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Airline Hubs in the United States – Comprehensive List

Understanding major airline hubs is a great way to maximize your flight options and increase your odds of getting a good frequent flyer award redemption.

In case you aren't aware, an airline hub airport is an airport used by an airline to consolidate passenger traffic and flight operations.  The term comes from the “hub-and-spoke” system where an airline operates flights from several “spoke” cities into a hub airport.  The passengers traveling from the spoke cities connect through the hub airport and onto their final destination.  This system allows airlines to serve more passengers with fewer planes at a lower cost.

Flying into a hub airport has a number of important benefits, including:

• Better Travel Planning: If you are planning a trip and want to fly with a specific airline, knowing their hubs can help you identify the most direct and cost-efficient routes.
• Flight Availability: Airlines offer more flights and a wider range of destinations from their hubs. If you are looking for a specific destination or a broader choice of flight options, knowing your preferred airline's hubs can help you identify the best routes and increase your chances of finding available flights (both with paid fares and with frequent flyer miles).
• More Options with Flight Disruptions: In the event of a flight cancellation, delay, or other disruption, knowing an airline's hubs can be very helpful. Hubs have more alternative flight options, allowing you to re-book or find alternative routes more easily compared to smaller airports where an airline may have limited operations.
• Reduced Costs: If airlines can reduce their costs by running an efficient hub and spoke system, then they can pass those savings onto you in the form of lower airfare.
• Better Airport Amenities: Hub airports typically have a lot more travelers and with that comes more and better restaurants, airline lounges, etc.

However, there are also some disadvantages such as overcrowded lounges, long lines to get through security and long waits for your baggage.

List of Airline Hubs in the United States

Here is a list of hubs for each of the largest U.S. based airlines.

American Airlines:

American Airlines has more hubs than any other airline, with a total of 10 hubs. Their largest hub is Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).

• Charlotte (CLT)
• Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Miami (MIA)
• New York (JFK)
• New York, LaGuardia (LGA)
• Philadelphia (PHL)
• Phoenix (PHX)
• Washington Reagan (DCA)

Related Article: Guide to all American Airlines Hubs

Delta Airlines:

Delta Air Lines operates with a total of 9 hubs. Their largest hub is Atlanta (ATL), which also happens to be the world's largest hub airport.

• Atlanta (ATL)
• Boston (BOS)
• Detroit (DTW)
• Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP)
• New York – Kennedy (JFK)
• New York – LaGuardia (LGA)
• Salt Lake City (SLC)
• Seattle (SEA)

Related Article: Guide to all Delta Airlines Hubs

United Airlines:

United Airlines operates with a total of 8 hubs. Their largest hub is Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and their smallest is Guam (GUM).

• Denver (DEN)
• Houston-Intercontinental (IAH)
• Newark (EWR)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Washington-Dulles (IAD)

Related Article: Guide to all United Airlines Hubs

Alaska Airlines:

Alaska Airlines operates with a total of 5 hubs. Their largest hub is Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.

• Anchorage (ANA)
• Portland (PDX)
• Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)

Hawaiian Airlines:

Hawaiian Airlines operates with a total of 2 hubs. Their largest hub is Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) on the island of Oʻahu with a secondary hub out of Kahului Airport on the island of Maui.

• Honolulu (HNL)
• Kahului (OGG)

Other focus airports for Hawaiian Airlines include:

• Lihue (LIH)

Frontier Airlines:

Frontier has a mixed mode model with a single hub at Denver International Airport (DEN) for it's West Coast flights and flies point to point via focus cities on the East Coast.

Focus airports for Frontier Airlines include:

• Chicago–Midway (MDW)
• Cleveland (CLE)
• Las Vegas (LAS)
• Orlando (MCO)
• Phoenix–Sky Harbor (PHX)
• Tampa (TPA)
• Trenton (TTN)

Airlines that do not have hubs

jetBlue, Southwest and Spirit do not operate off of a hub and spoke system, they are point to point. While they don't have hubs, they do have major focus cities. The following are the major focus cities for jetBlue and Southwest

jetBlue Airways:

jetBlue has 6 focus cities, with JFK being the largest focus city and base of operations.

• Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• Long Beach (LGB)
• New York-JFK (JFK)
• San Juan (SJU)

Southwest Airlines:

Southwest has 13 focus cities, with Denver being the busiest airport, despite Dallas Love Field being its base of operations.

• Baltimore (BWI)
• Chicago Midway (MDW)
• Dallas Love Field (DAL)
• Houston-Hobby (HOU)
• Nashville (BNA)
• Oakland (OAK)
• St. Louis (STL)

Spirit Airlines:

Spirit Airlines operates out of 9 focus cities. Their largest is Fort Lauderdale.

