What credit card is best for American Airlines flights?
As you prepare to book a flight, you grab your wallet. But which credit card should you use? Is it the one emblazoned with the airline's logo, or could another card provide better benefits?
American Airlines has a variety of credit cards available, so let’s evaluate them alongside other travel rewards cards to find the best choice for purchasing AA flights.
Evaluating credit cards for American Airlines travel
In addition to an American Airlines credit card, you might explore using a travel rewards card, which can earn transferable points on travel expenses, including your next AA booking. Here are some cards to consider and the benefits they offer when used for payment:
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| Card name | Earning rate on American Airlines flights | Value of the rewards earned* | AA-related benefits from the card | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) | 4 miles per dollar | 6.8 cents | Admirals Club lounge membership
Free first checked bag for you and up to eight companions traveling on the same reservation when flying on domestic flights with AA or its subsidiaries Priority check-in (where available), priority airport security screening (where available) and early boarding privileges 25% off inflight food and beverage purchases 1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage elite status for each eligible mile earned on the card | $595 |
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | 2 miles per dollar | 3.4 cents | Free first checked bag for you and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation when flying on domestic flights with AA or its subsidiaries
Preferred boarding 1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage elite status for each eligible mile earned on the card | $0 introductory annual fee, then $99 |
| Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) | 2 miles per dollar | 3.4 cents | Free first checked bag for you and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation when flying on domestic flights with AA or its subsidiaries
Preferred boarding 25% off inflight food and beverage purchases 1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage elite status for each eligible dollar spent on the card | $0 introductory annual fee, then $99 |
| American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® | 2 miles per dollar | 3.4 cents | 25% off inflight food and beverage purchases
1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage elite status for each eligible mile earned on the card | $0 |
| AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® | 2 miles per dollar | 3.4 cents | Free first checked bag for you and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation when flying on domestic flights with AA or its subsidiaries
Preferred boarding 25% off inflight food and beverage purchases 1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage elite status for each eligible mile earned on the card | $95 |
| AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® | 2 miles per dollar | 3.4 cents | Free first checked bag for you and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation when flying on domestic flights with AA or its subsidiaries
Preferred boarding 25% off inflight food and beverage purchases Up to $25 back as statement credits for inflight Wi-Fi purchases from AA during each cardmember year 1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage elite status for each dollar spent on the card | $99 |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | 5 points per dollar (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) | 10 cents | None, but you can choose American Airlines as your preferred airline to cover up to $200 per year in airline incidental statement credits for things like checked baggage or preferred seat fees | $695 (see rates and fees) |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 3 points per dollar (or 5 points per dollar if booked via Chase Travel℠) | 6.1 cents (or 10 cents) | None, but some of your purchases can be offset by the $300 in annual travel credits offered on the card | $550 |
| American Express® Green Card | 3 points per dollar | 6 cents | None | $150 |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | 2 miles per dollar (or 5 miles per dollar if booked in the Capital One Travel portal) | 3.7 cents (or 9.25 cents) | None, but some of your purchases can be offset by the $300 annual credit available when booking with Capital One Travel | $395 (see rates and fees) |
* Bonus value is an estimated figure calculated by TPG and is not provided by the card issuer.
The information for AAdvantage Platinum Select, AAdvantage MileUp, AAdvantage Aviator Red, AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business, and American Express Green cards has been independently gathered by Dinogo. The details listed on this page have not been verified or endorsed by the card issuer.
Which card is best for your American Airlines flights?
In many decisions we face, choices come with trade-offs; you might gain something while sacrificing another. That’s not the case here.
JT GENTER/DinogoIn contrast to United Airlines' baggage policy, you don't have to pay with your American Airlines credit card to benefit from its perks. As long as your card has been active for at least seven days and you've linked your AAdvantage account number to your reservation, you’ll enjoy the priority boarding and checked luggage benefits offered by your card. Simply having it in your wallet is enough.
This means you could use a card like the Amex Platinum Card to accumulate additional points, or opt for the Sapphire Reserve to apply some of your $300 in travel credits to your flight reservation. In fact, utilizing your travel credits on the Sapphire Reserve when covering taxes and fees for an award ticket allows you to eliminate even that small cash amount needed for your flight.
Conversely, the card you choose to pay with may depend on the insurance protections you desire during your travels. In this case, the Sapphire Reserve is likely your top choice, as it provides the best travel protections among the cards listed above.
If you're aiming for American Airlines elite status, using your American Airlines credit card is probably the best option. This is because you'll earn additional Loyalty Points for every eligible mile accrued on your AA credit card.
ZACH GRIFF/DinogoIf you hold the Citi / AAdvantage Executive, which grants Admirals Club lounge access, you’ll be pleased to know that you can still enter the lounge regardless of whether you used that card to pay for your American Airlines flight.
The only time it truly matters which credit card you use is when making an inflight purchase. Cards like the AAdvantage Aviator Red card and the AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business card offer discounts and rebates on inflight purchases. If you buy something during your flight, you won't receive the corresponding discount unless you use an eligible American Airlines credit card.
Conclusion
The great news is that you can enjoy benefits such as free checked bags and priority boarding from American Airlines credit cards, even if you don’t use a cobranded AA card to pay for your flight. You can opt for another card to benefit from travel protections or to earn extra rewards while still reaping the perks associated with AA cardholders.
You’re likely to receive better travel protections and more flexible points and miles with a general travel rewards card, such as the Amex Platinum Card. However, if your goal is to achieve AAdvantage elite status, opting for a cobranded AA card is your best bet.
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