6 American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Benefits You Didn’t Know About
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Written by
Joseph Hostetler
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card, an advertising partner, is one of the best airline credit cards with no annual fee. In some ways, it matches (or even outperforms) airline cards with annual fees breaching $500.
Let’s take a quick look at the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card benefits to help you evaluate its value for your travel strategy.
1. Welcome Bonus
The Citi AAdvantage MileUp Card currently offers 15,000 Bonus Miles after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
CardCritics™ estimates American Airlines miles to be worth an average of 1.5 cents each. That means you shouldn’t have much trouble squeezing a value of $225 out of this bonus. Not bad for a no-annual-fee travel credit card.
I recently used American Airlines AAdvantage miles to fly from Ohio to Oklahoma for a family visit. One-way flights were $195, but they only cost 6,000 miles each way. In other words, I booked a $390 trip for just 12,000 miles — considerably less than what is offered by this bonus. That’s a fantastic value of 3.25 cents per mile.
2. Introductory 0% APR on Balance Transfers
New American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card holders qualify for a 0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, then 20.24% - 29.24% (Variable). A 20.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR will apply for purchases.
That’s competitive with some of the best balance transfer credit cards on the market, and an unusual feature for a travel rewards credit card. If you’re carrying high-interest balances on other cards, this offer could give you the breathing room you need to make a real dent in your debt. Just be aware there’s a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
3. Bonus Miles at Grocery Stores
One of the biggest monthly expenses for many of us is groceries. But most of the best American Airlines credit cards earn just 1 mile per dollar at grocery stores.
The AAdvantage MileUp Card earns double this rate. You’ll get an uncapped 2 miles per dollar at grocery stores — including grocery delivery services. If you’d like to earn American Airlines miles at the supermarket, this card is one of your best options.
It’s also worth noting that you’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
4. Fast Track to Elite Status
American Airlines uses a currency called Loyalty Points to achieve elite status; the more Loyalty Points you earn in a year, the higher your status. Here’s how to earn each status level:
- Gold status: 40,000 Loyalty Points
- Platinum status: 75,000 Loyalty Points
- Platinum Pro status: 125,000 Loyalty Points
- Executive Platinum status: 200,000 Loyalty Points
When you swipe your AAdvantage MileUp Card, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar. That means it’s possible to earn top-tier American Airlines elite status without ever setting foot on an airplane. You’ll have to be a big spender to do it, but it’s neat that it’s possible.
You’ll also earn Loyalty Points from flying on American Airlines, so those going for elite status may simply spend on the card as a way to fast-track their progress.
Depending on your status tier, American Airlines elites receive benefits like bonus miles for paid flights, complimentary seat upgrades and free checked bags. I don’t fly the same airline often enough to maintain elite status — but I did briefly hold AAdvantage Platinum Pro, and I was upgraded to a lie-flat seat between Los Angeles (LAX) and New York (JFK). That’s when I realized what a game-changer airline status really is.
5. Discounts on Select In-Flight AA Purchases
The AAdvantage MileUp Card offers a 25% discount on food and beverage purchases aboard domestic American Airlines flights. The savings come as a statement credit, not an instant rebate.
If you’re one who frequently makes these types of in-flight purchases, these seemingly small savings could add up quickly. Just note that it doesn’t discount in-flight Wi-Fi.
6. Add Free Authorized Users
You can add additional card members at no cost. There are multiple potential advantages to this, both for you and for your additional users.
First, when an authorized user swipes the card, the rewards they earn are deposited into the primary cardmember’s loyalty account. That means the more your users spend, the more miles you’ll get.
Also, if you’ve got a friend or family member who has less-than-perfect credit, hopping on your account can help them to improve their credit profile (as long as you have a healthy credit score with a long history of responsible usage).
Just note that you are ultimately responsible for paying for purchases made by the authorized user. You should only add folks that you trust implicitly to spend responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions About AA MileUp Card Benefits
How much does the American Airlines MileUp card cost annually?
The AAdvantage MileUp Card does not charge an annual fee, so there’s no cost to keep it each year. However, you’ll still be charged for things like cash advances and interest if you carry a balance month-to-month.
Does the American Airlines MileUp card offer free checked bags?
The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card does not offer free checked bags. It’s the only American Airlines card that doesn’t offer this benefit (though all other cards also come with an annual fee).
What credit score do I need for the American Airlines MileUp card?
To have the best chance at approval for the AAdvantage MileUp Card, you should have, at minimum, a good credit score (670 or higher on FICO’s scale). Citi will look at other factors, such as your history with the bank and overall financial picture, when it evaluates your application.
Does the MileUp card offer travel insurance or protection benefits?
The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card does not offer travel insurance or protection benefits. If those perks are important to you, read our guide to the best credit cards with travel insurance for all the top options.
What are the eligibility restrictions for the MileUp card welcome bonus?
You aren’t eligible to earn the AAdvantage MileUp Card intro bonus if you’ve earned it within the past 48 months or if you’ve converted another Citi card with which you’ve earned a bonus into the MileUp Card.