• Atlantic City (ACY)
• Chicago (ORD)
• Dallas (DFW)
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida (FLL)
• Houston (IAH)
• Myrtle Beach (MYR)

Tim is a business road warrior and avid leisure traveler who has flown over two million miles in the air and spent well over a thousand nights in hotels. He enjoys sharing tips, tricks, and hacks to help readers get the most out of their travel experience and learn how to “travel like a pro”!

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American Airlines Hub System

American Airlines operates with a hub system, which consists of several base(s) of operations and hub airports. The airline has multiple hubs strategically located across the United States, allowing for efficient connections and convenient travel options for passengers.

One of the main base(s) of operations for American Airlines is located at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas. DFW serves as the primary hub for American Airlines, with a vast network of domestic and international flights connecting through this airport.

In addition to DFW, American Airlines also operates major hubs at other key airports, including:

More Airline Help and Knowledge

Gain more knowledge and insights about insights about American beyond what we covered here about hubs.

• If you’re interested, learn here about other airlines’ hub systems .
• You can also keep track of your American flight status to know when your AA's flight arrives.
• All of the partner and alliance members of American are listed and discussed here. To see alliance and partner members of any airline , check here.
• View here the popular non-stop destinations where American Airlines flies to . You might just get inspired to take a trip!

Need to know where a particular flight is? Track any live flight on a map here .

• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in North Carolina
• O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, Illinois
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in Pennsylvania
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in Arizona
• Miami International Airport (MIA) in Florida

These hub airports serve as crucial transit points for American Airlines, allowing passengers to connect to various destinations seamlessly.

The history of American Airlines' hub system dates back to the 1980s when the airline started focusing on establishing hubs to improve operational efficiency and increase connectivity. By consolidating flights at specific airports, American Airlines aimed to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance passenger convenience.

Through its hub system, American Airlines has been able to offer a comprehensive network of flights, connecting passengers to over 350 destinations worldwide. The strategic placement of hubs allows for efficient routing and scheduling, ensuring smooth connections for travelers.

You can also keep track of your American Airlines flight status here .

For additional information such as flight schedules, destinations, and aircraft details, visit the American Airlines Guide .

Find more help here for your journey through the airport

American Airlines hubs: How AA started and where it flies now

What is now the biggest carrier in the world began as most ambitious ventures do: small and insignificant.

American Airlines traces its history to a 1926 flight from St. Louis and Chicago. Charles A. Lindbergh, chief pilot of Robertson Aircraft Corporation, carried a bag of mail on this otherwise normal flight. But Robertson is one of the many airlines acquired or combined to make up the current-day American Airlines.

Many airlines of that era began by carrying mail. However, according to American Airlines' history page , American became the first airline to fly the Douglas DC-3 in commercial passenger service between New York and Chicago in 1936. The airline began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1939 and introduced airport lounges for passengers in 1940.

The airline has undoubtedly changed and grown over the years. So, let's consider American Airlines' route history and then discuss its current hubs and partners.

American Airlines route history

In 1945, American Airlines began transatlantic service by strategically acquiring American Export Airlines and renaming it American Overseas Airlines. Within the first three years, transatlantic service expanded to Northern European countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. However, American Overseas Airlines was taken by Pan Am Airways in 1950 and eventually became part of Delta Air Lines.

Another milestone route for American Airlines was introducing its nonstop transcontinental service in 1953 with the Douglas DC-7. In 1959, American began scheduled transcontinental passenger service on the Boeing 707 between New York and Los Angeles.

American made a play for the Caribbean by picking up new Caribbean routes when it merged with Trans Caribbean Airways in 1970. American introduced its American Eagle system in 1984, using regional airlines to operate short- and medium-haul feeder flights to its hub airports. American expanded its service to Latin American destinations in 1989 when it picked up several key routes from struggling Eastern Airlines.

In 1999, American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines International, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas Airways joined as founding members of the Oneworld alliance .

Now, American Airlines serves a handful of destinations in Asia, Oceania and the Middle East. But its ubiquity in the markets of North America, South America and Europe can be attributed to its aggressive mergers over the past 75 years.

Related: Your ultimate guide to the American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty program

American Airlines hubs

Hub airports exist in a hub-and-spoke system as connecting points for many travelers. As such, you'll often need to change planes in one of American's hub airports unless you're originating or terminating at a hub.

American established its first hub-and-spoke airport hub in Dallas in 1981. Now, Dallas serves as the carrier's largest hub. American established another major hub in Miami in 1989 once it acquired some Eastern Airlines routes. This Miami hub currently offers a handful of transatlantic flights and easy access to the Caribbean and Latin America.

