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American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® review

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At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for . The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

Snapshot

3.4

Bankrate rating
Info
Rating: 3.4 stars out of 5
Image of American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®

American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®

Rewards rate

1X - 2X
Info

Annual fee

Intro offer

Info

Citi is an advertising partner.

Citi American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Overview

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.

What are the pros and cons?

Pros

  • Checkmark

    No annual fee.

  • Checkmark

    Double miles on grocery stores and eligible American Airlines purchases.

  • Checkmark

    25 percent in-flight savings on food and beverages.

  • Checkmark

    Welcome offer with low spending requirement.

  • Checkmark

    No limit on miles you can earn.

Cons

  • 3 percent foreign transaction fees.

  • No 0 percent intro APR offer on purchases or balance transfers.

  • No free checked bags and lounge access.

A deeper look at the current card offer

Quick highlights

  • Rewards rate: 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on grocery stores and eligible American Airlines purchases; 1 mile per dollar on other purchases
  • Welcome offer: 10,000 bonus miles and $50 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Purchase intro APR: N/A
  • Balance transfer Intro APR: N/A
  • Regular APR: 21.24 percent to 29.99 percent variable

Current welcome bonus

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.

Rewards rate

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.

Earning 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.

Redeeming rewards

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.

How much are miles worth?

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.

Key cardholder perks

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.

Bonus miles for everyday purchases

  • Wide definition of grocery stores. Apart from supermarkets, this AA card counts freezer/meat locker providers, dairy product stores, convenience stores, markets, specialty vendors and even bakeries as grocery stores. This wide definition will allow you to accumulate miles quickly from everyday purchases.
  • Grocery purchases include delivery services. It’s not just your grocery shopping that qualifies for bonus miles—grocery delivery services count too.

No annual fee

  • Less pressure to earn and redeem miles. With no annual fee, you won’t have to worry about using your card frequently enough to outweigh costs.

In-flight savings

  • Receive 25 percent discount on eligible purchases. Savings apply to spending on food and beverages when traveling on flights operated by American Airlines.

Rates & fees

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 21.24 percent to 29.99 percent.

How the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp compares to similar travel rewards cards

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.

Image of American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®

American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®

Annual fee

$0

Intro offer

10,000 miles
Info

Rewards rate

1X - 2X
Info

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Image of Discover it® Miles
Bankrate Score
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site

Annual fee

$0

Intro offer

Discover Match®
Info

Rewards rate

1.5X
Info

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Image of Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Bankrate Score
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site

Annual fee

$0

Intro offer

Earn 10,000 miles
Info

Rewards rate

1X - 2X
Info

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info

Best cards to pair Citi American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp with

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 3 months of account opening.

Bankrate’s Take—Is Citi American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp worth it?

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.

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

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.