Updated
Fact Checked
Ashley Maready
If you're looking for a travel credit card that will get you free flights and discounts, you'll want to consider the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®.
The best credit cards offer high-value rewards and relevant perks, and that's what you get with an American Airlines credit card. In fact, thanks to the Citi AAdvantage® card's benefits, you'll get that and more. Loyal flyers with the airline will see the most benefits, but even if you fly American Airlines only casually, it pays to have a Citi AAdvantage® card.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is for people with good credit who like to travel. It charges a $99 annual fee (waived in the first year), but if you fly American Airlines a few times per year, you'll likely be able to recoup that. Two Citi alternatives to consider if you want to earn American Airlines points:
- With a $595 annual fee, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® comes with VIP perks.
- The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card has no annual fee, though it offers more modest rewards.
Read on to see if the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®'s benefits are right for you.
As of May. 08, 2024
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® |
Citi Rewards+® Card | Citi Strata Premier℠ Card |
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Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
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Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
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Welcome Offer: For a limited time, earn 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. 100,000 bonus miles |
Welcome Offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com. Special offer: earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025. 20,000 points |
Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com. 70,000 ThankYou® Points |
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Rewards Program: Earn 2x miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, Earn 1x miles for each $1 spent on other purchases. 1x - 2x miles |
Rewards Program: 2X ThankYou® Points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 per year, 1X ThankYou® points on other purchases 1x - 2x points |
Rewards Program: 10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases. 1x - 10x points |
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Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
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Regular APR: 21.24% - 29.99% (Variable) |
Regular APR: 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable) |
Regular APR: 21.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
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Annual Fee: $595 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $95 |
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently from the issuer. Some items may be out of date.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® benefits
If you want to accumulate American Airlines miles quickly, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is the way to go. You'll earn miles on purchases thanks to the card's benefits. On top of that, you'll get double miles on certain purchases. Like many of the best travel rewards cards, this one also offers a very generous sign-up bonus.
Sign-up bonus
There are plenty of cards with a sign-up bonus, but the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has one of the best. Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. However, you won't be eligible for these bonus miles if you've received a sign-up bonus from this card within the last 48 months.
Of all the card benefits, the welcome bonus is one of the best. It's a generous bonus, and the minimum spend requirement should be relatively easy to achieve.
In the past, American Airlines offered award bookings in two classes: MileSAAver awards and AAnytime awards, with AAnytime awards often costing twice as much as a MileSAAver award for the same flight. But in 2023, American Airlines got rid of the separate category and now offers a single category of Flight Awards.
Rewards
Of all the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® benefits, the rewards on spending are likely the benefit you'll make use of most often. You'll earn American Airlines miles when you purchase something with your Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. A few spending categories will earn you bonus miles so you can stack rewards even faster. Here's how you'll earn:
- 2 miles per $1 on American Airlines purchases
- 2 miles per $1 at restaurants
- 2 miles per $1 at gas stations
- 1 mile per $1 on other eligible purchases.
Some of the best credit cards earn bigger rewards on travel, dining, or gas stations. However, if your goal is to stack American Airlines miles, these Citi AAdvantage® card benefits are helpful.
You'll get double miles on American Airlines flights and American Airlines in-flight purchases. However, rental cars and hotel reservations purchased through American Airlines don't actually count as eligible American Airlines purchases. Buying elite status from American Airlines also won't qualify for double miles either. Fortunately, the double miles on common everyday purchases like gas and dining will have you earning free flights in no time.
Also, you can get a $125 American Airlines flight discount if you spend $20,000 during your card membership year. You will have to renew your card and pay the annual fee for the following year. This flight discount comes in the form of a certificate that expires one year after it's issued.
Choosing a credit card
Don't you wish you could take a peek inside a credit card expert's wallet sometimes? Just to see the cards they carry? Well, you can't look in anybody's wallet, but you can check out our experts' favorite credit cards. Get started here:
American Airlines flight benefits
Citi AAdvantage® card benefits don't only help you earn miles. They also save you money on American Airlines flights. Frequent flyers will enjoy one free checked bag, preferred boarding, and inflight discounts.
First checked bag free
With the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, you and up to four travel companions will get one free checked bag on domestic flights. Your companions must be on your reservation. If you don't have elite status and tend to check a bag, this is one of the best Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® benefits. It's enough to completely offset the card's annual fee after one to two round-trip flights.
American Airlines charges $30 for your first checked bag on domestic flights. So this benefit will save you $60 on a round-trip flight if you're traveling solo. If you're traveling with companions, the savings will grow up to $300. Unfortunately, this card doesn't get you any checked bag benefits on international flights.
Preferred boarding
Another Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® benefit is preferred boarding. That means you and up to four companions traveling on your same reservation will be given the designation of boarding Group 5 on your flight ticket. In Group 5, you're called to board directly after Priority boarding but before regular economy boarding, meaning better access to overhead bin space.
25% savings on inflight benefits
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, you also get American Airlines purchase benefits. Every time you make an eligible purchase on an American Airlines flight with your Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, you'll get a 25% discount. This includes food and beverage purchases, but not wireless internet. The benefit only applies to domestic flights and shows up as a statement credit. If you fly often and tend to buy drinks, meals, or both on your flights, this benefit can save you a decent amount of money.
If you want to stack rewards even faster, other Citi cards pair well with a Citi AAdvantage® card. For example, the Citi ThankYou Rewards program earns points you can redeem for travel. The best part is you can also transfer ThankYou points to a long list of airline partners.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
75,000 bonus points Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
It's hard to deny the value of an American Airlines credit card. If you enjoy flying with this airline and want to earn some premium perks, check out the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® benefits and all it has to offer.
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Check out more details about Citi credit cards::
FAQs
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No, but its sister card, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, offers Admirals Club access. The card charges a $595 annual fee.
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If you fly American Airlines at least a couple of times a year, the credit card is worth it, particularly if you usually check a bag. If you checked a bag on two round-trip domestic flights each year, you'd more than offset the $99 annual fee. If you don't fly American Airlines frequently, you might want to consider a card with a higher rewards rate.
Our Credit Cards Experts
Elizabeth is a personal finance writer specializing in credit cards, debt repayment, and small business. Her work has appeared on The Motley Fool, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, and Business Insider. She’s an avid credit card points collector and perpetual traveler currently living in Costa Rica.
Robin Hartill, CFP®, is a personal finance writer and editor whose work frequently appears in various national publications. She wrote the syndicated “Dear Penny” financial advice column for four years.
Fact Checked
Ashley Maready
Ashley Maready is a former history museum professional who made the leap to digital content writing and editing in 2021. She has a BA in History and Philosophy from Hood College and an MA in Applied History from Shippensburg University. Ashley loves creating content for the public and learning new things so she can teach others, whether it's information about salt mining, canal mules, or personal finance.
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