American secured hubs in Charlotte and Philadelphia — and expanded its hub in Phoenix — as it absorbed US Airways in 2015 . US Airways had used these airports as hub-and-spoke airports, and American Airlines continued this strategy.

Currently, the biggest American Airlines hubs are:

• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
• Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Miami International Airport (MIA)
• New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

Dropped American Airlines hubs

Like all airlines, American has adjusted its hubs as it has evolved. That's included new hubs — including some added through mergers — and occasional cuts. Among the carrier's notable former hubs are:

• Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS): Served as a hub of America West Airlines and then US Airways until 2008
• Nashville International Airport (BNA): Served as a hub of American Airlines until 1996
• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT): Served as a US Airways hub until 2004
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU): Served as an American Airlines hub until 1995
• St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL): Served as an American Airlines hub until 2009

Related: Which credit card should you use for American Airlines flights?

International hubs for American Airlines partners

American Airlines flies nonstop to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) from many U.S. cities, including some that aren't current hubs. Heathrow is also a major hub for Oneworld partner airline British Airways.

Beyond that, American Airlines has codeshare agreements with many airline partners, including its Oneworld alliance partners. Through these codeshare agreements, American Airlines sells seats on other airlines to help you get where you're going.

Here are some international airports that serve as hubs or focus airports for American Airlines partners:

• Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) for Cathay Pacific
• Madrid's Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) for Iberia
• Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND) for Japan Airlines
• Sydney Airport (SYD) for Qantas
• Doha's Hamad International Airport (DOH) for Qatar Airways
• Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) for Malaysia Airlines
• Casablanca's Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) for Royal Air Maroc
• Amman's Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) for Royal Jordanian
• Helsinki Airport (HEL) for Finnair

American has many more partners than are mentioned above. You can see all the partners on the American Airlines partners page.

Related: The best websites for searching Oneworld award availability

Bottom line

Once a simple mail delivery service, American Airlines and its partners can now take you just about anywhere on the planet you want to go. American has an enormous fleet as well as airline partners in the Oneworld alliance and beyond that work together to serve more than 900 destinations.

A Comprehensive Guide to American Airlines Hubs

As one of the leading carriers in the world, American Airlines boasts an extensive network of hubs strategically located across the United States. These hubs serve as key connecting points for travelers, facilitating seamless journeys to domestic and international destinations. Join us as we explore the vibrant tapestry of American Airlines hubs, each contributing uniquely to the airline’s vast and interconnected route system. Looking to book a flight an American? Perhaps try our third party booking partner at 1-833-727-1704 .

1. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

A. the heart of american airlines.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport stands as the primary hub for American Airlines, playing a pivotal role in connecting passengers from coast to coast. With state-of-the-art facilities and an expansive range of domestic and international flights, DFW serves as the beating heart of American Airlines’ operations.

b. Key Connections

From DFW, travelers can easily connect to major cities across North America, as well as key destinations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The airport’s central location makes it a crucial hub for both business and leisure travelers.

2. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

A. the southeastern hub.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport serves as a major hub for American Airlines in the southeastern United States. This bustling hub facilitates smooth connections for passengers traveling along the East Coast and beyond.

b. Connecting the East

With its strategic location, CLT is a gateway to popular East Coast destinations and offers convenient connections for those heading to the Caribbean and Europe.

3. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

A. windy city hub.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport is a key hub for American Airlines, connecting travelers to and from the Midwest. The airport’s extensive facilities make it a crucial link for both domestic and international flights.

b. Global Connectivity

From O’Hare, passengers can access a diverse range of destinations, making it an essential hub for those with global travel aspirations.

4. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

A. gateway to the west.

As the largest airport on the West Coast, Los Angeles International Airport is a vital hub for American Airlines. It serves as a gateway to the Pacific, connecting travelers to destinations in Asia and Oceania.

b. Hollywood Connection

LAX is not just a hub for international travel; it also facilitates seamless connections for those exploring the diverse cities and landscapes of the American West.

5. Miami International Airport (MIA)

A. gateway to latin america.

Miami International Airport stands as a major hub for American Airlines, particularly for flights to and from Latin America. The airport’s multicultural ambiance reflects the vibrant diversity of the region it serves.

b. Tropical Connections

From MIA, passengers can explore the rich cultural tapestry of Latin American destinations, making it a hub for those seeking sun-soaked beaches and vibrant cities.

