The American Airlines Gold MasterCard is a rewards credit card which targets frequent fliers who routinely choose American Airlines for their air travel needs. There is currently a generous signup bonus being offered to new members. However, there is no introductory APR available for purchases or balance transfers at this time. There is an annual fee of $50 which is waived for the first year.
New account holders have the opportunity to earn 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles upon approval. To qualify, you must make at least $750 in eligible net purchases within the first three months that your account is open. Net purchases are defined as the total amount of transactions minus any returns and credits. Cash advances, convenience checks, balance transfers, fees, and interest charges are also excluded. After you have met the spending threshold requirements, your bonus miles will appear in your AAdvantage account in approximately 8-10 weeks. Note: This bonus miles offer is not available to current cardholders or anyone who has opened or closed an American Airlines Gold MasterCard account in the past 18 months.
The annual percentage rate (APR) for purchases is either 13.99%, 15.99%, 17.99%, 19.99%, or 21.99% (variable tied to the Prime Rate). Your specific APR is based on your creditworthiness at the time of approval.
The APR for balance transfers is the same as for purchases: 13.99%, 15.99%, 17.99%, 19.99%, or 21.99% (variable based on the Prime Rate). Transfers must be completed within 60 days from the date your account is opened. There is a balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the total amount of the transfer (whichever is greater) applied to each balance transfer.
Card members earn one AAdvantage mile for every $1 spent on net purchases. Net purchases exclude the following:
- Credits
- Returns
- Cash Advances
- Convenience checks
- Balance transfers
- Fees
- Interest charges
AAdvantage miles can be redeemed for awards on both domestic and international flights. There are no blackout dates when miles are used for American Airlines, American Eagle, or American Connection carriers. Seats for award travel are limited and may not be available on all flights.
As an example, the 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles offered with the signup bonus can be redeemed for (1) round trip Main Cabin Continental U.S./Canada MileSAAver awards. Miles can also be used for:
- Flights to nearly 1,000 destinations worldwide
- Upgrades
- Vacations, car rentals, and hotels
American Airlines is headquartered at Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) and also maintains the following hubs in the U.S.:
- Chicago (ORD)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Miami (MIA)
- New York (JFK)
The oneworld alliance includes these airlines:
| American Airlines | airberlin | British Airways |
| Cathay Pacific | Finnair | Iberia |
| Japan Airlines | LAN Airlines | Malaysia Airlines |
| Qantas | Qatar | Royal Jordanian |
| S7 Airlines | SriLankan Airlines | TAM |
Card members can earn and redeem AAdvantage miles on all oneworld alliance airlines. Note: Award travel may be subject to travel embargo (blackout) dates on some AAdvantage program participating airlines.
Account holders receive a 25% savings on in-flight food, beverages, and headsets on flights operated by American Airlines when purchased with your American Airlines Gold MasterCard. Savings will appear as a statement credit 6-8 weeks after the transaction posts to your credit card account. Additional terms, conditions, and restrictions may apply.
Members also can participate in the Reduced Mileage Awards program which allows you to redeem American Airlines AAdvantage miles for round trip or one-way travel on MileSAAver awards to destinations selected every other month. The MileSSAver discount to American Airlines Gold MasterCard cardholders is 2,500 AAdvantage miles for a one-way ticket or 5,000 AAdvantage miles for a round-trip fare.
Important: Redemption of Reduced Mileage Awards applies only to bookings made by phone through American Airlines Reservations or through city or airport ticket centers. A $25 award service charge (per person) applies to award reservations ticketed by an American Airlines reservation office. There is a $20 award service charge (per person) for award reservations made at an American Airlines Travel Center. There is a $35 award service charge (per person) for award reservations made by an American Airline airport Agent. Please note that flights and availability are subject to change.
American Airlines Gold MasterCard holders also receive these benefits from Citibank:
- 0% Liability on Unauthorized Charges – You are not responsible for any charges that you did not authorize including purchases made online.
- Extended Warranty – Add up to one year on any warranty of five years or less for purchases made on the card. Annual coverage is up to $10,000.
- Personal Concierge Service – A Concierge Service Representative can book flights and make hotel reservations as well as get you a table at your favorite restaurant. This service is offered 24/7.
- Lost Baggage Protection – You are covered for up to $3,000 per person, per trip if items are lost, stolen, or damaged by the common carrier on any trip paid for with your card. (Note: New York residents are limited to $2,000 per person, per bag, per trip.)
The American Airlines Gold MasterCard comes with EMV Chip technology for greater security especially when traveling overseas.
