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Now is the best time to apply for the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp SM card.
I don't like the idea of airline cards with annual fees. One of the main benefits of airline credit cards is that they offer perks when flying with that airline, and most annual fee cards do not.
The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp SM Card is the best no annual fee airline credit card out there. This may be the best American Airlines credit card for several types of consumers.
AAdvantage MileUp Card benefits & perks
Let's start with the basics of the American AAdvantage MileUp Card.
The card offers a welcome bonus of 10,000 AAdvantage miles plus a $50 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first three months
You’re eligible for this card (including the bonus) if you have any other American Airlines card; you just can’t have received a bonus on this exact card in the past 48 months
The card offers 2x AAdvantage miles on grocery store purchases and American Airlines purchases, and 1x AAdvantage miles on all other purchases
Your spending on the MileUp Card can earn Loyalty Points, which can help you qualify for AAdvantage elite status
The card offers 25% savings on American Airlines inflight purchases when paying with your credit card
The AAdvantage MileUp Card is reviewed here.
American Airlines’ no annual fee card is quite lucrative
Why American’s no annual fee card is worth it
I think the American AAdvantage MileUp Card is the most compelling no annual fee airline credit card. Credit card spending is counted toward elite status with the American Airlines loyalty points system.
You earn one Loyalty Point per dollar spent, and it doesn’t matter whether you have a no annual fee card or a $450 annual fee card
The card offers 2x AAdvantage miles on grocery store purchases, which is a useful bonus category you don’t even find on American’s credit cards with annual fees
American’s premium credit cards largely offer perks like a first checked bag free, priority boarding, etc., but those perks are redundant if you have elite status, since you get those benefits anyway
The 25% savings on inflight purchases can be useful for elite members who are purchasing something to eat or drink when in economy
There is a general value in not having an annual fee card.
It helps your credit score to have lots of cards and use them responsibly, so I always try to pick up as many decent no annual fee cards as I can, since those are going to be the cheapest to hold onto in the long-run
This card can be a useful downgrade option if you have a premium personal Citi American Airlines credit card, and you decide you want to downgrade it to something less expensive
Earn Loyalty Points with the AAdvantage MileUp Card
AAdvantage elite members can earn Loyalty Points with the American AAdvantage MileUp Card. What are the differences between the two premium credit cards?
There is a mid-range card in the portfolio.
It has a welcome bonus of 50,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $2,500 within the first three months
It has a $99 annual fee, waived for the first 12 months
It offers 2x AAdvantage miles at gas stations, restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases
It offers a first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries
The executive world elite Mastercard is the premium card in the portfolio.
It has a welcome bonus of 80,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $5,500 within the first three months
It has a $450 annual fee
It offers 2x AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases (4x AAdvantage miles on these purchases through December 31, 2022)
It offers 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points if you spend $40,000 on the card in a year
It offers a first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries, priority check-in, priority security, priority boarding, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
It offers an amazing lounge access perk, in the form of an Admirals Club membership for the primary cardmember, and Admirals Club access for up to 10 authorized users, which you can add to your card at no extra cost
Depending on their spending profile, different people prefer different cards in the portfolio. Some people are better off with the American AAdvantage MileUp Card. The lounge access perk of the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is worth a lot.
If you pick up a premium card, you should be able to upgrade to the no annual fee card within a year or two. You can take advantage of the big bonus being offered along with the better perks if you look at how valuable they are.
Redeem AAdvantage miles for travel in Qatar Airways business class
There is a no annual fee American A MileUp Card. You can earn loyalty points by spending on the card. One of the better bonuses on an American Airlines credit card is the 2x miles on grocery store purchases.
This is the only no annual fee airline credit card that can be used to spend money.
What do you think about the American A Advantage MileUp Card?
