Credit Card Bonus - American Airlines

There’s a lot to learn when it comes to collecting credit card points and using it for free travel. When I first started this hobby over 12 years ago, I did a lot of research! And I continue to learn as the world of credit cards continues to evolve.

Don’t feel like you have to learn everything all at once! Slow and steady, one credit card, 

one bank, one hotel, one airline at a time!

---

I want to share with you the credit card I got approved for last night. I’m hopefully booking a trip to Central America in the spring, and I need to collect some airline points. It’s best to do this about a year in advance so that you can book when the prices are best, so I’m on a little time crunch. I also will be signing up my husband for this card as well, so that he can have his own points, since we’ll be going on this trip together! I don't ever add my husband as an authorized user on the cards I sign up for, because I want him to get his own sign up bonuses.

Different banks will have limited time ~increased~ sign up bonuses on different cards. The Citi American Airlines Aadvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard has a sign up bonus right now worth a whopping 80,000 bonus miles! Usually, this card is only 50,000 bonus miles. I always try to sign up for these increased bonus offers while they’re available. They typically only last about a month!

Before you sign up for this card is to make sure you qualify for the sign up bonus! I like to glance over the fine print before signing up. Most cards require a 24 month waiting period between the first time you earned the sign up bonus and the second time. However, this card requires a 48 month waiting period. So I’ve earned this bonus before, but it’s been over 4 years since then!

Here are some other main benefits of this card:

• $99 annual fee waived the first year

• 2x miles at gas stations and restaurants

• Priority boarding

• First checked bag free for you and up to 4 companions on same reservation

• 25% savings on inflight food and beverage

Good to know: American Airlines is part of the Oneworld Alliance. This alliance has 15 different airlines that work together, that you can book flights with using your AA miles. 

• Alaska Airlines

• American Airlines

• British Airways

• Cathay Pacific

• Fiji Airways (Oneworld connect partner)

• Finnair

• Iberia

• Japan Airlines

• Malaysia Airlines

• Oman Air

• Qantas

• Qatar Airways

• Royal Air Maroc

• Royal Jordanian Airlines

• SriLankan Airlines

For example: I just looked up a flight from Dallas (DFW) to Stockholm, Sweden (ARN). The first leg is operated by American Airlines to London (LHR). The second leg from LHR to ARN is operated by British Airways. But I'm still able to book this flight on the same reservation using my American Airlines miles. The possibilities of routes are endless with all of these airline partners!

This post is not sponsored and does not include affiliate links.

I'm hoping to one day soon have affiliate links for the credit cards that I choose to share.