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.
MoneyGeek’s Take
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Review
Updated: June 11, 2024
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Rewards Rate
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at res...APR
21.24% – 29.99% VariableAnnual Fee
$99, $0 for the first yearRecommended Credit
740-850 (Excellent)
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Overview
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.
Quick Take
- Introductory $0 annual fee for the 12 months, then $99
- Spend $2,500 within the first three months of account opening to earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles
- Earn two miles per $1 spent with American Airlines and at restaurants and gas stations; and get one mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get a $125 American Airlines flight discount after spending $20,000 in the first year and after every card renewal
- Get 25% back on in-flight food and beverages (American Airlines flights only)
Important Card Details
Before applying for the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, review the fees and ensure they fit with your financial situation.
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.
APR
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has a relatively high variable APR of 21.24%–29.99%. Your actual rate will vary based on your creditworthiness, but this can also change based on the market’s prime rate.
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 21.24%–29.99%.
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 29.99%, and like balance transfers and the regular APR, this can change based on the market’s prime rate.
Additional Benefits
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers a host of other features that bring up the value of the card.
- 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.
- Contactless Pay: Simply tap your card to pay at credit card terminals that allow for contactless pay.
- Citi Entertainment: Get access to tickets to thousands of events, including exclusive experiences and presale tickets.
How the 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.
How the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Compares
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
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average credit score needed to get approved for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®?
In order to qualify for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, your credit score must be rated good or excellent.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® report to all three credit bureaus?
Yes, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® reports to all three credit bureaus.
Is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® application process lengthy? Can you prequalify?
There is no prequalification process for Citi credit cards, but you can visit their branches to see if there are any offers available. If you choose to skip this and go straight to the application, expect the process to take around seven to 15 business days.
What information is needed to apply for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®?
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® application process will require you to provide your personal information, contact information and financial information.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® have good customer service or satisfaction?
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® raise credit limits automatically or charge for limit increases?
You can get your credit limit increased automatically and without notice if Citi notices that you have good financial habits and pay on time. You can also apply for a credit limit increase through their online portal.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offer the option to freeze your credit/account or have other security features?
If your account has any suspicious activity, Citi can freeze your account to keep it safe from fraud. You can also voluntarily lock your account through the Citi Mobile App if you have lost or misplaced your card.
Does Citi offer other credit cards besides the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®?
Yes, Citi offers a number of personal credit cards in different categories. As of writing, they have 16 personal credit cards that specialize in travel, rewards, cash back and more.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- American Airlines. "Flight award chart." Accessed September 9, 2021.
- American Airlines AAdvantage. "American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping: Shop Online & Earn Miles." Accessed September 9, 2021.
- Citi`. "Citi Mobile App." Accessed September 9, 2021.
- Citi. "Citi Tops J.D. Power Study of Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking Advice." Accessed September 9, 2021.
*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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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.