Why small businesses that use American AAdvantage need a cobranded business card
Editor's Note
If your small business relies on American Airlines for work travel, the AAdvantage Business program can be a great way to earn miles and Loyalty Points on employee flights.
However, to fully participate in the program, businesses typically must meet a $5,000 minimum eligible travel spend requirement and have at least five registered, active business travelers — requirements that can be tougher for smaller teams to meet.
Fortunately, this doesn't mean you're automatically excluded from the program. If an authorized representative of your business holds an eligible AAdvantage Business cobranded credit card, such as the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees), your company can still enjoy the full benefits of the program without meeting those thresholds.
Citi is offering new Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard holders a welcome bonus of 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months from account opening. TPG's October 2025 valuations deem AAdvantage miles as worth 1.55 cents each, making this welcome bonus worth $1,008.
Whether you already have an AAdvantage Business credit card in your wallet or are considering applying, here's why it could be a smart move for your small business.
How does the AAdvantage Business program work?
Through the AAdvantage Business program, your business earns 1 mile per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines flights, while travelers earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar. Qualifying flights can be booked through American Airlines-owned channels, such as aa.com, the American Airlines app or reservations, or through a travel agency.
As a reminder, miles can be redeemed for flights, while Loyalty Points count toward earning elite status with American Airlines. These rewards are earned in addition to what the traveler would normally receive through their personal AAdvantage account, so in most cases, there's no downside to being registered as a company traveler.
However, per program terms, travelers can only register under one AAdvantage Business account at a time, so those working with multiple businesses will need to choose which account to associate with.
Businesses can redeem AAdvantage miles directly or transfer them to employee accounts for redemption.
Related: Best uses of American Airlines AAdvantage miles
How small businesses benefit from an AAdvantage Business card
Businesses must typically meet both of the following requirements to fully participate in the AAdvantage Business program:
- $5,000 in eligible program-flown revenue over the last 12 months
- Five registered travelers
If a business doesn't meet these requirements, travelers won't earn extra Loyalty Points through the AAdvantage Business program, and the business can't transfer miles to individuals.
However, small businesses can bypass these requirements if an authorized representative has an eligible AAdvantage Business cobranded card like the Citi/ AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard.
So, even if you are a sole proprietor and you spend well under $5,000 on business-related flights each year, you could get the Citi/ AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard and earn extra miles and Loyalty Points through the AAdvantage Business program when you travel for business reasons.
Likewise, a partnership with two employees who travel frequently to job sites might meet the requirement of $5,000 in eligible program-flown revenue but not the requirement of five travelers. However, an authorized representative from the partnership could get the Citi/ AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard — perhaps even adding other employees as authorized users — and then the business and travelers could benefit from the AAdvantage Business program when traveling for work.
In short, an eligible AAdvantage Business cobranded card like the Citi/ AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard has become critical for small businesses that would otherwise not meet one or both standard requirements for the AAdvantage Business program.
Related: Who qualifies for a business credit card?
Bottom line
Many small businesses likely struggle to meet the spending or traveler requirements for the AAdvantage Business program.
Luckily, businesses don't need to meet the standard requirements if an authorized representative is a Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard cardholder.
To learn more, read our full review of the Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard.
Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees