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American Airline’s passengers have plenty of credit card options to choose from. Unlike Delta and United which each have exclusive card agreements with a single bank (Amex and Chase respectively), American Airlines cards are issues by both Citi and Barclays. Today I’ll take a look at the best options available to AA fliers, whether you’re looking to chase elite status, boost your mileage balance, or simply enjoy some premium perks.
Citi
Citi is the main issuer of AA credit cards, currently offering one personal card, one business card, and one premium card. Here’s a quick overview of the different Citi cards:
| Card | Sign-up Bonus | Annual Fee | Bonus Categories | First checked Bag Free |
| Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard | 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months | $99 (waived first year) | 2x on AA purchases, restaurants, gas stations | 4 companions |
| CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard | 70,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months | $95 (waived first year) | 2x on AA purchases, telecom, rental cars, gas stations | 4 companions |
| Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard | 50,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months | $450 | 2x on AA purchases | 8 companions |
In addition, all 3 Citi AA cards also come with priority boarding and no foreign transaction fees. So which card is right for you?
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
One of the most popular AA cards, the Citi Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard just got a very consumer friendly upgrade. The card now has an elevated sign-up bonus of 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 in 3 months, which I value at ~$840. With a much lower annual fee than the Executive card and perks like priority boarding and a free checked bag, this card is perfect for casual AA fliers who aren’t concerned with elite status.
CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard
Although the business version of the Platinum Select card has a higher minimum spending requirement, you’ll get an extra 10,000 miles (~$140) for completing it. The additional bonus categories of telecom purchases and rental cars are especially business friendly, but this card is also good for business owners looking to get/stay under Chase’s “5/24” rule. While the inquiry will show up on your personal credit report, the account itself won’t, meaning it won’t take up one of your 5 valuable slots with Chase.
Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
It’s disappointing that the most expensive card in Citi’s AA portfolio has both the lowest sign-up bonus and the highest minimum spend requirement. While the $450 annual fee is tough to swallow, there are several compelling reasons to consider this card. Executive cardholders receive an Admirals Club membership, granting you access no matter what airline you’re flying or what cabin you’re traveling in. Authorized users get membership as well, and you can even bring two guests for free. If you’re chasing elite status, this card also offers 10,000 EQMs after spending $40,000 in a calendar year.
Which Card To Pick
In order to pick which of these cards is right for you, you first need to figure out what you’re looking for. Casual travelers would be best served by the Citi Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard. This card is also great to keep long term, as it offer a 10% rebate on AA mileage redemptions up to 10,000 miles a year (per AAdvantage account, so this can’t be stacked across multiple cards). In my mind this easily justifies the $99 annual fee.
While I am intrigued by the idea of earning EQMs and EQDs towards status, there are other cards I’d rather put that heavy spending on. That being said, if you fly a lot with AA and are feeling burned by the recent addition of revenue requirements to qualify for status, the Aviator Red or Silver cards from Barclays can help you reach your goal faster.
This content is not provided by Citi. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed here are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Citi.
Learn more about the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Learn more about the CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard
Learn more about the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
