Keep in mind that many of the best AA credit cards can be achieved through an upgrade from another card. Get in on the ground floor now, and you can work your way toward a card with better benefits and more buying power. Upgrades are earned by crossing certain loyalty point thresholds. The airline recently changed the way it calculates points, and the process of accruing frequent-flyer points is more streamlined. Cardholders continue to earn miles that can be used to book travel, and they will also earn “loyalty points” that are used to unlock elite flyer status. When you buy merchandise through an American Airlines retail portal online, you may earn one loyalty point for every dollar spent and another loyalty point for every dollar spent on your card. Spending $100 using your AA card would translate to 200 loyalty points. The best American Airlines credit cards save you money through AAdvantage miles and reward you with features such as free checked bags and cashback on in-flight purchases. Capitalize on these benefits through our top card options below.
The card is also good for in-flight discounts on purchases aboard an American Airlines flight, and there are no limits to the number of miles you can earn. There aren’t a ton of frills with this card, but it’s great for casual travelers who want to earn a few perks while they go about their daily life. Pros:
No annual feeGood for daily useAbility to add another card user
Cons:
Card does not allow you to check free bagsNo preferred boarding access
You only have to spend $3,500 in the first four months of having your new card to earn your first mileage reward – and it’s a big one at 75,000 miles. Once your card is associated with your AAdvantage account, you’ll get a bag checked for free and preferred boarding. Plus, all foreign transaction fees are waived. Pros:
Good for earning miles on the roadUp to four travel companions on the same reservation can get a free checked bagInitial spending bonus available
Cons:
Balance transfer fees applyAnnual fee after the first year
Perhaps most impressive, however, is that this card grants you access to the American Airlines Admirals Club. The value of this membership alone more than pays for your annual fee. For frequent international travelers, the priority boarding perk and access to a personal travel concierge can translate to a much more relaxing traveling experience. Pros:
Admirals Club membership included Up to eight travelers can get a free checked bag on the same reservationGlobal Entry credit every five yearsDedicated concierge for domestic and international travel
Cons:
Higher than average annual feeNot ideal for infrequent travelers
In addition to the companion pass benefit, this AA credit card offers a yearly credit for in-flight wi-fi and one free checked bag on domestic flights. You can also get preferred boarding for you and up to four companions. This card is also eligible for travel accident insurance and trip cancelation. Pros:
Companion travel benefitsFraud liability protectionIntro APR on balance transfersEarn double miles on AA purchases
Cons:
Annual fee appliesBalance transfer fee appliesFew international specific benefits
This card is eligible for a companion pass for domestic travel after you meet a spending threshold, and the traveler and up to four companions get a free checked bag. For better business expense tracking, this card offers a summary of spending by month, quarter, and year for every cardholder. Pros:
Access to a 24/7 business assistant for travel arrangementsIndividual spending limits available by cardholderPreferred boarding availableSpecial offers on popular business software using your card
Cons:
Cash advance fees applyAnnual fee applies after first year
If your credit score falls short, you still have options. Our selection of credit cards for bad credit can help you rebuild your credit. There are four different award levels: MileSAAver, MileSAAver Off Peak, AAnytime Level 1 and AAnytime Level 2. MileSAAver and MileSAAver Off Peak are the least expensive options. AAnytime Level 1 and AAnytime Level 2 offer the most availability, but at the expense of more miles. The cabin classes you can choose from are Main Cabin, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class. Main Cabin seating is the cheapest and Business/First Class will cost the most amount of miles. Using the American Airlines flight awards chart as our source, we compiled the following for one-way free flights traveling in Main Cabin class:
Travel perks
Since users of American Airlines credit cards are likely brand loyal to the airline, we looked at which of the airline’s associated cards have travel perks for various types of travelers. We made sure to represent casual and frequent travelers and considered both leisure and business travel needs.
Quality of features
Are the perks offered actually useful? Some cards may offer a perk that sounds nice on paper but doesn’t actually expedite travel or represent significant savings. We considered cards with perks that make checking bags more affordable, check-in less stressful, traveling in groups more efficient, and more.
Rewards
In addition to travel perks, like a free checked bag or access to the Admirals Club, we considered credit rewards. This includes bonus miles during the initial spending period and credits for specific purchases.
Type of use
Some people use a card for personal spending, while other cardholders are using their credit as a part of their business spending. We paid attention to credit cards that would be beneficial for both personal and professional use.
