Best credit card to use at American Airlines.
American Airlines is the world's largest carrier by fleet size and the home of the AAdvantage loyalty program. Tickets booked at aa.com or at the airport code as airfare on every card we track. Co-branded AAdvantage cards layer extra miles plus perks like priority boarding and a free checked bag. General travel cards (Sapphire Reserve, Venture X) often deliver higher cash-equivalent value if you don't need AA-specific perks. Tickets booked through OTAs still earn miles and elite credit if your AAdvantage number is on the reservation.
Credits & perks at American Airlines
These cards include a statement credit, rebate, or complimentary membership you can use at American Airlines, on top of whatever you earn on the purchase. Weigh these alongside the ranked picks below.
- CitiUp to $200 annual statement credit on your choice of up to 2 of these 5 brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation.$200/yr
- #1American Express5x points on airlines (up to $500,000/year, then 1%)Booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, up to $500,000 per calendar year6.0%5x points
- #25.0%4x points
- #35.0%4x points
- #4FNBO5x points on travelAirlines, hotels, car rental, cruise lines, travel agencies, transit, taxis, tolls, and timeshares by merchant category code5.0%5x points
- #5US Bank Business Essentials Plusif it’s your top categoryU.S. Bank5% on airlines if it's your top eligible spend category that cycle (up to $200,000/year, then 2%)Automatically on your top eligible spend category each month from 8 eligible (accounting & tax services, airlines, cell phone service providers, dining, entertainment, office supply stores, postal & shipping services, utilities), up to $200,000 a year5%
- #6CitiCo-branded American Airlines cardOn eligible American Airlines purchases; increases to 5x on American Airlines purchases after $150,000 spend in a calendar year4.0%4x points
- #74.0%4x points
- #8PenFed Credit Union4x points on travel4x with PenFed Honors Advantage (military or Access America checking); 3x otherwise4.0%4x points
- #94.0%4x points
- #104.0%4x points
- #114.0%2x points
- #124.0%4x points
- #134.0%4x points
- #14World of Hyatt Businessif it’s your top categoryChase2x points on airlines if it's your top eligible spend category that cycleAutomatically 2x total in your top three spend categories each calendar quarter, from dining, shipping, airline tickets bought directly with the airline, local transit and commuting, social media and search engine advertising, car rental agencies, gas stations, and internet/cable/phone services4.0%2x points
- #15Chase3x points on travel (up to $150,000/year, then 1%)Travel, shipping, internet/cable/phone, advertising on search engines and social media (combined $150,000/yr cap)3.8%3x points
- #163.6%3x points
- #17American Express7x points on airlinesFlights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com3.5%7x points
- #183.0%3x points
- #193%
- #20Chase3x points on travelTravel other than Air Canada direct purchases, which earn 3x under the airlines category3.0%3x points
Last updated September 14, 2026