Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
American Airlines vs Emirates
American Airlines
Higher score in this comparison
Emirates
Where American Airlines and Emirates differ
| Compare | American AirlinesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0Lower | $99 |
| APR | 19.74% to 29.74% | 19.49% to 29.49%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 3% | 0%Lower |
| Rewards rate | 1 AAdvantage mile per $1 on all purchases; 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 at grocery stores and on eligible American Airlines purchases | 3 Miles per USD 1 on Emirates spend, 2 Miles per USD 1 on travel spend, 1 Mile per USD 1 on all other spend |
| Perks | 25% savings on inflight food and beverage on American Airlines operated flights, No cap on the number of AAdvantage miles earned, 1 AAdvantage Loyalty Point per eligible AAdvantage base mile, No annual fee | Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card, Priority Pass Select lounge access (Premium World Elite Mastercard), USD 120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every 4 years (Premium World Elite Mastercard), No foreign transaction fees on international purchases |
| Balance transfer intro period | Not confirmed | 12 months |
Same on both: Rewards type (Miles), Balance transfer fee (5%), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at American Airlines: 1930 vs 1985.
- Annual fee is lower at American Airlines: $0 vs $99.
- APR is lower at Emirates: 19.49% to 29.49% vs 19.74% to 29.74%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Emirates: 0% vs 3%.
- Perks: only American Airlines offers 25% savings on inflight food and beverage on American Airlines operated flights, No cap on the number of AAdvantage miles earned, 1 AAdvantage Loyalty Point per eligible AAdvantage base mile.
- Perks: only Emirates offers Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card.
- Support channels: only Emirates offers Chat, Help centre.
Our verdict on each
American Airlines
American Airlines suits anyone who already flies the airline and wants a credit card with no annual fee attached, earning AAdvantage miles on everyday spend. Borrowing costs more, though: APR starts at 19.74% to 29.74% and a balance transfer fee of 5% applies on transferred balances.
Emirates
Emirates suits people who already pay in dollars and spend with the airline, since the miles build fastest on Emirates purchases and there is no foreign transaction fee. It also suits anyone shifting a balance, with a fee of 5% and an intro period of 12. The catch is the annual fee of $99.
Score breakdown
| Area | American Airlines | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Annual fee of $0, but APR of 19.74% to 29.74% and a balance transfer fee of 5% offset the free to hold side. | 8.8HigherAn annual fee of $99 against a 0% foreign transaction fee, and 19.49% to 29.49% on balances. |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.3Highermiles on Emirates and travel spend, with lounge access and Silver tier status on the top card. |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 9.4 |
How they place
| Ranking | American Airlines | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 144 of 1020 | 151 of 1020 |
| Rewards cards | 40 of 122 | 42 of 122 |
| Airline and miles cards | 5 of 13 | 6 of 13 |
Spending 1,000 abroad
American Airlines
30
3% of 1,000
Emirates
0
0% of 1,000
Emirates comes out 30 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Moving a 3,000 balance
American Airlines
150
5% of 3,000
Emirates
150
5% of 3,000
Both come to the same total.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Cost in a real example
A year with 1,000 spent abroad
American Airlines
$30
1 × $0 + 3% of 1,000
Emirates
$99
1 × $99 + 0% of 1,000
American Airlines costs $69 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | American Airlines | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | American Airlines, Inc. | Emirates |
| Headquarters | United States | United Arab Emirates |
| Founded | 1930Lower | 1985 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | American Airlines | Emirates | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0at the median | $99highest quarter | $0 |
| APR | 19.74% to 29.74%above the median | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | 19.39 |
| Currency conversion fee | 3%highest quarter | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | Not confirmed | 12 monthsbelow the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5%highest quarter | 5%highest quarter | 3% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
American Airlines
Pros
- Annual fee of $0, and the card sits first among 301 brands on that measure
- Rewards type is miles: the rewards rate pays one AAdvantage mile per dollar on all purchases, doubled at grocery stores and on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Perks include a discount on inflight food and beverage on American Airlines-operated flights
Cons
- Currency conversion fee of 3% is higher than Chime Card, which charges 0%
- APR of 19.74% to 29.74% sits above the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, which charges 0%
- Balance transfers cost 5%, so moving an existing balance is not the cheapest route
Emirates
Pros
- No foreign transaction fee on international purchases, a currency conversion fee of 0% on a card that sits at the top of our list on that measure
- Earning miles rather than cashback, and Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account stays open
- A balance transfer fee of 5% with an intro period of 12, useful for clearing a balance from another card
Cons
- An annual fee of $99 puts it near the top of our annual fee ranking, and Wise charges £0
- Interest of 19.49% to 29.49% applies on balances, and the lower end of that range is still above the site median
- A balance transfer fee of 5% still applies after the intro period of 12
Who each suits
American Airlines
Who it suits
- Frequent American Airlines passengers who bank most spending on the airline
- Anyone who wants a rewards credit card with an annual fee of $0
- Households consolidating spending on one airline loyalty programme
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone carrying a balance month to month, since APR starts at 19.74% to 29.74%
- Travellers who spend abroad, given the currency conversion fee of 3% versus 0% on Chime Card
- People paying down old debt, since balance transfers cost 5%
Emirates
Who it suits
- People who fly Emirates often and put most of their spending through the airline
- Anyone paying in dollars and spending abroad, since the currency conversion fee is 0%
- Holders of a balance on another card who can clear it inside the intro period
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise users who want a card with an annual fee of £0 and a simpler cost base
- Anyone building credit from scratch, since a card aimed at established credit history is the wrong tool and the Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) is built around a deposit with an annual fee of $0
- Spenders who never touch the airline, since the highest rate applies only to Emirates spend
Current offers
American Airlines
Current offer
Bonus
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card new cardmember offer: 15,000 AAdvantage bonus miles
After $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening; not available if a new account bonus was received for an AAdvantage MileUp account in the past 48 months; US residents only, excluding Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard new cardmember offer: 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles
After $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening; offer may vary and may not be available in all places where the card is offered
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard new cardmember offer: 125,000 AAdvantage bonus miles
After $15,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening; offer may vary and may not be available in all places where the card is offered
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Emirates
Current offer
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for the first year with the Rewards World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Silver tier from the second year onwards spend USD 20,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for the first year with the Premium World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Gold tier from the second year onwards spend USD 40,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | American Airlines | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
American Airlines
Is there an annual fee on the American Airlines credit card?+
No. The annual fee is $0, and that selling point runs through the card's own proposition rather than being a limited period offer. It also ranks 1 among 301 brands we track on this measure. The cost of the card shows up instead in the APR and in fees if you carry a balance.
What APR do I pay if I carry a balance?+
The APR is 19.74% to 29.74%. That range matters for anyone who does not clear the balance in full each month, since the interest charged compounds on what is left. The Varo Believe Secured Credit Card charges 0%, which is lower, though it is a secured product and not a rewards card.
Emirates
What does the Emirates card cost to hold?+
The annual fee is $99 on the card. Interest on balances runs at 19.49% to 29.49%, and a balance transfer is charged at 5%. If you want a card with no annual fee, the annual fee on Wise is £0.
Is there a foreign transaction fee on the card?+
The currency conversion fee is 0%, and international purchases carry no foreign transaction fee. That makes the card one of the cheapest for spending abroad, provided the rate your issuer applies is competitive. It also means travel purchases do not eat into your miles with an extra layer of cost.
Other options to compare
American Airlines
Emirates