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[Finances_With_Purpose]

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[boognish]

Try playing with Mad Fientist's card rating tool: http://madfientist.cardratings.com/

[kenner]

If you're looking for American Airlines specifically, there's a Barclays card (AAdvantage Aviator) and a Citi card (AAdvantage Platinum select or World Elite) that both have sign up rewards.  I think Barclays is the higher right now, and I have good luck calling every year and getting them to waive the annual fee (athough Citi usually has pretty good retention offers as well).  Or you could get a general travel card that will reimburse travel purchases with points or let you use points to book travel across multiple airlines.  Capital One/Barclays/Chase/American Express all have these, probably other issuers as well.

[CoffeeAndDonuts]

I'd separate the decision to get a card from the issue of extending expiration.

To extend expiration, all you need is some account activity. Consider   using points.com to transfer a tiny number of points into or out of as and into another program. Better would be to earn a few miles via the aadvantage dining program. In the unlikely case you're spg or Marriott platinum, transfer 1 spg pt to aa. Another option is the aadvantage eshopping portal. There are many more.

I suggest separating them as you can very likely find a better card if you don't restrict your decision to aa only. There are reasons to get and keep an as card for sure but expiration isn't one of them. Also be aware that as miles have become far harder to use effectively in the last couple years.

All this coming from an 8 year churner with 100+ cards opened in our household and lots of redemption experience.