Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information and offers. Citi is a TPG advertising partner.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® overview
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is best for American Airlines flyers who value lounge access. It provides a full Admirals Club membership, as well as several other benefits that make flying American Airlines more enjoyable, such as a free checked bag, priority check-in, priority airport screening and priority boarding privileges, along with a boost toward elite status. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
While there are a number of credit cards that offer airport lounge access, the types of lounges each card gets you into can vary greatly. There’s only one cobranded credit card that includes complimentary access to the American Airlines Admirals Club lounges: the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard.
The card has a $450 annual fee, which might seem steep, but is still much less expensive than a membership.
Today, we’ll review all the benefits of this American Airlines cobranded card to help you decide whether to carry it in your wallet.
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite welcome offer
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 50,000 miles after you make $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. This bonus is worth $885 based on TPG’s most recent valuations.
The card carries a $450 annual fee, and there are no foreign transaction fees.
Earning points on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite
With the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, you’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases, plus 1 mile per dollar on all other spending.
That’s a steady earning rate, but perhaps not as valuable as AA’s Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, which also earns 2 miles per dollar at restaurants and gas stations.
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The information for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Redeeming points on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite
The lowest round-trip tickets in the U.S. tend to start at 7,500 miles one-way for flights less than 500 miles long. In other words, the current sign-up bonus is enough for as many as six one-way economy flights.
Web specials previously offered include domestic cross-country flights for 5,000 miles each way in economy or 15,000 miles each way in first class, flights to Europe from 9,000 miles each way and flights to Brazil from 15,000 miles each way. Alternatively, you could get a ton of value redeeming your AAdvantage miles for premium-cabin awards on partner airlines, including Cathay Pacific, Etihad and Finnair.
Related: How to redeem miles with the American Airlines AAdvantage program
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite benefits
What sets this card apart from the competition is that it provides complimentary Admirals Club access. The primary cardholder receives a full Admirals Club membership, which allows you and your immediate family or two traveling companions access to the club when you have a same-day boarding pass for American or one of its partners. Your credit card will be tied to your AAdvantage account number, so you don’t have to carry it to get club access.
Admirals Club membership ordinarily costs between $550 and $650, depending on your status level with American. That means the annual fee without all the other benefits covers the lounge access — but it gets even better.
You can add up to 10 authorized users to your account for no additional cost. Each authorized user receives Admirals Club access for themselves and up to two traveling companions. Just be aware that authorized users only get Admirals Club access, as opposed to a full Admirals Club membership.
It’s worth noting that Citi may start charging for authorized users in the near future, rumored to be $175 for up to three authorized users and an additional $175 each for additional users beyond that.
Related: Alaska Airlines officially joins Oneworld
Here are some other valuable perks the card offers:
- Enhanced airport experience — You and up to eight travelers on the same reservation will get priority check-in (where available), priority airport screening (where available) and priority boarding privileges. You can even check in at any business-class check-in position (or first-class check-in when business class is not available), regardless of the class of service in which you’re traveling.
- First checked bag free on domestic itineraries — On domestic itineraries flown by American or any regional subsidiary, the first checked bag for you and up to eight traveling companions on the same reservation is free. The flight must be marketed, sold and operated by American in order to get the free checked bag.
- 25% off eligible inflight purchases — This essentially means 25% off inflight food and beverages when you pay for them with the card (not including inflight Wi-Fi).
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee statement credit — Get an up-to-$100 statement credit when paying the Global Entry fee ($100) with the card or when enrolling in TSA PreCheck ($85). You’ll receive the credit once every five years. Because you also receive TSA PreCheck when enrolling for Global Entry, there’s no real reason you should ever just enroll in PreCheck.
Which cards compete with the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite?
American is not a transfer partner of any of the major points programs except Bilt Rewards, so the biggest competitors of this card are mostly other cobranded American Airlines cards, but you can also get tons of value from a more general premium card.
For additional options, check out our full list of premium travel cards.
Related: Choosing the best credit card for American Airlines flyers
Is the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite worth it?
Since the price of an Admirals Club membership is at least $550 each year, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard should catch the eye of any frequent American flyer’s attention. If you want Admirals Club access and to boost your AA mileage balance with a sign-up bonus (while also easing elite status requirements), this card might be a good fit. However, you might want to look elsewhere if you’re looking for a card that will give you a better return on your spending.
Bottom line
With full Admirals Club membership and several other American Airlines benefits, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite American Airlines is best for flyers who can maximize its lounge access. If that’s you, then the card could definitely be a fit.
Official application link: Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening with the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Stella Shon.
