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3. American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® review: No annual fee, but what else?

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98

reviews

2.2

Rating: 2.2 out of 5.

Great for airline rewards with no annual fee

Annual Fee: $0

This content is curated by Intuit Credit Karma’s Editorial team using data from members who were approved for this card or similar cards, or who self-matched this card or similar cards. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse this content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.

Here’s the average credit limit of members who matched their American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® or similar cards.

% of members by credit limit range

The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $12,593, with $2,000 being the most common.

Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® or similar cards.

% of members by credit score range

The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 701, with 810 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.

Member stats

Updated daily

29.9%

Average credit utilization (or what percent of the card’s credit limit is being used) of members who matched with this card or similar cards.

45 years

Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.

$105,967

Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards. Note: Income may be estimated for some members by Credit Karma and may differ from members’ actual incomes.

Pros and cons

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No annual fee

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Bonus points on groceries and American Airlines purchases

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Low sign-up bonus

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Few perks and benefits when flying

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Foreign transaction fees

What you need to know about the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®

Let’s review a few things to consider if you’re thinking about applying for the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®.

No annual fee

One of the top draws of the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is that it comes with no annual fee. That means frequent American Airlines flyers have the opportunity to earn AAdvantage® miles throughout the year at no yearly cost, which can be a smart move for occasional flyers who don’t plan to redeem miles too often.

But this no-annual-fee card doesn’t offer many airline perks. Unlike a few other American Airlines credit cards from Citi, the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® doesn’t come with boarding benefits or a free checked bag. You will get a 25% discount when you use the card for in-flight food and drink purchases on American Airlines flights, though.

Foreign transaction fees

Unlike many travel credit cards, the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® comes with a foreign transaction fee of 3% for each transaction. While that fee might not be a problem for flyers who don’t plan to go abroad, it might convince others to get a card that doesn’t carry this extra cost.

Bonus points on grocery purchases

If you buy groceries often, this card could offer excellent value with two miles earned for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at grocery stores. Citi excludes discount stores and warehouse clubs from this bonus rate, but it could still be a good option for shoppers with big families who do most of their cooking at home.

Otherwise, the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® earns two miles per $1 spent on eligible purchases with American Airlines and one mile for every $1 on all other purchases.

Depending on your spending habits, you may be able to earn miles quickly with this card. As with any rewards program, though, it’s important to consider if the bonus categories and earning rates match up with how you normally spend money. It’s not a good idea to spend more than you can comfortably afford to repay just to earn those points.

Smaller sign-up bonus

The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® has a relatively low sign-up bonus of 15,000 miles after spending $1,000 on qualifying purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

That’s far from the most lucrative sign-up bonus you’ll get from an American Airlines credit card.

Ultimately, the quality of this sign-up bonus depends on what you value. If you want to earn some extra bonus miles, then you might like this card. But if you want the most rewards possible or the ability to book a longer rewards flight sooner rather than later, you’ll probably want to look for another card.

Understanding your points and redemption options

The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® allows travelers to redeem their miles for flights on American Airlines and its oneworld® airlines and partner airlines.

The starting rewards redemption for American Airlines is 7,500 miles per way for destinations in the 48 contiguous U.S. states.

Cardholders can also choose to use their miles to change their seating, book car rentals or buy a membership to American’s Admirals Club.

Who this card is good for

The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is a straightforward travel rewards card with no annual fee — but with few perks and benefits offered on eligible purchases made directly with American Airlines. This card may be best for less-frequent flyers who still tend to travel with American Airlines, don’t plan to go overseas and just want a simple way to earn miles.

But if you don’t spend a lot on groceries, you might get more value out of a more flexible travel rewards card with bonus categories that more closely fits your lifestyle.

Frequent American Airlines travelers may also want to consider another co-branded credit card with more perks, like free checked bags or boarding benefits.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®:
This card is worth considering for American Airlines flyers who want more perks and benefits.
• Discover it® Miles:
This card could be a better pick for people who fly multiple airlines but still want to pay no annual fee.