Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Our Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- Double miles on select purchases
- No Rewards Cap
- Lack Perks
- Foreign Transaction Fee
Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Our Rating
PROS
- Double miles on select purchases
- No Rewards Cap
CONS
- Lack Perks
- Foreign Transaction Fee
APR
21.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
Credit Requirements
Good – Excellent
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® card is good for infrequent American Airlines flyers who are looking for an introduction to AAdvantage miles including rewards for everyday purchases. This along with the fact that it does not have an annual fee makes it an appealing card to people who are new to travel rewards.
Cardholders get 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on grocery stores and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. Also, there is a nice sign up bonus of 10,000 miles and $50 statement credit if you spend $500 in first 3 months.
The card's advantages include the absence of an annual fee, a reasonable sign-up bonus, and the potential to earn elite status through Loyalty Points. However, it lacks some travel benefits compared to other American Airlines cards and imposes a 3% foreign transaction fee.
However, there are better cards out there as far as travel rewards credit cards are concerned, and depending on the card holder's credit history, travel needs, and frequency, a potential cardholder might want to explore other options before jumping at the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card. In spite of that, most travel cards charge an annual fee.
What Purchases Don't Earn Points?
Citi does have a list of purchases that are ineligible to earn miles. This includes unauthorized charges, account fees, traveler’s checks, foreign currency or money order purchases, lottery tickets, betting transactions and wire transfers.
How Much Are 10,000 Miles/Points Worth?
AAdvantage miles have a value of 1.27 cents per mile typically, depending on your preferred redemption method. This means that 10,000 miles would have a typical redemption value of $127.
Does The Card Insurance Cover Flight Cancellation?
The American Airlines AAdvantage Mileup card does not provide card insurance. So there is no flight cancellation coverage with this card even if you purchase your fares with your card.
What Is The Initial Credit Limit?
Citi does not state a minimum credit limit for new customers approved for the AAdvantage Mileup. However, customer reviews do suggest that the initial credit limit is $2,000 or more. As with most credit cards, your actual credit limit will be determined by your creditworthiness, income and other factors.
Can I Get Car Rental Insurance With An American Airlines Aadvantage Mileup Card? How?
Although this is an American Airlines branded card, there are limited travel benefits, including a lack of car rental insurance. This does mean that even if you use your card to pay for your entire car rental, you’ll not get any car insurance coverage.
In this Review..
Pros & Cons
Let's explore the advantages and disadvantages of the AAdvantage Mile Up Card to determine its suitability for your financial needs.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Double Miles | Foreign Transaction Fee |
No Annual Fee | Limited Travel Perks |
Welcome Bonus | Blackout Dates for Redemptions |
Loyalty Points for Elite Status | No Priority Boarding or Free Checked Bag |
No Fee for Authorized Users |
- Double Miles
Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on grocery stores and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases
- No Annual Fee
The American Airlines AAdvantage® Mile Up® card offers the benefit of accumulating AAdvantage miles without the burden of an annual fee, making it a cost-effective option for occasional travelers.
- Loyalty Points for Elite Status
Users can earn Loyalty Points toward elite status with American Airlines, receiving 1 Loyalty Point for every mile earned through card spending, potentially leading to additional travel benefits.
- No Fee for Authorized Users
The card allows users to add authorized users at no additional fee, making it convenient for family members or travel companions to share the benefits.
- Sign up Bonus
The card offers 10,000 miles and $50 statement credit if you spend $500 in first 3 months.
- Foreign Transaction Fee
If you plan on taking a trip abroad, you might want to consider leaving this card at home.
Any transaction put on this card outside of the U.S. will result in you paying 3% on the purchase. This is something that many other travel cards don’t charge.
- Limited Travel Perks
While the card offers a 25% discount on in-flight purchases, it lacks some of the robust travel perks and benefits compared to higher-tier American Airlines credit cards.
- Blackout Dates for Redemptions
Some redemptions may be subject to blackout dates, limiting the flexibility of using AAdvantage miles for certain flights.
- No Priority Boarding or Free Checked Bag
Unlike some higher-tier American Airlines credit cards, the AAdvantage Mile Up card does not provide priority boarding or free checked bag benefits, limiting its appeal for frequent travelers.
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Rewards Simulation: How Much You Can Earn?
The best way to see if the AAdvantage MileUp Card is the right choice for your needs, is to calculate the amount of rewards and benefits you suppose to earn.
Keep in mind that this is a general breakdown of expenses, so make sure to adjust it to your own consumer preferences and spending habits.
| |
|---|---|
Spend Per Category | American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® |
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 20,000 miles |
$4,000 – Restaurants
| 4,000 miles |
$4,000 – Airline | 8,000 miles |
$3,000 – Hotels | 3,000 miles |
$4,000 – Gas | 4,000 miles |
Total Miles/Points | 39,000 miles |
Estimated Redemption Value | 1 mile = ~1.27 cent |
Estimated Annual Value | $495 |
How to Redeem Your Miles?
With the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp card, you can earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on grocery stores and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
You can use your Aadvantage miles to book flights to over 1,000 destinations worldwide. American Airlines awards are available in a variety of configurations, so you are not restricted by blackout dates or other restrictions.