Conclusion:

American Airlines’ hubs form a network of connectivity that spans the nation and reaches across the globe. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or planning your next adventure, understanding the significance of each hub enhances your travel experience. From the bustling energy of Dallas/Fort Worth to the coastal charm of Miami, American Airlines hubs are the gateways to a world of possibilities. So, pack your bags and embark on your journey with the confidence that these hubs are designed to make your travels seamless and enjoyable. Safe travels!

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American Airlines (Oneworld) serves 225 domestic destinations and 128 international destinations in 63 countries, as of May 2024.

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American Airlines (Oneworld) departs from 353 airports in 63 countries, as of May 2024.

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Airline Hub Guide: Which U.S. Cities Are Major Hubs and Why it Matters

See recent posts by Ricky Radka

The favored model of the American airline industry since its deregulation in 1978, airport hubs have formed the backbone of the country’s present-day aviation network and marketplace. Nowadays these hub-and-spoke systems have become ubiquitous in the U.S. travel sphere, replacing most previous point-to-point models offered by airlines.

By providing greater efficiency and profitability, the hub system seems here to stay, so lets took a look at how this transportation model can benefit both the airline and the passengers they carry.

Why Hubs Matter for Passengers

In a perfect world, every flight would be nonstop, and you'd be jetting off to your destination without any extended connection times or roundabout routings. But in that perfect world, your airfare would likely cost triple.

So why do hubs matter for passengers? The almighty dollar. If airlines can reduce costs by running an efficient hub-and-spoke system, they can, in theory , pass along the savings to the customer. While airport connections aren’t always ideal, hubs allow for carriers to provide more extensive route networks, streamlined operations, and lower fares.

And those low fares come in several forms.

Some of the best-unadvertised savings in the entire aviation marketplace come in the form of hub attacks by competing airlines. These fare wars often instigated by rival carriers trying to undercut prices on select routes from a competitor hub airport, sometimes to the tune of hundreds of dollars.

As an example, Delta might try to drum up sales in a market such as Houston (IAH) that are traditionally dominated by United Airlines by listing fares to destinations in say, Europe or Hawaii, for half the going price. By instigating a fare war, Delta can cut into United’s hub profits and sway customers who are generally handcuffed to United’s monopolized airfares to try their product instead.

These so-called fare wars often escalate quickly with multiple airlines getting in on the action targeting rivals’ hometown hubs across the country. By knowing which hub is nearest to you and which airlines tend to undercut prices when a fare war kicks up might be key in grabbing a rock-bottom fare during one of these short-lived unadvertised sales and save big.

Why Hubs Matter for Airlines

Consolidated route networks play a big part in how airlines can shed overhead on their overall operational costs. Hubs allow airlines to funnel feeder flights with lower passenger volumes through strategically placed airports without having to allot larger aircraft on less popular city-to-city pairings. Thus, adjusting for the total number of travelers on routes and reducing empty seats – the bane of every carrier’s bottom line.

For example, instead of offering a nonstop point-to-point option between two smaller cities like Des Moines (DSM) and Dayton (DAY) that would more than likely fly half empty, these two markets connect through a midway hub like Detroit (DTW) or Chicago (ORD) . This allows the airline to better utilize its aircraft and corral passengers between the two points at a profitable schedule while reducing its risk of low passenger loads.

Hubs also provide airlines with a centralized work base for employees, allow for more timely mechanical fixes, and provide additional options for aircraft swaps or adjustments, all of which significantly reduce operating costs compared to a point-to-point system.

Related: The Best and Worst Airlines for 2021

A List of Airport Hubs Across America

The following is a list of major U.S.-based carriers and the location of their airport hubs cities.

(Red dots indicate hubs – Yellow for focus cities)

Alaska airlines.

Focused on West Coast markets, Alaska Airlines operates five hubs with its primary hub and headquarters located at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Focus cities of San Diego (SAN) and San Jose (SJC) round out the carrier’s prodigious Pacific Coast presence.

• Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) – Primary Hub
• Anchorage (ANC)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Portland (PDX)
• San Francisco (SFO)

Focus Cities

• San Diego (SAN)
• San Jose (SJC)

American Airlines

As the world's largest airline, American routes its nearly 200,000,000+ annual passengers through its ten major U.S. hubs. Following its merger with US Airways in 2013, American added Phoenix (PHX), Philadelphia (PHL), Washington DC (DCA), and Charlotte (CLT) to its roster of hub airports. While unofficial, Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) is considered the airline’s primary hub and home to the company’s global headquarters.

• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Primary Hub
• Charlotte (CLT)
• Chicago–O’Hare (ORD)
• Miami (MIA)
• New York–Kennedy (JFK)
• New York–LaGuardia (LGA)
• Philadelphia (PHL)
• Phoenix (PHX)
• Washington DC–National (DCA)

Related: American Airlines 777-300ER Business Class Review

Delta Air Lines

Considered to be the first mega-hub in America, Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport (ATL) is also the world’s busiest and the primary hub for hometown Delta Air Lines. After finalizing its merger with Northwest Airlines in 2010, Delta inherited hubs at Minneapolis (MSP) and Detroit (DTW) and upgraded its presence in Boston (SEA) in 2019 bringing its total hub count to nine.

• Atlanta (ATL) - Primary Hub
• Boston (BOS)
• Detroit (DTW)
• Minneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP)
• Salt Lake City (SLC)
• Seattle/Tacoma (SEA)
• Raleigh/Durham (RDU)

United Airlines

Chicago-based United Airlines operates a total of seven hubs in the States, including its prime base at hometown O'Hare (ORD) airport. Its merger with Continental Airlines in 2010 has resulted in the addition of Newark (EWR) and Houston-Intercontinental (IAH) to its roster of hub airports. Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE) a former Continental hub has been disbanded by United in favor of increased service at other regional airports.

• Chicago–O’Hare (ORD) - Primary Hub
• Denver (DEN)
• Houston–Intercontinental (IAH)
• Newark (EWR)
• Washington DC–Dulles (IAD)

Related: The 15 Most Exciting New Airline Routes for 2022

Hawaiian Airlines

Honolulu-based Hawaiian Airlines operates two hubs in the 50 th state – its headquarters at Daniel K. Inouye/Honolulu International Airport (HNL) and its secondary outpost on the island of Maui at Kahului Airport (OGG). Kona International Airport (KOA) and Lihue Airport (LIH) serve as focus cities for the airline.

• Honolulu–Oahu (HNL) - Primary Hub
• Kahului–Maui (OGG)
• Kona–Big Island (KOA)
• Lihue–Kauai (LIH)

Frontier Airlines forgoes maintaining multiple hubs across its network and relies on a patchwork of focus cities to connect its low-cost customers to their destinations. The budget carrier supports a solitary hub at Denver International Airport (DEN) of which most of its West Coast connections route through. On East Coast operations, Frontier tends to lean toward a point-to-point model but often routes passengers through one of its nine focus airports.

• Denver (DEN) – Operating Base
• Atlanta (ATL)
• Cleveland (CLE)
• Las Vegas (LAS)
• Orlando (MCO)
• Tampa (TPA)
• Trenton (TTN)

Related: Is Frontier’s New High Cost Airport Fee a Scam?

Sun Country Airlines

Ultra low-cost carrier Sun Country’s route network is primarily connected through its sole hub at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). Over the last several years the airline has rapidly expanded its route network outside the confines of its Minnesota hub by adding focus airports at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Las Vegas (LAS).

• Minneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP) – Primary Hub
• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)

Related: How to Find the Cheapest Flight for Your Next Trip

Airlines With Operating Bases and Focus Cities Instead of Hubs

Not all airlines rely on the hub-and-spoke system; many provide point-to-point networks to route passengers on strategically chosen flight paths to compete with legacy carriers.

New York-based JetBlue prefers to maintain a single operating base at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) instead of proclaiming a primary hub. The airline's low-cost model is heavily reliant on nonstop point-to-point offerings rather than funneling its passenger through the more common hub system. With focus airports in five other cities like Boston (BOS), Orlando (MCO), Ft. Lauderdale (FLL), Long Beach (LGB), and San Juan (SJU), JetBlue’s network leans heavy on East Coast air traffic.

• New York-Kennedy (JFK) – Operating Base
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• Long Beach (LGB)
• San Juan (SJU)

Southwest Airlines

The anti-establishment answer to the hub-and-spoke system, Southwest has made its mark as the top airline to favor a point-to-point delivery for its passengers. As the largest domestic carrier in the United States, Southwest prefers to assign its important airports as operating bases. The airline currently lists 11 airports as operating bases. Southwest's recent expansion to Hawaii has given the carrier a strong presence at Honolulu International Airport (HNL), but the airline has yet to designate it a focus city or operating base.

(Only airports designated as operating bases shown)

• Baltimore (BWI)
• Chicago–Midway (MDW)
• Dallas–Love Field (DAL)
• Houston–Hobby (HOU)
• Los Angles (LAX)
• Oakland (OAK)

Related: What You Should Know Before Flying Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines

Ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines skips doling out the term hub to its busiest airports in favor of labeling them operating bases. The no-frills airline connects some itineraries through one of its seven nationwide stations but for the most part, relies on single leg city-to-city service to deliver passengers to their destinations.

