No matter which American Airlines credit card you get, you earn 2x miles per dollar on all eligible American Airlines purchases. The top ones come with different airline/airport benefits. There is also a no-annual-fee option for travelers looking to avoid that fee.
MoneyGeek's Take
Best Airline Credit Cards for American Airlines Flyers in 2023
This article is part of our larger series on Best Airline Credit Cards

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Citi provides co-branded American Airlines credit cards for individuals and businesses alike, while Barclays offers only personal versions. Depending on the benefits you’re looking for, you may choose a card that comes with or without annual fees. The best credit cards from this segment let you earn miles faster when you spend on applicable bonus categories.
If you plan to use your American Airlines credit card outside of the U.S., consider getting one with no foreign transaction fees. The only card we’ve selected that charges this fee is the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card.
Airline- and airport-related perks vary from one card to the next. This also holds true for the bonus miles you stand to earn through spend-based welcome offers. When selecting a card, other aspects you need to consider include APRs and added perks.

This article is part of our larger series on
Best Airline Credit Cards
MoneyGeek's Take: Top 3 American Airlines Credit Cards
Quick Summary
While the number of miles per dollar you earn on eligible American Airlines purchases is the same across all the top cards, there is variation when it comes to the bonus categories on offer. The annual fee you need to pay also depends on the card you get. We have narrowed down on the best credit cards for American Airlines after accounting for these factors as well as others such as welcome offers, APRs and foreign transaction fees. You can view more options by scrolling further down the page.
- American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
- 1–2 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.24% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
- 1–2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
- 21.24% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $99Annual Fee
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
- CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
- 1–2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
- 21.24% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $99Annual Fee
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
Summary of the Best Airline Cards for American Airlines Flyers
Check this American Airlines cards comparison table to determine which of these cards might work best for you based on aspects such as who each card is best suited for, the credit you need to qualify, miles per dollar rates and annual fees.
- Credit CardBest ForAvg. Reward RateAnnual FeeCredit Needed
- American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® CardA great travel card with no annual fee for frequent flyers on American Airlines1–2 Miles per $1$0
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®The best cost-effective credit card for frequent American Airlines travelers1–2 Miles per $1*$99
- CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®One of the top business travel cards for frequent American Airlines travelers1–2 Miles per $1*$99
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®Best for Admirals Club access1–2 Miles per $1*$450
If you fly on American Airlines, some of the most valuable benefits are the complimentary first checked bag and priority boarding for everyone on your reservation. For a family of four, the free checked bag benefit saves up to $240 on a roundtrip flight. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com.
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About Rajiv Baniwal

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