Updated October 29, 2026

Best cards to pair with the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card

A second card is only worth it for what it adds. Each card below is ranked by the extra it earns on top of the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card (using whichever card pays more in each category), plus its credits, minus its fee.

1. 1
   

   Wells Fargo

   Active Cash Credit Card

   2% cash rewards on purchases with no categories to track or quarterly activations

   Adds $227/yr on dining, gas, travel, everything else

   $624/ yearAnnual fee $0
2. 2
   

   Citi

   Citi Double Cash Credit Card

   2% cash back on purchases: 1% when you buy · 1% as you pay, with no category enrollment, caps, or annual fee

   Adds $227/yr on dining, gas, travel, everything else

   $624/ yearAnnual fee $0
3. 3
   U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card

   U.S. Bank

   U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card

   2% cash back on every purchase with no caps, and up to an additional 2% cash back when paired with qualifying U.S. Bank accounts

   Adds $227/yr on dining, gas, travel, everything else

   $624/ yearAnnual fee $0
4. 4
   

   American Express

   Blue Cash Preferred Card

   6% cash back on eligible purchases at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) · 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions

   Adds $221/yr on groceries, gas

   $607/ yearAnnual fee $95
5. 5
   

   Wells Fargo

   Wells Fargo Autograph Card

   3X points on restaurants, travel, gas, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans · 1X points on other purchases

   Adds $205/yr on dining, gas, travel

   $528/ yearAnnual fee $0
6. 6
   

   Barclays

   Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

   6 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham · 4 points per $1 spent on dining, grocery store purchases, and travel

   Adds $204/yr on groceries, dining

   $552/ yearAnnual fee $95
7. 7
   

   Wells Fargo

   Choice Privileges Select Mastercard

   10X points on stays at participating Choice Hotels · 5X points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and home improvement stores

   Adds $190/yr on groceries, gas

   $485/ yearAnnual fee $95
8. 8
   

   Chase

   Chase Freedom Unlimited

   1.5% cash back · 3% on dining and drugstore purchases

   Adds $173/yr on dining, gas, travel, everything else

   $540/ yearAnnual fee $0

Yearly value is rewards plus credits you'd realistically use, minus the annual fee, on $2,600/month: $500 groceries, $400 dining, $200 gas, $300 travel, $1,200 everything else. Points use conservative cash values; store-only rewards count at half. How we rank · Use your own spending

Card details are collected from issuer websites and were last refreshed October 29, 2026. Terms change often; confirm them with the issuer before you apply.