What American Airlines Advantage credit cards do
American Airlines Advantage credit cards let you earn miles on purchases you make with the card, and those miles can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, and other travel rewards. The cards are issued by Citi and come in several versions — each with different annual fees, earning rates, and sign-up bonuses. You don't have to be an American Airlines frequent flyer to open one, though the rewards are most valuable if you fly American or partner airlines regularly.
The miles you earn don't expire as long as your account stays open and you have account activity at least once every 24 months. That activity can be a purchase, a mile redemption, or even a promotional mile deposit — it doesn't have to be a flight. The card itself is a standard credit card you use for everyday purchases, and the miles accumulate in your American Airlines Advantage account.
Key Takeaways
- American Airlines Advantage cards come in multiple versions with different annual fees, ranging from no annual fee to $450, and each earns miles at different rates.
- Sign-up bonuses typically offer 50,000 to 75,000 miles after you spend a set amount in the first few months, though the exact offer changes regularly.
- You earn bonus miles on American Airlines purchases and everyday purchases depending on which card you hold, plus additional miles on dining and other categories through Citi partnerships.
- Miles can be redeemed for American Airlines flights, seat upgrades, baggage fees, and partner airline tickets, though award availability varies by route and date.
- You can transfer miles to a travel companion's account or use them to book flights for others, making the card useful even if you don't always fly yourself.
The main American Airlines Advantage cards and their annual fees
Citi offers four primary American Airlines Advantage cards. The American Airlines Advantage card has no annual fee and earns 1 mile per dollar spent on all purchases. The American Airlines Advantage Preferred card costs $99 per year and earns 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. The American Airlines Advantage Business card also costs $99 per year and is designed for business owners, with 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar elsewhere. The American Airlines Advantage Executive card costs $450 per year and earns 3 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar on dining and gas, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
The no-annual-fee card is the entry point if you want to test whether the rewards are worth your time. The Preferred card makes sense if you fly American several times a year and want faster mile accumulation. The Executive card is built for people who fly American frequently and spend heavily on dining and gas — the higher earning rates and premium benefits need to justify the $450 cost through actual use.
Sign-up bonuses and how they work
When you open a new American Airlines Advantage card, Citi offers a sign-up bonus of miles if you spend a certain amount within a set timeframe, usually three months. The bonus amount and spending requirement vary by card and change over time. A typical offer might be 50,000 miles after you spend $2,500 in the first three months, or 75,000 miles after $5,000 in spending.
The sign-up bonus posts to your American Airlines Advantage account once you meet the spending requirement. You don't have to do anything to claim it — Citi tracks your spending automatically. If you don't meet the spending threshold within the timeframe, you don't receive the bonus. The bonus is separate from the miles you earn on your regular purchases, so you get both the bonus and the ongoing earning rate.
How to earn miles beyond sign-up bonuses
After the sign-up bonus, you earn miles on every purchase you make with the card. The earning rate depends on which card you hold and what you're buying. All cards earn at least 1 mile per dollar on all purchases. The Preferred and Business cards earn 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines tickets, seat upgrades, and fees paid directly to American. The Executive card earns 3 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and 2 miles per dollar on dining (at restaurants and bars) and gas (at gas stations and car rental agencies).
You also earn bonus miles through Citi's partnerships. For example, you may earn extra miles when you book hotels through the American Airlines website, rent a car from a partner company, or make purchases at certain retailers. These partnerships change, so check your card's benefits guide or the Citi website for the current list. Miles post to your account within a few days of the purchase, though hotel and car rental bonuses may take longer.
What you can do with your miles
The primary use for American Airlines miles is booking flights on American Airlines or its partner airlines, which include British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and others. You can search for award flights on the American Airlines website and book them using your miles instead of cash. Award availability varies widely — popular routes and peak travel dates have fewer award seats available, while off-peak flights may have many options.
Beyond flights, you can use miles to pay for seat upgrades (upgrading from economy to business class, for example), baggage fees, and seat selection fees. You can also transfer miles to another person's American Airlines Advantage account, which is useful if you want to book a flight for a family member or friend. Some people use this to pool miles with a travel companion to reach a higher redemption threshold.
Miles can also be redeemed for partner airline tickets, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel services through the American Airlines website, though the value per mile is often lower than when you book flights directly. The redemption value depends on the specific offer and how you value the reward.
Annual fees and whether they pay for themselves
The no-annual-fee card has no cost, so there's no break-even calculation. The Preferred and Business cards cost $99 per year. To justify that fee, you need to earn enough extra miles from the higher earning rate to offset the cost. If you fly American once or twice a year and put regular spending on the card, the 2x earning on American Airlines purchases and the sign-up bonus usually cover the annual fee. If you rarely fly American, the no-annual-fee card is the better choice.
The Executive card costs $450 per year and includes benefits like a $100 statement credit toward American Airlines purchases each year, priority boarding, and free checked bags for you and companions on your ticket. These benefits reduce the effective cost of the annual fee. The card makes financial sense if you fly American frequently, spend heavily on dining and gas, and use the included benefits. If you fly American only occasionally, the Executive card is unlikely to pay for itself.
How to open an American Airlines Advantage credit card
You can open an American Airlines Advantage card through the Citi website or the American Airlines website. Both direct you to the same process. You'll need your Social Security number, income information, and employment details. Citi will pull your credit report to make a decision, which may temporarily lower your credit score by a few points.
The process takes about 10 minutes. You'll receive a decision when ready or within a few business days. If you're approved, your card ships within 7 to 10 business days. Once you receive it, set up it through the Citi website or app, then you can start using it right away. Your American Airlines Advantage account is created automatically when you open the card, and miles from your card purchases post to that account.
If you already have an American Airlines Advantage account from flying, your new card links to that existing account. You don't need to create a new one. If you don't have an account yet, one is created for you when the card is approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have more than one American Airlines Advantage credit card?
Yes, you can hold multiple American Airlines Advantage cards at the same time. Some people hold both the no-annual-fee card and the Preferred card, or the Preferred and Executive cards, to maximize earning on different spending categories. However, Citi has rules about how often you can open new cards and receive sign-up bonuses — typically you can't get a sign-up bonus on the same card more than once every 24 months.
Do my miles expire?
Miles don't expire as long as your American Airlines Advantage account has activity at least once every 24 months. Activity includes making a purchase with your credit card, redeeming miles, or receiving promotional miles. If your account goes inactive for more than 24 months, American Airlines may close it and forfeit your miles. Keeping the card open and using it occasionally is the easiest way to keep your account active.
What if I don't fly American Airlines very often?
You can still earn miles and use them on partner airlines like British Airways or Japan Airlines. You can also transfer miles to someone else's account or use them to book flights for family members. If you rarely fly at all, the miles may accumulate slowly and take years to reach a redemption threshold, so the card is less valuable unless you use it for everyday spending and redeem miles for non-flight rewards like hotel stays.
How do I find award flights and check availability?
Log into your American Airlines Advantage account on the American Airlines website, click "Book with Miles," and search for your route and dates. The search shows you which flights have award seats available and how many miles each flight costs. Award pricing varies by route, date, and how far in advance you book — some flights cost 25,000 miles, others cost 50,000 or more. Booking further in advance usually gives you more options.
Can I use my miles if I'm not the one flying?
Yes. You can book a flight for someone else using your miles, or you can transfer miles to another person's American Airlines Advantage account and let them book their own flight. Transfers are free and take a few business days to process. This is useful if you have miles you won't use yourself or if you want to help a family member or friend pay for a flight.