Having the right American Airlines credit card can help you to earn your way toward award flights and elite status while enjoying benefits like a free checked bag and the ability to board the plane before most other travelers.
Business Insider's team of personal finance experts reviewed every potential credit card for American Airlines flyers to help you choose the best one for you.
We reviewed annual fees, card benefits, earning rates, and potential drawbacks to help you choose the best American Airlines credit card for your needs in 2025.
The Best American Airlines Credit Card for You in 2025
| Best for | Card | Annual Fee |
| No annual fee | American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® | $0 |
| Easy welcome bonus | AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® | $99 |
| Everyday use | Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | $0 intro for the first 12 months, then $99 |
| Lounge access | Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® | $595 |
| Business owners | Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® | $0 intro for the first 12 months, then $99 |
Best for No Annual Fee
$0
N/A
20.24% – 29.24% Variable
Earn 15,000 American Airlines miles
Excellent
Pros
Cons
Because the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® doesn't have a big bonus or benefits for frequent flyers, it's best for those who travel infrequently or are just getting started with earning American Airlines miles.
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is the best American Airlines credit card for travelers who want to avoid annual fees at all costs.
Cardholders earn bonus rewards on groceries and eligible AA purchases. They also earn 1 Loyalty Point toward American Airlines elite status per AA mile earned on this card, which allows you to spend your way to better travel benefits.
Annual fee: $0
Welcome bonus: 15,000 American Airlines miles after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening
Earning rate: 2 miles per dollar spent on groceries including grocery delivery, 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases; 1 Loyalty Point toward elite status per eligible American Airlines mile earned
Benefits:
- 25% back on inflight food and beverage as a statement credit
Read more in our Citi American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp card review.
Best for Easy Welcome Bonus
$99
0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening
20.24%, 24.24% or 29.24% variable
Earn 60,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
With a generous, easy-to-earn welcome bonus and elite-like travel perks, the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® is well worth it for frequent or occasional American Airlines flyers. The annual fee of $99 is manageable, and other benefits like travel insurance and discounts can save you money.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® offers one of the easiest welcome bonuses to earn, since all you have to do is make a single purchase and pay the annual fee within 90 days of opening this credit card.
This American Airlines credit card is worth keeping long-term since it comes with World Elite Mastercard benefits, including monthly credits for eligible Lyft, Instacart, and Peacock purchases. The card also offers a generous zero-interest period for new credit cardholders.
Cardholders can also earn a $99 companion certificate for round-trip domestic economy travel by spending $20,000 or more on this credit card.
Annual fee: $99
Welcome bonus: 60,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the annual fee in full within the first 90 days
Earning rate: 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases; 1 Loyalty Point per eligible mile earned
0% intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening, then 20.24%, 24.24% or 29.24% variable APR
Benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Group 5 preferred boarding
- First checked bag free for the cardholder and up to four companions on the same reservation
- 25% back on inflight food and beverage as a statement credit
- Up to $25 annual inflight Wi-Fi reimbursement
- Credit card travel insurance benefits
- $99 companion certificate (plus taxes and fees) for round-trip domestic economy travel after spending $20,000 or more on eligible purchase per account year and keeping the account open for 45 days or more after your anniversary date
Note: Barclays currently issues this credit card, but Citi will take over as the sole issuer of American Airlines credit cards in 2026, so expect some changes to your account during the transition.
Learn more in our AAdvantage Aviator Red card review.
Best for Everyday Use
$0 intro for the first 12 months, then $99
N/A
20.24% – 29.24% Variable
Earn 50,000 bonus miles
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is one of the best credit cards for people who like to fly American Airlines and earn miles in the AAdvantage loyalty program but don't want a card with a high annual fee.
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MastercardThe Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is the best credit card for American Airlines miles on everyday expenses like food and gas.
This card earns 2 miles per dollar on restaurants, gas, and eligible American Airline purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. These rates aren't as good as the best credit cards for dining or the best credit cards for gas purchases, but they're a great option if you value American Airlines miles, which can be hard to earn otherwise.
