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Apply for a Diamond Travelcard bus pass

If you have reached state pension age, receive a qualifying benefit or meet the disability criteria you are entitled to free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England.  

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Apply for a Diamond Travelcard

Apply for a platinum travelcard if you are sight impaired, bus pass renewal, update your travelcard, lost, stolen or damaged travelcard, change of circumstances.

You will need a recent digital photo showing your head and shoulders.

If you do not have a photograph you can ask staff at a One Stop Shop to take a photo of you to send to us.

You should apply for a new Diamond Travelcard using the application form .

If you are applying because you are of pensionable age (or will shortly be), you can use the short application form .

Complete the form either electronically or by hand and:

• email it to [email protected] or
• print it out and post it to us using the address on the form

You can also get an application form from one of our libraries , One Stop Shops , council offices or by calling us on 01454 868004 .

Make sure your application is fully completed and your proof of address and identity are included along with any other supporting documentation required. This will prevent delays in issuing your Diamond Travelcard.

Please note we may contact you if further information or evidence is needed.

If everything is in order with your application, we aim to issue your Diamond Travelcard within 12 weeks. We ask that you do not contact us to chase up your application within this time.

A Platinum Travelcard is an enhanced Diamond Travelcard.

If you are registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired and are issued with a Platinum Travelcard, you can travel free of charge at all times on local buses. Any journeys that start before 9am must begin in South Gloucestershire.

You can apply by using our short Platinum Travelcard application form .

You will need to print it out, complete it by hand and post it to the address shown on the form or scan and email to [email protected] .

When submitting your application you will need to include a copy of one of the following:

• certificate of visual impairment or DB8 form
• your South Gloucestershire Council sight impaired registration number
• letter from your eye specialist confirming that you are considered sight impaired

Your Diamond Travelcard will renew automatically if you are still a resident of South Gloucestershire and you qualified because you:

• are of pensionable age
• are sight impaired
• are profoundly or severely deaf
• are without speech or have limited speech
• have a learning disability

We do not automatically renew Travelcards which have not been used in the previous two years, as we assume these are no longer needed. If your card is not renewed for this reason, but you do need the renewed card, you should contact us to let us know.

If you qualified for a different reason, you will be required to reapply for a Diamond Travelcard and provide supporting evidence.

You need to submit your application 14 weeks before your current card expires.

We always aim to issue a Diamond Travelcard before your existing card expires.

You need to tell us at least a month before your card expires if you have changed your address since your original card was issued. This is so we can send your renewed card to the correct address.

If you tell us about change of address less than a month before your current card expires, you will be charged £8 for a replacement as we will have already sent out the new card.

You can tell us about a change of address using the contact details below.

If your appearance has changed since the photo on your travelcard was taken, you can contact us to update it.

Unless this is updated at the point of renewal, there will be an £8 fee to replace your card.

If your travelcard is lost, stolen or damaged, we can issue a replacement. Contact us using the details on this page.

There is an £8 replacement fee unless you can give us a crime reference number .

You can pay by:

• debit card over the phone: 01454 868004
• debit card in one of our One Stop Shops
• cheque or postal order handed in at a One Stop Shop or posted to us using the address on this page

We are unable to accept cash or credit card payments.

It is important to contact us to tell us about changes to your address or personal details.

You can do this by:

• email: [email protected]
• phone: 01454 868004
• post: South Gloucestershire Council, Department for Resources and Business Change, Concessionary Travel, PO Box 1953, Bristol, BS37 0DE
• visiting a One Stop Shop

If you have moved into the area, you will need to apply as a new applicant.

In the event of the death of the travelcard holder, the executor or administrator of the estate should notify us and return the card.

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Citi Diamond Preferred Card benefits guide

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Key takeaways

• The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card comes with an exceptionally long intro APR offer on balance transfers, making it one of the best balance transfer cards on the market.
• This card also includes an intro APR offer on purchases, which can be useful if you have a large purchase coming up.
• Other notable card benefits include no annual fee and access to Citi Entertainment, Citi Easy Deals and Citi Flex Loan.

Citi is an advertising partner.

