How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Our take: The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® card is a good option if you are looking for a budget-friendly way to earn AAdvantage® miles on American Airlines flights and groceries. However, you’ll find more value in other airline cards if you fly more than a couple of times per year.
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The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is worth it for travelers who fly American Airlines a few times a year and don’t want to pay an annual fee. You’ll earn double miles on grocery store and eligible American Airlines purchases. Plus, you’ll get a few travel benefits like a 25% discount on in-flight food and drinks.
However, there are some major drawbacks, like a 3% foreign transaction fee, which could be a dealbreaker for international travelers. If you fly more than a couple times a year, you may be better off choosing a card with an annual fee that offers more travel benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding or trip insurance.
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular Purchase APR
21.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
Intro BT APR
N/A
Regular BT APR
21.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Cash Advance Fee
5% of each cash advance; $10 minimum
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Balance Transfer Fee
5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
What it’s worth: AAdvantage® miles are worth an average of 1.8 cent each, making this sign-up bonus worth around $270.
Who’s eligible to earn this offer?: New cardholders who have not earned bonus miles or a statement credit from opening a new American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® in the past 48 months
While the minimum spend to earn this sign-up bonus is much lower than many other travel credit cards, it’s underwhelming in comparison.
For example, the United Gateway℠ Card also comes with a $0 annual fee but you can earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Learn more.
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® offers double points on two bonus categories: grocery and American Airlines purchases. It’s the only credit card that lets you earn bonus AAdvantage®miles on grocery purchases, making it a good card to have in your wallet if you’re an American Airlines flyer. Even if you don’t fly frequently, you’ll be able to find extra value in this card at the grocery store.
By our estimates, the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® ranks well on earnings compared to top airline and general-purpose travel credit cards thanks to the high value of AA miles. Earnings with this card are comparable to other top travel cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express.
We calculated an earning rate per $1 spent for the average consumer by multiplying U.S. Bureau of Labor data by the value of each card’s points or miles.
American AAdvantage® miles are worth an average of 1.8 cents each, making them more valuable than the miles in other frequent flyer programs.
For example, Delta SkyMiles are worth about 1.1 cent, United miles are worth about 1.3 cents and Southwest Rapid Rewards points are worth about 1.4 cents.
Plus, the AAdvantage® program offers plenty of good deals, especially for the flexible traveler.
Once you’ve racked up miles on your American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®, you’ll need to consider the best ways to redeem your miles. The best way to get the most value from your American Airlines miles is to redeem them for free flights on American or partner airlines.
You can redeem AAdvantage® miles for flights to over 1,000 destinations worldwide, upgrades to first or business class, or pay for car rentals, hotel stays and vacation packages. You can also buy or renew an Admirals Club® airport lounge membership with your miles.
Other ways to redeem miles:
American Airlines still publishes regional-based flight award charts, unlike Delta or United. That makes it much easier to see at a glance how many American miles you need to get to your chosen destination. American offers four different award fare types: MileSAAver Off Peak, MileSAAver, AAnytime Level 1 and AAnytime Level 2.
| Fare type | Miles needed |
|---|---|
| MileSAAver Off Peak: The cheapest way to use your miles, these award flights are best if you want to maximize value and you have flexible travel plans. | Discounted awards during defined off-peak times of the year. 22,500 miles between U.S.-Europe |
| MileSAAver: Slightly more costly than MileSAAver Off Peak, this tier offers good value at more popular travel times. Peak and off-peak dates vary by destination. | The traditional saver award rate. 30,000 miles between U.S.-Europe |
| AAnytime Level 1: AAnytime Level 1 award tickets are more readily available than MileSAAver fares but also cost more, and may be a good option if you need to travel on specific dates. | The first level of "AAnytime" awards. 47,500 miles between U.S.-Europe |
| AAnytime Level 2: AAnytime Level 2 fares are the most costly American award tickets but may be your only option if you need to book a specific destination at a peak travel time. | The highest published level of AAnytime awards. 65,000 miles between U.S.-Europe |
How far your American miles take you will depend on your travel goals and how flexible you can be with airlines, dates and locations. If you’re hunting for the best possible deal, you might want to check for American Airlines Web Special Awards, which are offered from time to time on aa.com and may cost you even fewer miles than MileSAAver award flights.
You may be able to squeeze even more value from your miles by using them to book international flights in business or first class.
Some examples of the best ways to redeem American Airlines miles include:
| Example | Miles needed |
|---|---|
| Fly first class from New York to Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways in a luxury first-class “apartment” | 115,000 AAdvantage® miles one way |
| Fly from Chicago to India in Qatar Qsuite business class | 70,000 AAdvantage® miles one way |
| Fly American business class from Dallas to Seoul | 60,000 AAdvantage® miles each |
| Fly Iberia Airlines business class from Miami to Madrid | 57,000 AAdvantage® miles one way |
| Fly American economy to Europe | 22,500 one way during off-peak season or 45,000 one way during peak season |
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® also offers a variety of other benefits, from in-flight savings to features that make it easy to use your card. Here’s a summary of the card’s other benefits.
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is one of a handful of travel cards with no annual fee. This makes it a good choice for travelers on a budget who don’t want to pay to own a card, especially those who travel infrequently. Some travel cards charge an annual fee of $500 or more, so a $0 annual fee is a nice perk.
