Best Airline Credit Cards for American Airlines Flyers in 2023

We recommend this American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card to American Airlines frequent flyers who wish to earn rewards without paying an annual fee. New cardholders get 10,000 bonus miles and a $50 statement credit if they spend $500 on purchases within the first three months.

You earn 2x miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores. All other purchases come with 1x miles. Further, you get to save 25% when you use your card to pay for in-flight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights.

Using this card outside of the U.S. might not be a good idea, given that it comes with a 3% foreign transaction fee.

We love the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® because it offers multiple benefits to make up for its $99 annual fee. For starters, the annual fee is waived off for the first year. As a new cardholder, you get to earn 50,000 bonus miles by spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months.

This card offers 2x miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases as well as at gas stations and restaurants. You earn 1x mile per dollar on all other purchases. If you spend $20,000 or more on purchases each year, you stand to earn a $125 American Airlines flight discount.

You also get to benefit through the “first checked bag free” feature on domestic American Airlines flights. It applies for you and up to four companions on the same booking. Using this card outside of the U.S. is perfect because it comes with no foreign transaction fees.

We recommend this CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® card to business owners who wish to capitalize on their spending toward American Airlines flights. While you earn 2x miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases, you also earn 2x miles at gas stations and on payments made toward cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and telecommunications merchants. All other purchases come with 1x miles.

All new cardholders get to earn 65,000 bonus miles by spending $4,000 on purchases in the first four months. If you spend $30,000 or more on purchases each year, you qualify for an American Airlines companion certificate for domestic main cabin travel. You get for first bag checked for free on American Airlines and may also benefit through preferred boarding.

Using this card outside of the U.S. makes sense as it comes with no foreign transaction fees. You can save 25% on American Airlines in-flight food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases. The $99 annual fee is waived for the first year.