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Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® Review

Written by
Charlotte Zhang
Edited by
Tracy Brackman
Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review

How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?

Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
4
Citi<sup>®</sup> / AAdvantage<sup>®</sup> Executive World Elite Mastercard<sup>®</sup>
Sign-Up Bonus
Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
Rewards Rate
Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
Rates & Fees
No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
We receive commissions from our advertising partners. These commissions do not influence our recommendations. Click here to learn more.
Citi is an advertising partner.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Our take:
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is worth its $595 annual fee if you frequently fly with American Airlines and want lounge access as well as a leg up when it comes to earning elite status.

Pros and cons

  • Complimentary Admirals Club® membership (valued at up to $850)
  • Premium travel perks
  • Up to 10X miles on eligible purchases
  • Solid sign-up bonus
  • 0% foreign transaction fees
  • High $595 annual fee
  • imited rewards bonus categories
  • High APR for purchases

Is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® worth it?

If you frequently fly on American Airlines and value airport lounge access, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is well worth its cost. Along with complimentary Admirals Club® membership — which is valued at up to $850 — you’ll get access to premium travel benefits, like your first checked bag free, annual statement credits and a path to elite status.

You’ll also earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.

That said, if you’re loyal to American Airlines but prefer a much lower annual fee, you may want to consider the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. Or, if you prefer a general premium travel card that offers Priority Pass™ Select lounge access, The Platinum Card® from American Express is a better choice.

Quick facts

    • Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
    • Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
    • Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
    • First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion
    • 660 720 850
    Good / Excellent
    Get my free score
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
  • First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries
  • Priority check-in, screening and boarding when flying American Airlines
  • 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights
  • Trip cancellation and interruption protection
  • Trip delay protection
  • Lost baggage protection
  • Worldwide car rental insurance coverage

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

20.49% - 29.49% (Variable)

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

20.49% - 29.49% (Variable)

Annual Fee

$595

Cash Advance Fee

5% of each cash advance; $10 minimum

Foreign Transaction Fee

0%

Balance Transfer Fee

5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum

How to earn Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® rewards

  • Sign-up bonus

    With the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, you’ll earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

    We estimate that this bonus is worth approximately $840 in American flights. Although the spending requirement is high, you can strategically book upcoming flights and pay expenses with the card to hit that threshold and earn the bonus.

    That said — as you compare airline credit cards across different travel brands, remember that among major U.S. carriers, American AAdvantage miles are worth the least. They only average 1.2 cents per mile, which is below the average value for airline miles.

    What’s the sign-up bonus worth? Around $840 in American Airlines flights

    Who’s eligible to earn this offer? This bonus is not available if you’ve received a new account bonus for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® account in the past 48 months.

  • Rewards on every purchase

    While the earning rate for non-travel purchases falls short of the industry average, there are opportunities to earn bonus miles.

    Earn 10x miles on car rentals and hotels booked through AA.com and 4x miles on American Airlines purchases. Plus, earn 5x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases for the remainder of the year after you spend $150,000 in a calendar year.

    By contrast, with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® you can get elevated rewards in everyday spending categories, like gas and dining. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases., then 1x miles on everything else.

    What are AAdvantage miles worth?
    We estimate that American AAdvantage miles are worth approximately 1.2 cents each. From our findings, many airline loyalty programs offer better rewards. For example, United Airlines and JetBlue miles are worth 1.3 cents each, Southwest Rapid Rewards points are worth 1.4 cents each, and Delta SkyMiles are worth approximately 1.5 cents each.

  • Faster path to elite status

    Another perk of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is that it can help you reach elite status faster.

    You earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.

    You can also earn a 10,000 Loyalty Point bonus when you earn 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. Plus earn an additional 10,000 Loyalty Point bonus after earning 90,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year.

    Here’s what you can get with each status level:

    Reward levelLoyalty points requiredBenefits include (but aren't limited to) the following:
    AAdvantage Gold®40,000
  • Priority privileges and Group 4 boarding

  • 24-hour upgrade window

  • 1 free checked bag

  • oneworld® Ruby status

    		•
    AAdvantage Platinum®75,000'
  • Priority privileges and Group 3 boarding


  • 48-hour upgrade window


  • 2 free checked bags


  • oneworld® Sapphire status

    		•
    AAdvantage Platinum Pro®125,000'
  • Priority privileges and Group 2 boarding


  • 72-hour upgrade window


  • 3 free checked bags


  • oneworld® Emerald status

    		•
    AAdvantage Executive Platinum® 200,000'
  • Priority privileges and Group 1 boarding


  • 100-hour upgrade window


  • 3 free checked bags


  • oneworld® Emerald status

    		•

    There are also 11 new reward levels that start at 15,000 and go up to 5,000,000. With each level, new rewards are unlocked and range from upgraded boarding to bonus miles to trip credits.

  • Redeeming miles

    The price of an award flight with American Airlines can start at 7,500 miles and vary quite a bit depending on the destination and type of ticket.

    Keep in mind that the award chart is meant to provide insights into how many miles you may need for a flight, but American also uses dynamic award pricing. This means you’ll frequently find flight awards that cost significantly more than the chart shows, and that you may have to be flexible with your dates and destinations to get the best deal.