You get a sizable discount when you use your American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® to buy cocktails, soft drinks, snacks and meals on flights operated by American Airlines. Keep in mind, though, that this price break doesn’t apply to Wi-Fi and other inflight purchases. The discount will show up as a statement credit eight to 10 weeks after the purchase is posted to your account.
With the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®, there is no cap on the number of miles you can earn with your card and build up in your frequent flyer account. There are also no earnings caps in the bonus categories, which is a nice perk if you spend a lot on groceries.
Cardholders of the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® benefit from a $0 liability guarantee. This means you don’t have to pay anything out of your own pocket for any fraudulent or unauthorized purchases made on your card, online or in person.
You can add the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® to a digital wallet, so you don’t always need to carry your physical card with you to make purchases. You can use the card in your digital wallet to shop millions of retailers in apps, online and in stores. A digital wallet-compatible card can make shopping more convenient and save you time in the checkout line.
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® features EMV chip technology for better security and convenience. Contactless chip technology allows you to pay by holding your card over a chip-enabled payment terminal with the contactless payment symbol facing the terminal. This feature makes it quicker and easier to pay for your purchases and go on your way.
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® cardholders get protection from Citi Identity Theft Solutions. If you fall victim to identity theft, this Citi service can help you resolve the resulting problems free of charge. To get the service, you call Citi to get an identity theft specialist assigned to your case. The specialist will help you report fraud to the three major credit bureaus, file a police report, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and restore your identity.
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® has plenty of benefits, but it also has some disadvantages:
→ Low sign-up bonus: The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® card offers a very modest number of miles for new cardholders. The sign-up bonus is only worth around $270.
In comparison, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has a $69 annual fee but lets you earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, you’ll get an additional 3,000 anniversary points each year.
→ Lack of standard airline perks: The card lacks perks that can make flying cheaper and more convenient, such as a free checked bag and priority boarding. If these benefits would be valuable to you, you should consider paying the fee for a higher-tier airline credit card.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a large number of travel benefits like an annual hotel credit, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, auto rental collision damage waiver, trip delay reimbursement and more.
Other American Airlines cards like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offer a free checked bag for you and up to four companions on domestic flights, preferred boarding and $125 flight discount based on our spending.
→ Charges a 3% foreign transaction fee: The card’s international transaction fee could add up to hundreds of dollars in extra fees during a vacation or business trip abroad. If you are an international traveler you’ll want to choose a card with no foreign transaction fee to avoid these extra costs.
Wondering if the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is right for you, or if you should choose another card? Here’s how the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® compares to other top airline credit cards in terms of annual fee, welcome bonus, rewards and other benefits.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®
 Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
$0 | Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases | Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. |
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
$99, waived for first 12 months | Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases. | Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening |
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
|
$0 | Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. | Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. | ||
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
$95 | Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Verdict: The better option if you fly American Airlines on a regular basis
If you fly American Airlines at least three times per year, you’ll find more value in choosing the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® over the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® card. The annual fee is waived the first year, and you’ll get a much more generous welcome bonus with a modest minimum spending requirement.
You’ll get a free checked bag benefit that should more than make up for the annual fee for regular travelers. The rewards earned per $1 spent are slightly lower than on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, but it’s still a better choice for regular travelers who dine out frequently and don’t mind paying an annual fee for more generous perks.
Verdict: A good $0 annual fee card for Delta flyers
If you prefer a different airline over American Airlines, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is another basic, $0 annual fee airline credit card that’s very similar to the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®, with a few key differences.
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card has no foreign transaction fees, which is a big plus when considering a card for international travel — if Amex is accepted at your destination. The card also has a few more benefits than the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, including purchase and extended warranty protection.
Verdict: A great card for travelers looking for valuable benefits and flexible rewards
If you are not loyal to one airline brand and are looking for a variety of travel benefits and rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is your best option. Although this card comes with a $95 annual fee, it’s packed with value like a large sign-up bonus and the ability to earn 5x on travel when you book through Chase TravelSM.
The redemption options with this card are also extremely flexible. You’ll get a 25% boost in rewards value when you book travel through Chase TravelSM. Plus, this card allows you to transfer points at a rate of 1:1 to 11 airline and hotel partners. If you know you love to travel but aren’t sure you want to use your card to exclusively earn American Airlines miles, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the better choice.
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is worth it if you usually fly American Airlines but only travel a few times a year. You may find that it doesn’t make financial sense to pay an annual fee in exchange for loads of airline perks like free checked bags, priority boarding and lounge access. If you fly more frequently and want a card that offers additional travel benefits and perks, you’ll be better off looking at another airline credit card that provides you with more value at the cost of an annual fee.
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is issued by Citi. To login to your account and manage your credit card visit Citi’s website and sign on using your User ID and password.
To manage and redeem your AAdvantage® miles you can also log in to your AAdvantage® account.
You need a credit score of Good/Excellent to qualify for the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®. What does this mean? A FICO® score of 700 to 749 is considered good, while 750 to 799 is considered very good and 800 to 850 is considered excellent. While there are no guarantees, aim for having a credit score of Good/Excellent or higher if you plan to apply for the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®.
Credit ranges are based on VantageScore 3.0. There are various types of credit scores. Each creditor uses a variety of different types of credit scores to make lending decisions.