Members are charged a 3% foreign transaction fee for all purchases made on the card while traveling outside of the U.S.
There is an annual fee of $50 which is waived for the first year.
The Facts
Below we have broken down the specific details of the American Airlines Gold MasterCard to help you determine if it’s the right card for you.
The Good:
Signup bonus:
New members can take advantage of the generous signup bonus currently being offered. To receive 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles you simply need to spend a minimum of $750 during the first three months that your account is active. This spending threshold must consist of net purchases which is the total amount of transactions minus any credits or returns. Cash advances, convenience checks, balance transfers, fees, and interest charges are also excluded. Be advised that the three month period begins immediately from when you are approved for the card, not when you may actually receive it. After you have met the spending threshold requirements, your bonus miles will appear in your AAdvantage account in approximately 8-10 weeks. Note: This bonus miles offer is not available to current cardholders or anyone who has opened or closed an American Airlines Gold MasterCard account in the past 18 months.
The 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles offered with the signup bonus can be redeemed for (1) round trip Main Cabin Continental U.S./Canada MileSAAver awards. Considering the relatively low spending threshold, the signup bonus is a great benefit.
Simple rewards (miles) program:
Card members earn one AAdvantage mile for every $1 spent on net purchases.
Easy to redeem miles:
Miles can be redeemed for:
- Flights to nearly 1,000 destinations worldwide
- Upgrades
- Vacations, car rentals, and hotels
There are no blackout dates when miles are used for American Airlines, American Eagle, or American Connection carriers. However, seats for award travel are limited and may not be available on all flights.
Card members can earn and redeem AAdvantage miles on all oneworld alliance airlines. Note: Award travel may be subject to travel embargo (blackout) dates on some AAdvantage program participating airlines.
Discount on In-flight Services:
Account holders receive a 25% savings on in-flight food, beverages, and headsets on flights operated by American Airlines when purchased with your American Airlines Gold MasterCard. Savings will appear as a statement credit 6-8 weeks after the transaction posts to your credit card account. Additional terms, conditions, and restrictions may apply.
Reduced Mileage Awards:
Members participate in the Reduced Mileage Awards program which allows you to redeem American Airlines AAdvantage miles for round trip or one-way travel on MilesAAver awards to destinations selected every other month. The MilesAAver discount to American Airlines Gold MasterCard account holders is 2,500 AAdvantage miles for a one-way ticket or 5,000 AAdvantage miles for a round-trip fare.
Additional Citibank benefits:
- 0% Liability on Unauthorized Charges
- Extended Warranty
- Personal Concierge Service
- Lost Baggage Protection
EMV Chip Technology:
This card comes with EMV Chip technology for greater security especially when traveling overseas.
The Bad:
Wide range of APRs:
The annual percentage rate (APR) is either 13.99%, 15.99%, 17.99%, 19.99%, or 21.99% (variable tied to the Prime Rate). Your specific APR is based on your creditworthiness at the time of approval. If you are on the lower end of this range it’s a fairly good APR but the higher end is somewhat steep.
No introductory APR:
This card does not currently offer an introductory APR to new account holders on either purchases or balance transfers.
Foreign transaction fees:
Members are charged a 3% foreign transaction fee for all purchases made on the card while traveling outside of the U.S. It’s getting harder and harder to reconcile a rewards credit card aimed at frequent travelers that insists on charging these fees.
Annual fee:
There is an annual fee of $50 for this card which is waived for the first year.
The Ugly:
Limited travel benefits:
Cardholders do not receive early boarding privileges with this card. Members also do not get the “first checked bag free” benefit.
Service charges for Reduced Mileage Awards:
A $25 award service charge (per person) applies to award reservations ticketed by an American Airlines reservation office. There is a $20 award service charge (per person) for award reservations made at an American Airlines Travel Center. There is a $35 award service charge (per person) for award reservations made by an American Airline airport Agent.
The American Airlines Gold MasterCard is obviously aimed at frequent fliers who routinely choose American Airlines for their air travel. The card does offer a generous signup bonus (25,000 miles) to new members who qualify. However, it lacks many of the solid travel benefits which frequent fliers have come to expect – that is, early boarding and at least one free checked bag. The annual fee ($50) is waived for the first year which is a positive, but depending on your credit score you could be assessed a fairly high APR on purchases and balance transfers. Additionally, while there are no blackout dates when redeeming awards for flights on American Airlines, American Eagle, or American Connection, some participating one alliance airlines may impose embargo dates on award travel.