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Updated: August 14, 2024, 6:47am CDT44 Published Articles 3391 Edited Articles
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Described as an “American jeans brand rooted in authenticity and self-expression,” American Eagle Outfitters has long been a shopping mall staple with their on-trend clothing marketed to young adults and college students alike.
Recently, they’ve been advertising a more “retro/vintage” style, continuing to focus on bringing you the perfect pair of jeans (in tons of styles, colors, and fits), plus an array of high-quality basic wardrobe staples like soft tees, comfy sweaters, and loungewear.
But do they offer the same commitment with their store-branded credit card? Is it the perfect, high-quality card for your wallet?
We’ll aim to answer that question in this in-depth review. Read on for more information on the AEO cards’ benefits, drawbacks, fees, application process, and more, in addition to a breakdown of alternative credit cards that you may want to consider.
Main Benefits
🦅 15 points per $1 spent at AEO/Aerie stores
🛍 2,500 points = $10 reward
📦 Free standard shipping
🎁 20% off birthday coupon
👖 Buy 5 jeans, get 1 free
💁🏻 Buy 5 bras, get 1 free
📆 Personal shopping day coupon
🎟 6 cardholder events each year
⭐️ Sign-up bonus
🦅 15 points per $1 spent at AEO/Aerie stores
🛍 2,500 points = $10 reward
📦 Free standard shipping
🎁 20% off birthday coupon
👖 Buy 5 jeans, get 1 free
💁🏻 Buy 5 bras, get 1 free
📆 Personal shopping day coupon
🎟 6 cardholder events each year
⭐️ Sign-up bonus
🙌 Flexibility to use anywhere Visa is accepted
🔥 5 points per $1 spent on all other Visa purchases (outside of AEO/Aerie)
Annual Fee
APR
Late Fee
As you can see, American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) has 2 credit cards: the AEO Connected ® Credit Card and the AEO Connected ® Visa ® Credit Card, both issued by Synchrony Bank.
The main benefits are largely the same, except the Visa distinction allows that version of the card to be used anywhere Visa is accepted (and cardholders earn bonus points for doing so).
These are the same credit cards utilized by Aerie, AEO’s intimate apparel sub-brand.
Upon approval for either of these cards, users will automatically be enrolled in the AEO Connected Rewards Program when they provide a unique email address. This program is how you will earn your benefit points.
This is the most basic card offered by American Eagle; it can only be used at AEO, AEO Factory Stores, AE.com, Aerie, and aerie.com.
The AEO Connected ® Credit Card comes with the following benefits:
🦅 15 points per $1 spent at AEO/Aerie stores
🛍 2,500 points = $10 reward
📦 Free standard shipping
🎁 20% off birthday coupon
👖 Buy 5 jeans, get 1 free
💁🏻 Buy 5 bras, get 1 free
📆 Personal shopping day coupon
🎟 6 cardholder events each year
⭐️ Sign-up bonus
The perks aren’t too complicated, but let’s break them down anyway.
🦅 15 points per $1 spent at AEO/Aerie stores: You must use your AEO credit card to receive this benefit. If you pay with another form of payment, you won’t receive the points. Also of note, points are awarded after discounts, taxes, and fees, and they exclude gift card purchases.
🛍 2,500 points = $10 reward: This is pretty self-explanatory, but a few more details are listed below in the in-depth rewards program section.
📦 Free standard shipping: Cardholders will receive free standard shipping on all purchases made at AE.com and aerie.com when using your AEO credit card. This includes any purchases made through the AEO | Aerie mobile app.
🎁 20% off birthday coupon: This coupon is typically distributed around the first day of your birthday month. Alternatively, you can access your coupon online or via the mobile app. Birthday coupons will only be issued if your AEO credit card account is active and in good standing.
👖 Buy 5 jeans, get 1 free: The nice part about this benefit is that the buy 5 get 1 free does not mean you have to buy 5 pairs in a single purchase. Your jeans purchases are tracked in your account over time, and once you have purchased 5 pairs you’ll get a coupon for a free pair.
These purchases do exclude clearance and third-party jeans, and of course, it doesn’t apply to all other denim items, (such as jackets, skirts, shorts, and shirts).
Your jeans credits (meaning your number of jeans purchases) never expire as long as your account is active, but your free jeans coupon will have a clearly marked expiration date — so don’t miss out!
💁🏻 Buy 5 bras, get 1 free: This is similar to the buy 5 get 1 jeans offer. Over time your bra purchases are logged, and once you buy 5, you get a coupon for 1 free bra. This perk also excludes clearance and third-party bras.
Again, your bra credits (meaning your number of bra purchases) never expire as long as your account is active, but your free bra coupon will have an expiration date.
📆 Personal shopping day coupon: We cannot find anything in AEO’s FAQ or Rewards Program Terms and Conditions that elaborates on this “Personal Shopping Day Coupon.”
When we contacted American Eagle’s customer service via email, they responded with the following:
“The Personal Shopping Day Coupon is a special one-time discount to use any day of the year. This means that it is valid for the whole year, and you can use it on any one day that you choose to use it.”
🎟 6 cardholder events each year: This perk also lacks explanation in the FAQs and terms, but we can assume these “events” are a set of days that include special sales for cardholders.
⭐️ Sign-up bonus: At the time of writing this piece, the current sign-up bonus included with these credit cards is 20% off your first AEO Connected credit card purchase. The 20% off cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers.
The AEO Connected ® Visa ® Credit Card is virtually the same as the regular AEO Connected ® card, but it can be utilized anywhere Visa is accepted.
Being a Visa card, this also opens up the opportunity for cash advances and the ability to utilize the card internationally — although you’ll have some hefty foreign transaction fees (but more on that later).
Let’s talk added perks. All of the following benefits apply to this card:
🦅 15 points per $1 spent at AEO/Aerie stores
🛍 2,500 points = $10 reward
📦 Free standard shipping
🎁 20% off birthday coupon
👖 Buy 5 jeans, get 1 free
💁🏻 Buy 5 bras, get 1 free
📆 Personal shopping day coupon
🎟 6 cardholder events each year
⭐️ Sign-up bonus
PLUS:
🙌 Flexibility to use anywhere Visa is accepted
🔥 5 points per $1 spent on all other Visa purchases (outside of AEO/Aerie)
Most of these benefits have already been explained above, but let’s discuss the final 2:
🙌 Flexibility to use anywhere Visa is accepted: This is a standard Visa card, so it can be utilized anywhere Visa is accepted, increasing your opportunities to utilize the card.
🔥 5 points per $1 spent on all other Visa purchases (outside of AEO/Aerie): This is a pretty hefty points bonus; most other store-branded cards only offer 1 extra point per purchase outside of their family of stores.
All credit cards come with their own set of fees and drawbacks, and the AEO cards are no different.
Let’s take a look at the fees first.
