MoneyGeek’s Take

CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® Review

The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® is a compelling choice if you travel frequently on American Airlines. The free checked bag perk, preferred boarding, 25% inflight savings and generous mileage discounts more than make up for the $99 annual fee.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 1/16/2023
Reviewed By     |  
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®

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

The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®’s benefits are ideal for any business with frequent travel expenses. One of the key perks of this card is the generous rewards on telecom expenses, cable and satellite purchases as well as car rentals and gas stations. This card also comes with several conveniences that a frequent flyer will appreciate, including preferred boarding and 25% off on in-flight food and beverage purchases.

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.

CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® at a Glance

The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® is one of few travel cards that allow you to access American Airlines reduced mileage redemptions. You can get a 7,500-mile discount when you book a flight to select destinations using your AAdvantage miles.


  • CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®

    One of the top business travel cards for frequent American Airlines travelers


    • ExcellentRecommended Credit
    • $99Annual Fee
    • 1–2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
    • 2xRewards Rate on Air Travel
    • 2xRewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services

Pros & Cons Explained

If you are wondering whether the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® is the travel card for you, here are some of its key pros and cons to consider.

Pros

  • Benefits
    Description
  • Excellent travel perks
    If you want a travel card that gets you access to preferred boarding as well as a free checked bag for you and up to four companions, the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® is ideal. This card also gets you 25% savings on in-flight food and Wi-Fi on American Airlines flights.
  • No foreign transaction fee
    International travelers can save a lot on transaction fees by using a card like the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® since it has no foreign transaction fees.
  • Generous welcome bonus
    If you spend $4,000 in the first four months, you will earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles. You will also avoid paying the annual fee for the first 12 months, meaning you can get the maximum value out of your card during this period.

Cons

  • Drawbacks
    Description
  • $99 annual fee
    The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® costs $99 per year, waived for the first year. This is somewhat costly compared to other cards in the same category.
  • No airport lounge access
    For a travel card with an annual fee, you would expect to have airport lounge access. However, the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® does not have this perk.
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LOOKING FOR THE BEST CREDIT CARDS OF 2022?

You can compare the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® with the best travel cards to find the ideal travel card for your needs.

Bonuses & Rewards Explained

It’s important to understand the benefits and rewards before signing up for any credit card. This way you can analyze your spending habits and determine if you’ll be able to maximize the card’s perks.

1

Welcome bonus

This credit card comes with a welcome bonus of 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles if you spend at least $4,000 in the first four months.

2

Reward programs

The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® earns you two miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, telecom and satellite purchases, cable, car rentals and gas stations. You will also earn one mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. This means that for people who spend a lot on business travel, this card is a great way to earn AAdvantage bonus miles.

3

Redeeming rewards

You can redeem your CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® rewards for air travel, flight upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, donations and Admirals Club membership. However, you will get the most value when you redeem your rewards for flights on American Airlines or any of its Oneworld partners.

4

Membership Benefits

If you regularly fly American Airlines being a CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® cardholder comes with several perks. For example, you and up to four traveling companions can check one bag free when traveling on domestic flights with American Airlines. As a CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum member, you get access to preferred boarding. Additionally, you will get 25% off on your American Airlines flight purchases, including beverages and food as well as Wi-Fi.

5

Maximizing Your Rewards

To get the most out of your CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®, use it for all your American Airlines purchases and your phone and internet expenses. This will earn you two miles per every dollar spent. If you are a business owner you can get authorized user cards at no additional charge for your members of staff to take advantage of the rewards on business expenses. All of your employees' spending on their CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard will earn AAdvantage miles that will be credited to your main account.

Other Features Explained

Some of the standard features of the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® include:

  • Card Feature
    Description
  • American Airlines companion certificate
    If you spend $30,000 or more on qualifying purchases with this card, you will earn the American Airlines Companion Certificate. This allows you to book a round-trip economy flight for a companion for $99, plus taxes and fees.
  • Personal business assistant
    As a cardholder, you have access to a personal assistant for conveniences such as researching vendors or ordering a gift for a client.
  • MasterAssist
    This feature will help you get travel information such as visa or immunization requirements. You can also use this feature in case you lose your travel documents such as your passport or visa.
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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

If you use American Airlines frequently, the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® has some of the best American Airlines perks you can get. With this card, you will qualify for American Airlines reduced mileage redemptions which earn you a 7,500-mile discount when you book your flight with AAdvantage miles.

