For the student studying in the U.S., balancing personal finance on top of the travel rewards might be one of the most effective approaches. As much as American Airlines provides numerous credit cards with different banks, such as Citi and Barclays,
is there any Student American Airlines Credit card available? So, it is high time we look at the various multiple cards that American Airlines offers and explain to you how students can benefit from them even though there is not a student credit card from this airline yet.
Is there an exclusive American Airlines Student Credit Card?
At the moment there is no American Airlines Student Credit Card. Nevertheless, students can find some fantastic credit card offers that will be useful for consumers who frequently travel by American Airlines plane.
These cards usually have benefits such as earning airline miles, free checked baggage, and the like; thus, great for students who travel—during breaks, semestral vacations, studying abroad, or spring break.
Why This Card is Great for Students
In the Aviator Red card, for instance, if you want lots of miles with little effort you get bonus, miles after the first purchase which makes it very friendly for students.
Two others are the checked bag benefit together with the in-flight savings that are also some of the most valuable for frequent travelers.
Choosing the right credit card that meets all the needs of a particular customer is as important as it sounds.
A student should therefore consider the following factors when trying to make the decision based on each card: Here are some factors to consider:
1. Sign-up Bonus: Depending on how much you’re willing to pay for the card and how often you fly, the AAdvantage Aviator Red card can be a quicker way to rack up points because claiming a spot is much easier than signing up for the card.
2. Annual Fees: Both cards have a $99 annual fee, however, only the Citi Platinum Select card offers to waive the fee in the first year of your usage, thus, making it suitable for those, who have no experience in using credit cards, but still would like to receive their share of the rewards.
3. Spending Categories: However, if you often use your credit card at restaurants and at filling stations, the earning rates of the Citi card is far much higher than that of the Discover it chrome card.
It is for the same reason that if your spending is diverse, and you simply want a straightforward card, the Aviator card could be more appropriate for you.
4. Additional Perks: The perks are quite similar between the two, I see free checked bags, and in-flight discounts albeit the Citi card may just be slightly better for students studying in other countries given that it has no foreign transactions fee.
Something that can have a huge impact for people planning trips with friends or for a group of people is the Aviator card’s companion certificate.
A couple of guidelines the students are recommended to follow in their quest for attaining as many free airline miles as possible.
– Take Advantage of Sign-up Bonuses: Always ensure that you use the account to spend the minimum amount required for the sign up bonus of the particular card.
That means if a student has a limited spending ability, it is a good way of accruing the miles without necessarily having to dig deep into your pockets.
– Use the Card for Everyday Purchases: Whether you are dining outside or purchasing textbooks, spending through your card is a way of building your miles.
– Fly with American Airlines: Of course, to use the card for American Airlines flights, you will be able earn double miles toward your next free trip.
– Pay Off Your Balance in Full: Don’t pay interest, make sure to clear your balance each month. Loans are dangerous since they accumulate very fast, for instance, students using a credit card on a small budget will easily find themselves in a loop.
Finance 305 Unit 3: Building Credit as a Student
Another major stock that comes with owning a credit card is the ability to build credit history as a student. Credit impacts our daily lives today in writing future financial opportunities that include better interest rates of loans,
better credit limits and fairer terms on rentals agreements. This is why being smart when using an American Airlines credit card is a good way to get you ahead.
1. Establishing Credit Early
It is a wise thing to start building credit as a student is beneficial in the long run. It is due to the fact that, potential loan form the credit reporting agency are based on a certain length of credit history and therefore the more your credit history the more your credit score can be.
As both the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select and AAdvantage Aviator Red cards, can help build credit to the three main credit bureaus, timely and regular payment is beneficial to your credit score.
2. Learning to be Financially Responsible
Having credit card is actually a good experience when it comes to managing personal finance. By tracking your expenses and never letting balances linger to accrue interest, you will practice good habits which will have long term impacts.
Most credit card providers even provide such items as the money managing apps or the spending tracking devices.
