain.

How we rated the best cards for American Airlines  

To determine the best credit cards for American Airlines, we carefully evaluated a wide range of factors, including the card's sign-up bonus, rewards earning rates on purchases, added perks and benefits, annual fees, and overall value for consumers.

Our team analyzed numerous credit card offers and selected the top contenders based on these key criteria. The options on this list represent the best value, rewards, and benefits available.

Here are some of the key factors we considered:

• Rewards: Rewards are the primary reason many people use credit cards, as they allow you to earn valuable points, miles, or cash back on your everyday spending.
• Redemption flexibility: What good are rewards if they're a hassle to redeem? Flexible redemption options allow you to use your rewards in the way that best suits you, whether that's offsetting your bill with statement credits or booking a dream vacation.
• Benefits: Credit card benefits can provide significant value and make your life easier, from saving you money on checked bags to providing peace of mind with travel insurance.
• Annual fee: The annual fee is a key factor because it's a recurring cost that can eat into your rewards earnings. It's important to make sure you're getting enough value from the card to justify the fee.
• Welcome bonus: A lucrative welcome bonus can give your rewards a massive head start, especially in the first year, making it a great way to kickstart your earnings.
• Rates & other fees: High interest rates and fees can quickly negate the value of any 

Frequently asked questions about American Airlines credit cards 

Do American Airlines credit cards have foreign transaction fees?

Most American Airlines credit cards do not charge foreign transaction fees, making them a good choice for international travel. However, make sure to check the specific terms of your card.

Can I transfer American Airlines AAdvantage miles to other programs?

American Airlines AAdvantage miles cannot be directly transferred to other airline or hotel loyalty programs. However, you can use your miles to book flights on American Airline's Oneworld alliance partners.

Can I redeem American Airlines AAdvantage miles for anything besides flights?

While American Airlines AAdvantage miles are most valuable when redeemed for flights, you can also use your miles for upgrades, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays, and other experiences through the AAdvantage program.

Do American Airlines credit cards offer lounge access?

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® offers full Admirals Club membership, allowing you to access American Airlines lounges worldwide. Other American Airlines credit cards may offer limited lounge access or discounts on Admirals Club membership fees.

How can I earn elite status with American Airlines?

American Airlines' elite status can be earned by flying a certain number of miles or segments and spending a specific amount of money on American Airlines and partner flights within a calendar year. Holding certain American Airlines credit cards can help you earn elite qualifying miles or dollars to achieve status faster.

What is the best American Airlines credit card for business owners?

The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® is an excellent choice for business owners who frequently fly American Airlines. It offers a generous welcome bonus, 2X miles on American Airlines purchases and select business categories, a free first checked bag, and preferred boarding.

The bottom line

American Airlines credit cards offer valuable rewards if you travel often. You can save a lot of money by accumulating miles on every purchase. However, these cards aren’t the best for everyday expenses since most don’t offer elevated miles on categories like groceries or gas.

Before choosing an American Airlines credit card, consider how frequently you travel. You should also consider if you are loyal to American Airlines. Knowing your goals for a travel credit card can help you find the best match for your needs.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.