The American Airline’s AAdvantage® frequent flyer program was established in 1981, making it one of the world’s oldest frequent flyer programs. It’s also the world’s largest.
The AAdvantage brand, with its history and strong presence in the loyalty arena, is also prominent in the collection of nearly a dozen AAdvantage co-branded credit cards.
With offerings that include flight benefits, lounge access, companion tickets, a faster path to elite status, and the ability to earn miles for free flights, there’s an AAdvantage credit card for every American Airlines flyer.
But how do you sort through nearly a dozen cards and find a fit? And are there other travel rewards credit cards worth considering even if you’re an American Airlines loyalist?
Here’s all the information you need on the benefits of the top AAdvantage credit cards, issued by both Citi and Barclays, and a few alternative credit cards.
In the end, you’ll have the information you need to select a credit card that delivers the best bottom-line value for you.
| Card | Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee | Top AA Benefits |
| 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
|
| 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 eligible 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
|
| 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
- Free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions
- Priority boarding
- Companion Certificate for domestic travel after you spend $30,000 or more in purchases in a cardmember year
|
| American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® |
- Earn 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles and receive a $50 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Annual fee of $0
|
- 2x miles on American Airlines and grocery store 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
|
| AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver World Elite Mastercard®* |
- No welcome offer available.
- Annual fee of $199
|
- 3x miles on American Airlines purchases
- Free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 8 traveling companions
- Preferred boarding
- Up to $50 in statement credits annually for inflight Wi-Fi purchases
|
| 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
|
Best Credit Cards for American Airline Flight Benefits
American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards come with valuable flight benefits that can add comfort, convenience, or cost savings. Boarding early, free checked bags, and statement credits for your in-flight purchases are some examples of perks that add comfort and value.
Let’s take a look at the flight benefits you can expect from each of the best AAdvantage branded credit cards.
| AAdvantage Credit Card | Flight Benefits |
| Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver World Elite™ Mastercard® |
- Receive a free checked bag for the cardholder plus 8 traveling companions
- Preferred boarding (boards after priority boarding)
- $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
- Up to $50 in statement credits annually for in-flight Wi-Fi purchases
- $25 per day back as a statement credit for in-flight food and beverage purchases made with the card
|
| CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®, Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator Red World Elite™ Mastercard, Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator Business World Elite Mastercard. |
- Preferred boarding (boards after priority boarding)
- A free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions
|
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® |
- A free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions
- Preferred boarding (boards after priority boarding)
- 25% statement credit for in-flight food and beverage purchases
|
| Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® |
- Admirals Club lounge access for cardholder, 2 guests, or immediate family
- Free checked bag for cardholder and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation
- Priority boarding, priority check-in, and priority TSA screening lines for cardholder and up to 8 companions
- Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
- 25% statement credit for in-flight food and beverage purchases
|
In addition to the stated benefits above, the Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard card receives a $25 per anniversary year statement credit for in-flight Wi-Fi purchases.
Best Credit Cards for Earning on American Airlines and Everyday Purchases
American Airline Purchases
If you spend a lot on American Airlines, you’ll want to be sure to have an AAdvantage credit card that earns at least 2 miles per dollar spent. The following AAdvantage credit cards deliver this level of earnings.
In addition, the Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Business World Elite Mastercard earns a 5% mileage bonus each anniversary year based on miles earned on the card.
