Best American Airlines Credit Cards of November 2024 (Updated Monthly)
The [data-lightrail id="17"]{name}[/data-lightrail] is the best American Airlines credit card — it offers AAdvantage miles on everyday purchases as well as valuable airline benefits like free checked bags.
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American Airlines frequent flyers should consider applying for one of the airline's co-branded credit cards to accelerate miles earnings (and earn more Loyalty Points). American Airlines cards — unlike most co-branded airline cards — offer a pretty generous earning rate.
Signing up for the right American Airlines card could also get you valuable airline perks, such as:
- Preferred boarding status
- Free checked luggage
- Lounge access
- Fast track to elite status
You can also opt to apply for a non-co-branded card if you want more flexible rewards that you can still use toward American Airlines flights. Read on to learn about each American Airlines AAdvantage credit card and the perks they have.
Best American Airlines credit card overall (co-branded)
[affiliate-lightrail id="17" view="benefits_box" featured_title="Winner" signupbonus="true" /]- Free checked bag on American Airlines for cardholder and up to four companions on domestic American Airlines flights
- Preferred boarding
- $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases in a year
- 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases
We consider the {name} to be the best all-around American Airlines credit card because of its generous sign-up bonus and solid ongoing rewards. This card offers the best miles-earning potential, with bonus miles on gas station and restaurant purchases. {rewardsRateDesc}.
Runner-up: Best American Airlines credit card (co-branded)
[affiliate-lightrail id="1357" view="benefits_box" featured_title="Runner-up" signupbonus="true" /]- Free checked bag for cardholder and up to four companions on domestic American Airlines flights
- Preferred boarding
- 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases
The {name} is a solid AAdvantage card for American Airlines customers. The card comes with one of the easiest sign-up bonuses to qualify for. Just make any purchase and pay the card's annual fee, and you'll earn bonus miles worth enough to cover a free flight or two. However, it's out-earned by the [data-lightrail id="17"]{name}[/data-lightrail], which provides more categories to earn bonus miles.
Best American Airlines credit card with no annual fee (co-branded)
[affiliate-lightrail id="1164" view="benefits_box" featured_title="No annual fee" signupbonus="true" /]- 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases
The {name} is the top AAdvantage card for customers searching for a {fee.annual.text}-annual-fee airline card. It's actually one of the few airline co-branded cards on the market to not charge an ongoing membership fee. While frequent flyers won't get the same level of perks they would with an annual fee card, the card's generous grocery bonus stands out in the realm of "]no-annual-fee airline cards.
Best American Airlines credit card for lounge access (co-branded)
[affiliate-lightrail id="866" view="benefits_box" featured_title="Lounge access" signupbonus="true" /]- Admirals Club access
- Free checked bag for cardholder and up to eight companions on domestic American Airlines flights
- Group 4 Priority boarding for cardholder and up to eight companions
- Priority check-in and screening (where available) for cardholder and up to eight companions
- 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases
The {name} is the best American Airlines credit card for the American Airlines frequent flyer who wants lounge access and premium airline perks. The card comes with a hefty {fee.annual.text} annual fee, but it also grants cardholders access to the Admirals Club (up to a $650 value). Admirals Club gives you access to airport lounges with complimentary snacks, drinks, shower suites and business centers.
Best American Airlines credit card for business (co-branded)
[affiliate-lightrail id="631" view="benefits_box" featured_title="Business" signupbonus="true" /]- Companion certificate good for a guest for $99 (plus taxes and fees) each year you spend $30,000 on the card
- Free checked bag for cardholder and up to four companions on domestic American Airlines flights
- Preferred boarding
- 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases
- 25% discount on in-flight Wi-Fi
The {name} is the best American Airlines credit card for business owners that frequently travel with the airline. That's because it awards miles for a wide variety of purchases, making it a highly versatile card for any business. Another lucrative perk: You can get authorized user cards for your employees, and their purchases will earn you miles, too.