Annual fee: $0 intro for the first 12 months, then $99
Welcome bonus: 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $2,500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening
Earning rate: 2 AAdvantage® miles for every dollar spent at gas stations, restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile for every dollar spent on other purchases; 1 Loyalty Point per eligible mile earned
Benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Group 5 preferred boarding
- First checked bag free for cardholder and up to four companions on the same reservation
- 25% back on inflight food and beverages
- $125 flight discount after spending $20,000 or more in purchases during your cardholder year (must renew your card to qualify)
Read more in our Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card review.
Best for Lounge Access
$595
N/A
20.24% – 29.24 Variable
Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles
Excellent
Pros
Cons
This is a terrific card for frequent American Airlines flyers who can take advantage of its included Admirals Club membership and other day-of-travel perks to offset the high annual fee. Authorized users also get Admirals Club access, so there's extra value to be had there, too. However, it's not the best card for earning AA miles on everyday spending, and the lack of travel protections isn't ideal for an airline credit card.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is the best credit card for American Airlines airport lounge access to American's Admiral Club lounges for yourself and immediate family members or up to two guests.
Cardholders quickly earn AA miles from eligible travel purchases, and enjoy generous perks, including hundreds of dollars in annual credits for services like Grubhub and Lyft.
Annual fee: $595
Welcome bonus: 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $7,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening
Earning rate: 10 AAdvantage® miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through aa.com; 4 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases (after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, earn a total of 5 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases); 1 mile per dollar on other purchases; 1 Loyalty Point per eligible mile earned
Benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees
- First checked bag free for cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation
- Group 4 priority boarding
- 25% back on inflight food and beverage
- Up to 20,000 bonus Loyalty Points per qualifying year
- Travel protection benefits
- Unlimited American Airlines Admirals Club lounge access with eligible travel (includes access to some partner lounges), with up to two guests or immediate family members allowed with qualifying travel
- Up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck expedited security enrollment once every four years
- Up to $120 annual statement credit for prepaid car rentals through Avis and Budget
- Up to $120 annual Lyft credit (up to $10/month) after taking three qualifying rides per calendar month
- Up to $120 annual GrubHub credit (up to $10/month) on eligible orders
Read more in our Citi AAdvantage Executive card review.
Best for Business Owners
$0 intro for the first 12 months, then $99
N/A
20.24% – 29.24% Variable
Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles
Excellent
Pros
Cons
The Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® is a good choice for small-business owners who fly American Airlines. Along with a hefty welcome bonus offer, it offers day-of-travel perks like a free first checked bag on domestic AA itineraries, preferred boarding, and inflight discounts.
Citi AAdvantage Business CardThe Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® is the best American Airlines credit card for business owners who want to earn AA miles from company expenses.
Annual fee: $0 intro for the first 12 months, then $99
Welcome bonus: 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after you or your employees spend $5,000 in purchases within the first four months of account opening
Earning rate: Earn 2 AA miles per dollar spent on cable and satellite providers, eligible American Airlines purchases, at gas stations, on select telecommunications merchants, and on car rentals; earn 1 mile per dollar on other purchases; 1 Loyalty Point per eligible mile earned
Benefits:
- First checked bag free for cardholder and up to four companions on the same reservation
- Group 5 preferred boarding for cardholder and up to four companions on the same reservation
- 25% back on eligible inflight food and beverage purchases or Wi-Fi
- No foreign transaction fees
- $99 companion certificate (plus taxes and fees) for eligible round-trip domestic economy travel after spending $30,000 or more in a cardholder year (must renew your card to qualify)
Choosing the Best Credit Card for American Airlines
There are many ways to choose a credit card, but the universal rule is that the benefits should align with your lifestyle — not the other way around.
The Best Credit Card For American Airlines… May Not Come From American Airlines
As with most co-branded airline credit cards and hotel credit cards, an American Airlines credit card may not suit your lifestyle even if you're a big fan of the airline.
If you live near a major American Airlines hub, it may make sense for you to focus your loyalty on this airline. But if you frequently find yourself flying the cheapest or most direct route, an American Airlines credit card may not benefit you all that much.
And if you prefer earning cash back rewards, you'll do better getting a cash back credit card and paying cash for American flights. Many of the best cash back credit cards earn bonus rewards for flights booked through the issuer's travel portal without charging an annual fee.
