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Offers for the
Citi's American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card is one of many cards earning American Airlines miles. Each card offers varying benefits, earning rates, and annual fees. So where does the AA MileUp Card fit in?
If you're looking to earn AA miles from a simple card with no annual fee and a handful of minor perks, this may fit the bill. Otherwise, it might be wise to check out your other options, even if you fly American just a handful of times a year.
Let's take a look at what this card has to offer so you can decide for yourself.
- 15,000 AAdvantage® miles and a $100 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- 2X AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
- Save 25% on inflight drinks and snacks when you use your card on American Airlines flights
- $0 annual fee
- 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
- 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
AA MileUp Card Pros
- No annual fee
- 2X miles at grocery stores, including grocery delivery, and on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases
AA MileUp Card Cons
- No free checked bags
- Limited earning potential
- Charges foreign transaction fees
AA MileUp Card Welcome Bonus
Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles and a $100 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.This is a fairly standard offer for a no-annual-fee card. The required spending is low, and the bonus reflects that. In terms of offer history on this card, 15,000 miles is the best bonus we've seen. That adds a bit of perspective.
Make a Product Change to the AA MileUp Card
The AA MileUp Card is an option for Citi cardholders looking to downgrade or product change an existing card. Making a product change instead of closing an account is a good way to manage your account — you'll preserve your credit history while eliminating the annual fee.
For example, let's say you've had the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, which carries a $99, waived for first 12 months, for the last couple of years. But you recently got approved for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® because you wanted more benefits and were willing to pay its higher annual fee. Instead of canceling your AA Platinum Select, you could ask Citi whether you're eligible to convert it to the no-annual-fee AA MileUp Card.
To make a product change, you'll have to call the phone number on the back of your Citi credit card. Read more about it in our Citi product change explainer.
AA MileUp Card Benefits
Often, a card's benefits are what help make up for the annual fee. In this case, the few benefits the card offers set you ahead from the beginning since there is no annual fee.
- 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights when you use your card to pay
- No cap on the amount of miles you can earn each year
- Add authorized users at no additional charge
- Receive 1 Loyalty Point for every eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases, helping you work toward AA Elite status.
AA MileUp Card Earning Rates
The MileUp card has a simple earning structure as follows:
- 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
- 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
If earning American Airlines miles is your priority, putting grocery purchases on this card is an easy way to build up your stash.
Related: The 8 Best
Redeeming Miles With the AA MileUp Card
Miles earned with the AA MileUp Card can be used to book flights on American Airlines and its nearly 20 airline partners. That means you can book flights on Oneworld airlines like British Airways, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and non-alliance partners like Etihad Airways and Air Tahiti Nui.
No matter where you want to go in the world, you can likely get there on one of American's partners. Or, take advantage of some of the American Airlines sweet spots that abound. How does 20,000 miles to fly to northern South America sound? Or 60,000 miles in business-class to Japan? You can book those with AA miles.
Additionally, you can use American Airlines miles on flight upgrades, rental cars, and hotels. However, we don't usually recommend this since the redemption rate is often poor.
Application Restrictions
The card's application rules state that the welcome bonus is “not available if you have received a new account bonus for an AAdvantage® MileUp® account in the past 48 months.” . You're also ineligible if you converted another Citi credit card account on which you earned a new-account bonus in the past 48 months into an AAdvantage® MileUp® account.
Beyond this, Citi also has strict application frequency rules. You can only apply for one personal card per eight-day period and only two cards in a 65-day period.
Related: Understanding
Cards That Compete With the AA MileUp Card
$99, waived for first 12 months
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at restaurants
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at gas stations
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
$95Rates & Fees
- 10X on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations
- 1X – Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- 3x on travel – including airfare, hotels, car rentals, timeshares, cruises, and more
- 3x on transit – including parking, tolls, subways, ride shares, railways, ferries, and more
- 3x on dining – including dining in, take-out, catering, delivery and more
- 3x at gas stations – including gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations
- 3x on phone plans – including landline providers and cell phones
- 3x on streaming services
- 1x on other purchases
- If you want an American Airlines card with a higher welcome offer and more benefits, check out the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. The card has an annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months and offers the first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the cardholder and up to four companions on the same reservation, plus preferred boarding. It also earns 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and at restaurants and gas stations. You'll earn
Loyalty Points - If you want a card with transferable rewards that can be used with multiple airlines, look at the Citi Strata Premier (Rates & Fees). You can transfer ThankYou Points to 21 airline and hotel partners. American Airlines is on the list, along with programs such as Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Qantas. You won't get free checked bags or preferred boarding with American Airlines from this card, but you'll gain more flexibility in how you use your rewards. Our Citi Strata Premier review has more details.
- If you want a no-annual-fee card with flexible earnings and rewards, consider the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (Rates & Fees). The card offers several uncapped 3X bonus categories, allows you to transfer points to multiple programs, and does not carry an annual fee. It also includes cell phone protection, and you won't get charged any foreign transaction fees if you find yourself on an overseas trip. Learn more in our Wells Fargo Autograph Card review.
Related: Which American Airlines Credit Card Is Right for You?
Bottom Line
The AA MileUp Card is a decent option for a no-annual-fee airline card. However, it lacks many of the benefits you'd normally expect from an airline credit card, including a free checked bag and preferred boarding.
If you're trying to earn AA miles in as many ways as possible, the card could have a place in your wallet — particularly for grocery purchases. Otherwise, another card may offer a larger welcome bonus, stronger travel benefits or more flexible rewards.
- 15,000 AAdvantage® miles and a $100 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- 2X AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
- Save 25% on inflight drinks and snacks when you use your card on American Airlines flights
- $0 annual fee
- 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
- 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Citi Strata Premier® Card (Rates & Fees)
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