Earning on Everyday Purchases
Earning AAdvantage miles on American Airlines purchases is great, but miles can add up faster if you can earn multiple miles per dollar spent on other purchases. Here’s how the bonus earnings break down by credit card.
| AAdvantage Credit Card | Bonus Category and Additional Earnings |
| Citi/AAdvantage Platinum | 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants and gas stations |
| AAdvantage Executive World Elite card | 10 miles per dollar spent on eligible car rentals through aa.com/cars and eligible hotels through aa.com/hotels |
| CitiBusiness® Platinum Select | 2 miles per dollar on telecommunications, satellite and cable providers, car rentals, and gas stations |
| AAdvantage MileUp | 2 miles per dollar at grocery stores |
| Barclays Aviator Business | 2 miles per dollar on telecommunications, office supply stores, and car rentals |
| Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Silver | 2 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals |
Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red
Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Silver | The Flight Cents™ feature allows purchases to be rounded up to the nearest dollar to earn miles faster |
Bottom Line: To maximize earnings, select an AAdvantage branded credit card that earns at least 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and has bonus earning categories that match up with your spending profile.
Best Credit Cards for AAdvantage Elite Status and Seat Upgrades
Here’s what it takes to annually qualify for American Airlines AAdvantage elite status, how AAdvantage credit cards can help you qualify, and how the upgrade process works.
What it Takes to Qualify for American Airlines AAdvantage Elite Status
Having an American Airlines credit card alone will not help you get an upgraded seat. Elite status in the AAdvantage frequent flyer program is the key factor in whether you’ll receive an upgrade.
American now uses the Loyalty Points program to determine elite status. You’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point per $1 spent on any American Airlines credit card.
To earn AAdvantage Gold Elite status, you’ll need to earn 40,000 Loyalty Points during the qualifying period.
Bottom Line: Having an American Airlines AAdvantage credit card can help you achieve elite status faster by allowing you to earn Loyalty Points. Having elite status can then help you qualify for upgraded seating.
Best Credit Cards for Admirals Club Lounge Access
The AAdvantage Executive World Elite card is the only AAdvantage-branded credit card that comes with complimentary Admirals Club access (not to mention a bunch of other perks).
Since an Admirals Club lounge membership can cost $850 annually, securing the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card as an avid American Airlines traveler makes good economic sense.
The cardholder is allowed to bring 2 additional guests or the cardholder’s immediate family. For example, if a cardholder is traveling with a spouse and their 2 teenagers, a total of 4 people, all would be allowed entrance.
Bottom Line: With complimentary Admirals Club access for the primary cardholder, 2 guests or immediate family, the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card holds tremendous value for frequent American Airlines travelers who value lounge access.
The Best AAdvantage Credit Cards for Companion Tickets
One of the best benefits of having an AAdvantage branded credit card is the $99 companion pass ticket. Each card anniversary year, after spending $20,000 on your card, you can secure a companion ticket for just $99 plus taxes and fees when purchasing a paid ticket. Currently, those fees are estimated to be between $21.60 to $43.20, according to Barclays.
The ticket is valid for travel between all 48 contiguous states. Residents of Alaska and Hawaii can use the ticket for flights originating in their home state round trip to the 48 contiguous states.
The AAdvantage Aviator Red card and AAdvantage Aviator Silver card each come with the companion ticket benefit after spending $20,000 each card anniversary year. The CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard offers the companion ticket benefit after spending $30,000 each card anniversary year.
Your card must remain active for 45 days after your card anniversary renewal to receive the companion ticket.
Bottom Line: The $99 companion ticket benefit, offered on 3 AAdvantage branded credit cards, could save you hundreds of dollars each year.
AAdvantage Credit Cards – Additional Benefits
Barclays issued AAdvantage branded credit cards come with additional valuable travel and purchase benefits:
- Car rental collision damage waiver – Provides coverage for damage from collision and for theft of your rental car
- No foreign transaction fees – Carry your card while traveling as there are no foreign transaction fees
- Baggage Delay – Up to $100 per traveler for delay of 6 hours or more
- Trip delay – Up to $500 per traveler for trip delays of 12 hours or more
- Trip cancellation/interruption – Receive up to $5,000 for trips canceled or interrupted for covered reasons
- Lost luggage – $3,000 per traveler ($2,000 for New York residents), up to a maximum of $10,000 per trip
- Travel, Emergency, and Roadside Assistance – 24/7 emergency services when things go wrong, the cardholder is responsible for the actual cost of services provided
- Purchase Protection – 90 to 120 days of protection for covered items from purchase date for damage and theft
- Extended Warranty – the manufacturer’s warranty will be extended on covered purchases by up to 24 months
Additionally, the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card comes with trip cancellation/interruption protection, trip delay protection, lost baggage protection, and car rental insurance.
