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Best American Airlines AAdvantage Credit Cards: Comparing Benefits & Perks

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Christine Krzyszton

Christine Krzyszton

Senior Finance Contributor

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Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, deta...
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With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...
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Juan Ruiz

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Do you fly with American Airlines and want the benefits of an American Airlines-branded credit card? Or are you just looking for a card to help you accumulate AAdvantage miles for an upcoming vacation? Perhaps you’re a small business owner and want to make sure all or your expenses are earning miles.

Regardless, you’ll have plenty of choices when selecting an American Airlines-branded credit card that fits your travel and reward-earning priorities.

Citi issues 4 of these American Airlines-branded credit cards (which have a lot of perks and benefits), while Barclays issues the AAdvantage Aviator Cards.

Let’s look at the features and benefits of each card, how they can help you earn miles, and which cards can accelerate your path to American Airlines AAdvantage elite status.

CardWelcome Bonus and Annual FeeBenefits
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
  • Earn 50,000 miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months.
  • Annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months
  • 2x miles on American Airlines purchases
  • $125 American Airlines flight discount after spending $20,000 per card anniversary year
  • Free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions
  • Preferred boarding
  • 25% statement credit for inflight food and beverage purchases
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
  • For a limited time, earn 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
  • Annual fee of $595
  • 4x miles on American Airlines purchases
  • Access to Admirals Club for the cardholder, 2 guests or immediate family
  • Dedicated check-in areas, expedited airport screening, and priority boarding
  • Free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 8 traveling companions
  • $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
  • 25% statement credit for inflight food and beverage purchases
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
  • Earn 65,000 miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months
  • Annual fee of $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99
  • 2x miles on American Airlines purchases
  • 2x miles on cable and satellite providers, at gas stations, on car rentals, and on select telecommunications merchants
  • Free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions
  • Priority boarding
  • 25% off inflight purchases including food, beverages, and Wi-Fi
  • Companion Certificate for domestic travel after you spend $30,000 or more in purchases in a cardmember year
  • No foreign transaction fees
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®
  • Earn 10,000 miles and a $50 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months
  • Annual fee of $0
  • 2x miles on American Airlines and grocery store purchases
  • 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
  • Earn 60,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.
  • Annual fee of $99
  • 2x miles on American Airlines purchases
  • Free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions
  • Preferred boarding
  • 25% statement credit for inflight food and beverage purchases
AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver World Elite Mastercard®*
  • No welcome offer available.
  • Annual fee of $199
  • 3x miles on American Airlines purchases
  • 2x miles on car rentals and hotel purchases
  • Free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 8 traveling companions
  • Preferred boarding
  • $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
  • Up to $50 in statement credits annually for inflight Wi-Fi purchases
  • $25 per day back as a statement credit for inflight food and beverage purchases made with the card
AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®
  • Earn 80,000 AAdvantage bonus miles and a $95 statement credit after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
  • Annual fee of $95
  • 2x miles on American Airlines purchases
  • Free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions
  • Preferred boarding
  • 25% statement credit for inflight food and beverage purchases

* The AAdvantage Aviator Silver card is not available for new applications. However, the card is available as an upgrade to cardholders who have an eligible AAdvantage Aviator Red card.

Citi AAdvantage Credit Cards

Each Citi American Airlines card comes with a generous sign-up bonus, the ability to earn AAdvantage miles on every purchase, and an array of travel benefits.

The miles you earn on your AAdvantage credit card could take you on a warm relaxing vacation to Aruba. Image Credit: Christine Krzyszton

AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Card (Best for AA Flight Discount)

The sign-up bonus fluctuates, but your bonus miles will be awarded after you reach a spending threshold in the first 3 months after card approval. You’ll earn 2x miles with American Airlines and 1x miles on all other purchases when using the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card.

Travel perks include:

  • Free checked bag on domestic itineraries for you and up to 4 traveling companions
  • Priority boarding on all flights operated by American Airlines
  • 25% savings in the form of a statement credit when purchasing food/beverages on board during your journey.

With no foreign transaction fees, this card can be a good choice for American Airlines travelers.

This card has a $99, waived for first 12 months.

AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card (Best for Admirals Club Access & Global Entry Credit)

The AAdvantage Executive World Elite card may be a great choice for the frequent traveler who wants the benefit of travel perks and lounge access.

The sign-up bonus offers fluctuate, but this generous miles bonus will be awarded after you reach the designated spending threshold in the first 3 months after card approval. You’ll earn 2x miles on American Airlines and 1x miles on all other purchases.

