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Side-by-side
Capital One Spark Cash vs American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One Spark Cash comes from Capital One at $95/yr; the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card from Citi at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Capital One Spark Cash is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($752 more in estimated value) than the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card's. Get the Capital One Spark Cash first; revisit the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Capital One Spark Cash | American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | $1,000 cash bonus | 15,000 miles |
| Bonus value (est.) | $1,000 | $248 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $10,000 in 3 mo | $500 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Capital One | Citi |
| Card category | business | travel |
| Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
Read the full review
Capital One Spark Cash
$95/yr · $1,000 cash bonus
Read the full review
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card
$0/yr · 15,000 miles
Editorial take: American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Capital One Spark Cash or American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card?
- The Capital One Spark Cash has the bigger bonus, $1,000 cash bonus, worth roughly $1,000, versus 15,000 miles (~$248) on the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card.
- Is the Capital One Spark Cash's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card?
- At $95/yr, the Capital One Spark Cash is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Capital One Spark Cash and American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Capital One and Citi) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Capital One Spark Cash or the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Capital One Spark Cash: $10,000 spend in 3 months. American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card: $500 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.