While the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard used to be a go-to card for many travelers, the changes to the award redemption program in March have left many wondering if the card’s perks are enough to make up for the reward devaluations. It’s impossible, however, to overlook the fact that American Airlines is the biggest in the world and size — and the convenience that comes with it — matters for frequent fliers. Here’s a concise compendium of both the card’s pros and cons so you can decide if the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is right for you.
The Bonus
Presently the card is offering a welcome bonus of 30,000 American AAdvantage miles after you spend $1,000 in the first three months. (This offer is only available for those who haven’t had a Citi / AAdvantage card — other than a CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® card — in the last 2 years).
The Miles
The card makes it very rewarding to take to the skies with American Airlines. Cardholders will earn 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 they spend on American Airlines purchases. The card defines such purchases as “… items billed by American Airlines as merchant of record booked through American Airlines channels (AA.com, American Airlines reservations, and American Airlines airport and city ticket counters).”
You get 1 AAdvantage mile for all other purchases. The card also allows you to redeem up to 7,500 fewer AAdvantage miles for some select AA flights (you can view eligible destinations at aa.com/reducedmileageawards). Every year you receive 10% of your redeemed AAdvantage miles back (to a max of 10,000 AAdvantage miles per year).
The AA program is easy to use and you can redeem points for free AA and OneWorld airline partner flights, hotel stays, car rentals and more.
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ MasterCard®
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$0 first year
$95 after first year |
30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles After $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months Read Review » |
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The Perks
Other perks include getting a free checked back for you and up to four friends on American Airlines flights and Group 1 Boarding privileges on domestic AA flights. You’ll also get 25% off in-flight food and beverages on American Airlines flights.
Additional features include travel and rental car insurance, Citi Price Rewind, extended warranty and theft and damage protection. You can also use your card in conjunction with Apple Pay.
The Cons
The major cons of the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard are the annual fee and the fact that the 2x bonus points category is narrowly applicable to only AA purchases.
The card also has an annual fee of $95. However, it is waived in the first year and there are no foreign transaction fees. The APR is 14.24% to 22.24% depending on your creditworthiness.
The Verdict: Still Good for Frequent Fliers
Clearly, you can amass a lot of American Airlines points if you fly the carrier (and its affiliates) frequently. If you don’t, then your 2x category will be difficult to take advantage of. For this reason, the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard makes sense primarily for dedicated flyers of AA and OneWorld.
What do you enjoy about this card?