3. Future Borrowing Power
Once you have graduated from college and try to make some large purchase such as a car or seeking an apartment with your own credit, credit history becomes an issue.
The stronger your credit history, the easier it is for a lender to be sure you are capable of handling borrowed money. For any credit consumer, the early they start building credit, the better they will be placed to harness any future credit opportunities.
Opportunities together with risks are inherent in any journey
Although the chance of earning 5,000 bonus miles for every $1,000 one spends with an American Airlines co-branded credit card is handy – if you are a student who likes to travel, then there are even more ways to benefit from the card. Here are a few strategies:
1. Special Deals
Coupons and other people’s leftovers can easily be found while traveling, and anyone who travels knows that there are some truly amazing deals out there, all for a few bucks or coins.
Most travel service providers such as American Airlines provide their consumers with student discounted rates. You add these discounts to the miles accrued from your credit card and you are likely to be traveling more often than you will be spending money.
In fact, some of the travel partners with American Airlines might offer students an opportunity to earn extra flights when they book through the student traveling sites.
2. Leverage Partnerships
They provide services with many hotel chains, car rental agencies and others to many travelers via their webs. When you use these partners, which include Marriott, Hertz, and etc., as a cardholder, you get to make extra AAdvantage miles. This is also a perfect opportunity to rack up more miles on your card than the daily spending that you do.
3. Using Miles for Upgrades
Every time you accumulate some miles, you should redeem them for better seats on your flights. American Airlines gives an opportunity to get to business or first class for the price of the corresponding number of miles. For longer flights it can greatly enhance your travelling experience without having to pay additional money.
4. Travel Protection Benefits
At the same time, both the Citi / AAdvantage and Aviator Red cards have different travel protection benefits: travel accident insurance and baggage delay insurance.
These privileges can help the student by providing budget and extra cash if something goes wrong with the student’s trip whilst abroad.
Does America Airlines have a Student Related Credit Card?
To date, American Airlines is yet to provide a student credit card. However, when it comes to reward points in credit card students do not get left behind in any way.
Currently, there are two partnership credit cards linked to American Airlines which are provided by Citi and Barclays both of which have great offers for loyal users.
These cards are truly valuable for students who frequently fly around, they provide numerous advantages such as free check-in baggage, mileage bonus and other in-flight offers.
Two popular credit cards that can be beneficial for students include:
1. Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Key Benefits:
– Generous Sign-up Bonus: This card has a high sign up bonus, these miles trailed are usually in the range of 50 000 to 65 000 AAdvantage miles once you spend a given amount within the first few months which is standardized.
These miles can be used for free flights, which will provide a marked benefit to students predicting future travel.
– Mileage Earning Structure: For each dollar spent on American Airlines purchases, at restaurants and at filling stations, cardholders earn 2 miles.
All other purchases will earn you 1 mile per dollar spent across the rest of the spectrum, although they aren’t quite as generous as the preferred travel and dining categories.
– Free First Checked Bag: An excellent bonus for those who frequently travel home during semester or vacation, allowing to save up to $30 or more each way for receiving the first free checked bag for a domestic flight.
– 25% In-Flight Discount: Meals purchased on a flight are often expensive, but cardholders save 25% on food and drink, so the savings are significant in terms of the total time of a round-the-world trip.
– No Foreign Transaction Fees: This is important for international students or for students who intend to travel and take studies in other countries.
Unlike with most credit cards, there will be no additional charges for making the purchases involving other currencies whenever the traveller is outside the country.
Annual Fee:
The card’s annual fee is $99, although the first year is its grace period to let students test it without spending the PKR 9900.
Why This Card is Ideal for Students:
For the students who make purchases on basic necessities such as gas and eating, then the reward’s format is a good system to gain more mile.
The large sign-up bonus can be equal to free flights which are easier to plan for, for going home or for vacations.
2. AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard.
Key Benefits:
– Generous Sign-up Bonus: This card has a high sign up bonus, these miles trailed are usually in the range of 50 000 to 65 000 AAdvantage miles once you spend a given amount within the first few months which is standardized.
These miles can be used for free flights, which will provide a marked benefit to students predicting future travel.
– Mileage Earning Structure: For each dollar spent on American Airlines purchases, at restaurants and at filling stations, cardholders earn 2 miles. All other purchases will earn you 1 mile per dollar spent across the rest of the spectrum,
although they aren’t quite as generous as the preferred travel and dining categories.
– Free First Checked Bag: An excellent bonus for those who frequently travel home during semester or vacation, allowing to save up to $30 or more each way for receiving the first free checked bag for a domestic flight.
– 25% In-Flight Discount: Meals purchased on a flight are often expensive, but cardholders save 25% on food and drink, so the savings are significant in terms of the total time of a round-the-world trip.
– No Foreign Transaction Fees: This is important for international students or for students who intend to travel and take studies in other countries.
Unlike with most credit cards, there will be no additional charges for making the purchases involving other currencies whenever the traveller is outside the country.
Annual Fee:
The card’s annual fee is $99, although the first year is its grace period to let students test it without spending the PKR 9900.
Why This Card is Ideal for Students:
For the students who make purchases on basic necessities such as gas and eating, then the reward’s format is a good system to gain more mile. The large sign-up bonus can be equal to free flights which are easier to plan for, for going home or for vacations.
Other Spouses and Supplementary Privileges for Student Tourists
In addition to the ability to earn miles, there are a number of other features for these American Airlines credit cards that can help make the travel experience more pleasant for students.
Here are some key advantages that may appeal to students looking for more than just mileage rewards:
1. Travel Insurance and Protection
AAdvantage Aviator Red has some in-built traveling insurance policies since it is a traveling card, which can be quite beneficial for a student, especially the one travelling to other countries or those travelling with a tight pocket. Some of these protections include:
– Travel Accident Insurance: This insurance offers a benefit for accidental death or injury occasioned while using a common carrier, for instance, an aeroplane. Although you do not expect to have to use this, it is a good assurance for both students and parents.
– Baggage Delay Insurance: If those checked bags don’t arrive before a certain number of hours (usually 12 ), the card will cover the costs of necessities like clothes and toiletries. This is particularly useful for students who are travelling inter-state where they find they travel time is more than anticipated.
– Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: That is why if, for instance, there is a possibility to cancel the trip or leave early because of the relevant reason (for example,
disease or bad climate), these cards will compensate for all non-refundable payments including the flight tickets and hotel bookings. For a student who does not have much money to spend, it is a way to save to make sure that in case of an incident, there and then is some money to sort it out.
2. Concierge Services
Some of the prestige credit cards that include Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select and the AAdvantage Aviator Red have concierge services. Some of them can be of use when it comes to the number of travel related tasks with booking of services and tickets, providing assistance in an itinerary.
More particularly, it may be of great use for students who might not know about some of these destinations, especially those in the overseas category.
3. Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs)
Besides, only certain American Airlines affiliated credit cards let you earn Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) to move towards obtaining elite status of the American Airlines.
This benefit may be of immense advantages to those who travel by aerianeverytime but for the students who may be transferring from one place to another may probably benefit from it.
It begins with elements such as boarding before others, possibility to be upgraded or even allowed to approach the American Airlines’ lounges.
4. Priority Boarding
First, the owners of both the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select and AAdvantage Aviator red cards can board their plane ahead of other passengers, in priority boarding.
This benefit is well appreciated if you have a carry-on luggage and you want to check whether there will be enough space in the overhead compartments or if you prefer to start settling early.
Other Student Credit Cards
Although the co-branded credit cards of American Airlines are ideal for flyers, the other credit cards for students with other reward facilities are also suitable to choose from. Here are some great alternatives:
1. They are Discover it Student Cash Back Card.
For those student who want to earn cash back without regard to travel rewards, it is hard to beat the Discover it Student Cash Back Card. Key features include:
-5% Cash Back on Rotating Categories: Every three months, Discover gives 5% cash back on specific categories of expenses which are likely to be such things as; gasoline stations, restaurants and even Amazon. This flexibility will enable students to gain high rewards of their most spend resource.
