What the American Airlines Barclays card does
The American Airlines credit card from Barclays is a co-branded card that earns miles on purchases and gives you benefits tied to American Airlines flying. You earn a set number of miles per dollar spent on most purchases, and bonus miles on American Airlines tickets and certain other categories. The card comes with perks like checked baggage fee waivers, priority boarding, and seat upgrades, depending on which version you choose.
Barclays is the bank that issues the card and manages your account. American Airlines is the airline partner whose frequent flyer program — AAdvantage — is where your miles live and what you redeem them for. The card itself is the tool that earns those miles and unlocks those airline benefits.
This card is meant for people who fly American Airlines regularly or want to earn miles toward future trips. If you rarely fly or don't fly American, the annual fee and benefits may not be worth it to you.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns American Airlines miles on every purchase, with higher earning rates on airline tickets and certain other spending categories.
- You pay an annual fee to hold the card, and that fee is usually waived for the first year if you meet the card's welcome offer.
- Benefits like checked baggage waivers and priority boarding come with the card itself, not as something you have to unlock separately.
- Miles you earn belong to your AAdvantage account and can be used for American Airlines flights, seat upgrades, or other redemptions within the program.
- Your credit score affects whether you are approved and what interest rate you receive, just as with any credit card.
How earning miles works on this card
Every time you use the card to pay for something, you earn miles. The number of miles per dollar varies by what you buy. For example, you might earn 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines tickets and 1 mile per dollar on everything else — the exact rates depend on which version of the card you have, as Barclays offers several.
Miles are deposited into your AAdvantage account, which is separate from your credit card account. You can check your balance by logging into your AAdvantage account on American Airlines' website. The miles sit there until you use them to book a flight, pay for a seat upgrade, or redeem them for something else the AAdvantage program offers.
The welcome offer usually includes a large bonus of miles if you spend a certain amount in the first few months. For example, you might earn 50,000 bonus miles if you spend $2,500 in the first three months. That bonus is in addition to the miles you earn on those purchases. Read the welcome offer carefully, because the spending requirement and bonus amount change over time.
Annual fees and what you get for them
The American Airlines Barclays card charges an annual fee, usually between $95 and $450 depending on which version you choose. The fee is charged once per year, typically on your card anniversary. Many cards waive the first year's fee as part of the welcome offer, so you do not pay anything in year one if you meet the spending requirement.
What you get for that fee includes benefits like a checked baggage fee waiver (usually for you and one companion on the same ticket), priority boarding, and the ability to earn miles on purchases. Some versions also include seat upgrade certificates or other perks. The higher the annual fee, the more generous the benefits tend to be.
Whether the fee is worth it depends on how much you fly and how much you value those benefits. If you fly American Airlines at least a few times a year and would otherwise pay for checked baggage, the fee can pay for itself. If you rarely fly, the fee is probably not worth it.
Interest rates and how to avoid paying them
The card has an interest rate (called the APR, or annual percentage rate) that applies if you carry a balance from one month to the next. The rate you receive depends on your credit score and credit history — people with higher scores typically get lower rates. Barclays will tell you the rate range when you explore, but your exact rate only appears after approval.
The easiest way to avoid interest charges is to pay your full statement balance by the due date each month. If you do that, no interest accrues, no matter what your APR is. If you cannot pay the full balance, you will be charged interest on the remaining amount at your APR.
Some cards offer a promotional 0% APR period for new cardholders — for example, 0% for the first 12 months on purchases. During that period, you can carry a balance without paying interest. Once the promotional period ends, the regular APR applies to any remaining balance. Check the terms when you review your offer.
How to use miles to book flights
Miles are redeemed through your AAdvantage account on American Airlines' website or app. You search for flights the same way you would when buying a ticket with cash, but instead of paying dollars, you pay miles. The number of miles required depends on the route, the time of year, and how far in advance you book.
You can also use miles to pay for seat upgrades, baggage fees, or other services within the AAdvantage program. Some miles can be transferred to partner airlines or hotel programs, though that is less common and usually costs more miles than booking an American flight directly.
Miles do not expire as long as your AAdvantage account remains active and you have account activity (like earning or redeeming miles) at least once every 24 months. If your account goes inactive, miles can be forfeited, so keep that in mind if you take a long break from flying.
Credit score requirements and approval
Barclays does not publish a specific credit score requirement for the American Airlines card, but most airline cards are easier to get approved for if your score is in the "good" range or higher — typically 670 or above, though this varies. People with excellent credit (750+) have the best chance of approval and the lowest interest rates.
When you explore, Barclays will check your credit report, which is called a hard inquiry. This temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points. If you are denied, you can ask Barclays why and whether you can reapply later. Some people are approved with a lower credit limit than they requested, which you can ask to increase after a few months of on-time payments.
Having other recent credit card applications or high balances on existing cards can hurt your chances of approval. If you have been denied for credit recently, waiting a few months and paying down existing balances can improve your odds.
Comparing this card to other airline cards
American Airlines offers multiple versions of its Barclays card — typically a standard version and a premium version with higher benefits and a higher annual fee. The premium version usually includes perks like annual seat upgrade certificates or higher earning rates, which may be worth the extra fee if you fly frequently.
Other airlines also offer co-branded credit cards through different banks. Delta has cards through American Express, United has cards through Chase, and Southwest has cards through Chase. Each card has its own earning rates, annual fees, and benefits. If you fly multiple airlines equally, you might choose based on which card's benefits matter most to you. If you fly one airline much more than others, that airline's card usually makes the most sense.
You can also earn miles without a credit card by flying the airline, booking through their website, or using partner merchants. The credit card is just one way to accumulate miles faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles stay in your AAdvantage account and do not disappear when you close the card. You can still use them to book flights or redeem them for other things. However, you will lose the card benefits like checked baggage waivers and priority boarding once the card is closed.
Can I get the welcome bonus again if I had this card before?
Most credit card issuers have rules about how often you can earn a welcome bonus on the same card. Barclays typically requires a waiting period — often 24 months or more — before you are may be able to access for another bonus on the same card. Check Barclays' current terms before explore.
Do I have to use the card to keep earning miles?
You earn miles only when you use the card to make a purchase. If you stop using the card, you stop earning miles. However, you can still use miles you have already earned, and you can earn miles by flying American Airlines or through other AAdvantage partners even if you do not have the card.
What if I have a balance and want to close the card?
You can close the card even if you have a balance, but you will still owe the money and will continue to be charged interest on it until you pay it off. Closing the card does not erase the debt. Pay off the balance first if you want to avoid interest charges.
Are there foreign transaction fees?
Most American Airlines Barclays cards charge a foreign transaction fee (usually 3%) when you use the card outside the United States. If you travel internationally, check the card's terms to see whether the fee applies and whether it is worth paying compared to using a different card or paying in cash.