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

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® is an airline reward credit card designed for those who frequently travel with American Airlines. The card features no annual fee for the first year, followed by a $99 fee every year after that.

New members receive 50,000 miles when they make $2,500 in purchases with their card within the first 3 months. Cardholders also receive a $125 American Airlines flight discount when they make $20,000 or more with their card during a calendar year and renew their membership.

With regular use, the Card earns 2 miles for every dollar spent with American Airlines, or when at gas stations or restaurants. Miles are redeemable for American Airlines Admirals Club membership, flights with American or any other Oneworld alliance airline, or for bookings with hotels, rental car agencies, or cruise lines, or gift cards or other merchandise.

How It Works

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

How to Earn Rewards:

• Fly with American Airlines: Cardholders earn 2 miles for every dollar they spend on qualifying flights with American Airlines.
• Flying with Oneworld Partner Airlines: Earn additional AAdvantage® miles when booking travel with any Oneworld partner carrier.
• Gas and Restaurant Purchases: Earn 1X miles on gas and dining.
• Shopping with American Airline or Oneworld Partners: AAdvantage® members can use their Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® to earn AAdvantage® miles when they shop with select American Airlines or Oneworld retail partners.
• Booking Trips and Hotels with Oneworld or American Airlines Partners: Cardholders who use their card to book hotel stays, hire rental cars, book cruises, or entire vacation packages through Oneworld alliance partners can earn additional bonus miles.

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 $2,500 within the first 3 months of opening the account.

The Plane Facts

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

• Annual Fee: The card features no annual fee for the first 12 months, followed by a $99 fee after that.

Airline and Airport Perks:

• Preferred Boarding: Cardholders receive preferred boarding when flying with American Airlines.  Don’t confuse preferred boarding, however, with priority boarding. You won’t get on a flight first – instead getting on before regular fare-paying travelers.
• Free Baggage: Cardholders receive their first checked bag free on all American-operated domestic flights. That bonus extends to up to 4 traveling partners on the same flight reservation.
• In-Flight Discounts: Cardholders receive a 25% in-flight discount on all food and drinks purchased on an American Airlines flight when they use their card.

Cardholder Protections:

• Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from all fraudulent or unauthorized transactions made on their Mastercard®.
• Mastercard Concierge: Enjoy Mastercard® World Elite™ concierge service, offering access to luxury benefits and global travel support.
• Cell Phone Protections: Get $1,000 ($600 max per claim, no more than two claims per year) in phone protections

Additional Benefits:

• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual Discount: Earn a $100 AA flight discount when spending $20,000 within a calendar year and renewing their card.

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

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

• Rewards Flexibility: AAdvantage® miles are very flexible.  Redemption options include travel with any Oneworld carrier, vacations, cruises, hotels, gift cards, and more.
• Solid Airport Perks: Cardholders receive decent airport perks. These include preferred boarding and complimentary first checked baggage on domestic American Airlines flights,
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Cardholders pay no foreign transaction fees, making this card a great tool for world travelers.

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

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

• No Intro APR: Unlike other similar rewards cards, the card does not offer any introductory APR benefits for new members.

Thoughts Before Takeoff

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® is a reliable co-branded airline rewards card for those who frequently travel with American Airlines. The card earns double AAdvantage® miles on American Airlines purchases, or when using the card at gas stations or restaurants.

The card has good mile-earning potential, and even offers some quality perks for frequent travelers. These include preferred boarding and a free first-checked bag for up to 5 travelers on domestic AA services.

Ultimately, however, the lack of any introductory APR offerings lets the card down. This is something you find in many other great airline co-branded rewards cards. The $95 annual fee doesn’t help, but fortunately, this is offset for the first year (and the decent airport perks help to claw back some value as well). While American Airlines fans should carefully consider the card, there may be better options available elsewhere.