
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®
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Rewards rate
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Citi is an advertising partner.
The Citi American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is ideal for cardholders new to the travel rewards universe. With no annual fee, a solid welcome offer and an easy rewards earning structure, it lets you accumulate miles for everyday purchases with ease. But frequent flyers may put off by its lack of travel perks.
No annual fee.
Double miles on grocery stores and eligible American Airlines purchases.
25 percent in-flight savings on food and beverages.
Welcome offer with low spending requirement.
No limit on miles you can earn.
3 percent foreign transaction fees.
No 0 percent intro APR offer on purchases or balance transfers.
No free checked bags and lounge access.
The AAdvantage MileUp card offers 10,000 bonus miles in addition to a $50 statement credit when you spend at least $500 within the first three months.
Although this isn’t the most lucrative offer around, the spending requirement is easy-to-reach, and you won’t have to pay an annual fee.
A great feature of this Citibank American Airlines co-branded card is its simple rewards structure. It’s fantastic for beginners wanting to avoid complicated travel rewards.
You’ll earn two miles for every dollar spent at grocery stores and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Other purchases will earn you one mile per dollar. There is no mileage cap.
The AAdvantage miles you accumulate on your Citi American Airlines credit card won’t expire as long as you earn or redeem them once every 18 months.
You have 1,000 worldwide destinations to choose from for flight redemptions, as you can use them for American Airlines, American Eagle and any Oneworld or partner airlines. Besides flights, miles can be redeemed for seat upgrades, car rentals and hotel stays.
According to Bankrate's latest point valuations, each American AAdvantage mile is worth around 1 cent. However, exactly how much you can squeeze out of each mile depends on your destination, the date you travel and what type of ticket you pick. Non-flight redemptions tend to yield a low value per mile.
While you won’t get perks like a free first checked bag or lounge access, the AAdvantage MileUp is still a solid option for occasional travelers who prefer a low maintenance travel rewards credit card.
While the American Airlines Citi card is free of an annual fee, there is a 3 percent foreign transaction fee, making this card less suitable for overseas trips.
This card currently has a ongoing variable APR of 20.49 percent to 29.49 percent.
Apart from the AAdvantage MileUp card, there are other competitors that offer travel rewards cards with no annual fee. The best card for you will depend on your preferred airline and how much flexibility you want with your rewards.
Annual fee
Intro offer
Rewards rate
Recommended Credit Score
Annual fee
Intro offer
Rewards rate
Recommended Credit Score
To maximize your travel rewards for your spending, it’s worth pairing the Citi AAdvantage MileUp with another travel credit card. If you don’t travel frequently enough to justify paying an annual fee, then the Discover it® Miles could be ideal. You’ll get 1.5 miles per dollar spent—a bit less than the AAdvantage MileUp—but this rate applies to all purchases. What’s more, Discover it® Miles allows redemption for travel or cash, giving you extra flexibility with your rewards.
For those willing to pay an annual fee, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® costs $99 a year (waived for the first 12 months). You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and at restaurants and gas stations. You’ll also get travel perks like a free first checked bag, preferred boarding, no foreign transaction fees and 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 within the first three months of account opening.
This card is great for occasional travelers and American Airlines flyers who are new to travel rewards. It allows you to collect more miles on some of your everyday purchases without having to consider the impact of annual fees.
But frequent travelers will probably want something with more perks than the AAdvantage MileUp, such as the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard.
The information about the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® and Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.