This post contains links to products from our advertisers, and we may be compensated when you click on these links. Our recommendations and advice are ours alone, and have not been reviewed by any issuers listed. Terms apply to offers listed on this page. Read our editorial standards.
Disclaimer: Citi is an Insider advertising partner.
Review: Is the AAdvantage MileUp the best American Airlines credit card for you?
The
That said, there’s a tradeoff. Other American Airlines credit cards offer substantial welcome bonuses of at least 50,000 miles, but the
The card doesn’t offer much in the way of frequent flyer benefits, either. For example, you won’t get a free first checked bag on domestic itineraries or preferred boarding, which are both standard perks offered by other American Airlines credit cards like the
Read more: Guide to the best airline credit cards
The only real travel-related benefit you’ll receive is 25% off inflight purchases you make with your card, and you can only take advantage of this perk when you’re actually up in the air.
However, this card has become a lot more compelling with changes to the way American Airlines awards elite status. Starting in 2022, qualifying for elite status with American Airlines AAdvantage is now based on earning Loyalty Points. Along with earning Loyalty Points from flying and partner spending, you can earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent on co-branded American Airlines cards, including the
Comparison: AAdvantage MileUp Card vs other American Airlines credit cards
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual fee |
|
|
|
|
Rewards rate |
2x miles on American Airlines purchases 2x miles at grocery stores 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases |
2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases 2x miles at eligible restaurants and gas stations 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases 2x miles on eligible purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
|
Welcome bonus |
|
|
|
|
Airline benefits |
25% back on inflight purchases |
Free first checked bag on American Airlines domestic itineraries Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights 25% back on American Airlines inflight purchases $125 American Airlines flight discount when you spend $20,000 or more in an account anniversary year and renew your card |
Free first checked bag on American Airlines domestic itineraries Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights 25% back on American Airlines inflight purchases Domestic companion certificate when you spend $30,000 on purchases in a calendar year and renew your card |
|
Review |
AAdvantage MileUp Card vs other no-annual-fee airline credit cards
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual fee |
|
|
|
|
Rewards rate |
2x miles on American Airlines purchases 2x miles at grocery stores 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases |
2x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles at gas stations, and on local transit and commuting 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
2x miles on Delta purchases and at restaurants 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
|
Welcome bonus |
|
|
|
|
Airline benefits |
25% back on inflight purchases |
25% back on United inflight purchases Expanded access to United award flights |
20% back on inflight purchases |
|
Review |
How to earn miles with the Citi AAdvantage MileUp card
The
- 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases (including AA.com, American Airlines reservations, American Airlines Admirals Club, American Airlines Vacations, and American Airlines airport and city ticket counters)
- 2 miles per dollar at grocery stores (supermarkets, freezer/meat locker provisioners, dairy product stores, miscellaneous food /convenience stores, markets, specialty vendors, and bakeries)
- 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases
How to use American Airlines miles
The good news about American Airlines miles is that, for the most part, they’re easy to use. American uses a dynamic pricing model for many of its award flights, yet it also maintains an award chart that shows the lowest possible cost for various types of fares. For example, a round-trip domestic saver award will set you back 25,000 miles, or you could fly round-trip to Hawaii from the continental US for 40,000 miles.
A round-trip flight to Europe from the US can also cost as little as 45,000 miles in economy, and a round-trip flight from the US to Asia can cost as little as 65,000 miles in economy.
Read more: How to earn, redeem, and maximize American Airlines miles
You could also pay even fewer miles if your route or date is included in American Airlines’ periodic Web Specials, which can sometimes shave thousands of miles off the price of a standard ticket.
Even if you don’t fly American Airlines, there’s are plenty of other ways to redeem AA miles. Because American Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance, you can use AAdvantage miles to book award flights on any of these Oneworld partners:
- Alaska Airlines
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Finnair
- Iberia
- Japan Airlines
- Malaysia Airlines
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- Royal Jordanian Airlines
- S7 Airlines
- SriLankan Airlines
You can also redeem American Airlines miles for flights on the carrier’s non-alliance partners, including Air Tahiti Nui, Cape Air, China Southern Airlines, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, GOL Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines (except for flights between the mainland US and Hawaii), and Silver Airways.
Read more: I closed my credit card and my airline miles almost expired — here’s how I saved them
Other options for using American Airlines miles include car rentals, hotels, vacation packages, seat upgrades, Admirals Club airport lounge memberships, merchandise, gift cards, and charity donations.
Benefits and features
The
American Airlines 25% inflight discount
When you use your
The credit should appear on your statement 8-10 weeks after your purchase. One important thing to note is that inflight Wi-Fi purchases (which aren’t processed by American Airlines) aren’t eligible for the 25% savings.
Earn Loyalty Points toward elite status
The new American Airlines Loyalty Point scheme makes it possible to earn AAdvantage elite status without ever getting on a plane. In addition to earning Loyalty Points from flights (1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned = 1 Loyalty Point), you can earn Loyalty Points from non-flying activities, including spending on American Airlines credit cards, spending with partners, and shopping through the AA Shopping Portal.
It’s important to note you’ll only earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar you spend on the
Fees and costs
The
First, you’ll pay an APR of
AAdvantage MileUp Card — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Citi AAdvantage MileUp card worth it?
Most folks who fly American Airlines regularly will do better with another American Airlines card, like the
That said, if you’re completely opposed to paying an annual fee and still want a card that earns American Airlines miles, the
What credit score do you need for the AAdvantage MileUp card?
Generally, to get approved for the
Read more: What is a good credit score? It depends whether you’re asking VantageScore or FICO
If your score isn’t quite there yet, read our guides on improving your credit score and how using credit cards can help boost your score.
Who is eligible for the American Airlines MileUp card?
Most credit card issuers, including Citi, have restrictions on who is eligible to apply for their personal and business credit cards. With American Airlines credit cards from Citi, you can only receive the sign-up bonus if you have not received a bonus on the same card within the last 48 months.
However, it is possible to have more than one type of American Airlines card. For example, if you already have the
Which American Airlines credit card is best?
The
For most travelers, the
And if you’re a very frequent flyer, the
Read our guide to the best American Airlines credit cards for a full overview of all the options.
Powered by WPeMatico
