American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp℠ Card

Airline mile rewards are an extension of an airline’s loyal program through a credit card. They are also known as frequent flyer miles or travel points. The amount of miles you accumulate is directly related to the amount you spend. Sometimes the customer can earn multipliers on specific categories of purchases, such as airline branded products or services. The miles that you receive are redeemed for airline tickets.

Redeeming miles can be complicated. While one dollar may equal one point, one airline mile does not equal one geographical mile. Instead, tickets can be awarded at tiers or on a multiplier scale. A domestic ticket within the contiguous United States may cost 20,000 miles. An airline may charge you the equivalent of about 60 points for every dollar equivalent paid for your airline ticket.

Airline miles cards usually have welcome bonuses high enough for a free domestic flight, or to upgrade your flight cabin. Another significant advantage is a companion pass in which you only pay fees for an additional ticket on your reservation. You may have credits for secure traveler programs and access to airline airport lounges. However, airline miles credit cards tend to come with some of the higher annual fees. When it comes time to redeem, it can be difficult navigating the portal to do so. Redemption may be limited to a specific airline or hotel brand and you may be subjected to blackout dates. Sales may cause point devaluation within your account.

A no annual fee credit card is excellent as a backup credit card as you don’t need to pay to maintain it. You might need a backup credit card if your primary one got lost or stolen. Another benefit of a no annual fee credit card is that you can improve your credit to debt ratio if you don’t use it consistently. You may also consider this card if you are looking for a specific perk.