Travel perks include:

  • A free checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions on domestic itineraries
  • Priority check-in, boarding, and screening for the primary cardholder
  • $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every 5 years

The card comes with a hefty $595 annual fee, but the welcome bonus bonus and Admirals Club membership more than offset this expense. A new membership to the Admirals Club costs between $750 and $850 (depending on your American Airlines AAdvantage program status), so the membership alone is worth the annual fee.

You’ll find that there are no foreign transaction fees charged on this card, and it comes with World Elite Mastercard benefits.

Hot Tip: With the new Loyalty Points program, you’ll be able to earn AAdvantage elite status just through credit card spending.

CitiBusiness Platinum Select Card (Best for Companion Certificate)

If you’re looking for a card that earns miles for your business expenses, the CitiBusiness Platinum Select card might be a good choice.

Of course, you’ll get started with a bank of miles from your sign-up bonus once you meet the initial spending threshold after card approval.

You’ll then continue to earn 2x miles on:

  • All American Airlines purchases
  • Business expenses (such as telecommunications merchants, car rental merchants, and at gas stations)

All other purchases earn 1x miles.

Since additional employee cards are issued for no extra charge, you can be sure all your business expenses (even purchases made by your employees) are earning miles. You can also use online tracking tools to keep tabs on your business expenses.

Earn a $99 domestic economy American Airlines companion certificate after making $30,000 or more in purchases on the card during each account anniversary year. You’ll receive a companion ticket for $99 plus government taxes and fees when you purchase a qualifying domestic American Airlines economy ticket. Travel is valid on flights within the 48 contiguous U.S.

Travel perks for this card include:

  • A free checked bag on domestic itineraries for you and up to 4 traveling companions
  • Preferred boarding on all flights operated by American Airlines
  • Onboard, cardholders receive a 25% savings rebated to their statement when purchasing food/beverages with the card

This card does not charge foreign transaction fees and comes with World Mastercard benefits. There is an annual fee of $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99, which is waived for the first year. 

AAdvantage MileUp Card (Best for Earning Miles With No Annual Fee)

The AAdvantage MileUp card is a good choice for anyone wanting to earn more AAdvantage miles and earn Loyalty Points without paying an annual fee.

After earning the welcome bonus, you’ll continue to earn 2x miles on American Airlines and grocery store purchases and 1x miles on everything else.

Because this is an entry-level card, the only travel perk is the 25% rebate on inflight food and beverage purchases. If you’re looking for more exclusive travel benefits, you’ll need to look at one of the other AAdvantage credit cards.

Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Mastercards

AAdvantage Aviator Red Card (Best for Welcome Offer)

You’ll earn plenty of American Airlines frequent flyer miles on the AAdvantage Aviator Red card. That’s because you’ll jump-start your earnings with a generous sign-up bonus after making your first purchase within 90 days of card approval. You’ll continue earning with 2x miles on American Airlines purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases.

You can effectively buy miles at 2 cents each with the Flight Cents program that rounds up your card purchases to the next dollar, subject to a $500 per billing cycle cap (cardholders not wishing to participate should set their Flight Cents limit to $0).

When redeeming AAdvantage miles for a ticket, you’ll also have access to discounted round-trip or one-way travel (up to 7,500 miles less) when redeeming miles for MileSAAver award tickets on certain routes.

Further, if you spend $20,000 on the card during the year between your card anniversaries, you will receive a $99 companion ticket.

While traveling, you and up to 4 companions receive a free checked bag for domestic itineraries and preferred boarding when traveling together on any American Airlines-operated flights. You’ll also receive a 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases. Plus, enjoy a $25 per year statement credit for American Airlines inflight Wi-Fi purchases.

The card does not charge foreign transaction fees and comes with World Elite Mastercard benefits.

This card has an annual fee of $99.

AAdvantage Aviator Silver Card (Best for AA Statement Credits)

You cannot apply for the AAdvantage Aviator Silver card directly; it’s not open to new applicants. Instead, you must have the AAdvantage Aviator Red card first and then subsequently upgrade. The fee for this card is $199, but it does offer more benefits than the AAdvantage Aviator Red card.

The AAdvantage Aviator Silver card has greater earning capacity with:

  • 3x miles on American Airlines
  • 2x miles on hotels and rental car purchases
  • 1x mile on all other purchases

You’ll receive all of the same benefits on the AAdvantage Aviator Silver card as you did on the AAdvantage Aviator Red card, plus several additional benefits:

  • Free checked bag and preferred boarding benefits are expanded to include up to 8 traveling companions
  • The $99 companion ticket benefit, earned after spending $20,000 on the card annually, is expanded to include 2 traveling companions
  • $50 per year statement credits for American Airlines inflight Wi-Fi purchases
  • $25 per day statement credits for American Airlines inflight food and beverage purchases
  • The card comes with a $100 Global Entry application fee credit that resets every 5 years

The card does not charge foreign transaction fees and comes with World Elite Mastercard benefits.

