Best Airline Credit Cards for American Airlines Flyers in 2024

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ByRajiv Baniwal
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Reviewed byLee Huffman
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Updated: March 14, 2024

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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

    A great travel card with no annual fee for frequent flyers on American Airlines


    • 1–2 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
    • 21.24% – 29.99% VariableAPR
    • $0Annual Fee
    • ExcellentRecommended Credit

  • Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

    The best cost-effective credit card for frequent American Airlines travelers


    • 1–2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
    • 21.24% – 29.99% VariableAPR
    • $99, $0 for the first yearAnnual Fee
    • ExcellentRecommended Credit

  • CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®

    One of the top business travel cards for frequent American Airlines travelers


    • 1–2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
    • 21.24% – 29.99% VariableAPR
    • $99, $0 for the first yearAnnual 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 Card
    Best For
    Avg. Reward Rate
    Annual Fee
    Credit Needed
  • American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
    American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
    A great travel card with no annual fee for frequent flyers on American Airlines
    1–2 Miles per $1
    $0
  • Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
    Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
    The best cost-effective credit card for frequent American Airlines travelers
    1–2 Miles per $1*
    $99, $0 for the first year
  • CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
    CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
    One of the top business travel cards for frequent American Airlines travelers
    1–2 Miles per $1*
    $99, $0 for the first year
  • Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
    Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
    Best for Admirals Club access
    1–10 Miles per $1*
    $450
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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

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.

Further Reading

About Rajiv Baniwal


Rajiv Baniwal headshot

Rajiv Baniwal is a journalist who has been covering financial topics for over 15 years. Meticulous in his research, he provides accurate and up-to-date information. His expertise includes mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.