BEST FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES LOUNGE ACCESS
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive card is the only card with a full Admirals Club membership. It also provides perks for American Airlines flyers for an annual fee of $595. (Partner offer)
At a glance
- 4X Earn 4x AAdvantage? miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
- 1X 1 AAdvantage? miles for every $1 spent on other purchases
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Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage? bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
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Admirals Club? membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
At a glance
- 4X Earn 4x AAdvantage? miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
- 1X 1 AAdvantage? miles for every $1 spent on other purchases
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Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage? bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
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Admirals Club? membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
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No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
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Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage? mile earned from purchases
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First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
Our Take
TPG Editor's Rating
Overview
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is the only cobranded credit card that includes a complimentary membership to the American Airlines Admirals Club lounge network. The primary cardmember also enjoys priority check-in (where available), screening (where available) and boarding for themselves and up to eight travel companions. Other perks include a free checked bag for domestic travel, 25% off eligible inflight purchases and a $100 statement credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck.
Pros
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Offers Admirals Club lounge access — cheaper than purchasing a membership
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Earns valuable AAdvantage miles for travel on AA and its partners
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Boost elite status with Loyalty Points on everyday spending
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Free checked bag when traveling domestically
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Inflight food and beverage discount
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Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee statement credit
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Ability to add authorized users (for a fee)
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Statement credits for food delivery, ride-hailing services and car rentals
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Priority check-in, airport screening and boarding
Cons
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High annual fee
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Miles redemption is limited to American Airlines and its partners
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Inflight credit doesn't include Wi-Fi
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Have to pay to add authorized users
Who is this card good for?
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive is best for frequent AA flyers and regular Admirals Club visitors. It is also a great card that allows regular flyers to fast-track their elite status, as you earn Loyalty Points on every dollar you spend.
Earning Rewards
Earn 4 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Then, after spending $150,000 in a calendar year, you’ll earn an elevated 5 miles per dollar spent on eligible AA purchases for the remaining calendar year. You’ll also earn 10 miles per dollar spent on eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels and eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars. Finally, you’ll earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. There is no cap on how many miles you can earn in a year.