General travel cards for American Airlines flyers
If airline perks aren't important to you and you're simply looking to earn miles for flying, or you prefer to fly on a variety of airlines, a general travel credit card may be the best way to go. The following cards offer generous rewards and even a few cushy perks, like lounge access.
Best for lounge access
[affiliate-lightrail id="54" view="benefits_box" featured_title="Lounge access" signupbonus="true" /]American Express Membership Rewards points are especially valuable since they can be transferred to partners like Air France / Flying Blue, Delta SkyMiles, or Singapore Airlines Krisflyer. When transferring American Express points to a partner for premium travel redemptions, these points can be worth 2.2 cents each or more.
If you want a premium travel card that offers perks that extend well beyond flights with American, {name} is worth considering. While a {fee.annual.text} annual fee applies, having transferable points means you can fly with whatever airline is most convenient, whether that's American or not. You also get elite perks like - Free or Discounted Membership"]Priority Pass™ Select airport lounge access (enrollment required), as well as access to Amex Centurion lounges and Delta Sky Clubs when you fly with Delta. Annual credits for Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings, airline incidentals, digital entertainment*, Walmart+ membership* and more also add to this card's overall value.
*Enrollment required
Best American Airlines credit card for travel credits: [data-lightrail id="1129"]{name}[/data-lightrail]
[affiliate-lightrail id="1129" view="benefits_box" featured_title="Travel credits" signupbonus="true" /]Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can also be transferred to a range of travel partners including Program Overview"]Southwest Rapid Rewards, - Detailed Guide"]United MileagePlus, World of Hyatt and more. You can even transfer to American Airlines oneworld partners such as British Airways and Iberia Plus, or you can book flights with any airline through the Chase portal.
If you're flexible with which airline you fly and you want a handful of travel perks that apply regardless, the {name} may be the best way to go. This card earns flexible points that transfer to major frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs. You can also get 50% more value for your points when you use them to book travel (including American Airlines flights) through the Chase portal. While a {fee.annual.text} annual fee applies, the easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit, fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership and included airport lounge access make the fee well worth it.
Best American Airlines credit card for travel insurance: [data-lightrail id="92"]{name}[/data-lightrail]
[affiliate-lightrail id="92" view="benefits_box" featured_title="Travel insurance" signupbonus="true" /]This card has the same Chase Ultimate Rewards® transfer partners as the [data-lightrail id="1129"]{name}[/data-lightrail], which means you can turn your points into airline miles or hotel points with a range of popular programs. This includes British Airways and IberiaPlus, both of which are part of the same airline alliance as American Airlines.
The {name} is another great choice for consumers looking to earn flexible points they can use toward American Airlines purchases or elsewhere. For a moderate annual fee, this card offers a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards® hotel credit, {fee.foreignExchange.text} foreign transaction fees and a 10% anniversary points boost to help you fund your next trip. Your points are also worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Best of all, cardholders receive perks like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay coverage, primary rental car coverage, trip delay reimbursement and more.
How to choose an American Airlines credit card
Which benefits are you likely to use?
One of the main reasons to get a co-branded AAdvantage card is to score a range of important airline perks. The more often you fly with American Airlines, the more you can use those benefits and the more valuable the card will be. On the other hand, if you rarely fly with American Airlines, or you are unlikely to use the airline perks, a general travel card is probably the better way to go. Here are the key benefits to consider:
- First checked bag free — This can save you hundreds of dollars each year if you fly American frequently. Also note that co-branded American AAdvantage cards with this perk let cardholders use it for themselves and a few of their traveling companions on the same itinerary.
- Preferred/Priority boarding — If you care about being front of the line on your flights, Preferred and Priority boarding can be another good reason to own an AAdvantage card.
