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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
Which credit card should you use for American Airlines flights?
Ryan is a former TPG credit cards writer who has been around points and miles for several years and has published content at Miles to Memories, AwardWallet and The Points Guy. His wife joins him on many of his trips, and they enjoy snowboarding, diving, and seeing animals in the wild. When not traveling, Ryan is probably answering questions from his family about how he travels so much and whether this points & miles stuff is illegal.
Credit card writer Danyal Ahmed is an avid traveler, averaging about 100,000 aeronautical miles per year. He regularly applies that knowledge and his expertise in credit cards to his role as a credit card writer at TPG.
also contributed to this story
September 26, 2025 • 10 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Citi is a TPG advertising partner
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Quick summary
Travelers booking American Airlines flights can choose between airline-specific cards or general travel rewards cards for payment.
You do not need to pay with an airline-specific card to receive perks like free checked bags or priority boarding, as long as your card is linked to your reservation.
General travel rewards cards may offer higher earning rates and better travel protections for American Airlines purchases.
If you are seeking elite status with American Airlines, using an airline-specific card can help you earn more Loyalty Points.
What to consider
Discounts on inflight purchases are only available if you pay with an eligible airline-specific card.
Travel protections vary by card, so consider which benefits are most important for your trip.
Some cards allow you to transfer points directly to the airline's loyalty program for added flexibility.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of which card types maximize rewards, benefits and protections for American Airlines flights.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
You’re about to book an American Airlines flight. You reach for your wallet and pause — should you be using a cobranded AA card to pay or opt for a general travel rewards card?
The good news is that there are several AA credit cards, so you've got options. Let’s compare them to other travel rewards credit cards to see which is the best option for paying for AA flights.
Comparing credit cards for American Airlines flights
Aside from using an American Airlines credit card, you might also consider paying with a travel rewards card, which can earn transferable points on travel purchases, including booking your next flight with AA.
Card name
Earning rate on American Airlines flights
Value of the rewards earned (per TPG's Sept. 2025 valuations)
6 points per dollar spent on air travel booked via CitiTravel.com (or 1.5 points per dollar spent on all other airfare purchases made outside the portal)
11.4 cents if booked via Citi Travel (or 2.85 cents for purchases made outside the portal)
Four Admirals Club Citi Strata Elite passes every calendar year
The information for the AAdvantage MileUp, AAdvantage Aviator Red and AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Which card should you use for American Airlines flights?
Unlike United Airlines’ baggage policy, you don’t actually need to pay with your American Airlines credit card to enjoy the benefits your cobranded card provides.
JT GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
As long as you've had your card open for at least seven days and have attached your AAdvantage account number to your reservation, you will receive the priority boarding and checked luggage benefits available from your credit card. Just having it in your wallet is sufficient.
In fact, using your travel credits on the Sapphire Reserve when paying for the taxes and fees on an award ticket means you could erase even that minimal amount of cash you had to pay for a flight.
On the flip side, which card you pay with could be determined by the insurance protections you want to have during your trip. In that case, paying with the Sapphire Reserve is probably your best bet, as it has some of the best travel protections on the market.
If you’re working on American Airlines elite status, paying with your American Airlines credit card is likely the best bet. That’s because you’ll earn extra Loyalty Points for each eligible mile earned on your AA credit card.
And if you have the Citi / AAdvantage Executive that offers Admirals Club lounge access, you’ll be happy to know you can still access the lounge whether you paid for your American Airlines flight with that card or not.
Otherwise, if you're a cardholder of the Citi Strata Elite, you can purchase your American Airlines tickets from Citi Travel and earn 6 points per dollar spent and use some of the Admirals Club passes that come with this card.
If you often spend money inflight, choose the card you pay with carefully. Products like the AAdvantage Aviator Red and the AAdvantage Aviator Business provide discounts when making these purchases — but only if you use the right card. You won’t receive the applicable discount if you don’t pay with an eligible American Airlines credit card.
The good news is that you can enjoy benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding from American Airlines credit cards even if you don’t pay for your flight with a cobranded AA card. Instead, you can pay with another card to invoke travel protections or to earn extra rewards while still enjoying AA’s cardholder perks.
You'll probably get better travel protections — and more flexible points and miles — with a general travel rewards card like the Sapphire Reserve. However, if you're chasing AAdvantage elite status, a cobranded AA card is the way to go.
