American Airlines Citi AAdvantage MileUp Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
This entry-level, co-branded American Airlines card is generally not recommended because it offers only a small welcome bonus and few notable perks. Although there is no annual fee, the 15,000-mile bonus (earned after spending just $500) is minimal, equating to about one round-trip flight since reward flights start at 7,500 miles each way.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
As the introductory card in the American Airlines family of cards offered by CitiBank, here is what you can expect:
- No annual fee
- 15,000-mile welcome offer after spending $500 in the first three months
- 2x miles at grocery stores and on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 25% savings on in-flight food and drinks on American Airlines flights
American Airlines is part of the Oneworld Alliance, so you can use AAdvantage miles on partner airlines for added flexibility. You can also transfer points from certain Citi cards for top-ups, as Citi is the only major points system that transfers to the airline.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
Reasons you might avoid this card include:
- The welcome offer is very small, even for a no-annual-fee card.
- You can get a larger sign-up bonus and additional perks from other American Airlines cards, such as the Citi AAdvantage Platinum, which waives its $99 annual fee for the first year.
What to Know About American Airlines Miles
American Airlines is a strong, practical points program, especially for straightforward redemptions.
- Miles are relatively easy to earn, though transfer partners are limited compared to other programs
- Excellent option for booking direct flights, which we prioritize when using points
- Award flights start as low as 5,000 miles one way
- Miles can be used across Oneworld partners for broad global access
How The American Airlines Citi AAdvantage MileUp Credit Card Fits In The American Airlines Miles Ecosystem
The MileUp card is the beginner option among Citi’s American Airlines cards. If you’re seeking a larger sign-up bonus or more benefits, you’ll need to explore their other cards, all of which have annual fees.
Here are the other options:
- Citi AAdvantage Platinum: Has a $99 annual fee (waived the first year) and offers 65,000 miles after $1,000 in purchases within the first three months.
- American Airlines Citi AAdvantage Globe: Has a $350 annual fee and offers 60,000 miles after $4,000 in purchases within 3 months. This midrange card offers a solid number of benefits that could offset the annual fee depending on how often you fly on American Airlines.
- Citi AAdvantage Executive: Comes with a $595 annual fee but offers the highest sign-up bonus of 75,000 miles after $7,500 in purchases within three months. Despite the high fee, it provides significantly more benefits than the Platinum Select and is good for those who fly on American regularly.
Card Information
Differentiating Perks
Historical Card Offers
{{ offerStats.averageFrequency != null ? Math.round(offerStats.averageFrequency) + ' Months' : 'N/A' }}
Average Frequency
{{ offerStats.averageOfferLength != null ? offerStats.averageOfferLength.toFixed(1) + ' Months' : 'N/A' }}
Average Offer Length
{{ offerStats.estimatedNextOffer ? (['Jan','Feb','Mar','Apr','May','Jun','Jul','Aug','Sep','Oct','Nov','Dec'][offerStats.estimatedNextOffer.getMonth()] + " '" + String(offerStats.estimatedNextOffer.getFullYear()).slice(-2)) : 'N/A' }}
Estimated Next Offer
American Airlines Citi AAdvantage MileUp Application Rules
You will not be eligible for a signup bonus on the same card if you’ve received one for THAT card in the previous 48 months.
Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule
You'll be declined if you apply for a third Citi card within 65 days
You'll be declined if you apply for a second Citi card (business and/or personal) within 8 days
You'll be declined if there are 6 or more hard inquiries on your credit report the past 6 months
You may be rejected when applying for a Citi credit card if your credit has been pulled within the last five days (by any bank).