- Lounge access — Admirals Club membership (which comes with the [data-lightrail id="866"]{name}[/data-lightrail]) can make your wait for your next flight much more pleasant, but the benefit only makes sense if you often travel through airports with Admirals Clubs.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® application fee credit — If you want a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership, picking up a co-branded AAdvantage card that has it like the [data-lightrail id="866"]{name}[/data-lightrail] is a smart move. This kind of benefit with a dollar value attached helps you make up for the annual fees cards with more perks tend to charge.
- American Airlines companion certificate — A few co-branded American AAdvantage cards, like the [data-lightrail id="631"]{name}[/data-lightrail] also offer a companion certificate you can use alongside your own paid fare with the airline. These companion fares can help you get more value for your airline credit card and are most useful when you fly often with American Airlines already.
Which card has the most valuable sign-up bonus?
You should take a close look at each card’s sign-up bonus, since this can be a quick way to earn an award flight on American Airlines. Some things to consider when evaluating the bonus:
- How do the value of the miles compare to other card’s bonuses? (Consider the value of their points/miles when redeemed for AAdvantage airfare.)
- Can you meet the spending threshold?
- Do you meet the eligibility requirements? (Read the offer terms carefully. You may not qualify if you have owned other AAdvantage cards.)
- How does the value of the bonus compare to the annual fee? (You might go for a lower annual fee card if you’re strictly interested in earning miles.)
With this in mind, the [data-lightrail id="631"]{name}[/data-lightrail] has the most generous sign-up offer among co-branded American Airlines credit cards right now. [data-lightrail id="631"]{signUpBonus}[/data-lightrail]
How much are American Airlines points worth?
By our estimates, AAdvantage miles value average $0.012 per mile. However, the value varies depending on how you use your miles.
You can get much higher values than this with MileSAAver Off Peak awards (when you can find them) while AAnytime awards may offer a lower value than this (because they trade value for flexibility). Also, though you can redeem AAdvantage miles for merchandise and gift cards, you’ll find that you generally get less than 1 cent per mile on these redemptions.
Miles value of an American Airlines flight = Flight cash price (minus taxes and fees) / Number of miles needed for flight
How many AAdvantage miles do you need for a free flight?
The number of AAdvantage miles required for an award flight varies widely, depending on the type of fare, origin, destination — and whether you’re able to find a deal. Some flights can cost as little as 5,000 miles. On the other hand, international flights in first class can cost hundreds of thousands of miles. Here are some sample fares for different fare types on American Airlines (see the American Airlines miles chart for a full list of awards).
Fare type | Synopsis |
|---|---|
| MileSAAver Off Peak | Discounted awards during defined off-peak times of the year. 22,500 miles between U.S.-Europe |
| MileSAAver | The traditional saver award rate. 30,000 miles between U.S.-Europe |
| AAnytime Level 1 | The first level of "AAnytime" awards. 47,500 miles between U.S.-Europe |
| AAnytime Level 2 | The highest published level of AAnytime awards. 65,000 miles between U.S.-Europe |
How to fast track AAdvantage status
Earn Loyalty Points multiple ways
- Fly with American Airlines
- Make purchases with an AAdvantage® credit card
- Earn eligible miles with AAdvantage® partners
Fly with American Airlines and AAdvantage partners
Elevate the rate at which you earn miles per dollar spent by flying with the American Airlines network to accumulate points more quickly. Prioritize earning status tier one, AAdvantage Gold, and work your way up from there.
Status tier | Earning rate? | Increase in earning potential |
|---|---|---|
| AAdvantage® Member* | Earns 5 miles per dollar | No additional miles earned for membership |
| Tier 1: AAdvantage Gold® | Earns 7 miles per dollar | 40% bonus |
| Tier 2: AAdvantage Platinum® | Earns 8 miles per dollar | 60% bonus |
| Tier 3: AAdvantage Platinum Pro® | Earns 9 miles per dollar | 80% bonus |
| Tier 4: AAdvantage Executive Platinum® | Earns 11 miles per dollar | 120% bonus |
How to maximize American Airlines credit cards
- Use your card for gas, grocery and American Airlines purchases. You should check the earning rate on the card, but some AAdvantage cards earn 2X miles on these purchases — a great way to stack up AAdvantage miles on major expenses.