• Atlantic City (ACY)

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The Guide to American Airlines Credit Card Benefits

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

If you travel on American Airlines regularly, getting one of the airline's credit cards can make sense. Not only will you earn additional miles when paying for flights, but the cards also come with valuable perks to improve your flight and save money.

The American Airlines credit cards include:

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® .

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® .

American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® .

AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® .

CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® .

Let’s learn more about American Airlines credit card benefits, including the differences among cards, exclusions that may apply and how to earn elite status and other perks based on your spending.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Top American Airlines credit card benefits

The American Airlines credit card benefits vary based on which card you choose, and there are multiple cards available, including options for both consumers and small business owners.

Earn AAdvantage miles

One of the basic benefits of an American Airlines credit card is the ability to earn AAdvantage miles on your spending. With each card, not only will you earn rewards on American Airlines purchases, but you'll also earn miles on bonus categories and everyday purchases.

This chart highlights how much you'll earn based on different types of spending.

New cardholder bonuses

When you apply for a new American Airlines credit card, you may be able to earn a welcome bonus by meeting the card's spending requirement within a few months. In general, the higher a card's annual fee and spending requirement, the more miles you can earn.

$0 intro for the first year, then $99 .

Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

Earn 50,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.

The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® , meanwhile, offers the following welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

» Learn more: AmEx Membership Rewards: How to earn and use them

Earn miles on authorized user purchases

American Airlines credit cards allow cardholders to add authorized users and earn miles on their purchases. Except for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® , each card offers free authorized user or employee cards. With the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® , you can add up to three authorized users for $175 per year, then $175 annually for each additional user.

Benefits when booking flights

Based on your annual spending totals on eligible American Airlines cards, you may earn special benefits when booking flights.

Discount on flights

When you spend $20,000 in a calendar year on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® , you'll receive a $125 American Airlines flight discount after renewing your card.

Annual companion certificate

Bring someone with you on your next paid flight with an annual companion certificate . Two American Airlines credit cards earn a companion certificate based on your annual spending. When redeeming these certificates, there is a $99 fee, plus the taxes and fees associated with your flight.

To earn the certificate, you'll need to spend $20,000 on the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® or $30,000 on the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® .

Airport perks

Barclays and Citi American Airlines credit card benefits at the airport can also improve your travel experience and save you money during your trip.

Free checked bags

If you wait to add on checked bags until you're at the airport rather than booking in advance, American Airlines charges $40 for the first checked bag when traveling domestically or to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Getting free checked bags can save $320 on a round-trip flight for a family of four.

You'll get the first checked bag free for yourself and up to four companions on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® , AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® and CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® . With the premium Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® , this benefit extends to eight travel companions. The $0 -annual-fee American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® doesn't offer this perk.

Early boarding

Getting on the plane early allows you priority access to the overhead bins and more time to get comfortable ahead of your flight. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® cardholders get to board in Group 4, while all other AAdvantage cardholders (except the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® ) board in Group 5. American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® does not offer early boarding benefits.

» Learn more: American Airlines' boarding process explained

Lounge access

Only one of the American Airlines credit cards includes complimentary Admirals Club lounge access . The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® includes a complimentary Admirals Club membership where cardholders can enter the lounge for free whenever they're flying on American Airlines or an eligible partner airline.

Cardholders can also bring immediate family members (spouse, domestic partner and children up to age 18) or up to two guests in for free.

TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry expedite your wait at the airport when going through airport security and U.S. customs, respectively. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is the only card that includes reimbursement for these application fees up to $100 every four years.

In-flight savings

Save money on your in-flight purchases of food and beverages when using your American Airlines credit card. American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards provide a 25% statement credit for all inflight purchases.

If you purchase inflight Wi-Fi, you'll also save 25% when using the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® . The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® provides up to $25 in statement credits each anniversary year when purchasing Wi-Fi on American Airlines flights.

Progress toward elite status

American Airlines elite status offers numerous perks for travelers, including complimentary upgrades, waived fees, priority standby and more. You can accelerate your path to elite status using one of American Airlines' credit card benefits.

Earn Loyalty Points on purchases

Not only will you earn AAdvantage airline miles on every dollar you spend on your AA credit cards, but you'll also earn one Loyalty Point on each dollar spent. This allows cardholders to earn points toward elite status based solely on their spending — or in conjunction with flying and other qualifying activities.

Bonus Loyalty Points

With the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® , you'll receive up to 20,000 bonus Loyalty Points per year to boost your elite status. The first 10,000 points are earned by reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. A second 10,000 points (for a total of 20,000) are earned when you reach 90,000 Loyalty Points.