    The following award mile numbers apply to one-way main cabin flights departing from the contiguous 48 U.S. states and Canada:

    Region Main cabin starting at: Premium Economy starting at: Business/First starting at:
    Contiguous 48 U.S. states and Canada 7,500 milesN/A15,000 miles
    Mexico + Caribbean + Central America10,000 milesN/A20,000 miles
    South America (Short haul)15,000 milesN/A30,000 miles
    Hawaii and Alaska20,000 miles40,000 miles60,000 miles
    Europe25,000 miles50,000 miles75,000 miles
    South America (Long haul)30,000 miles60,000 miles90,000 miles
    Asia 35,000 miles60,000 miles95,000 miles

Other Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® benefits

With the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® you qualify for access at nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges worldwide. You may extend this benefit to one authorized user. Lounge amenities vary by location, but all include free WiFi access, snacks, house drinks and coffee. Some also have specialty foods and shower suites.

You’ll need a same-day boarding pass for a flight on American, any oneworld® airline or JetBlue® (excluding JetBlue flights to and from Europe) to enter the lounge.

This membership also qualifies you for entry into other airline lounges:

  • Admirals Club® locations
  • All Alaska Airlines lounges when you fly American or Alaska Airlines
  • All Qantas Clubs when you’re flying with Qantas or American out of select locations
  • Select partner lounges operated by third parties

You can receive up to $100 in credit to cover your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years.

As the primary cardholder, you’ll get your first checked bag free on domestic American Airline itineraries for you and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation. This can equal savings up to $540 per round trip.

You and up to eight companions on your itinerary qualify for priority boarding on American Airlines flights. The priority boarding benefit will be shown as Group 4 on your boarding pass.

While not available at all airports, being a cardholder can help you become eligible for VIP airport screening. Cardholders can also check in at the Business or First class check-in counter regardless of the cabin they’re flying in.

Since this card has 0% foreign transaction fees (which typically run 3% of the amount of each transaction for purchases made outside the U.S.), you won’t be charged additional fees when you use your card abroad.

Enjoy a 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights when purchases are charged to your Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

This card offers trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay protection, lost baggage protection and worldwide car rental insurance coverage.

Receive annual credits for eligible purchases made with your card when you use Avis and Budget car rental, Lyft rides or Grubhub purchases.

What to watch out for with Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

  • High annual fee

    While this card’s $595 annual fee is high, it’s actually on par with similar premium travel cards. And if you can make use of the benefits, like free lounge access, you’ll find that the perks outweigh the fee.

    But if you don’t fly on American Airlines frequently or you don’t plan to take advantage of the travel benefits, you’ll be better off with an airline card that charges a lower annual fee.

  • Low rewards rate on general purchases

    Unlike some rewards cards that offer accelerated rewards in everyday spending categories, like gas, groceries and dining, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® only lets you earn elevated rewards on American Airline-related purchases. All other purchases will only get you 1 mile per dollar spent.

  • No intro APR

    If you’re hoping to finance a trip and pay it off over time, know that this card doesn’t offer a 0% intro APR on purchases. If you carry a balance on your card from month to month, you’ll be subject to interest charges at an APR of 20.49% - 29.49% (Variable).

How does Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® compare to other cards?

Credit Cards Our Ratings Annual FeeRewards RateWelcome Offer
Citi<sup>®</sup> / AAdvantage<sup>®</sup> Executive World Elite Mastercard<sup>®</sup>
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®*
Learn More
4.0
$595Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchasesEarn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
Learn More
Citi<sup>®</sup> / AAdvantage<sup>®</sup> Platinum Select<sup>®</sup> World Elite Mastercard<sup>®</sup>
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®*
Learn More
3.6
$99, waived for first 12 monthsEarn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Learn More
The Platinum Card<sup>®</sup> from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express*
Learn More
4.5
$6955X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Learn More
*The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and The Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms Apply.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® vs. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a much more affordable option than the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, with an annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months. Naturally it has fewer perks. For example, you won’t get complimentary Admirals Club membership.

But you can get double miles on select purchases and a solid sign-up bonus with a significantly lower spend requirement. Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening..

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® also offers a free checked bag for you and up to four travel companions on the same reservation, preferred boarding on American flights and a 25% discount on inflight purchases. Additionally, you can add authorized users at no additional charge, and receive a $125 American Airlines flight discount when you spend $20,000 on purchases during your card membership year and renew your card.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express

| Disclosures
The Platinum Card® from American Express*
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Learn More
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
$695
5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
  • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
  • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.¤
  • Terms Apply.
660 720 850
Good / Excellent
Get my free score
*The information related to the The Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

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LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.


The Platinum Card® from American Express from American Express comes with plenty of premium perks and a $695 annual fee to boot. Since it’s not co-branded with an airline, the rewards are more flexible than those you get from Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. The Platinum Card® from American Express offers access to more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounges worldwide — which is great if you’re not loyal to one brand in particular.

The Platinum Card® from American Express also offers benefits worth over $1,000, including a CLEAR® Plus credit*, airline fee credit*, Equinox credit*, digital entertainment credit*, a hotel credit, an airline fee credit, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit and more.
*Enrollment is required for these benefits.

*To see rates & fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

Is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® right for you?

If you frequently fly on American Airlines and plan to regularly take advantage of its complimentary lounge access and other benefits, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is well worth considering.

But if you’re not loyal to American Airlines, you may find that a generic travel credit card better suits your needs.

Frequently asked questions

American Airlines credit cards offer the most value to those who frequently fly with American and its partners. If you fly less or shop for flights by price rather than brand, consider a general travel credit card.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is our pick for the best American Airlines credit card. Along with elevated miles on everyday purchases, it offers valuable airline benefits — all for a reasonable annual fee.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is the only American Airlines credit card that comes with lounge access.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has a $595 annual fee.

*To see rates & fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

 

The information related to Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

The information related to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and The Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.