One of the United States’ major airlines is American Airlines. Let’s have a 101 tutorial on the credit cards that will let you travel on American Airlines with free miles. Citi Bank offers four great credit cards that will give you great bonus miles when you apply, get approved,  and complete minimum spend. Barclays also issues American Airlines cards but we’ll cover those in another post, on another day. Today, let’s focus on Citi AA cards.

 

Citi AAdvantage Select Platinum Credit Card

This card will get usually get you 50,000 AAdvantage miles after you spend $2,500 in three months. It has an annual fee of $99 but it is waived the first year. I love when cards waive that annual fee for the first year! You earn 2 miles for every $1 spent at grocery stores, gas stations, and American Airline purchases. You will receive 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Preferred boarding and one free checked bag on domestic flights are also included.

Both my husband and I have applied for and received a bonus on this card. We have used our miles to fly to London to visit our daughter. We have closed these cards but can reapply for them 48 months after receiving the bonus on them. I will definitely apply again in the future.

 

Citi AAdvantage Executive Credit Card

This is one of those high annual fee credit cards. It has an annual fee of $450 and if you fly American a lot and love airport lounges, it might interest you. You will get an Admiral Club membership (worth $650) with this card plus 50,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $5,000 in three months. This card only earns 2 miles per $1 spent with American Airlines though and 1 mile on other purchases. TSA credit or Global Entry credit once every four years is also included with this card. You also receive preferred boarding and one free checked bag on domestic flights. You have to have a boarding pass for an American Airline flight to get in so that means this card is not worth it if you don’t fly American Airlines a lot.

 

AAdvantage Mileup Credit Card

Earn a $50 statement credit and 10,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $500 on this card in 3 months. This card does not have an annual fee. 10,000 AAdvantage miles isn’t a whole lot but sometimes American Airlines will offer some really great web specials where you can find domestic flights for just 5,000 miles each way!  Additionally, because it has no annual fee, it is a good card to downgrade to. If you have one of the AAdvantage credit cards with an annual fee and don’t want to pay it anymore, you can always downgrade to this card and keep your miles (they expire after 18 months of no activity) and the ability to earn more miles.

You will earn 2 miles per $1 spent at grocery stores and for every $1 spent with American Airlines. Additionally, you will get 1 mile per $1 spent on other purchases. Inflight food and beverages will get a 25% discount when charged on this card.

 

Citi Business AAdvantage Select Platinum Credit Card

Earn 65,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $4,000 in three months on this credit card. It has an annual fee of $99 but it is waived the first 12 months. It earns 2 miles per $1 spent on cable and satellite providers, gas stations, American Airlines purchases, car rentals, and select telecommunication merchants. You will earn 1 mile per $1 spent on other purchases. You also receive preferred boarding and one free checked bag on domestic flights.

My husband and I have both had this card also. We have had good success finding flights to use our miles on.

 

Bottom Line

If you travel American Airlines a lot or live near one of its hubs, you should consider one of the AAdvantage Credit Cards offered by Citi Bank. They are quite easy to be approved for and we have used our miles earned from these credit cards for some great trips. American Airlines also offers some amazing web specials periodically where you can get some really cheap flights.

Citi Bank rules are pretty easy. You can qualify for a Citi American Airlines card bonus as long as you’ve not received a new account bonus for the same card in the past 48 months.