The No Annual Fee American Card May Now Be The Best

10,000 AAdvantage bonus miles and a $50 statement credit are offered by the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp card. It's a no annual fee card that doesn't get a lot of attention.

I think the changes to how status is earned at American Airlines will make this card more relevant than ever. The main consumer AAdvantage card has an annual fee of $299. It makes sense to spend on the card.

2 miles per dollar is earned on eligible American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores and 1 mile per dollar everywhere else. The days of annual fee co brands earning just half a mile per dollar are over.

There are two basic arguments.

1. Loyalty points mean spend on an American card matters for those with elite status. You earn one loyalty point per dollar spent on a cobrand credit card, and loyalty points are how status is earned. Loyalty points also matter for upgrade priority.
2. Elite frequent flyers have no good reason to go for the primary consumer card with its annual fee, since the benefits (free checked bags, earlier boarding) duplicate elite benefits.

The card that makes the most sense to carry is either.

• The Citi Executive card if you want to bundle buying Admirals Club access
• The MileUp card because you’ll earn loyalty points for your spend without an annual fee at all

The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp card can be used without an annual fee. The benefits of the mass consumer card don't really accrue to an elite in a meaningful way. Why spend the fee? MileUp Loyalty can be used to earn points.

With the new American Airlines elite status-earning system going into effect in 2022, it is easy to keep elite status if you engage with the program across a variety of earning streams. The full list of activities and partners has been shared by American.

In general.

The new American Airlines elite status-earning system going into effect next year makes it easy to keep elite status if you engage with the program across a variety of earning streams. There are 10 things to know about the new program.

In airlines.

American Airlines is changing the way elite status is earned. You will be able to earn status with most of your activity in the program. They have created a system where you can earnalty points over the course of a year.

In general.