Every travel credit card has something great to offer. You can find them from a lot of CC issuers, from Chase and Amex to Discover and Bank of America and more. However, if you want to get the best benefits and perks from the airline you fancy, you usually need to get the card specifically designed for it. That’s the case for American Airlines. Yet, this doesn’t generalize that other versatile travel cards can’t compete in this game. With this, we rounded up the best cards American Airlines credit cards you can use for your next flight bookings, and here they are:
1 Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Intro Bonus: 50,000 miles
Regular APR: 15.99% to 24.99% (Variable)
Credit Score: 700 to 749 (Good to Excellent)
Annual Fee: $99 ($0 during the first year)
Highlights:
- The annual fee is waived during the first 12 months of the card.
- It can earn 2x miles on every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, gas stations, and restaurants.
- Spend $20,000 or more on purchases in a calendar year and renew the card, and you can earn a $125 flight discount certificate.
- The card has no foreign transaction fee.
- There is a 25% rebate on in-flight food and beverage purchases.
Best American Airlines Credit Card for AA Points Earning and Benefits
For those looking for a card with decent American Airlines benefits and a decent earning rate, the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard can be the best choice to have. It doesn’t come free, but the $99 annual fee is much more affordable than the options out there. Plus, it will be waived for the first 12 months!
It can work like any other credit card due to its earning categories. With this, you can get 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent at gas stations, restaurants, and eligible American Airlines purchases; and 1 AAdvantage mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases. And to sweeten your first-year experience of using the card, there are 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles waiting for you when you spend $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. You can also get a $125 American Airlines flight discount when you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your card’s first year. And while the discount seems inadequate for the huge sum of money you need to spend just to get it, note that it could translate to miles you can earn.
The card also provides benefits that travelers can enjoy, such as zero foreign transaction fees, preferred boarding, 25% back on inflight food and beverage, and a free checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions.
2 Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Intro Bonus: 50,000 miles
Regular APR: 15.99% to 24.99% (Variable)
Credit Score: 700 to 749 (Good to Excellent)
Annual Fee: $450
Highlights:
- It offers concierge service, a priority check-in, and priority airport screening.
- The free checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights can benefit up to 8 companions on the same reservation.
- It comes with an Admiral’s Club membership that justifies the high annual fee.
- The card earns 2X AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1X AAdvantage miles on other purchases.
- You can add up to 10 authorized users for free.
Best American Airlines Credit Card With Admiral’s Club Membership
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard might be a bit intimidating due to its high annual fee of $450, but it can offer good value in its offers. There is a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every 5 years and free checked bags for the cardholder and up to eight companions. As a plus, the card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and you can get 25% back on food and beverage purchases when you use the card during your flight.
However, the most prominent feature this card can offer has got to be the cardholder’s access to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges. The club can basically cost you up to $650, but with the card, you can save up to $200. You can also add up to 10 authorized users without additional fees, and they’ll also be able to enjoy the Admirals Club lounge access with up to two guests.
The card can also earn 2X AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1X AAdvantage miles on other purchases. The earning rate is not that impressive, but you can get 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles as a new cardholder when you $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
3 Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Intro Bonus: 60,000 points
Regular APR: 15.99% to 22.99% (Variable)
Credit Score: 700 to 749 (Good to Excellent)
Annual Fee: $95
Highlights:
- You can get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash’s subscription service. Activate by 03/31/22.
- The points can be used on airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises.
- Points redemption also works with other airlines.
- New cardholders will get 60,000 points welcome bonus.
- The card has high points earning rates on specific categories.
- The Chase travel portal lets you book American Airlines flights using points.
Best American Airlines Credit Card Offering Versatility
The Chase Sapphire Preferred might not be specifically made for American Airlines, but it is a very versatile card that will be loved by AA flyers and more. And although it charges a $95 annual fee, it is loaded with features and benefits that you’ll enjoy.
First in the line is the welcome bonus offered in 60,000 points that you can get by spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You can also sustain the supply of your points as the points earning rate of the card is pretty decent. As a cardholder, you can make five points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, three points per dollar on dining, two points per dollar on all other travel purchases, and one point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
The card points are transferable at a 1:1 rate to Chase’s travel partners, and although American Airlines isn’t still one of them, you can use the Chase travel portal to book American Airlines flights. This can even benefit you as redeeming airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards will give you 25% more value to your points. That means your 60,000 welcome bonus points can be worth $750 toward travel. Moreover, your points are worth 25% more with Pay Yourself Back during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
There are also other benefits that come with the card, such as the $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, lost luggage insurance, $0 foreign transaction fees, and more.
4 CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard
CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard
Intro Bonus: 65,000 miles
Regular APR: 15.99% to 24.99% (Variable)
Credit Score: 720+ (Excellent)
Annual Fee: $99 ($0 during the first year)
Highlights:
- The card’s annual fee is waived during the first 12 months of the card.
- You can receive 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
- The card features different categories that fit the spending needs of businesses.
- The $99 companion travel certificate can be earned by spending $30,000 or more on purchases in an account anniversary year and renewing the card.
Best American Airlines Credit Card for Businesses
Businesses looking for a travel card will find a great deal in CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard. It charges a $99 annual fee, but it is reasonable enough since it offers an impressive set of features that business owners would find valuable.
Cardholders will get 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles as a welcome bonus. There is a spending requirement of $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening, but it is doable even for small businesses. There is also a $99 companion travel certificate that will be given after spending $30,000 or more on purchases in an account anniversary year and renewing the card, but these requirements can be a bit of a challenge for some.
On the other hand, cardholders will find the card beneficial due to its points earning rate. It can make 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases; 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations; and 1 AAdvantage mile per $1 spent on other purchases.
Adding to the card’s benefits are the free first checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries, 25% savings on American Airlines inflight Wi-Fi, preferred boarding on American Airlines flights, and a $0 annual fee.
5 AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard
AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard
Intro Bonus: 60,000 miles
Regular APR: 15.99%, 19.99% or 24.99% (Variable)
Credit Score: 700 to 749 (Good to Excellent)
Annual Fee: $99
Highlights:
- The card offers a cell phone protection ($50 deductible per claim) against loss or damage on up to $800 per claim, or up to two claims and a total of $1,000 each year.
- Cardholders can get up to $25 back as statement credits on inflight Wi-Fi purchases every year and 25% inflight savings as statement credits on food and beverages.
- There is a free checked bag for you and up to four companions on the same domestic American Airlines reservation.
- You can enjoy the preferred boarding benefit of the card.
- It has no foreign transaction fees.
Best American Airlines Credit Card With Intro APR on Balance Transfers
AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard is another American Airlines credit card that can provide anyone with great offers. And given that it is a World Elite Mastercard, there are additional perks you can expect from such a card, like a 5% cash rewards credit by shopping on Boxed and $10 Lyft credit after five or more rides every month.
Moreover, getting its welcome bonus is far easier than the requirements of other cards where you need to spend thousands of dollars. With this card, you can get 60,000 AAdvantage bonus miles just by making your first purchase and paying the full $99 annual fee within the first 90 days of your card. And if you spend $20,000 on purchases and your account is still open 45 days after your anniversary date, you get a Companion Certificate for 1 guest at $99.
On the other hand, unlike other cards, the AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening. That said, it can be a helpful tool both for travel and other purposes. It can also earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1x AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases. And while there are no other earning categories in this card, frequent American Airlines flyers might still benefit significantly from it.