The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is a no-annual-fee credit card that includes an exceptionally long intro APR offer on balance transfers, making it one of the top balance transfer credit cards on the market. That said, the Citi Diamond Preferred is one of the rare top credit cards that does not offer any form of rewards — no cash back, no points.

So, what does that mean if you’re considering adding the Citi Diamond Preferred to your wallet? Here’s everything you need to know about the Citi Diamond Preferred’s benefits, including how to maximize them.

Citi Diamond Preferred intro APR benefits

Intro apr offer on balance transfers.

If you want to do a balance transfer with Citi , the Citi Diamond Preferred is going to be one of your best options. The biggest benefit of the Citi Diamond Preferred is its 0 percent intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (on transfers completed within four months of account opening), followed by a variable APR between 18.24 percent to 28.99 percent. As noted above, this is one of the longest 0 percent intro APR offers available among balance transfer credit cards.

Of course, if you fail to transfer your balance within the first four months, you’ll lose access to the intro APR offer. Also, note that the card charges a relatively high balance transfer fee of 5 percent (or $5, whichever is greater).

Intro APR offer on purchases

The Citi Diamond Preferred also offers a much shorter 0 percent intro APR on new purchases for 12 months, followed by the same 18.24 percent to 28.99 percent variable APR.

If you’re more focused on funding a large upcoming purchase than transferring a balance, know that there are better options available to you with longer intro APR offers.

Additional Citi Diamond Preferred benefits

Free fico score access.

Often, people seek balance transfer cards to help tackle their debt and improve their credit. With the Diamond Preferred, you’ll enjoy free access to your FICO credit score . Your score will refresh each month, helping you to stay on top of any changes — an important practice to improve your credit score .

Citi Entertainment

Do you enjoy going out to concerts or spending the day at sporting events? With Citi Entertainment , Citi Diamond Preferred cardholders get early or VIP access to tickets for a variety of entertainment options, including music, sports, dining experiences and more. So if you like having early access to concert tickets or making reservations for the hottest new restaurant, consider Citi Entertainment another key benefit of the Citi Diamond Preferred.

Citi Easy Deals

Citi Easy Deals are discounts you can earn on everyday purchases from participating retailers and restaurants (including local businesses). Enrollment is required, but if you spend a certain amount per year, you can gain access to even more discounts.

Citi Flex Loan

The Citi Flex Loan program allows you to borrow money on your Citi credit card’s credit line at a fixed interest rate. You can pay the loan back over a set period of time with no additional fees, applications or credit inquiry required. However, Citi Flex Loans aren’t available to all Citi cardholders; you can check your account to see if you’re eligible.

Maximizing the Citi Diamond Preferred Card

To maximize your Citi Diamond Preferred’s benefits, be sure to make your balance transfer within the first four months of card membership. Otherwise, you won’t be able to take advantage of the intro APR offer, the card’s biggest benefit. After your transfer is complete, use our credit card balance transfer calculator to determine how much you’ll need to set aside each month in order to pay off your debt before the intro APR period ends .

Additionally, don’t forget that the Citi Diamond Preferred’s intro APR offer also applies to new purchases, though for a shorter period of time. If you want to use your card to fund a vacation, cover a home improvement project or pay off a medical bill, this card could be a good fit — but be sure you have a plan for paying off your large purchase before the regular interest rate kicks in.

Make sure to keep an eye out Citi Entertainment offers as well. You never know when your favorite artist or team may be in town and the program is great for getting early access tickets.

The bottom line

The Citi Diamond Preferred is a solid balance transfer credit card option for those who want to avoid paying an annual fee. You won’t earn any cash back or points, but the card is worth it if you can use it to get out of credit card debt, fund a purchase or build your credit score as you pay off your outstanding credit card balances.

Why I love the Citi Diamond Preferred

Discover it Cash Back vs. Citi Diamond Preferred: Which is better for a balance transfer?

Here’s why you should use the Citi Diamond Preferred Card for balance transfers

Is the Citi Diamond Preferred Card worth it?

Citi Diamon Preferred Credit Card Review

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EARN 40,000 BONUS MILES​

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Everything you should know about Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program

While it's wonderful to redeem your points and miles for travel arrangements, such as lodging and flights, there can be many other expenses involved in planning a trip, such as car rentals, train tickets, gas and campsite fees. Luckily, using cash-back rewards in combination with your points and miles can save you even more money on your next vacation.

With that in mind, let's examine the often-overlooked Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program . On top of the simple banking benefits members can expect, consolidating your finances with Bank of America can also boost your cash-back earnings with some of the best Bank of America credit cards .

That's because Bank of America designed its Preferred Rewards program to incentivize consumers to move their checking, savings, investment and retirement accounts to Bank of America and Merrill. The higher your balance of total assets with the bank, the more perks you can unlock, including with its credit cards. Depending on your holdings and the type of rewards you're looking to accumulate, it might be time to stop ignoring Bank of America Preferred Rewards.

Bank of America Preferred Rewards Program

How to qualify for bank of america's preferred rewards program.

To qualify for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program, you must have both of the following:

• An active, eligible Bank of America checking account
• A three-month combined average daily balance of $20,000 or more in qualifying Bank of America deposit accounts and/or Merrill investment accounts

There are five Preferred Rewards tiers. You'll qualify for each based on your combined average daily balance:

• Gold: $20,000 or more in total assets
• Platinum: $50,000 or more in total assets
• Platinum Honors: $100,000 or more in total assets
• Diamond: $1,000,000 or more in total assets
• Diamond Honors: $10,000,000 or more in total assets

While not exorbitant, even the lowest level requires some pretty high figures. But don't throw in the towel straight away. If you have an emergency fund, a holiday account, a savings account and a checking account, combining all those balances may qualify you for a Preferred Rewards tier. Once you add in investment accounts, such as IRAs, you may even find that the Platinum or Platinum Honors tiers are within reach.

Your balance doesn't need to originate with Merrill or Bank of America to count toward each threshold. You can roll existing IRAs and investment accounts over to Merrill or Bank of America and immediately use those balances to begin establishing a three-month average to boost your tier. Of course, you'll have to consider other things like account management fees and available investment options to decide whether doing so is a good option.

How to move among Preferred Rewards tiers

You can rise from one rung to the next any month after your average daily balance for the three previous months reaches the threshold for the following tier. Once you reach a specific status level, you won't need to keep all your cash in the Bank of America basket. Instead, you'll maintain your Preferred Rewards tier status for a full year. If you no longer meet the qualification requirements after that year, you have a three-month grace period to do so. If you still don't meet the criteria after the three-month grace period, you'll either be moved to a lower tier or completely lose your Preferred Rewards benefits.

Benefits of Bank of America's Preferred Rewards Program

Here's a chart of the five Preferred Rewards tiers, along with the associated benefits of each:

Now, let's take a closer look at each of these benefits.

Savings Interest Rate Booster

You need to have a Bank of America Advantage Savings account and be an enrolled Preferred Rewards member to enjoy this benefit. If you have an existing savings account, it will not automatically convert to a Bank of America Advantage Savings account when you enroll in Preferred Rewards. Be sure to request the conversion when joining Preferred Rewards.

At Gold, the interest rate boost is 5%. That likely sounds better than what it is. As an example, if your interest rate is 1.00%, a 5% rate booster would increase the interest rate to 1.05%. Here's the current annual percentage yield on a Bank of America Advantage Savings account for a sample Florida resident to give you some perspective:

You can check how this boost would affect the current annual percentage yield on a Bank of America Advantage Savings account in your region here .

Credit card rewards bonus

Preferred Rewards members earn a 25%, 50% or 75% rewards bonus on select Bank of America cards . For credit cards that earn points or cash rewards, you will receive a rewards bonus on every purchase. Your earning rate is based on your Preferred Rewards tier when the purchase is posted to your account. We'll get into how this plays out with specific cards below.

You can earn the Preferred Rewards bonus on most Bank of America consumer-branded credit cards, including the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card , the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card , the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card and the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card , among others.

Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Bank of America Travel Rewards — which should beginner travelers get?

Mortgage origination fee reduction

Any time you can cut down on fees for buying or refinancing a home, you should. Preferred Rewards members are eligible to receive a fixed reduction in one of two ways, depending on your membership tier:

• A dollar amount off your origination fee (not to exceed its price)
• A percentage off your mortgage APR

The Preferred Rewards fee reduction isn't transferable. And you may not be able to combine this fee reduction with other discounts.