This list is just an overview of additional benefits that may come with your AAdvantage branded credit card. It is not all-inclusive and does not include all applicable terms and conditions. You can access the AAdvantage protection guide for more information here and review a list of World Mastercard benefits here.
Best Rewards Programs for Transferring to American AAdvantage
American Airlines flyers who want to purchase award travel on American can redeem their AAdvantage miles directly for airline tickets. Another option is to transfer points/miles from other programs to your AAdvantage frequent flyer account in order to purchase award tickets.
Transfer Hotel Loyalty Points to American AAdvantage
| Hotel Loyalty Program | Transfer Ratio – Hotel Points to Miles |
| Best Western Rewards | 5,000 to 1,000 |
| Choice Hotels | 5,000 to 1,000 |
| Hilton Honors | 10,000 to 1,500 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 30,000 to 10,000 |
| World of Hyatt | 5,000 to 2,000 |
| IHG Rewards | 10,000 to 2,000 |
| Radisson Rewards Americas | 10,000 to 1,000 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 6,000 to 1,200 |
Transfer ratios when transferring hotel points to AAdvantage miles can be less than stellar; however, topping off your AAdvantage account by transferring hotel points to reach a specific award ticket redemption level can be a useful option.
Other Options for Booking American Airlines Flights with Points and Miles
American Airlines has 1 direct transfer partner in Bilt Rewards, however it can be hard to earn lots of Bilt points since the program only has 1 credit card. However, you can transfer points from some of the most popular rewards programs to airlines that allow you to book flights on American.
Here are some of the best options for American Airlines award flights.
Hot Tip: Chase Ultimate Rewards Points can be redeemed directly for American Airlines flights through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. If you use a premium Chase credit card such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you will receive an increased redemption value of 1.5 cents per point.
Summary: Best Overall Personal AAdvantage Credit Cards for American Airlines Flyers
In this article, there was a lot of information pertaining to AAdvantage credit cards. It might be helpful to highlight the best overall credit cards for American flyers and summarize the features and benefits.
Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
- Admirals Club lounge access for cardholder, 2 guests, immediate family
- Earn 4 miles per dollar spent on American Airlines
- Earn 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals through aa.com
- Earn Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage elite status
- Free checked bag for cardholder and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation
- Priority boarding, priority check-in, and priority TSA screening lines for cardholder and up to 8 companions
- Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
- 25% statement credit for in-flight food and beverage purchases
AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard
- Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on American Airlines
- Earn 2 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals
- Earn Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage elite status
- Free checked bag and preferred boarding for cardholder and up to 8 companions
- Earn miles faster with Flight Cents™
- $50 statement credit each anniversary year for in-flight Wi-Fi purchases
- $25 per day statement credit for in-flight food and beverage
- Companion ticket for $99 after spending $20,000 in a calendar year
- Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
Summary: Best Overall Business Advantage Credit Card for American Airlines Flyers
CitiBusiness®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
- Earn 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases, telecommunications, satellite and cable providers, car rentals, and gas stations
- Preferred boarding and free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions
- 25% statement credit for inflight Wi-Fi purchases
- Companion ticket for $99 after spending $30,000 in a calendar year
Barclays Aviator Business Mastercard
- Earn 2 miles per dollar on American Airline purchases, telecom, office supply stores, and car rentals
- 5% mileage bonus after renewal each anniversary year
- Preferred boarding and free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions
- 25% statement credit for in-flight food, beverage purchases
- Companion ticket for $99 after spending $30,000 in a calendar year
Bottom Line: While initial welcome bonuses vary, you can count on thousands of American AAdvantage miles after meeting minimum spending requirements within the first 3-4 months (depending on the card) after you’re approved for any of the mentioned AAdvantage credit cards.
