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Last month, we detailed how David and his wife use credit cards to travel, with an emphasis on Delta Airlines. As per reader requests, this month we are reviewing American Airlines.
What are the reasons to get an airline-linked credit card?
There are several reasons why someone might choose to get an airline-linked credit card:
- Airline rewards: Airline-linked credit cards typically offer rewards points or miles for every dollar spent on purchases, and these rewards can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, or other airline-related benefits. If you frequently travel with a particular airline, an airline-linked credit card can help you earn rewards faster and ultimately save money on your travel.
- Travel benefits: Many airline-linked credit cards come with additional travel benefits, such as free checked bags, priority boarding, lounge access, and travel insurance. These benefits can help make your travel experience more comfortable and stress-free.
- Sign-up bonuses: Some airline-linked credit cards offer generous sign-up bonuses, which can provide a large amount of rewards points or miles right off the bat. These bonuses can help you quickly accumulate rewards and get closer to redeeming them for travel benefits.
- No foreign transaction fees: If you frequently travel internationally, an airline-linked credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees can save you a lot of money on purchases made abroad.
- Brand loyalty: If you are a loyal customer of a particular airline, getting an airline-linked credit card can be a way to show your support and receive benefits in return. Additionally, some airline-linked credit cards may offer special perks or discounts for loyal customers.
- However, it’s important to note that airline-linked credit cards often come with annual fees and high interest rates, so it’s important to consider whether the benefits outweigh the costs before signing up.
There are several credit cards that are well-suited for earning rewards with American Airlines. Here are some of the best options and why they stand out:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: This is our favorite card. It offers premium travel benefits, such as Admirals Club® membership, free checked bags, and priority boarding. Additionally, it offers a sign-up bonus, bonus miles for spending in select categories, and elite qualifying miles that can help cardholders earn elite status faster.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: This card offers a generous sign-up bonus, bonus miles for spending in select categories, and travel benefits such as free checked bags and priority boarding. Additionally, cardholders can earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after spending $20,000 or more in purchases during their card membership year and renewing their card.
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: This card offers a sign-up bonus, bonus miles for spending in select categories, and travel benefits such as free checked bags and priority boarding. Additionally, cardholders can earn a Companion Certificate each year after spending $20,000 or more in purchases and renewing their card.
- AAdvantage® MileUp℠Card: This card is a no-annual-fee option that offers bonus miles for spending in select categories, such as groceries and American Airlines purchases. Cardholders can also earn a sign-up bonus and travel benefits such as free checked bags.
When choosing an American Airlines linked credit card, it’s important to consider factors such as sign-up bonuses, rewards categories, travel benefits, and annual fees. The best card for you will depend on your individual needs and spending habits. Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully and understand the rewards program before applying for a card.
AGEIST is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers.