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Credit Cards

9 Best Credit Cards for American Airlines Flyers of October 2026

UpdatedSeptember 21, 2026

At The Points Guy, our goal is to help you maximize your travel experiences while minimizing spending. While we do receive compensation through our credit card application links, ads and clearly indicated sponsored content, our editorial content, points valuations and card analyses are entirely our own. Learn more about our advertising policy and product review methodology.

Best for mid-tier American Airlines rewards

Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®

Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®

  • Intro offer Earn 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles
  • Annual fee$350
  • You'll earn1-6x
  • Regular APR19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
at Citi's secure site.
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

The best American Airlines credit cards offer benefits for both occasional and frequent American flyers. Whether you’re looking to earn AAdvantage miles and unlock premium perks like lounge access and free checked luggage or seeking a card that offers flexible rewards and benefits across multiple airlines, there’s a great option from our partners for you.

Comparing the best American Airlines credit cards

MoreDetails

“More details on the best American Airlines credit cards”

How we rate

We rated the best American Airlines credit cards based on several factors, including reward earning rates, the perks associated with each card and the overall value each card delivers to you. To learn more about how TPG evaluates and chooses cards for our roundups, check out our methodology here.
  • Welcome bonus

    TPG’s picks include cards that offer a range of welcome bonuses to suit different budgets and spending habits.

  • Annual fee

    We chose cards with varying annual fees, including those that cost less than $100 annually to premium cards with heftier fees.

  • Earning rates

    You’ll find various earning rates — and reward programs — making it easier to match your needs to the right credit card.

  • Redemption options

    The best cards will provide you with redemption options in the form of miles and even the ability to use rewards with transfer partners, depending on the card issuer.

  • Added benefits

    Our top picks include insurance perks so you can travel with peace of mind knowing you’re protected against flight delays, lost baggage and more.

Is American the best US airline in 2024?

The data is in, and TPG’s annual report on the best U.S. airlines has American in fourth place — just six hundredths of a point behind United. American benefited from having the largest domestic route network of any carrier, and it also scored well for the travel experience and its AAdvantage loyalty program. However, American was the worst airline at handling checked baggage and was the second-least affordable — dropping it down the rankings.

Here’s where the data placed American this year.

*TPG’s proprietary formula uses data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, public information from carrier websites and internal valuation calculations to numerically rank the largest 10 airlines in the U.S. in terms of reliability, cost, experience and loyalty.

How to choose the best American Airlines credit card

The best American Airlines credit card for your specific needs will heavily rely on what you want the card for and what your spending habits look like. Consider welcome bonuses, travel protections, lounge access and more when deciding which card is best for you.

Here are some of the main points to consider when choosing an American Airlines credit card:

  • 1
    Sign-up bonus

    Choose the best American Airlines card that offers a solid sign-up bonus you can use for future trips. Additionally, consider the minimum spend threshold required to earn a sign-up bonus and make sure your budget and spending align with that figure.

  • 2
    Annual fee

    Depending on what your goals are when opening a new credit card, you may want to opt for a budget-friendly, low annual fee card or a premium travel card — with premium protections and benefits — with a premium annual fee.

  • 3
    Bonus categories

    The best American Airlines credit cards feature various bonus categories for different types of travelers and spenders. Whether you want a cobranded airline card or a travel card that’s also great for general everyday purchases, one of our top picks is sure to suit your needs.

Background Wave Pattern

Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage - The Points Guy

Curious about this loyalty program? Read our guide to get the lowdown

Pros + Cons of American Airlines credit cards

  • Pros

    • American credit cards can earn AAdvantage miles (or flexible travel rewards) every time you use them
    • Spending on cobranded American Airlines cards can help you unlock AAdvantage elite status
    • Many American credit cards include perks to enhance your travel experience — including lounge access, free checked bags and priority boarding
  • Cons

    • Earning American AAdvantage miles means you’re limited to awards through that program

Frequently asked questions

  • What is the best American Airlines credit card?

    The best American Airlines credit card will vary depending on your needs. If you want Admirals Club access, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard will be the best American Airlines card. But if you are primarily interested in getting your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights, one of the cards with a lower annual fee will likely be best.

  • Is an American Airlines credit card worth it?

    An American Airlines card may be worth getting if its perks provide more value than the cost of the annual fee. For example, you'd only need to check a bag four times per year to cover the cost of the mid-tier AAdvantage cards. And the annual fee on the Citi AA Executive card is less than the cost of an Admirals Club membership.

  • How do you apply for an American Airlines credit card?

    You can apply for some American Airlines cards, including the Citi AA Executive card, by clicking the hyperlinked card names on our page. You can apply for other American Airlines cards by searching for the card on the Citi or Barclays websites. You can also pick up a paper application for the Aviator Red on board some American Airlines flights.

  • What credit card rewards transfer to American Airlines?

    You have the ability to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio, which allows you to leverage various Marriott credit cards to earn American miles. However, we only recommend transferring Marriott points to airline programs for very specific redemptions.

  • Do American Airlines credit cards have foreign transaction fees?

    Most American Airlines credit cards don’t have foreign transaction fees. But some, including the AAdvantage MileUp card, do charge foreign transaction fees. So, check the fine print before assuming your American Airlines credit card doesn't have foreign transaction fees.

  • Can I use my American Airlines credit card anywhere?

    You can use your cobranded American Airlines credit card to make purchases at most merchants that accept credit cards.

  • Do you get priority boarding with American Airlines credit cards?

    Cardholders of the Citi AA Executive card automatically get priority boarding in Group 4. Cardholders of most other eligible AAdvantage cards get preferred boarding in Group 5. You won’t get preferred boarding with the AAdvantage MileUp card, though.

  • Do American Airlines credit cards cover rental car insurance?

    Some American Airlines credit cards, including the Citi AA Executive card, offer worldwide car rental insurance coverage when you pay for your rental with your card. See your card's guide to benefits to determine whether your card offers rental car coverage and, if so, the coverage details.

  • What credit score is needed for an American Airlines credit card?

    You'll typically need good credit — which means a credit score of at least 670 — to be approved for an American Airlines credit card. However, you can improve your chances of getting approved with an excellent score in the high 700s or low 800s.