In case you fly American Airlines incessantly, you could need to think about getting one in every of its cobranded Citi playing cards.
On the high of the hierarchy is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees), which provides probably the most AA-specific perks of any bank card. Nevertheless it comes with a hefty annual charge.
So, is it definitely worth the $595 annual charge — each in yr one and past? Let’s do the mathematics.
Welcome bonus
For a restricted time, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is at present providing 100,000 miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
This bonus is price $1,550, primarily based on TPG’s January 2026 valuations, and matches the highest-ever provide we have seen in the card’s history.
This bonus accounts for a good portion of the cardboard’s total worth, so incomes it and redeeming the miles properly are essential to offsetting the cardboard’s excessive annual charge.
Associated: The highest-ever offer is back: Earn 100,000 AAdvantage miles with the Citi / AA Executive Card
Lounge entry
Arguably, probably the most worthwhile ongoing good thing about this card is the complimentary Admirals Club membership you may obtain yearly that you simply maintain it. When you could have the Citi / AAdvantage Executive, all you need to do is stroll to the lounge and current a same-day boarding go for an eligible flight.
A membership prices $700 to $850, relying in your standing degree and whether or not it is a new membership or a renewal. On condition that this card carries a $595 annual charge, it does not make sense to purchase an Admirals Membership membership by itself, except you are not eligible for the cardboard.
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You’ll entry roughly 50 Admirals Golf equipment and greater than 60 partner lounges worldwide when flying American or one in every of its Oneworld partners. Notably, this contains Alaska Lounges in hubs like Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX), Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX), San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) and Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA).
You’ll be able to usher in both your speedy relations (partner or home companion and kids beneath 18 years of age) or as much as two friends. They usually do not should be on the identical flight as you — simply any American or Oneworld flight with a same-day boarding go.
Associated: The best lounge access credit cards to add to your wallet
Journey advantages
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard provides worthwhile perks when flying American, together with precedence check-in at business-class counters (the place accessible) and precedence boarding privileges (the place accessible) for you and as much as eight vacationers on the identical reservation.
You additionally get your first checked bag free on home itineraries with American Airways. (Be aware that that is just for home flights; I needed to pay $35 in 2024 after I traveled to Mexico, forgetting the restrictions of this perk.)
Moreover, you possibly can get pleasure from a 25% low cost on inflight food and beverage purchases (excluding Wi-Fi) and obtain an announcement credit score of as much as $120 for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck. (I recommend maximizing your credit score by making use of for International Entry, because it contains PreCheck anyway.)
Moreover, the cardboard contains travel protections, equivalent to journey cancellation, journey interruption, journey delay, misplaced baggage safety and automobile rental insurance coverage protection.
And there are no foreign transaction fees, making this card a fantastic choice for worldwide journey.
Associated: Which airline is now best if you don’t want to pay bag fees?
Elite standing
If chasing AAdvantage elite status is vital to you, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard will assist you obtain it. You will earn 1 Loyalty Level for each mile you earn from purchases.
On high of that, you may obtain a ten,000 Loyalty Factors bonus upon reaching 50,000 Loyalty Factors in a standing qualification yr. A further 10,000 Loyalty Factors bonus shall be granted when you hit 90,000 Loyalty Factors in the identical yr.
Associated: 8 methods that earned American AAdvantage Executive Platinum
Assertion credit
The assertion credit on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive card embrace:
- As much as $120 again on eligible pay as you go leases booked straight on Avis.com or Budget.com each calendar yr
- As much as $120 again on eligible Grubhub purchases (as much as a $10 assertion credit score on every month’s billing assertion)
- As much as $120 in Lyft credit ($10 Lyft credit score every month), however you need to take three eligible rides every month first to obtain this credit score
The Grubhub credit score is the one one I discover straightforward to maximise. I take advantage of the $10 month-to-month credit score to order pick-up meals after I’m on the highway.
I’ve had points with the automobile rental credit score, so I would not depend on getting worth from it. Beforehand, a Funds rental in Cabo was not coded accurately, and Citi would not apply the credit score manually. Later, I accomplished one other Funds rental in Eire and waited the compulsory 10 weeks. Once more, it did not submit, and once more, Citi refused to use a guide credit score.
I do not worth the Lyft perk as a result of you do not get the $10 credit score till after you’ve got taken three (non-discounted) rides in a month. As a substitute, I take advantage of my Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) to earn 5 factors per greenback spent, plus a $10 month-to-month in-app credit score on Lyft purchases (by way of Sept. 30, 2027).
Associated: Frequent Uber or Lyft user? These are the best credit cards for you
Incomes and redeeming miles
In case you’re seeking to supercharge your factors incomes throughout a number of packages, I would recommend placing your spending on a card that earns transferable points. Nevertheless, if you wish to maximize your AAdvantage mile stability particularly, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive card will earn you:
- 10 miles per greenback spent on eligible automobile leases and accommodations booked by way of American’s car rental and hotel booking websites, respectively
- 4 miles per greenback spent on eligible American Airways purchases (jumps to five miles per greenback spent for the rest of the calendar yr as soon as you’ve got spent $150,000 on purchases in a calendar yr)
- 1 mile per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases
AAdvantage miles are probably the most worthwhile of any U.S. airline program at 1.55 cents every, in response to our valuations. They’re considerably extra worthwhile than United MileagePlus miles (1.3 cents every) and Delta SkyMiles (1.25 cents every).
I redeemed a part of the welcome bonus I acquired on this card for an opulent flight redemption. I used 70,000 miles plus $174 for a one-way business-class flight in Qatar Airways’ unbelievable Qsuite from Doha to Houston.
Given this flight retails for $3,910 one-way, I obtained a really excessive 5.6 cents-per-mile worth from this redemption, greater than triple TPG’s valuation of AAdvantage miles.
Associated: The best uses of American Airlines AAdvantage miles
Licensed customers
Lastly, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive card is a good choice in order for you your family and friends to get Admirals Membership entry for much less.
You’ll be able to add as much as three approved customers for $175 whole (which works out to be round $58 every) and extra approved customers for $175 every after that.
Every approved consumer receives Admirals Membership entry (with a same-day boarding go for an eligible flight) for themselves and as much as two touring companions. Nevertheless, approved customers solely get Admirals Membership entry, not a full Admirals Membership membership.
Associated: Everything you need to know about authorized credit card users
Backside line
Finally, in case you worth Admirals Membership entry, precedence perks on American flights and a big welcome bonus, this card can simply justify its charge. You will get much more worth in case you reap the benefits of its assertion credit and approved consumer perks.
But when lounge entry is not vital to you, think about one in every of Citi’s lower-fee AAdvantage cards as an alternative.
To be taught extra, learn our full review of the Citi / AA Executive World Elite Mastercard.
Apply right here: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
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