Understanding the Fine Print

Before signing up for a Citi CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard, here are some of the fees that you should be aware of.

  • 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

    This card comes with a $99 per year annual fee. For the first 12 months, this fee will be waived, so you will start paying the annual fee from the second year.

  • highInterestAPR icon

    APR on Purchases

    The APR on purchases for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard is 20.24% – 29.24% based on your creditworthiness. The APR will vary based on the prime rate in the market. This card does not have an introductory APR offer.

  • highInterestAPR icon

    Penalty APR

    When you make a late payment or make a payment that is returned, a penalty APR of 29.99% will be applied to your account. Paying your bill by the due date, which is 23 days from the close of the billing cycle, will help you avoid these penalty fees. The penalty fee for late or returned payment is $39 for either.

  • noForeignTransactionFee icon

    Foreign Transaction Fees

    One of the key CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® benefits is that it has no foreign transaction fees and will not attract additional charges when used outside the United States.

  • twoMilesPerDollar icon

    Miles Rewards Rate

    With the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®, you will earn two miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines, telecommunication, cable and satellite providers, car rentals and gas station purchases. All other eligible purchases earn you one mile per dollar. Every mile you earn is worth 2.06 cents.

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FINDING YOUR CARD'S RATES AND FEES

Credit card offers and terms are subject to change from time to time, so it is important to verify and confirm details for any particular card. If you would like to verify information about the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® benefits and other features, you can use the information provided on MoneyGeek, the credit card issuer’s website, your billing statement, your mobile app or online account or the Credit Card Agreement Database maintained by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®?

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Other Considerations for CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®

The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® is a solid choice for those who want to earn miles for future flights while enjoying perks such as preferred boarding and free checked bags. However, depending on whether this is your primary or secondary travel card, there are simple ways to make the most out of it.

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

If this is your only card, it is important to note that it is a co-branded card. This means that you will get the most use out of it if you fly regularly on American Airlines. Most of the perks of the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard are tied to American Airlines, so if you use a different Airline more, you may not get as much value from it.

This card earns you the highest rewards on business expenses such as telecommunication, satellite, cable, car rental and similar expenses. If you do not spend a lot in these categories, you may not accumulate reward miles quickly.

Additionally, you need a good or excellent credit score of 670 to 850 to qualify for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard.

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

If the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard is your second or complimentary card, you can make the most out of it by using it for business-related expenses since you will earn generous rewards in this spending category. For other purchases such as groceries or dining, you can use a cash back card with a higher reward rate.

Additionally, when traveling internationally, you can use the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® since it has no foreign transaction fees.

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WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS

Our methodology and review process helps us determine the best credit cards for different consumer profiles based on card fees, interest rates, rewards, benefits and more. MoneyGeek uses a six-step process that involves collecting credit card information, standardizing data point weights, establishing the card’s value and ranks for different categories, reviewing data monthly and reprocess rankings, among other key rating factors.

How CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® Compares to Other Cards

Compared to similar cards in the same category, the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® benefits are well worth the annual fee, especially for those who are regular users of American Airlines. This card also offers a competitive rewards rate, especially on business-related expenses and American Airlines purchases. However, it is still worth comparing this card with other options to ensure you get the right card for your wallet.

Quick Comparison of CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®

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CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®

  • Annual fee: $99, waived for the first year.
  • Purchase APR: 20.24% – 29.24% variable
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Rewards rate: Two miles per dollar for American Airlines purchases, telecom, cable, satellite, car rental and internet.
  • Mini Verdict: Best for frequent business travelers who use American Airlines.
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Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

  • Annual fee: $95
  • Purchase APR: 20.24% – 25.24% variable
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Rewards rate: Three points per dollar for travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services and on advertising purchases, one reward point for all other purchases
  • Mini Verdict: Best for business travelers who are not loyal to a specific airline.

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

If you would like to find out more about the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®, these answers to commonly asked questions can help.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

For businesses or people who frequently use American Airlines for local and international travel, the perks and benefits of the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® are well worth the annual fee. However, if you are not loyal to American airlines and want a different type of card, you could also evaluate gas cards, cash back cards or general rewards cards.

Learn more about credit cards in general

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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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