How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
If you’re looking for an airline credit card to help cover the high cost of airfare and you’re loyal to American Airlines, you should consider the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. Along with a hefty sign-up bonus, you’ll earn accelerated rewards on American Airlines purchases, gas and restaurant purchases. Plus, the card offers valuable benefits, like an annual American Airlines flight discount and your first checked bag free.
The card does charge an annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months — so if you don’t travel regularly or take advantage of the card’s benefits, it may not be worth its annual fee after the first year.
Instead, the $0-annual-fee American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card may be a better fit. Or, if you want more premium travel benefits, you should look at the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. We compare these cards below to help you decide which is the best American Airlines card for you.
Intro Purchase APR
N/A
Regular Purchase APR
20.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
Intro BT APR
N/A
Regular BT APR
20.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$99, waived for first 12 months
Cash Advance Fee
5% of each cash advance; $10 minimum
Foreign Transaction Fee
0%
Balance Transfer Fee
Balance transfer fee applies with this offer; 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Hefty sign-up bonus
This card offers a generous and easy-to-earn sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening..
Like many rewards credit cards, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® requires you to spend a specific amount within the first three months of card membership to earn the sign-up bonus.
Rewards in popular spending categories
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® lets you earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
AAdvantage® miles can be redeemed a variety of ways, including flights on American Airlines, American Eagle®, any oneworld® airline or any partner airline, as well as flight upgrades on American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia flights. Miles can also be redeemed for car rentals, hotel stays, activities and tours.
Valuable travel benefits
By taking advantage of the following benefits, you can squeeze even more value from your Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®:
0% foreign transaction fees
While some cards charge fees ranging from 3% to 5% of each transaction when you use it to make purchases outside of the U.S., the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® does not. This makes it ideal to bring along when traveling abroad.
Annual fee
With this card, you’ll be responsible for paying an annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months. While this amount is on par for a mid-range airline card, there are cards available that charge no annual fee after the first year of card membership.
No introductory APR on purchases
Because the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® doesn’t offer an intro APR on purchases, you’ll be subject to a high APR of 20.49% - 29.49% (variable) if you carry a balance on your card from month to month.
If you plan to finance a trip or another large purchase and pay it off over time, you’ll be better off with a card that offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for a year or longer.
If you don’t fly on American Airlines frequently enough to justify paying an annual fee after the first year and you don’t plan to take advantage of the benefits offered by the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card may be a better fit. Along with charging a $0 annual fee, the card offers double miles on grocery and American Airlines purchases.
You’ll earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.. Plus, earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Unlike the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, this card charges foreign transaction fees and doesn’t offer a flight discount, free checked bags or preferred boarding. But again, if you only fly American Airlines a few times a year within the U.S., this card’s $0 annual fee and earning rate can still make it worth your while.
On the other hand, if you travel several times throughout the year in the U.S. and abroad and want access to more premium perks, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® may be a better match.
While the card charges a high annual fee of $595, the price tag gets you access to valuable benefits, like the first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation, priority check-in, airport screening and boarding for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation, 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage, up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit and 0% foreign transaction fees. Additionally, receive Admirals Club® Membership — which provides free access to almost 50 airport lounges worldwide — for you and up to two guests or immediate family members.
You’ll also earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases, as well as 10,000 additional Loyalty Points when you spend $40,000 in purchases during the qualifying status year. Plus, earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®*
|
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. | Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases. | $99, waived for first 12 months | ||
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card*
|
Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. | Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. | $0 | ||
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®*
|
Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. | Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases | $595 |
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® are all great options if you’re partial to American Airlines. But ultimately, the right one for you comes down to how many times you fly per year.
If you’d prefer to test out a card for free the first year, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® will be your best bet. Along with waiving the annual fee the first year, the card offers a generous sign-up bonus and bonus miles on restaurant and gas station purchases.
However, if you travel often and can bear the expensive $595 annual fee, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® may be the better choice — simply for its complimentary Admiral Club membership.
Or, if you don’t travel regularly (and when you do, it’s in the U.S.), the $0-annual-fee American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card will be a better choice.
The information related to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card and Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