Travel perks and protections

Often overlooked benefits of Barclays and Citi American Airlines credit cards don't earn airline miles or Loyalty Points. However, these benefits can be just as valuable.

No foreign transaction fees

All of the American Airlines credit cards, except the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® , waive foreign transaction fees. The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® charges a 3% fee on international purchases.

Travel insurance and assistance

Unfortunately, not all American Airlines credit cards include travel insurance or assistance benefits. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® recently introduced travel insurance benefits , including trip cancellation/interruption protection, trip delay protection, lost baggage protection and worldwide rental car insurance.

The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® also includes complimentary travel insurance and assistance benefits. These benefits include travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption benefits, baggage delay insurance and rental car protection.

Travel and dining credits

American Airlines credit card benefits for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® also expanded to include travel and dining credits. Cardholders will receive up to $120:

In Lyft credits: When you take three eligible Lyft rides per month, you'll receive a $10 Lyft credit.

Back on Grubhub purchases: Earn one $10 statement credit per month when you make an eligible Grubhub order.

Back on eligible Avis and Budget car rentals: For every dollar you spend on eligible Avis and Budget car rentals, you'll receive a $1 statement credit up to the annual maximum of $120.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

American Airlines accused of ‘blatant and egregious race discrimination’ in kicking black passengers off flight

A merican Airlines is being sued in federal court by three black New Yorkers who say they suffered “blatant and egregious race discrimination” by being kicked off a JFK-bound flight over fake complaints of being smelly.

Xavier Veal, Emmanuel Jean Joseph and Alvin Jackson say they had just boarded a Jan. 5 flight at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport when an American employee ordered them and five others to get off — meaning all the black men were booted, according to their lawsuit filed Wednesday.

“It hit them like a ton of bricks,” their attorney, Michael Kirkpatrick, told the Washington Post of the trio who had never met before the flight.

When they demanded an explanation, they were told by an airline employee that they were removed following a complaint about body odor — even though none of the men were directly accused of having an offensive smell, according to the suit viewed by The Post.

The initial complaint about the odor allegedly came from a white male flight attendant, the suit said.

When the men suggested that they were singled out because of their race, an American Airlines employee allegedly said, “I agree, I agree,” according to the lawsuit.

The employee’s response was also verified by a cellphone recording obtained by the Washington Post.

The remaining passengers on the JFK-bound flight were delayed for at least an hour — and were told it was because of a complaint about the men’s body odor, the suit alleges.

Unable to get another flight, the booted passengers were eventually forced to reboard their original flight, the suit said.

They “had to reboard the plane and endure the stares of the largely white passengers who viewed them as the cause of the substantial delay,” the lawsuit read.

“They suffered during the entire flight home, and the entire incident was traumatic, upsetting, scary, humiliating, and degrading,” the filing added.

“We’re walking through the aisle of shame, if you will,” Veal, a production assistant based in Queens, told the Washington Post. “It was horrible. It was a really traumatic experience.”

“Unfortunately, I’m a black man and I live in America. It wakes you back up to the reality that I can’t just go to the store; I can’t just do regular things like take a plane home,” he lamented.

Veal connected with the two others — Joseph, an actor, and musician Jackson, both of Brooklyn — at the baggage claim when they finally got to JFK, he said.

The men did not know each other before the fateful flight, and never saw the other five men again.

The trio is also seeking serious changes at American Airlines, which has already weathered damning accusations of racism.

In 2017, the NAACP warned black travelers to avoid the airline, citing multiple instances of alleged discrimination, the lawsuit explained.

“None of the White passengers were taken off the plane and humiliated and embarrassed,” Michael Kirkpatrick, the lead lawyer working on the case for the Public Citizen law group, told the Washington Post.

“Somebody should have stepped up and said, ‘Wait a minute. We can’t do this. This is wrong,’” he said. “But instead, nobody stepped up and intervened to stop it from happening.”

American Airlines told The Post: “We take all claims of discrimination very seriously and want our customers to have a positive experience when they choose to fly with us.

“Our teams are currently investigating the matter, as the claims do not reflect our core values or our purpose of caring for people.”

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Travel | Travel Troubleshooter: American Airlines…

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Travel | after two days and 14 innings, granada dethrones de la salle for ncs title, travel | travel troubleshooter: american airlines changed my flight, but won’t give me a refund.

Before my flight, I received an email saying that my flight time had changed and would be departing at 10:15 p.m. I couldn’t make this flight because I was working late that night.

