The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

If you frequently fly with American Airlines and want to enjoy travel perks at a low cost, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® may be the credit card that fits your travel goals. With an annual fee of $99, you can get double the miles on American Airlines purchases, gas stations and restaurants while enjoying travel perks like free checked bags and early boarding.

Card Details to Know Up Front
  • Bonus, Fee or Feature
    Has or Not
  • Has Annual Fee
  • Has Balance Transfer Offer
  • Has APR Offer
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Travel Rewards
Click to see this card’s rates, fees and how they compare to other cards in our dataset.
OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® at a Glance

Featuring a decent ongoing rewards rate and notable travel perks, American Airline loyalists can benefit from the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. New cardholders can also access a welcome bonus.


  • Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

    The best cost-effective credit card for frequent American Airlines travelers

    • ExcellentRecommended Credit
    • $99Annual Fee
    • 1–2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
    • 2xRewards Rate on Air Travel
    • 2xRewards Rate on Dining
    Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

    Terms, rates and fees apply

    Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Pros & Cons Explained

While the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® benefits most flyers, there are some drawbacks to keep in mind as well. Make sure you understand the pros and cons before applying.

Pros

  • Benefits
    Description
  • Welcome Bonus
    Earn 50,000 bonus miles if you spend $2,500 within the first three months of account opening.
  • 2X Miles in Popular Categories
    If you dine out often or drive frequently, you can get two miles per $1 spent at gas stations or restaurants. You can also get two miles per $1 on American Airlines purchases.
  • Travel Perks
    You and four others on your reservation can enjoy complimentary preferred boarding and your first checked bag for free on a domestic American Airlines flight. Even better, if you use your Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® to purchase in-flight food and beverages on an American flight, you can get 25% back in statement credit.
  • Additional Discounts
    Get a $125 American Airlines flight discount if you spend $20,000 or more during your first calendar year and renew your card.

Cons

  • Drawbacks
    Description
  • Annual Fee
    While the annual fee of $99 is relatively low compared to that of other travel cards, it may not be appealing to those who don’t fly frequently. There are other travel rewards cards out there that have no annual fee and a similar rewards rate.
  • No Airport Lounge Perks
    Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® cardholders do not get any access to the Admirals Club lounge. While this is often granted to more expensive airline credit cards, there are still cards at this price point that offer complimentary lounge passes.
  • High APR
    The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has a high variable APR of 20.49% – 29.49%. If you plan to carry a balance, this could result in high interest charges.
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LOOKING FOR THE BEST CREDIT CARDS OF 2022?

When it comes to travel cards, comparing Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® with other options can help you find the right card for you. Take a look at our review of the best travel cards in 2022 to see if a different card suits your travel and financial habits.

Bonuses & Rewards Explained

As a mid-tier travel card, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers good rewards that, if used properly, can make up for the annual fee.

1

Welcome bonus

Spend at least $2,500 within the first three months of account opening and earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles. In terms of value, 50,000 miles is worth $750 and can get you several one-way domestic flights in economy class.

2

Earning rewards

For every $1 spent on American Airlines purchases, gas stations and restaurants, you can earn two American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles. All other purchases that do not fall under these categories get one mile per $1 spent. There is no limit to the number of miles you can earn or the rate at which you can earn it, which means all your purchases in the bonus categories will earn miles at the same rate.

3

Redeeming rewards

American AAdvantage miles can be used for a variety of things. You can redeem them for upgrades, award flights, hotel stays or Admirals Club membership. They can also be used to book flights with Oneworld airline partners. If you plan to book flights, American Airlines’ award chart for flights lets you see the type of fares they offer and the number of miles required for certain routes.

Other Features Explained

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers a host of other features that bring up the value of the card.

  • Card Feature
    Description
  • Balance Transfer
    If you have an existing balance on another card with a higher variable APR, you can transfer it to your Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®.
  • Authorized Users
    You can add a limited number of authorized users at no additional charge.
  • Digital Wallets
    You can shop confidently at millions of places in apps, online and in stores with your digital wallet.
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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Shop through American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping portal using your Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® to earn more rewards on purchases that don’t fall under the bonus categories.

Understanding the Fine Print

Before applying for the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, review the fees and ensure they fit with your financial situation.

  • Card Feature
    Amount or Rate
  • APR
    20.49% – 29.49% Variable
  • Annual Fee
    $99
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Rewards Rate
    1–2 Miles per $1*
  • Airline Benefits
  • annualFee icon

    Annual Fee

    You get an introductory $0 APR for the first year upon account opening, but a fee of $99 will apply for every year after.

  • highInterestAPR icon

    APR

    The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has a relatively high variable APR of 20.49% – 29.49%. Your actual rate will vary based on your creditworthiness, but this can also change based on the market’s prime rate.

  • balanceTransfer icon

    Balance transfer

    You can use the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® to transfer a balance, but keep in mind that a fee of $5 or 5% will apply, whichever is greater. Transferred balances will also have an interest rate of 20.49% – 29.49%.

  • cashCard icon

    Cash advances

    If you want to take out a cash advance, you will get charged a fee of $10 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater. Cash advances will also have an APR of 29.74%, and like balance transfers and the regular APR, this can change based on the market’s prime rate.

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FINDING YOUR CARD'S RATES AND FEES

To compare the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® against other airline or travel cards, take a look at the mile-earning opportunities and the travel perks. You can find a card issuer’s offer on their website or the credit card agreement database that is maintained by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®?

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Other Considerations for Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

While the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers ample rewards, how well it can benefit you depends on both your financial spending habits and your travel needs.

Things to Consider if This Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card

The bonus categories of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® make it easy to use as an everyday card. However, if you don’t dine out a lot or drive often, you may be better off with a card that has bonus categories in areas you spend the most in. The relatively high APR of 20.49% – 29.49% may also not make this the best card to put all your everyday expenses in, especially considering how there is no 0% introductory APR.

Things to Consider if This Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet

If you have other cards in your wallet, you can use the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® to cover gas and dining expenses and earn 2x miles. However, keep in mind the annual fee of this card and any other additional cards you may have to ensure you aren’t spending too much on fees each year.

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WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS

When MoneyGeek reviews credit cards, we follow a detailed process to ensure we provide consumers with the right recommendations. This involves collecting data, standardizing data points, estimating spend profiles and factoring in bonuses before establishing the three-year value of the card. We also conduct monthly re-rankings to ensure our info and recommendations stay up to date.

How Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Compares to Other Cards

The benefits that the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers are solid. It can hold its own against other mid-tier travel cards, but there are still some offers out there that have better rewards.

Quick Comparison of Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

  • Rewards Rate: Two miles per $1 at gas stations, restaurants and American Airlines; one mile per $1 on everything else
  • Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee for one year, then $99
  • Welcome Bonus: 50,000 miles after spending $2,500 in the first three months
  • Mini Verdict: Best miles-earning card for American Airlines
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American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card

  • Rewards Rate: Two miles per $1 at American Airlines and supermarkets; one mile per $1 on everything else
  • Annual Fee: None
  • Welcome Bonus: 10,000 miles and $50 statement credit after $500 in purchases within the first three months
  • Mini Verdict: Best card with no annual fee for American Airlines

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

Before applying for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, make sure you know the answers to these frequently asked questions.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

If you frequently fly and like to do so exclusively with American Airlines, then the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® may be for you. However, if you feel the card has lackluster rewards and want to view other offers, take a look at MoneyGeek’s review of other cards, including cash back cards, gas cards and rewards cards.

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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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