Enjoy the ultimate frequent flyer perks.
30-second take
- Get this card if you often fly American Airlines.
- Pick something else if you prefer other airlines or you want a general travel credit card.
- Apply with an excellent credit score of 740 or higher.
| Product Name | Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® |
|---|---|
| Card Type | Mastercard |
| Annual Fee | $450 |
| APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for Purchases | 17.99% to 25.99% variable |
| Introductory Purchase APR | N/A |
| Balance Transfer APR | 17.99% to 25.99% variable |
| Introductory Balance Transfer APR | N/A |
| Balance Transfer Fee | $5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
| Cash Advance Rate | 27.49% variable |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None |
| Cash Advance Fee | $10 or 5% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater |
| Interest Free Period | Up to 23 days |
| Late Payment Fee | Up to $39 |
| Returned Payment Fee | Up to $39 |
| Additional Cardholder Fee | $0 |
| Minimum Age | 18 years of age |
|---|
| Welcome Offer | 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening |
|---|---|
| Base Rewards | 1x points |
| Rewards Points Expiration | Never |
The basics
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® offers high-level rewards for the busiest travelers. These include Admiral Club Membership, a global concierge service, priority check-in and boarding, no foreign transaction fees and more.
You’ll also get the chance to earn a generous signup bonus. Miles can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, hotel stays and more.
The perks
- AAdvantage miles.
Earn 2x miles on American Airlines purchases and 1x miles on everything else you buy. - Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs).
Spend $40,000 on purchases in a calendar year and earn 10,000 EQMs. EQMs can help you reach elite status tiers, which come with even more perks and benefits. - Signup bonus.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening. - Admirals Club membership.
Enjoy complimentary access to more than 50 Admirals Club lounges worldwide. This includes you and your immediate family, or up to two guests traveling with you. For everyone else, a one-day pass costs $59.
Is the annual fee worth it?
Since this is an expensive card to own, it’s important that you get a higher value than you’re paying for the card.
For the first year, you can easily offset the annual fee by clearing the signup bonus. But starting from the second year, make sure to:
- Fly at least once every two months to save $180 on your first checked bag.
- Visit Admirals Club once every two months to save $354 on daily passes.
If you only use these two perks, you’ve already saved $534, which is more than the annual fee of $450. Every mile you earn will just increase the gap between the value you get and the money you pay for the card.
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You’ll also like …
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit.
Once every five years, you get up to $100 in statement credit as a reimbursement for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. - Priority boarding.
Settle into your seat faster with priority boarding. Up to eight passengers traveling on your reservation will also get to enjoy priority screening and check-in. A family of four can save $240 on a round-trip flight. - First checked bag free.
Save $30 on first checked bag per person per flight. This perk is available for up to eight passengers traveling on your reservation. - In-flight savings.
Get up to 25% back as statement credit for inflight purchases of food and beverages. - Add authorized users.
You can add up to 10 authorized users without additional costs. Authorized users also get access to Admirals Club, even when they’re not traveling with you. - Dedicated concierge.
Get access to a staff of experts who can help you with your travel. They can also make dining arrangements and recommendations, book tickets to events and more.
What to watch out for
- Annual fee.
To use the card’s perks and benefits, you’ll have to pay $450 annually. - Taxes and fees on award flights.
When redeeming award flights, you have to pay taxes and fees from $30 per person per award flight. - Penalty APR.
One late or returned payment can cause your rates to bump up to a penalty APR of 29.99% variable. Once incurred, the penalty APR may last indefinitely. - No intro APR period.
Airline credit cards rarely come with an intro APR period. If that’s what you’re looking for, check out 0% intro APR credit cards.
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What should I know before I apply?
To apply for the card, you must be at least 18 years old and you must have a Social Security number.
In your application, provide your:
- Full name, contact information and address
- Date of birth and Social Security number
- Annual income and monthly mortgage or rent payment
What credit score do I need?
You’ll increase your chances of approval with an excellent credit score of 740 or higher.
What do customers say about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®?
Customers love the signup bonus, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit fee, Admirals Club access and the first checked bag free. Those who frequently fly with American Airlines believe this is a good value for the card.
The Better Business Bureau hasn’t accredited Citibank, and rates it with an F. This doesn’t mean the bank isn’t good; it means the bank doesn’t respond to customer complaints on the BBB website.
How to apply for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®
- Go to the Citi website and click Apply now.
- Fill out the application form with all of the required information.
- Review your application and submit.
How long will it take to get my Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®?
You should get an immediate decision on your application. Citi may require additional information, which can take up to 10 days.
Once approved, your card should arrive within seven to 10 days.
I got the card. Now what?
- Download the Citi Mobile app. Use the app to make transfers and pay your bills, lock and unlock your card, find ATMs and more.
- Download the American Airlines mobile app. Get flight updates, track your bags, upgrade your seat and more.
- Avoid interest and fees. Your due date is 23 days after the close of each billing cycle. Avoid paying unnecessary interest and fees by paying your balance on time.
- Customer support. Call Citi customer support at 800-347-4934 for any questions you may have.
How do I redeem miles from the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®?
To redeem your miles, log in to your online AAdvantage account and choose from:
- Award flights
- Seat upgrades
- Car rentals
- Hotels stays
- Vacations
- Admirals Club membership
- Gift cards
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Charitable donations
Bottom line
If you fly at least once every two months with American Airlines or any of their partners, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® could be a solid choice. You can offset the annual fee by saving money on first checked bags, priority boarding and Admirals Club visits.
In addition, you get to earn miles that you can redeem for flights, seat upgrades, hotel stays and more. And you get to earn a generous signup bonus you can redeem for up to five flights.
But if it’s not the right fit for you, consider similar credit cards and compare your options.