Earn up to 50 AAdvantage miles per dollar with Stand Up to Cancer
Editor's Note
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available.
American Airlines is launching its annual donation push in partnership with Stand Up to Cancer — and it's offering a significant deal-sweetener for American Airlines AAdvantage members who donate.
Between now and Sept. 30, AAdvantage members who make contributions of at least $25 (up to $10,000) to the nonprofit can earn 25 bonus miles per dollar.
And, get this: Donations of between $25 and $10,000 made with a cobranded AAdvantage Mastercard will earn a whooping 50 bonus miles per dollar from now through Sept. 30 or until $3 million has been donated (whichever comes first). However, note that bonus miles from donations do not earn Loyalty Points — more on that below.
Related: Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
Stand Up to Cancer is a nonprofit that raises money for cancer research. As of April 2024, the organization’s funding supported more than 3,100 scientists conducting cancer research at 210-plus institutions.
American has partnered with the organization since 2016 and even operates an Airbus A321 jet with special SU2C livery featuring names of individuals who have battled the disease.
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the U.S. after heart disease, according to the American Cancer Society. More than 1.7 million new cancer cases were reported in 2021, the last year for which there’s data, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2022, more than 600,000 people died of cancer in the U.S.
How to donate to Stand Up to Cancer
To take part in this donation push with American and Stand Up to Cancer, visit SU2C.org/AA.
While contributions to the organization any time of year can have an immeasurable effect on cancer research, giving during this joint push by American and Stand Up to Cancer can also be quite lucrative for your AAdvantage account — particularly if you’re paying for your donation with an AAdvantage Mastercard.
Once on that webpage, you’ll be able to enter your AAdvantage number and name before making your donation.
How many AAdvantage miles can you earn?
At 50 bonus miles per dollar, a $150 donation would earn you 7,500 bonus miles. As of August 2024, TPG values AAdvantage miles at 1.7 cents apiece, so that’s a return worth $123.
With 7,500 miles, you could book a one-way flight within the contiguous U.S. and Canada at the lower end of American's redemption thresholds.
If you use an eligible AAdvantage Mastercard, a $10,000 donation would earn you a whopping half million miles. That’s on top of the base earnings you’d accrue by charging the purchase to your card.
Related: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select vs. AAdvantage Aviator Red: Battle of the AA cards
Is Stand Up to Cancer tax deductible?
Donations to Stand Up to Cancer are tax deductible. However, receiving frequent flyer miles may affect that.
The donation terms state the following:
"For charitable deduction purposes, each mile is valued at 3 cents per mile. The receipt of miles may reduce the tax deductibility of your contribution."
Best American Airlines credit cards to use
Here’s a look at some of our favorite AAdvantage Mastercards you can use to earn the 50 miles per dollar offer for your donation:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees): Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. The card comes with a $595 annual fee and includes Admirals Club access.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees): Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. The card has a $99 annual fee that's waived for the first 12 months.
- Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees): Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months from account opening. The card has a $99 annual fee that's waived for the first 12 months.
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after paying the $99 annual fee and making one purchase within the first 90 days.
The information for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select and AAdvantage Aviator Red credit 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.
Can you earn Loyalty Points?
Generally speaking, no.
AAdvantage members do not earn Loyalty Points on bonus miles, so the bonus miles earned through a Stand Up to Cancer donation would not count toward AAdvantage elite status qualification.
However, certain AAdvantage credit cards earn Loyalty Points on base miles earned for each dollar spent. So, a $1,000 donation made with the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, for instance, would earn 1,000 Loyalty Points.
Related: You can now finally earn miles, Loyalty Points from paid American Airlines upgrades
Bottom line
While donating to cancer research is always a noble and worthwhile cause, between now and Sept. 30, American Airlines is offering a way to reap significant rewards for customers' generosity in the form of lucrative returns of AAdvantage miles.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.