How to Choose Between Brand Loyalty vs. Versatile Rewards
Even if you travel often, you may come out ahead with a travel rewards credit card that isn't attached to a particular brand.
If you value airport lounges, for example, many of the best credit cards with airport lounge access offer far more locations worldwide than American's Admirals Club lounge network. And some of the best credit cards offer annual travel credits that can help defray the cost of your annual American Airlines flight.
If you can't decide between an American Airlines credit card or a more versatile credit card that earns transferable rewards, think about whether you're willing to pay extra or include a layover to fly with American.
Match Credit Card Features with Travel Habits
That being said, you may still find some value from getting a credit card with no annual fee like the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® even if you don't fly with American very often.
American miles are relatively valuable, worth 1.4 cents apiece on average by our valuations of what points and miles are worth, and the credit cards in this guide offer one of the easiest ways to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles.
And if you and your family occasionally check bags on American flights, having the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® can save you a lot of money despite its $99 annual fee, since checked bags cost at least $35 apiece.
Earn Loyalty Points toward Elite Status with Credit Cards
If you're all-in on American Airlines, it makes a lot of sense to get a co-branded credit card to earn elite status more quickly.
The AAdvantage program awards elite status based on Loyalty Points, which you can earn from flying — or from spending on an AA credit card.
Every American Airlines credit card earns the same 1 Loyalty Point per eligible AA mile earned, even on the no-annual-fee American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®. And since premium credit cards earn more miles per dollar spent on bonus purchases, you can quickly rack up Loyalty Points with strategic spending.
American Airlines Credit Card Customer Reviews
In addition to conducting our own research, our credit card experts scanned online forums such as Reddit to compile customer feedback on American Airlines credit cards.
Get Free Flights for Everyday Spend
Redditors say people who spend a lot on personal and business expenses can benefit greatly from getting a rewards credit card, especially ones that earn American Airlines miles.
A Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® cardholder said she and her husband earn enough rewards for six round-trip flights each year in addition to enjoying Admirals Club lounge access.
Other cardholders praise the free checked bag and priority boarding benefits that come with having an American Airlines credit card.
Use the Card for Perks, Not Rewards
If you want American-specific benefits but also want to earn rewards elsewhere, some cardholders recommend opening a lower-cost American Airlines credit card just for the benefits.
For example, the $99-annual-fee AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® comes with savings on in-flight food and beverages, annual credits toward onboard Wi-Fi, preferred boarding, and a free checked bag for up to five travelers on the same ticket.
Everyday cardholders say these perks alone can be worth significantly more than the card's annual fee, and can confer preferential treatment that infrequent travelers might not be able to enjoy otherwise.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed The Best American Airlines Credit Card Options
We considered all of the American Airlines credit cards available right now and evaluated several factors:
- Travel benefits — Does the card offer money-saving perks like free checked bags or other benefits like Loyalty Points for meeting spending thresholds, airport lounge access, or statement credits?
- Earning potential — Are there bonus categories outside of American Airlines purchases with the card, and are they appealing to a wide range of customers?
- Annual fee — Most American Airlines credit cards have an annual fee, but are the card's benefits worth it?
- Cards for various types of travelers — Do these cards appeal to different types of American Airlines flyers, including road warriors, leisure travelers, and small business owners?
Be sure to read Business Insider's guide to how we rate credit cards to learn more about our review methodology.
FAQs
What is the best American Airlines credit card?
The best American Airlines credit cards are the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® for no annual fee, the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® for an easy sign up bonus, and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® for Admirals Club airline lounge access.
Which credit card earns American Airlines Loyalty Points?
All of the current American Airlines credit cards issued in the U.S. earn 1 Loyalty Point toward elite status per eligible mile earned from credit card spending.
Do you get priority boarding with an American Airlines credit card?
Yes, most American Airlines credit cards offer priority boarding privileges with the exception of the no-annual-fee American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®. The premium Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® includes Group 4 priority boarding, while the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, and the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® offer Group 5 preferred boarding on eligible travel.
What credit cards transfer to American Airlines?
You cannot transfer points from most credit cards to American Airlines, since the airline does not partner with any of the major credit card issuers for transferrable rewards. However, some hotel programs, including Marriott and Hyatt, can transfer points to American Airlines.
