Citi AAdvantage Executive Mastercard Review: Premium Perks for an Expensive Annual Fee

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is the most high-end American Airlines credit card. It includes a membership to the airline's Admirals Club®, so it's great for frequent flyers. But it doesn't come cheap, as this card has a $595 annual fee. Keep reading our Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® review to see if the perks justify the cost.

This credit card is a good fit for: Travelers with high spending who fly with American Airlines several times per year.

Top perks

This airline credit card has plenty of benefits that frequent flyers will love.

Limited-time offer: 100,000 bonus miles

You can earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases with this card in the first 3 months. That's one of the biggest welcome offers we've seen. Depending on what you book with them, American Airlines AAdvantage miles are typically worth $0.01 to $0.015. That means 100,000 miles could save you $1,000 to $1,500.

The spend requirement for this welcome offer is on the high side. Make sure you'll be able to meet it before you apply. You'll need to spend at least $3,334 per month. Also, keep in mind that the $595 annual fee doesn't count toward that requirement of $10,000 in three months.

SEE MORE: Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses

Admirals Club® membership

A highlight of this card is that it includes an Admirals Club® membership. As a cardholder, you and either your immediate family members or up to two guests traveling with you can access Admirals Club® lounges free of charge. An annual membership would otherwise cost $850 (day passes cost $79).

Airport lounges can be a nice option to relax or get work done before a flight. If you were already planning to buy an Admirals Club® membership, it makes more sense to get this credit card, since it will cost you less. But if you aren't focused specifically on American Airlines lounges, you may want to consider other credit cards with airport lounge access.

Earn miles on purchases

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® earns 4 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases. After you spend $150,000 on purchases with your card in a calendar year, it earns 5 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases for the remainder of the year.

In addition, it earns 10 miles per $1 eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels and on eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars. It earns 1 mile per $1 on other purchases. The rewards rate doesn't quite measure up to some of the top credit cards, but you at least have solid bonus opportunities.

Earn Loyalty Points

You earn 1 Loyalty Point for every eligible mile earned from purchases. You can also earn a 10,000 Loyalty Points bonus after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. After that, you can earn another 10,000 Loyalty Points bonus if you reach 90,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year.

Loyalty Points are how you move up to elite statuses and get more benefits in the AAdvantage® program. Benefits include complimentary upgrades, more free checked bags, and miles bonuses.

Free checked bag

With this Citi credit card, your first checked bag is free on domestic flights with American Airlines. The first checked bag is also free for up to eight companions traveling with you on the same reservation. American Airlines charges $30 for your first checked bag on domestic flights, so this benefit can save you $60 on a round trip.

Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit

You can join one of these Trusted Traveler programs free of charge. This credit card includes a statement credit of up to $100 every four years for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership. I recommend applying for Global Entry, because that program includes TSA PreCheck, so you can get the benefits of both.

Over $300 in annual credits

This American Airlines credit card includes:

• Up to $120 in Lyft credits. After taking three eligible rides in a calendar month, you'll earn a $10 Lyft credit, for a total of up to $120 Lyft credits annually.
• Up to $120 back on eligible Avis® and Budget car rentals. Earn a $1 statement credit per $1 spent on eligible Avis® and Budget car rental purchases, up to a maximum of $120 per calendar year.
• Up to $120 back on eligible Grubhub purchases. Earn a statement credit of up to $10 per monthly billing statement on eligible Grubhub purchases, for a total of up to $120 every 12 billing statements.

If you use any of those services regularly, then this card can save you some money. If you don't, then you may not get much out of these benefits.

Flight benefits

Like many airline credit cards, this card offers a few benefits that could come in handy when you fly:

• Enhanced airport experience. You and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation can get complimentary priority check-in and screening (where available). You'll also receive priority boarding privileges.
• 25% statement credit on in-flight purchases. On domestic flights operated by American Airlines, you can get a 25% statement credit on food and beverage purchases. The statement credit will appear eight to 10 weeks after the transaction posts to your credit card account.

What could be improved

There are some drawbacks to this Citi card that you should know about before applying.

Annual fee

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® definitely isn't what you'd call budget-friendly. The annual fee is $595.

You can get your money's worth, and much more, if you use the card's benefits. An Admirals Club® membership alone costs $850, so you're already coming out ahead if you were planning on buying that. You also get a free checked bag on domestic flights and potentially over $300 in spending credits per year.

Limited bonus categories

This card earns lots of miles in a few select categories, most notably eligible American Airlines purchases. But it doesn't have that many bonus categories, especially compared to many of the top travel cards. For example, there are other travel credit cards that earn more on dining, or everyday categories, such as groceries and gas. This American Airlines card doesn't, and that limits your earning potential.

Authorized user fee

There's a $175 fee to add up to three authorized users to your credit card account. After that, the fee is $175 for each additional authorized user. So, if you want to add your spouse, child, or anyone else to your account, it will cost you. On a positive note, each authorized user gets their own Admirals Club® membership.

A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is recommended for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. It's aimed at consumers who have a credit score in either the good credit or excellent credit range.

Keep in mind that more than just your credit score goes into a credit card application. It's an important factor, but it's not the only thing that determines whether your application is approved or denied.

Trying to raise your credit score? Check out our guide on How to Build Credit Fast.

You fly with American Airlines at least three to four times per year and want airport lounge access. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is also beneficial for big spenders who want elite status with American Airlines, since you can earn Loyalty Points with it. If you aren't sold on the perks in relation to the costly annual fee, check out more credit card reviews to find a better fit.

Our credit card methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.