Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Our Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- Global Entry/ TSA PreCheck
- Admirals Club Membership
- Annual Fee
- Few Non Travel Perks
Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Our Rating
PROS
- Global Entry/ TSA PreCheck
- Admirals Club Membership
CONS
- Annual Fee
- Few Non Travel Perks
APR
20.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$525
0% Intro
N/A
Credit Requirements
Good - Excellent
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is a top-tier American Airlines credit card with a $525 annual fee, offering an attractive welcome bonus of 70,000 miles (upon requirements) and a complimentary Admirals Club membership, which alone can cost up to $850. This membership extends to the primary cardholder and up to two guests, providing access to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges, Oneworld clubs, and other affiliated lounges worldwide.
The rewards structure includes 10X AAdvantage® miles on eligible rental cars/hotels through aa.com, 4X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1X on all other purchases.
The card also comes with perks such as a free checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights for the primary cardholder and up to eight companions, priority check-in, boarding, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, statement credits for car rentals, Lyft, and Grubhub, dedicated concierge service and a 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases.
While the card provides substantial value for frequent American Airlines travelers, it may not be the best choice for those seeking flexibility in redeeming miles with other airlines. Also, the annual fee is very high so potential customers should make sure they can cover it.
What is the initial credit limit?
Citi offers approved AAdvantage Executive World Elite customers a minimum credit limit of $5,000.
How much is 10,000 miles worth?
AAdvantage miles have a lower average redemption value at about 1.27 cents per mile. This means that 10,000 miles could be worth $127 with the Aadvantage Executive World Elite.
When it's recommended to skip this card?
The top reason to avoid the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite is if you’re looking for a card that offers travel insurance protections, as this card does not offer this coverage.
In this Review
Benefits
- Admirals Club Membership
Membership entitles you to bring up to two guests or immediate family members into nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges around the world.
- 25% Discount on In-Flight Purchases
When you use your card, you'll receive a 25% discount on food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights.
- Priority Check-In and Boarding
Cardholders receive priority check-in and boarding access on American Airlines flights, enhancing the overall travel experience.
- Free First Checked Bag
On domestic American Airlines flights, you and up to eight travel companions can receive your first checked bag for free.
- Reimbursement for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
You can receive up to $100 in statement credit every five years as reimbursement for your application fee.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
There are no foreign transaction fees when you use your card to make purchases outside of the United States.
- Lackluster Rewards Rates
The baseline earn rate for non-airline spending is just 1 mile per dollar, which is relatively low compared to other premium credit cards.
- High Annual Fee
The annual fee is high and stands on $525. The annual fee that is not waived for the first year.
- Restricted Transfer Partners
Unlike some other credit cards, this one does not allow the transfer of points to major airline programs, limiting flexibility in reward redemption.
Additional Benefits
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive offers more benefits, including:
- Loyalty Points Bonuses: Earn a 10,000 Loyalty Points bonus after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year, and an additional 10,000 Loyalty Points bonus after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year.
- Discounted Admirals Club Membership for Authorized Users: Authorized users can also access Admirals Clubs, although without other perks like free checked bags or priority airport access.
- Dedicated Concierge: This service gives you access to a team of experts who can assist you with domestic and international travel, dining, household, entertainment, and shopping.
- Up to $120 in Lyft Credits: Earn a $10 Lyft credit after taking 3 eligible rides in a calendar month, for a total of up to $120 Lyft credits annually.
- Up to $120 Back on Eligible Avis® and Budget Car Rentals: Earn $1 statement credit per $1 spent on eligible Avis® and Budget car rental purchases, up to $120 every calendar year.
- Up to $120 Back on Eligible Grubhub Purchases: Earn a statement credit of up to $10 per monthly billing statement on eligible Grubhub purchases, totaling up to $120 every 12 billing statements.
- $0 Liability On Unauthorized Charges: ensuring you are not held responsible for charges you did not authorize.
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: When you reserve and pay for a rental vehicle with your Card, declining the rental counter's collision damage waiver, you can be protected against damage or theft in specific regions, subject to certain exclusions and limitations
- Trip Delay Insurance: If your trip faces a delay of more than 6 hours due to a covered reason and you paid for the round-trip with your Eligible Card.
- Baggage Insurance Plan: When you purchase a common carrier vehicle ticket with your Eligible Card, you can receive coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage.
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: Buying a round-trip with your Card can assist in the event of trip cancellation or interruption, following the specified terms and conditions.
Simulate Your Rewards: How Much You Earn?
It's difficult to understand the actual reward potential without a scenario comparison.
While cardholders earn solid rewards, the real value of this card comes from its luxury perks. These include benefits like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, statement credits for in-flight purchases, trip delay reimbursement, and more. We’ll dive into these perks in the next section.
Remember that the figures should be adjusted to your regular spending categories, which may vary, so the exact calculation is dependent on your personal habits.
| |
|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive |
$15,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 15,000 miles |
$5,000 – Restaurants
| 5,000 miles |
$5,000 – Airline | 10,000 miles |
$4,000 – Hotels | 4,000 miles |
$4,000 – Gas | 4,000 miles |
Total Miles/Points | 38,000 miles |
Estimated Redemption Value (Flights) | 1 mile = ~1.2 cents |
Estimated Annual Value | $456 |
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Citi/ AAdvantage Executive Redemption Options
The redemption options for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® primarily revolve around AAdvantage miles, the airline miles associated with American Airlines.