AAdvantage Aviator Business Card (Best for Welcome Offer for Business Owners)

Need a credit card that will earn you rewards on your small business purchases? The AAdvantage Aviator Business card does that and more.

Sign-up bonuses fluctuate, but you’ll receive your bonus AAdvantage miles after meeting the required spending threshold. You’ll continue earning 2x miles on:

  • Purchases with American Airlines
  • Purchases with eligible office supply merchants
  • Telecommunications expenses
  • Purchases with car rental agencies

All other purchases earn 1x miles.

When traveling, you’ll receive:

  • First checked bag free for you and up to 4 companions
  • Preferred boarding
  • 25% inflight savings on food/beverages
  • No foreign transaction fees

Once you spend $30,000 on the card between card anniversaries, you’ll receive a $99 companion airfare certificate.

This card also offers free employee cards and zero fraud liability. Additionally, on your card account anniversary, you’ll receive a 5% mileage bonus applied to your account based on mileage earned from your spending.

The card comes with World Mastercard benefits and has a $95 annual fee.

Where Can Your American Airlines Miles Take You?

Visit Mexico from the continental U.S. for as little as 25,000 miles round-trip. Image Credit: Christine Kryzszton

By planning ahead, the miles you earn with your Citi and Barclays AAdvantage cards can take you just about anywhere in the world.

Destination (One-way From the U.S.)Main Cabin (MileSAAver)Business (MileSAAver)
48 contiguous U.S. states12,50025,000
Canada and Alaska15,00030,000
Hawaii22,50055,000
Caribbean15,00025,000
Europe30,00057,500

Off-peak travel awards are not pictured on this abbreviated award chart, which can save you plenty of miles. For example, a round-trip economy class ticket to Europe can be secured for 45,000 miles during off-peak travel times. A complete list of off-peak discounted award pricing can be found on this American Airlines AAdvantage flight award chart.

Head off for a weekend in Mexico or the Caribbean in coach class for as few as 25,000 miles round-trip for an off-peak award ticket or 50,000 miles round-trip in business class for a MileSAAver award ticket.

In addition to booking flights on American Airlines, you can now book flights on many Oneworld alliance partner airlines directly on AA.com using your American Airlines frequent flyer miles. Access the complete list of partner airlines with which you can book award tickets here.

Final Thoughts

Wondering which American Airlines-branded credit card is right for you? The AAdvantage Executive World Elite card is an obvious choice if you travel frequently on American Airlines and value travel perks and lounge access.

And if you’re a small business owner who travels on American Airlines, either the Citi or Barclays business credit cards will ensure all of your expenses are earning miles while providing additional travel perks. 

The information regarding the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 
The information regarding AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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20 comments

Barry Allen

June 18, 2018

I am really disappointed that the MBNA AAdvantage credit card is to disassociate itself from AAdvantage. This was a widely accepted/recognised credit card which supported collecting air miles in the United Kingdom.
I am not aware of an alternative UK card which supports AAdvantage air miles so am unsure how to continue using/collecting Americam air miles.
Perhaps someone could advise me if there is an alternative UK credit card which does.

Many thanks in advance
Barry Allen

Christine Krzyszton

June 24, 2018

Unfortunately, I am not aware of an alternative UK card that earns AAdvantage miles. You may want to consider a credit card that earns Avios which can be redeemed on American Airlines if that is your intent. Thank you for the question.

Jan Dalina

March 09, 2019

According to recent communication from Barclays, the $100 flight discount benefit is also being discontinued as of May 1, 2019 but a companion certificate for $99 is being offered after a $30k spend. Also, the annual fee jumps from $79 to $99 (not $95). Thanks for the good info. I will likely cancel my Red Aviator card and replace it with a Citi Mastercard.

Christine Krzyszton

March 09, 2019

Hi Jan and thanks for the heads up on those changes. The $100 flight discount wasn’t much of a reward for spending 30K but perhaps the new $99 companion fare is a slight step up. We’ll be updating the post with the information as it’s implemented. Thanks for reading and taking the time to share that information.

PK

March 27, 2019

To confirm, if I wanted to open the Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard and currently have a Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard, I could earn the opening bonuses for both? I am debating the Aviator Red because I am worried I will get duped out of the bonus somehow.

Stephen Au

March 27, 2019

Yes, you will earn welcome bonuses for both. Thank you for reading.