– No Annual Fee: There is no annual fee on this card to help students to avoid unnecessary charges while earning great rewards.
-Good Grades Reward: In addition, Discover has something special for students – they get $20 back for each school year you maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. This reward is a fun way
2. Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students.
cannot be commingled with other similar cards because of differences, however little, due to the target consumers.
For students who prioritize travel but aren’t loyal to one airline, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students offers more flexible rewards:
– Unlimited Points: Get 1.5 LBC points for every dollar spent on all eligible purchases. These points can be used for covering certain essential travel expenditures such as air fare, accommodation, and car rental and thus easier to deal with than airlines associated cards.
– No foreign transaction fees: There are no foreign transaction fees on this card so it is useful for students who study or travel to other countries.
– No annual fee: There is no annual fee on this card as well.
3. Capital One Saver One Student Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Capital One Saver One Student Cash Rewards is a better option for students who frequently attend entertainment events or avail online services
-3% Cash Back on Dining, Entertainment, and Streaming: This is a policy that will work to the advantage of students who spend on dining and entertainment. From dining out with friends to subscription services to streaming, students can earn quite a lot.
-No Foreign Transaction Fees: This card, as with the American Airlines ones, is especially useful for traveling overseas; many purchases made by students would circumvent any foreign transaction fees.
-No Annual Fee: It should also be noted that Savor One card does not include an annual fee, so it is quite popular for students.
The reason why building credit is important to students
Of course, one of the most valuable opportunities that open to a student when applying for a credit card is the opportunity to build credit history. In general,
the use of credit score means the borrower has the possibility of having reasonable interest rates in the future, appropriate rental situations, and preferred job offers.
1. Establishing Credit Early
Credit utilization is also the factor that is affected most by credit history length. Ideally, the credit building shouldn’t start after you are in college but from the early years of education.
When used appropriately such as the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select or AAdvantage Aviator Red credit card, students can start building a good credit record.
When you are timeously credited, your credit ratings increases and you are ready for future products such as cars or house.
2. Improving Credit Mix
Another factor that fills the good credit score is something called credit mix. As already mentioned having more than one credit account like an installment credit and a revolving credit (like student loans and credit cards) is beneficial to your credit record. That is why inclusion of a credit card also enhances your credit report provided one practices good credit habits.
3. There is nothing like developing good financial discipline to ensure that you save enough money for your retirement, even when you are out of work.
Credit card holders learn how to balance their finances and keep track of their spending, or manage between interest rates. Whenever students learn how to handle credit well,
they are building on their financial prudishness and which will be resourceful when they graduate. Credit card companies also provide all kinds of aids like budgeting apps and spending app that can assist students in managing their finance.
Final Thought About American Airlines Student Credit Card
The best credit card is the one that will be determined by your spending habits, how often you travel, or any other reason whatsoever you may have set for yourself.
American Airlines has two credit cards: the Citi/Advantage Platinum Select and the Advantage Aviator Red card; both cards have good features helpful for a frequent traveler, and in this case, a student who may be able to travel during semesters breaks or for international course works.
However, there are other student-friendly cards which are not limited by the type of the bonus offered, no annual fee, cash-back or flexible travel points although targeted at different category of the clients and may be more suitable based on the fact that are not airline mile cards.
After going through this article, first analyze how much you spend, how much the sign-up bonus is worth, and how the card will benefit you. Finally, the knowing which credit card is right for you will assist you in not only earning great rewards, but building your credit for your future.
Taking some measures, such as using credit cards properly, paying our balances in full and avoiding the unnecessary utilization to create credits, you are making yourself ready for success not only financially, but also mobility wise during your student years and even after that.