You can also use your miles to pay for hotel stays, vacation packages, car rentals, and first-class or business-class upgrades.
Make The Most of Your AAdvantage MileUp
Here are some pointers to help you make the most of your AAdvantage MileUp:
- Make a Strategy: The average redemption rate for AAdvantage Miles is 1.2-1.3 cents per mile, but if you simply book any flight, you could end up with far less. However, with some forethought, you may be able to obtain a better rate.
- Leverage sign up bonus: The minimum spending needed to get the bonus is quite low, so you can take advantage of it easily.
- Be Flexible When Redeeming Miles: Because AAdvantage Miles redemption rates can vary greatly, the best way to maximize your card benefits is to carefully research flight options. If your travel dates are flexible and you're willing to compare the cash value of the flights to see which offers the best redemption rates.
Do Consumers Love This Card?
Satisfied borrowers report that credit limit increases are possible with consistent positive account activity, which may help you improve your credit score.
Negative reviews highlight some issues with the grocery store purchase category. There have been numerous complaints that the definition of a grocery store is a little complicated, and customers have had difficulty obtaining miles when purchasing groceries because the purchases are classified as “merchandise.”
How To Apply For AAdvantage MileUp Card?
Visit the American Airlines AAdvantage Card homepage and click “Apply Now.”
A page appears to get you started, which includes your names, mailing address, date of birth, etc.
Now, you’ll need to insert your social security number. take your time to read through the E- Pricing & terms.
Lastly, agree to the certifications and click “Submit.”
How It Compared To Other American Airlines Credit Cards?
When compared to other American Airlines cards, the AAdvantage Mile Up card stands out for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
In comparison, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers a more comprehensive package with a higher annual fee that is waived for the first 12 months. It provides significant perks such as free checked baggage, priority boarding, and a more substantial welcome bonus.
The most premium American Airlines card is the Citi AAdvantage Executive car which targets a more premium audience with a higher annual fee, but it comes packed with exclusive benefits. The Executive card provides Admirals Club membership, priority check-in, and priority boarding, along with a substantial welcome bonus and enhanced rewards on eligible American Airlines spending.
Is the AAdvantage MileUp Card Right for You?
By offering special benefits for loyal customers, the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp card is certainly designed for people who are flying multiple times each year for various reasons, whether it be work, leisure, or both.
This along with the fact that it does not have an annual fee makes it an appealing card also to people who are new to travel rewards. The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp is a fantastic option that could be beneficial if you:
- You want to earn extra points for your groceries: Another feature that airline cards have in common is that they heavily prioritize airline purchases. This card, on the other hand, earns two points on American Airlines and grocery store purchases.
- You want to accumulate loyalty points in order to improve your AAdvantage status. You'll earn one loyalty point for every dollar spent, but you'll need 30,000 or more to qualify for the lowest tier, AAdvantage Gold.
- You do not want to pay a yearly fee: Most airline cards have an annual fee, which means you must recoup enough rewards to cover the fee before you can seriously benefit from the card. The AAdvantage MileUp, on the other hand, has no annual fee, so you can start saving right away.
Compare The Alternatives
Several other credit cards provide similar rewards to the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp while also offering a couple of features that this card lacks:
 |
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|
United℠ Explorer Card | Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card | Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | |
Annual Fee | $95 ($0 first year) | $150, $0 intro first year. (See Rates and Fees.) | $99 (waived for the first 12 months)
|
Rewards |
1X – 2X
2x per $1 spent on United purchases, hotel accommodations, restaurants & eligible delivery services and 1x per $1 spent on all other purchases
|
1X – 2X
2X miles on delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide (including take-out and delivery in the U.S) and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
|
1X – 2X
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
|
Welcome bonus |
50,000 miles
50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
|
40,000 Miles
40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
|
50,000 Miles
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | $0. See Rates and Fees. | $0 |
Purchase APR | 21.99% – 28.99% variable | 20.99%-29.99% Variable | 21.24% – 29.99% (Variable) |
FAQ
The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp requires good to excellent credit. It is your credit status rather than your income that will influence your card approval. However, your income will be used to determine your credit limit, so the card issuer may require you to provide proof of your income.
AAdvantage miles do expire, but only if there are 18 months of inactivity on your account. So, if you continue to add miles and redeem them, you should not have any issues with keeping your account active or your miles expiring.
Unlike some programs, neither of these airline reward schemes has lots of partners. It is possible to use AAdvantage miles for American Airlines and JetBlue flights, and vice versa. However, there are no other airline partners that accept AAdvantage miles.
Citi occasionally offers pre approval mail outs for cards, but if you have not received an AAdvantage Mileup mailer, you’ll need to use the online application, which does not allow pre approval. You’ll need to complete the full application that involves a hard credit pull.
Compare American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp
If you're looking for an airline card, both American Airlines and JetBlue cards can be a perfect choice, depends on your needs. Here are our thoughts.
We think that for most consumers, the no-annual-fee AAdvantage MileUp card may be a better option. When you may consider the Platinum Select?
Both cards offer basic airline benefits, decent cashback and no annual fee. But, the JetBlue card is our winner – here's why.
The AAdvantage MileUp is our winner, especially if you plan to use the card for more categories besides travel. Here's why.
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