- Use your card when you fly domestically on American Airlines to save on luggage (if waives the luggage fee). Since the annual fee AAdvantage cards offers free checked luggage for up to four people on your itinerary, this can save you $100 or more each way. (This is a key benefit of the cards!) Note, the benefit doesn’t apply to international flights, so you might use another card when traveling overseas.
- Link your card to the AAdvantage dining program to earn bonus miles at some restaurants. You can earn an additional 1x to 5x miles on your purchases.
- Use your card for all in-flight purchases on American Airlines. If you opt to purchase an in-flight cocktail, be sure to reach for your co-branded AAdvantage card — you’ll score a huge 25% savings.
- Add the American Airlines shopping button to your web browser. You’ll earn extra AAdvantage miles on top of your card rewards for online purchases at participating merchants through American Airlines’ shopping portal.
American Airlines co-branded credit card vs. flexible rewards credit card
Co-branded American Airlines cards offer great airline perks that can be very valuable for loyal American Airlines flyers. However, if you're just looking to earn miles for free flights, a flexible rewards card like the [data-lightrail id="1129"]{name}[/data-lightrail] may be the way to go.
In fact, you could pick up a card that earns flexible points in the Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Amex Membership Rewards or Capital One Travel program and turn your rewards into a flight with American or other airlines.
As an example, all three of these programs let you transfer points to the British Airways Executive Club program at a 1:1 ratio. From there, you can use your newfound "avios" to book one-way domestic flights on partner American for as little as 7,500 avios one-way for short haul flights.
Frequently asked questions
American AAdvantage miles expire if you don't earn or burn them at least once every 24 months. That said, choosing one of the American Airlines credit card offers on this page and using it for spending will restart the clock and keep your miles valid for another two years.
The best American Airlines AAdvantage credit card for you is the one that comes with the perks and rewards you are most likely to use. That said, we named the [data-lightrail id="17"]{name}[/data-lightrail] as our top pick due to its array of benefits and great earning rate for a reasonable annual fee.
If you're looking for an American Airlines credit card with no annual fee, the [data-lightrail id="1164"]{name}[/data-lightrail] is the only option available. This card comes with [data-lightrail id="1164"]{fee.annual.text}[/data-lightrail] annual fee, yet you'll get a lower welcome offer and earning rate as a result.
American Airlines credit cards do not disclose a specific minimum credit score requirement. However, rewards and travel credit cards are typically geared to individuals with good or excellent credit.
You can use your American Airlines points to book travel for yourself or for others. This makes it easy to use your rewards to book flights for your entire family, or to give someone an award flight as a gift.
All co-branded American Airlines credit cards offer a free checked bag benefit with the exception of the [data-lightrail id="1164"]{name}[/data-lightrail].
The American Airlines [data-lightrail id="1357"]{name}[/data-lightrail] offers a few travel insurance perks including trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage delay insurance and travel accident insurance.
Methodology
To make choosing the right card easier, we've looked at credit cards reviewed on ValuePenguin as well as cards on major issuer sites to compile a list of the best rewards credit cards available right now. Our recommendations are based on the additional value you can earn with the cards — including the rewards value, cost of ownership and value of benefits such as travel and purchase protections, lounge membership and airline companion passes. Our choices are not influenced by our advertisers. Learn more on how we calculate rewards.
These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
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How We Calculate Rewards: ValuePenguin calculates the value of rewards by estimating the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using the card less any associated annual fees. These estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone, not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.
Example of how we calculate the rewards rates: When redeemed for travel through Ultimate Rewards, Chase Sapphire Preferred points are worth $0.0125 each. The card awards 2 points on travel and dining and 1 point on everything else. Therefore, we say the card has a 2.5% rewards rate on dining and travel (2 x $0.0125) and a 1.25% rewards rate on everything else (1 x $0.0125).