What Credit Cards Transfer to American Airlines (2025 Guide)

Key Takeaways

Citi ThankYou Points and Bilt Rewards Points are the only transferable currencies that transfer directly to American Airlines AAdvantage.
Other major programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Capital One Miles do not transfer directly to AA.
Co-branded AAdvantage credit cards from Citi and Barclays earn miles directly, bypassing the need for transfers.
You can still use Amex, Chase, or Capital One points to book American Airlines flights through partner airlines or travel portals.
The best strategy combines a Citi ThankYou-earning card or Bilt Rewards with an AAdvantage card for maximum earning power.

If you fly American Airlines often, one of the smartest moves you can make is using a credit card that helps you earn or transfer miles efficiently. While American Airlines has limited direct transfer partners, savvy travelers still have several ways to build AAdvantage miles or book AA flights using transferable points.

This 2025 guide explains which credit cards transfer directly to American Airlines, which don’t, and how to maximize your rewards for flights, upgrades, and elite status.

Want to see how travelers are using credit cards to earn AAdvantage miles faster? Join the Talk Travel United Airlines Forums to explore real-world earning strategies and redemption stories.

Credit Cards That Transfer Directly to American Airlines

As of 2025, only two programs allow direct transfers to American Airlines:

1. Citi ThankYou Points

Citi’s ThankYou program has a limited but valuable partnership with American Airlines, allowing 1:1 transfers from select cards during special promotions.

Eligible Cards (when partnership is active):

Citi Prestige Card
Citi Premier Card

However, note that this partnership has historically been temporary, so always check Citi’s ThankYou portal before transferring. During active transfer windows, this is one of the most efficient ways to move points directly into AAdvantage.

2. Bilt Rewards

Bilt Rewards is the only program that consistently allows 1:1 point transfers to American Airlines AAdvantage.

The Bilt Mastercard earns points on rent payments, travel, dining, and everyday spending — and all points can be instantly transferred to AA with no fees.

Transfer ratio: 1 Bilt Point = 1 AAdvantage Mile

Transfer time: Instant (usually within minutes)

This makes Bilt the most reliable option for building AA miles without a co-branded card.

Cards That Earn AAdvantage Miles Directly

Even though few programs transfer directly to AA, Citi and Barclays offer co-branded American Airlines credit cards that earn AAdvantage miles automatically.

Citi AAdvantage Cards

Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard: includes Admirals Club access and elite status benefits.
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard: solid mid-tier option with free checked bag and double miles on AA purchases.
CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard: designed for small business travelers.

Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Cards

AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard: generous sign-up bonuses and free checked bags.
AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard: earns Loyalty Points toward elite status.

These cards don’t require point transfers because they earn AAdvantage miles directly into your loyalty account, simplifying your earning strategy.

Credit Card Programs That Do Not Transfer to AA

While these programs don’t transfer directly to AAdvantage, you can still use them strategically:

Program	Direct Transfer to AA?	Workaround
Chase Ultimate Rewards	No	Book AA flights via British Airways or Iberia Avios
Amex Membership Rewards	No	Use partner redemptions through Cathay Pacific Asia Miles or British Airways
Capital One Miles	No	Transfer to partner airlines that book AA flights (like Finnair Plus)

By transferring to oneworld partners like British Airways or Iberia, you can redeem flights on American Airlines using those partners’ miles. It’s not a direct transfer, but it’s often just as effective.

Best Credit Card Strategies for AAdvantage Miles

1. Pair Bilt or Citi with a Co-Branded AA Card

This setup gives you both flexible points (from Bilt or Citi) and direct earning power (from your AAdvantage card).

2. Use Partner Programs for Indirect Redemptions

Even if you use Chase or Amex cards, you can book AA flights through British Airways Avios or Qatar Airways Privilege Club, both of which price short flights cheaply.

3. Focus on Loyalty Points

Every dollar spent on an AAdvantage card counts toward Loyalty Points, which determine elite status. Using these cards for everyday spending helps you qualify faster.

Example Strategy for 2025

If you pay rent and want elite perks:

Use the Bilt Mastercard for rent and dining to earn transferable AA miles.
Pair it with the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select card for Loyalty Points and travel perks.
When planning redemptions, check Avios partner sites for sweet spots (like 9,000 Avios short-haul awards on AA).

This dual-card strategy balances flexibility and elite progress without paying high annual fees.

Conclusion

While American Airlines doesn’t have as many direct transfer partners as United or Delta, you still have strong options for earning and redeeming AAdvantage miles. Bilt Rewards offers the most consistent direct transfers, and Citi ThankYou Points occasionally reopen the door for limited-time 1:1 conversions.

If you fly AA often, combining a co-branded AAdvantage card with Bilt or Citi gives you the best mix of earning power, elite progress, and redemption flexibility.

Want to see which cards other frequent flyers are using to maximize AAdvantage miles? Join the Talk Travel United Airlines Forums to get real traveler insights and setup recommendations.

FAQs

1. Can I transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to American Airlines?

No. Chase doesn’t have a direct transfer partnership with American Airlines. You can, however, use Chase points to book AA flights through British Airways or Iberia.

2. Do Amex points transfer to American Airlines?

Not directly. You can transfer Amex points to Cathay Pacific or British Airways and use those miles to book flights operated by American Airlines.

3. Which credit card transfers directly to AA?

The Bilt Mastercard offers instant 1:1 transfers to American Airlines. Citi ThankYou points occasionally allow direct transfers during special promotions.

4. What is the best credit card for earning AAdvantage miles?

For direct earning, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive or Aviator Red Mastercard are strong options. For flexibility, the Bilt Mastercard is best.

5. Can I use Capital One miles on American Airlines?

Yes, indirectly. You can transfer Capital One miles to oneworld partners like Finnair or British Airways and redeem for American Airlines-operated flights.

Related Guides