I called American, and a representative told me she could not refund me because it was less than a four-hour schedule change. She said I would have to apply for a refund online, and she canceled my ticket.

I applied for a refund online and received an email a week later stating that my refund was denied because of American’s policy and because I had purchased a cheap ticket.

I called American again and spoke to a supervisor. She would not even give me a flight credit for future use. She did give me an option to book another flight at that time and possibly get me money back. When I said I didn’t have any known plans to travel, she suggested I call back when I’m ready, and someone could possibly help me. But she could not promise anything.

American told me to cancel my ticket and apply for a refund. Then it denied my request for a refund. I think that’s a deceptive business practice. Can you help me get a refund?

— Neil Gupta, Seattle

ANSWER: If an airline changes its schedule, it should offer you a full, no-questions-asked refund. But American Airlines is correct: It gives itself the right to change its schedule by up to four hours without offering your money back.

The amount of delay required for a refund varies by airline. If you’re flying in the European Union, it is standardized at two hours under the European airline consumer protection regulations.

Your situation was a little different. You had spoken to an American Airlines representative who led you to believe that you just needed to apply for a refund, and she canceled your ticket. The representative should have told you that there was no way you could get your money back, even if you applied for a refund.

I think this one’s on American. If a representative suggested you might get a refund, you should reasonably expect to get your money back. And, on top of that, a supervisor also suggested you could get a credit. Even if it’s a misunderstanding, American could give you a ticket credit as a gesture of goodwill.

A brief, polite email to one of the American Airlines executive contacts might have helped. I publish their names, numbers and emails on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org .

I contacted American on your behalf. To be clear, American wasn’t required to do anything under its policy. But I think a refund would have been the right thing to do under your circumstances.American Airlines agreed to refund your ticket.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at [email protected] or get help by contacting him at elliottadvocacy.org/help/ . (c) 2024 Christopher Elliott Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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American Airlines Backtracks, Will Allow Travel Agency Customers to Keep Earning Miles

Dennis Schaal , Skift

May 29th, 2024 at 3:23 PM EDT

American Airlines tried to drag an entrenched industry toward the airline's vision of a more productive distribution future. But the financial hit stung.

Dennis Schaal

Online and offline travel agencies had faced a July 11 deadline: That’s when flyers buying American Airlines tickets on certain booking sites would have no longer been able to earn AAdvantage Miles.

But American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said Wednesday that the airline has dropped the idea. It was part of an overall retreat in American’s direct-booking strategy as it faces softness in close-in bookings and a weaker financial outlook.

“Next month, we were going to differentiate who earned AAdvantage Miles and who didn’t, based on where they booked. That’s off,” Isom told investors and analysts at a Bernstein conference. “We’re not doing that because it would create confusion and disruption for our end customer, and we’re going to make sure that we take care. We’re listening to feedback.”

The plan had been that the airline would designate “preferred agencies” — who were required to book at least 30% of their flights through American’s New Distribution Capability — and customers of these online and offline travel agencies would have been able to continue to earn AAdvantage miles when buying tickets on these third-party sites.

Travel agencies that didn’t get the airline’s stamp of approval faced the prospect of losing lots of customers who would have had to book American flights on AA.com or a preferred agency.

The airline initially said it would designate preferred agencies by May 1, and later moved that deadline to July 11.

Travel Agency Reaction

Many agencies had no clue if they were going to make the cut.

Zane Kerby, president and CEO of the American Society of Travel Advisors, had fought the airline’s distribution policies, and applauded the airline’s reversal.

“I’m grateful for American Airlines’ renewed recognition of the essential role that travel advisors play in facilitating air travel for our shared customers,” Kerby said. “I want to extend my thanks to American Airlines CEO Robert Isom for acknowledging its previous approach was flawed. Reversing the decision to withhold AAdvantage points and miles for agency bookings is a testament to the firm position that travel agencies hold in the airline distribution channel.”

Kerby said he welcomed the opportunity to work with American Airlines on a “responsible implementation of its NDC program.”

When the news came, ASTA was coincidentally conducting it annual national conference in Dallas, in the airline’s Fort Worth headquarters back yard.

American hasn’t definitively given up on direct distribution, however.

“We’re learning and adapting,” Isom said. “We know that NDC, modern retailing provides a better experience for the end customer. And we know that we will get there over time, but we have to go about it differently. We’re going to make it easier, we’re going to execute better and we’re going to do a lot more to try to bring people along with us.”

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Tags: aadvantage , american airlines , asta , distribution , loyalty , ndc , new distribution capability , online travel newsletter

Photo credit: The tail of an American Airlines aircraft. Airbus / Airbus

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