Here are the key redemption options:
American Airlines Flights: AAdvantage miles can be used to book flights on American Airlines. The number of miles required depends on factors such as the destination, class of service, and availability.
- Oneworld Alliance Partners: AAdvantage miles can be used to book flights with other airlines within the Oneworld alliance, such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas.
Other Partner Airlines: AAdvantage miles can also be redeemed for flights with non-alliance partner airlines, including Alaska Airlines, Etihad Airways, and Japan Airlines.
Upgrades: Cardholders can use AAdvantage miles to request upgrades on eligible American Airlines flights, allowing them to experience a higher class of service.
Hotel Stays: While primarily an airline rewards program, AAdvantage miles can be used to book hotel stays through partner hotels.
Car Rentals: AAdvantage miles can be redeemed for car rentals through participating partners.
It's important to note that the redemption value of AAdvantage miles can vary based on the chosen redemption option and other factors.
Additionally, American Airlines has transitioned to a fully dynamic pricing model, which means that the number of miles required for a particular flight can vary based on factors like demand and time of booking.
How It Compared To Other Premium Travel Cards?
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® competes in the premium travel card space, but there are other luxury travel card offering similar benefits.
If you're looking for a pure luxury airline card, two main competitors of the AAdvantage® Executive are Delta SkyMiles Reserve and United Infinite Card. Tailored to loyal Delta and United Airlines customers respectively, these cards offer airline-specific perks such as priority boarding, free checked bags, lounge access and many other airline travel perks and protections.
They are best suited for individuals who frequently fly with Delta or United and want to maximize benefits within their respective loyalty programs. However, there are also general travel cards that can be a good fir, depends on your needs. The most famous cards in this category is the Amex Plationum card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Capital One Venture X.
The Amex Platinum appeals to frequent travelers seeking luxury perks. Its extensive list of benefits includes access to the Global Lounge Collection, annual travel credits, and membership in various hotel and car rental loyalty programs.
Conversely, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a flexible rewards program with points that can be redeemed for various travel options. It includes a generous annual travel credit, Priority Pass lounge access, and solid travel insurance.
The Venture X card provides a straightforward rewards system with miles that can be redeemed for various travel expenses, and a variety of travel perks and protections including access to Capital One Lounges or Priority Pass.
How It Compared To Other American Airlines Cards?
When comparing the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® to other American Airlines credit cards, several factors come into play.
The first competitor is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard that caters to a broader audience with a lower annual fee ($99 (waived for the first 12 months) ) compared to the Executive card. It offers a solid welcome bonus, free checked bags on domestic flights, and priority boarding. The Platinum Select card is well-suited for moderate American Airlines travelers who want significant benefits without the higher annual fee.
Another worth mentioning card is the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard. ssued by Barclays, this card provides unique perks, including an anniversary companion certificate and the ability to earn elite status through spending. While it lacks Admirals Club access, it appeals to those seeking a balance between benefits and a lower annual fee of $99.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp℠ Card is another American Airlines credit card worth considering, especially for those looking for a no-annual-fee option. While it lacks some of the premium perks of the Executive card, it provides a practical way for occasional American Airlines travelers to accumulate miles without paying an annual fee.
Bottom Line: When You Should Consider It?
Here are the main cases you'll want to consider the Citi® / AAdvantage Executive:
You travel in a larger group: While many airline cards provide some great travel benefits, many of these benefits are limited to the cardholder and one travel companion. This cardm for example, offers up to eight travel companions can benefit from free first check bags and a better airport experience.
You're looking for lounge access: When you fly with the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card, you can add up to 10 authorized users to gain access to Admiral Club lounges.
It is only a travel card for you: The card has some great travel benefits but few non-travel benefits, so it might be a good choice if you only want the card for travel purchases.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for an airline credit card with premium travel rewards – the AAdvantage executive card is definitely an option, but there are some good alternatives:
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|
| |
|---|---|---|---|
The Platinum Card® from American Express | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Capital One Venture X Rewards | |
Annual Fee | $695. See Rates & Fees | $550 | $395 |
Rewards |
1X – 5X
5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
|
1X – 10X
5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels, car rentals and dining when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Also, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and travel (after meeting the $300 travel credit), then 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
| 1X – 10X
10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
|
Welcome bonus |
80,000 points
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
|
60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
| 75,000 miles
75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0. See Rates & Fees | $0 | $0
|
Purchase APR | See Pay Over Time APR | 21.99% – 28.99% variable APR | 19.99% – 29.74% (Variable) |
FAQ
it is possible to obtain the Citi AAdvantage card with good to excellent credit. However, there are no stated income requirements. Your credit score will be used to determine your eligibility, while your income will determine your credit limit upon approval.
There is an expiration on AAdvantage miles, but this is only if you have 18 months of account inactivity. So, if you keep your account active, you should not have any problems with miles expiring.
American Airlines has limited redemption options for other airlines. As of November 2021, you can use your AAdvantage miles for JetBlue flights, but otherwise you are limited to American Airlines flights.
Citi does occasionally offer pre approval mail outs for its cards, but if you haven’t received a mailer, the online application does not allow for pre approval and you will need to complete a full application, which will involve a hard credit pull.