Lillian

October 23, 2019

I think the terms are different now for the Aviator Silver so you might want to update the post. It’s 5000 EQMs for $20k and another 5000 EQMs for the next $20k as of Oct. 2019

Christine Krzyszton

October 23, 2019

Hi Lillian. As mentioned in the article, you do earn $3,000 EQDs when spending $50,000 on the Aviator Silver. We were focusing on EQDs but you are correct, you do earn EQMs now too. We will update the article. Thank you for taking the time to add that information.

Adria Kubica

November 12, 2019

American Airlines changed their Executive Platinum EQD requirements to $15,000 earlier this year.

Christine Krzyszton

November 12, 2019

Hi Adria. We have updated the chart with that information. Thanks so much for reading.

Kurt Jackson

December 16, 2019

Christine,

In your article on page 14/18, you mention in the FAQs that “Unfortunately you can not exceed $6000 EQDs earned from all of your Barclaycard Aviator cards”. Barclays is telling me that limit is $3000 EQDs for all cards. You mention that you can earn $3000 EQDs on the Silver Aviator card (which I have and hit the 50K spending to get the $3000 EQDs) and earlier in the year I hit the spending and did received the $3000 EQDs from the business card spending. I hit the 50K spending threshold on 10/14 and we are 8 weeks after so I should see the EQDs and I called AA and Barclays and they say I only can get $3000 across all cards, but my understanding was the way you have listed it that you should be able to get $3000 EQDs on the personal silver card and $ 3000 EQDs on the business card. I have searched online and this seems to be a grey area, do you have anything in writing regarding this I can use to educate the employees of AA/Barclays assuming we are right and not them?

Christine Krzyszton

December 17, 2019

Hi Kurt, sorry for the confusion. The change was done in stages. In 2020 the limit across all cards will be $3,000. In 2019, it could be $3,000 or $6,000 depending on when you converted your Silver Aviator. Here is the corresponding verbiage for the Silver Aviator for 2019 “For the 2019 calendar year, cardmembers that upgraded January 1, 2018 through October 31, 2018 can earn up to $6,000 EQDs when spending $50,000 on purchases. Card members will earn $3,000 EQDs after spending $25,000, and another $3,000 EQDs after spending $50,000. The primary cardmember may earn the maximum $3,000 EQDs once per calendar year, unless the cardmember has already earned the maximum number of EQDs through other Card Accounts and AAdvantage® co-branded credit cards.” For the Aviator Business card for 2019: “The primary cardmember may earn $3,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars (“EQDs”) after spending $25,000 in Net Purchases that post to the AAdvantage® Aviator® Business account from January 1st through December 31st this calendar year.” https://creditcards.aa.com/barclay-credit-card-aviator-business-american-airlines-aadvantage/. We will update to reflect the 2020 requirements.

Gary L Manka

December 17, 2019

Does the baggage fee waiver on “domestic” flights include flights to St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands?

Christine Krzyszton

December 17, 2019

Hi Gary. According to the AA website, the domestic bag region is defined as Canada, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, United States, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Here’s where I found the information: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/baggage/baggage-regions.jsp We have also written an article on American Airlines baggage policies that might provide you with additional information: /american-airlines-baggage-fees/

Christine

December 18, 2019

What card is best for traveling to Europe with regards to baggage fees being waived and priority boarding?

Christine Krzyszton

December 18, 2019

Hi Christine. You would receive priority boarding with the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® on American Airlines flights. The credit card baggage waiver is good only on domestic flights which include Canada, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, United States, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, according to the American Airlines baggage policy, you will receive a free checked bag when flying to Europe on American Airlines. Here’s our article for more information on AA baggage policies. /american-airlines-baggage-fees/

Patrick

February 25, 2020

Hi Christine. Do you know if you can ‘double up’ on EQM bonuses by having both the Citi Executive card (10,000 EQMs with $40k spend) and the Barclays Silver card (5,000 EQMs at $20k spend and another 5,000 miles at $40k spend), making a total of 20,000 EQM bonus between the two?

Christine Krzyszton

February 25, 2020

Hi Patrick. It appears not. Unfortunately the terms and conditions for the Silver Aviator card state that “The primary cardmember may earn the maximum 10,000 EQMs once per calendar year, unless the cardmember has already earned the maximum number of EQMs through other Card Accounts and AAdvantage® co-branded credit cards.”

FlyBry

July 20, 2023

If I upgrade to the Aviator Silver card, Can I then re-apply for the Aviator red card to get those sign up bonus miles?

Jarrod West

July 20, 2023

Hi FlyBry,

Yes, but you would need to wait 24 months after you initially received the bonus

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