With a substantial annual fee of $450 and the recent devaluation of the American Airlines Award chart, many may be left wondering if the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard is still a top pick for travellers.
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard®
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$450 first year
$450 after first year |
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles After spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening* Read Review » |
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard® |
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To answer that question, it’s worth reviewing this premium card’s features. Right now, new cardholders earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles once they spend $5,000 in the first 3 months. Also, each year, once your spending hits $40,000, you get 10,000 Elite qualifying miles.
In terms of miles, the card earns you 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 you spend on qualifying American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Aside from the sign-up bonus of 50 000 AAdvantage miles, one of the most coveted features of the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard is the membership (with guest privileges) to the Admirals Club. Membership gets you and two guests access to more than 50 lounge locations and more than 35 partner locations worldwide. This perk goes far to mitigating the sting of the $450 annual fee because membership to the Admirals club can normally cost you anywhere from $450 to $550 depending on your AAdvantage® status. Entry to these lounges can go a long way to making a trip more enjoyable. Depending on the location, lounges include complimentary light snacks, drinks, shower suits, printers and more.
The card also boasts a nice selection of other traveler-friendly benefits. One checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines flights for you and as many as eight companions traveling on the same reservation. You also get a 25 percent discount on qualifying American Airlines in–flight purchases and a statement credit of up to $100 every five years to reimburse your application fee for Global Entry or TSA Pre√. Adding to your VIP travel experience is priority check-in, airport screening (where available) and early boarding privileges when you fly American Airlines.
The card also comes with collision loss/damage insurance, travel accident and baggage insurance, trip cancellation and interruption protection and 24/7 emergency assistance. Cardmembers also receive purchase and theft/damage protection, extended warranty benefits and dedicated concierge services.
The card does not charge a foreign transaction fee and the APR is 15.49 percent.
Basically, if American Airlines is a carrier you fly often and if you’ll take frequent advantage of perks like free checked baggage and access to Admirals Club lounges then the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard deserves a place in your wallet.
Do you think the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard is worth the $450 annual fee?
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