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- Citi/AAdvantage cardholders can now use Flex Pay for large American Airlines purchases.
- Citi Flex Pay is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) program that lets you pay larger purchases in equal monthly payments with a fixed interest rate.
- Citi/AAdvantage cardholders can still earn valuable Loyalty Points and AAdvantage miles with Citi Flex Pay.
- Check out Insider’s guide to the best travel rewards cards.
If you’re scrounging for a last-minute gift idea or feeling particularly adventurous this holiday season, you’re in luck as Citi/AAdvantage cardholders now have access to Flex Pay for American Airlines flight bookings. Flex Pay is Citi’s own version of a buy now, pay later program (BNPL) for larger purchases. Citi is an Insider partner.
Now, with your eligible Citi/AAdvantage credit card you can book any American Airlines flight (must be worth $75 or more), and pay down the large purchase in smaller, equal monthly payments. But there’s a catch, as you’ll be charged a fixed interest rate on your payments.
That said, taking advantage of the Citi Flex Pay program to book a last-minute holiday trip may be worth it depending on your situation. Otherwise, you could be better off with a 0% APR credit card offer instead to avoid accruing interest charges.
Insider’s Featured Rewards Credit Cards
Earn unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Earn 1x points on other purchases.
Limited time offer of 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (offer expires 01/10/2023)
Earn 3x ThankYou® points at restaurants and supermarkets. Earn 3x ThankYou® points at gas stations, air travel, and hotels. Earn 1x ThankYou® points on all other purchases.
80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Citi/AAdvantage cards eligible for Flex Pay
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
This is a terrific card for frequent American Airlines flyers who can take advantage of its included Admirals Club membership and other day-of-travel perks to offset the high annual fee. Authorized users also get Admirals Club access, so there’s extra value to be had there, too. However, it’s not the best card for earning AA miles on everyday spending, and the lack of travel protections isn’t ideal for an airline credit card.
Details
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
18.99% – 27.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Intro offer
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
$99, waived for first 12 months
Annual Fee
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Intro offer
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
$99, waived for first 12 months
Annual Fee
$99, waived for first 12 months
Annual Fee
On Citi’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
Annual Fee
$99, waived for first 12 months
Intro offer
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.74% – 28.74% variable
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings are primarily based on 3 things: simplicity, affordability, and value. Our credit card editor takes those factors into account, and comes up with a rating to best reflect how the card performs in that criteria – relative to other products we’ve reviewed.
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Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Mastercard
Intro offer
10,000 American Airlines miles and a $50 statement credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent at grocery stores. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Mastercard
Intro offer
10,000 American Airlines miles and a $50 statement credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent at grocery stores. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
Details
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent at grocery stores. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
Intro offer
10,000 American Airlines miles and a $50 statement credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.74% – 28.74% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Intro offer
65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on cable and satellite providers. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent at gas stations. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on select telecommunications merchants. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on car rentals. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
$99, waived for first 12 months
Annual Fee
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Intro offer
65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on cable and satellite providers. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent at gas stations. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on select telecommunications merchants. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on car rentals. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
$99, waived for first 12 months
Annual Fee
$99, waived for first 12 months
Annual Fee
On Citi’s website
Details
Rewards
Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on cable and satellite providers. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent at gas stations. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on select telecommunications merchants. Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on car rentals. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
Annual Fee
$99, waived for first 12 months
Intro offer
65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
19.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
Editor’s Rating
Our editor’s ratings are primarily based on 3 things: simplicity, affordability, and value. Our credit card editor takes those factors into account, and comes up with a rating to best reflect how the card performs in that criteria – relative to other products we’ve reviewed.
Show more
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
What the Citi Flex Pay program gets you
When you use Citi Flex Pay on an American Airlines purchase, your card will be charged the full cost of the flight. The total cost will then be subtracted from your eligible card’s available credit. But don’t worry, as you’ll only need to pay the monthly payment amount as part of the minimum due each billing cycle.
Although you’ll still be charged interest, the Citi Flex Pay program operates on a fixed rate lower than your card’s regular APR. That said, it’s in your best interest to pay as quickly as possible in order to minimize the number of interest payments on your purchase.
You’ll still earn points and miles with Citi Flex Pay
Large purchases paid with the Flex Pay program are still eligible to earn American Airlines Loyalty Points and redeemable miles, but only on the cost of the original purchase. You won’t earn rewards on interest payments.
For example, if you earn 1,000 points on a $500 purchase but choose to pay it off over a 24-month cycle, you’ll still only earn the original 1,000 points even though you paid the original $500 plus whatever your additional interest is.
How to pay for your flight with Citi Flex Pay
Citi/AAdvantage cardholders can choose the Flex Pay option at checkout either on aa.com or through the American Airlines app. Keep in mind that the cost of your flight must be at least $75 or more in order to get Flex Pay as a payment option.
Once you select Flex Pay, choose your eligible Citi/AAdvantage credit card as your payment method, and then select your preferred length of time.
Consider a 0% intro APR offer instead
If you can, you might be better off applying for a new card with an extra long 0% APR offer. That way you can charge the full price of your flight to your card without accruing interest (but you’ll need to remember to pay down your balance over time before your 0% APR offer expires).
Some Citi cards with an exceptionally long intro APRs possibly worth considering are:
- Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening) and on purchases for 12 months (then a 16.74% – 27.49% Variable APR)
- Citi Simplicity® Card: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening) and on purchases for 12 months (then a 17.74% – 28.49% Variable APR)
- Citi Custom Cash℠ Card: 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months (then a 17.74% – 27.74% Variable APR)
Unfortunately, Citi/AAdvantage cards don’t offer a 0% intro APR on purchases. You can use a credit card from a different issuer (or a Citi credit card not co-branded with American Airlines), but you won’t be able to earn Loyalty points or AAdvantage miles from the card.
You can check out Insider’s guide to the best 0% APR credit cards for more options.
