Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®

Getting to Know the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® is designed with the discerning world-traveler in mind. For $450 annual fee cardholders receive complimentary membership in American’s Admirals Club lounge program (a $650 value), priority check-in and boarding, a free first checked bag on domestic American-operated fights, and TSA and Global Entry prescreening.

How It Works

Cardholders can expect the following from the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®:

How to Earn Rewards:

Fly with American Atlantic: Cardmembers can earn 2 miles for every dollar they spend on qualifying flights with American Airlines.
Flying with Oneworld Partner Airlines: AAdvantage® also be earned when booking travel through any Oneworld partner carrier.
Everyday Purchases: Using the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® for everyday purchases earns 1 mile for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases.
Shopping with American Airline or Oneworld Partners: AAdvantage® members can use their card to earn miles when shopping with select Oneworld or AAdvantage® partner retailers.
Booking Trips and Hotels with Oneworld or American Airlines Partners: AAdvantage® members can use their Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®to book hotel stays, rental cars, cruises, or entire vacation packages through Oneworld alliance partners.
Purchase More Miles: AAdvantage® members can buy or gift their bonus miles, allowing them to earn as much as 100,000 bonus miles in the process!

How to Redeem Miles:

Travel: AAdvantage® members can use their miles for travel on American Airlines, American Eagle®, Oneworld airlines, and partner airlines on flights to over 1,000 destinations worldwide.
Seat Upgrades: AAdvantage® members can use their bonus miles to purchase seat upgrades on American Airlines, British Airways, or Iberia flights, or flights with other Oneworld carriers.
Status Upgrades: AAdvantage® members can use their miles for purchasing or renewing Admiral Club status, including lounge access worldwide.
Vacations: Use miles to purchase vacations through Oneworld partners.
Car Rentals: Miles are applicable for vehicle rentals at over 500 locations worldwide.
Hotels: Use miles towards bookings with over 150,000 properties in over 500 locations worldwide.
Gift Miles: Gift miles to friends and family members.
Spending with Oneworld Partners: Members can apply miles towards qualifying retail partners for goods and services including magazine subscriptions, newspapers, gift cards, and theft prevention services.

Today’s Bonus Offer

Earn 50,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles when you spend $5,000 within the first 90 days of opening the account. New members also enjoy complimentary access to American’s Admirals Club – a $650 annual value.

Airline and Airport Perks:

Lounge Access: The card provides members with complimentary Admirals Club membership. Admirals Club is American’s lounge, offering drinks, light snacks, WiFi and more to travelers worldwide. Lounge access also applies to any additional authorized users on the card when they travel alone.
Priority Boarding: Cardholders receive priority boarding when flying with American Airlines.
Priority Check-in: Cardholders also receive priority check-in on American-operated flights and services.
Free Baggage: Cardholders receive their first checked bag free on all American-operated domestic flights. Impressively, this benefit extends to up to 8 guests traveling with the cardholder on the same reservation.
Global Entry/ TSA Pre-Screening: Cardmembers receive a credit for TSA and Global Entry prescreening at no additional cost.
In-Flight Discounts: Cardholders save 25% in-flight savings on all food and drinks purchased on an American Airlines flight when they use their Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®.

Cardholder Protections:

Concierge Service: Cardholders receive access to Mastercard’s dedicated concierge service, with a staff of experts provides advice, assistance, and coordination on foreign and domestic travel, dining, shopping, and entertainment needs.
Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from all fraudulent or unauthorized transactions made on their Mastercard®.

Additional Benefits:

No foreign transaction fees
Additional authorized users also eligible for Admiral’s Club perks when they fly

The Plane Facts

Can you expect a smooth flight from the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® or will there be turbulence?

Annual Fee: The card has an annual fee of $450 – and while this is a very high fee, it is worth it. Cardholders receive complimentary access to American Airlines’ Admirals Club, which is, itself, a $650 value. Beyond lounge access, holders get in-flight discounts, priority boarding and check-in, and free baggage. All of these perks add up to make $450 per year seem like an absolute steal!

Breaking Down the APR:

Purchase APR: The card features a purchase APR of around 18% for those with exceptional credit. As with all cards, however, the APR varies depending on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate.
Balance Transfer APR: The balance transfer APR is the same as the purchase APR.
Penalty APR: The card has a penalty APR of up to 29.99%, though the actual rate will vary based on the credit score of the applicant and the Prime Rate.

Breaking Down Transaction Fees and Penalty Fees:

Balance Transfer: The fee for a balance transfer is either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Cash Advance: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each advance, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction: This card features no foreign transaction fees
Late Payment: If you make a late payment, expect a penalty fee of up to $39.
Returned Payment: A fee is up to $28 is assessed for returned payments.
Over Limit Fees: None

The Perks That Make the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® Worthwhile:

What are some of the Pros that set this card ahead of the rest?

Admirals Club Access: Perhaps the most enticing part of the card is complimentary access to American’s Admirals Club. Membership usually costs around $650, but with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Card it is included with the $450 annual fee.
Rewards Flexibility: AAdvantage® miles are very flexible. This allows members to redeem them for travel, vacations, cruises, hotels, gift cards, and more.
Great Airport Perks: Beyond the lounge access, the card gives members a free first checked bag. They also get priority check-in and boarding on American Airlines-operated flights.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Cardholders pay no foreign transaction fees, making this card a powerful tool for employers and business travelers alike.

Potential Turbulence with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®:

What are some cons that take the wind from beneath this card’s wings?

Not Much: There really isn’t a whole lot to complain about with the card. The biggest negative is the steep annual fee. Considering how much you get for that fee, however. this card is a no-brainer for frequent travelers.

Thoughts Before Takeoff

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® is an exceptional airline rewards credit card. New users can earn 50,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles when they spend $5,000 within the first 90 days. With regular use. they earn 2X miles with American and 1X miles for all other purchases.

The card also offers impressive airport benefits – the best of which is complimentary access to American’s Admirals Club lounges. Where lounge access would normally cost around $650 per year, with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®, it is included with the $450 annual fee. Beyond lounge access, however, cardholders also receive free first checked baggage on American-operated flights not only for themselves, but also up to 8 other guests when they book their travel using their card. Cardholders also get priority check-in and boarding, and a fee credit for Global Entry and TSA pre-screening.

If you are a frequent traveler with American Airlines or any other Oneworld partner carrier, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® is quite simply a rewards card you shouldn’t pass up.