Summary: Best Alternative Credit Cards for American Airline Flyers
The best overall credit card for the American Airlines flyer may not be an AAdvantage branded credit card. Premium travel rewards credit cards can offer broader lounge access opportunities, greater rewards on travel purchases, and premium travel benefits.
Here are 2 premium travel rewards credit cards to consider:
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
Why this card is great for American Airlines Flyers:
- You’ll earn 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar spent on American Airlines flights purchased from American or from Amex Travel
- The primary cardholder and 2 guests receive complimentary access to all lounges in the American Express Global Lounge Collection. This includes over 1,300 lounge properties worldwide, including the prestigious Centurion Lounge Network
- A $200 airline incidental fee credit each year which can be used on American Airlines
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
Why this card is great for American Airlines Flyers:
- The card earns 3 Ultimate Rewards Points per dollar spent on travel which includes American Airline flights
- The cardholder and 2 guests receive complimentary access to over 1,000 lounges worldwide with Priority Pass™ Select after enrollment
- Chase Ultimate Rewards can be used to book American Airlines flights directly through the Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal
- Elevated redemption level of 1.5 cents per point when booking travel through the Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal.
- The $300 annual travel credit which can be used for American Airlines flights
Bottom Line: It’s wise to consider alternative premium travel rewards credit cards if you frequently fly on other airlines in addition to American Airlines. Premium travel rewards cards can provide greater earnings, more flexibility at redemption time, and broader travel benefits.
Final Thoughts
If you travel frequently on American Airlines and general flight benefits, earning AAdvantage miles, and discounted in-flight purchases are important to you, you’ll do well with an AAdvantage branded credit card.
If you’re currently paying for an Admirals Club membership, it would be a sound economic decision to secure the AAdvantage Executive Platinum World Elite Mastercard that comes with complimentary access for you and your traveling companions.
If you travel frequently on a lot of different airlines, enjoy premium travel perks, and would find value in having access to a larger worldwide network of lounges, you might find a better fit with a premium rewards credit card.
As always, you’ll want to align your travel preferences, spending habits, and tolerance for paying an annual fee, to the credit card that brings you the most bottom-line value.
The information regarding Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator Business World Elite Mastercard was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
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.
The information regarding AAdvantage® Aviator® Blue Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
![The Best Credit Cards for American Airlines Flyers [Lounges, Upgrades, Priority Boarding & More]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/American-Airlines-CRJ-900.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1420&height=650&fit=crop)
4 comments
Margaret Aurand
April 23, 2019
I have a Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Master Card and have accumulated almost 90,000 miles. Looking at their website’s Flight Awards Chart, I see that round trips from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii start at 20,000 miles. I’ll bet that NEVER happens! It’s probably there only to get you excited about earning miles! I just checked on booking award tickets for my family of 4. Flights start at over 43,000 miles per round trip ticket. So only half the family can go!
Christine Krzyszton
April 24, 2019
Hello Margaret. Sorry you are having trouble redeeming your Hawaiian Airline miles for your family trip. Most award charts list fares for one way flight purchases and such is the case with Hawaiian. According to the Hawaiian Airlines website: “Flight awards as low as 7,500 miles one-way for travel within Hawaii, or 20,000 miles between Hawaii and the West Coast.”
Ganapathi Rao V
July 21, 2022
I will be arriving to JFK Terminal 4 via Emirates and my connecting flight is from Terminal 5, Jetblue to Raleigh. Are there any lounges that accept priority pass in Terminal 5? Can you please let me know?
Jarrod West
July 21, 2022
Hi Ganapathi,
Unfortunately, there are no Priority Pass lounges in Terminal 5.
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