Auto loan interest rate discount

You must complete an auto purchase finance or refinancing loan through Bank of America to qualify for a rate discount. This benefit is not transferable, so only the Preferred Rewards member can take advantage of this perk.

Of course, you'll need to make sure that Bank of America offers the most competitive rate after the discount. Otherwise, it might not be worth pursuing. Even a quarter of a percent could save or cost you thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

Home equity interest rate discount

You can get a home equity line of credit interest rate discount of up to 0.75%, depending on your Preferred Rewards status level. This benefit is non-transferable, but you may be able to combine this perk with other home equity interest rate discounts. And even co-borrowers are eligible as long as at least one applicant is enrolled or eligible to enroll.

No-fee banking services

• ATM/Debit card rush fees
• ATM international transaction fee
• Monthly maintenance fees on up to four eligible checking and four savings accounts from Bank of America
• Non-Bank of America ATM fees for withdrawals, transfers or balance inquiries
• One overdraft protection transfer fee waived per billing cycle

Additionally, Platinum and above incur no fees for incoming international wire transfers and can open a small safe deposit box for free at a Bank of America branch.

Free non-Bank of America ATM transactions

In the U.S. and U.S. territories, Platinum and Platinum Honors members:

• Won't be charged non-Bank of America ATM fees
• Will receive a refund of the ATM operator or network fee for withdrawals, balance inquiries and balance transfers

Platinum members receive one free transaction per statement cycle (up to 12 annually), and Platinum Honors members have no cap. Meanwhile, Diamond and Diamond Honors members have unlimited no-fee transactions both in the U.S. and internationally.

Related: 7 ways to save on overseas ATM withdrawals

Merrill Guided Investing fee discount

Preferred Rewards members enjoy a fee discount when utilizing Merrill Guided Investing services. You can get started with as little as $1,000 for Merrill Guided Investing or $20,000 for Merrill Guided Investing with an adviser.

Merrill Guided Investing typically charges a fee of 0.45% of assets under management, and Merrill Guided Investing with an advisor typically charges a fee of 0.85% of assets under management. While those fees might seem small, they add up over time. As such, these charges can become a compound drain on your investments as they increase. So, it may be best to look for a financial advisor that charges a fixed fee instead of a percentage of your assets.

Foreign currency exchange rate discount

All Preferred Rewards members will get some form of discount for foreign currency orders through online banking or the mobile banking app. Depending on your status tier, you'll receive a discount between 1% and 2%.

Access to exclusive lifestyle benefits

Top-tier Diamond and Diamond Honors members will enjoy customized and unique lifestyle experiences, such as travel, wellness, events, food and drink or other personal services. You can get a preview of some of these curated offers here .

How to maximize cash-back earnings with Bank of America credit cards and Preferred Rewards

To maximize the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program, you'll want to qualify for at least Platinum Honors and be eligible for the 75% bonus on your credit card rewards. Of course, it's not a great idea to make big investment and banking decisions based entirely on credit card bonuses. However, it may be worthwhile if you already plan to invest in Merrill and have an existing banking relationship with Bank of America. If you do, here are some of the bank's rewards cards to consider and how you can maximize your cash-back earnings.

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is an excellent rewards credit card in its own right. But it gets even more competitive when you add in the bonuses from the Preferred Rewards program.

The card charges a $95 annual fee and offers a modest selection of benefits. For example, cardholders get an up-to- $100 annual airline incidental fee statement credit , a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years (up to $100) and some decent travel protections .

However, this card shines with its earning rates on everyday spending as well as travel and dining purchases. Here's how the earning rates stack up once you consider the Preferred Rewards credit card rewards bonus:

The ability to get at least 2.625% on all purchases with this card (for high-tier Preferred Rewards members) is incredible. This return makes the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card one of the best credit cards for everyday spending .

Related: Not to be underestimated: Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card review

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card

If you want to avoid paying credit card annual fees , you could opt for the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card . The card earns 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases. Points can be redeemed to cover travel expenses at a rate of 1 cent per point.

By earning 1.5 points per dollar spent on everything plus a 75% Preferred Rewards bonus as a Platinum Honors (or higher) Preferred Rewards member, you effectively earn 2.625% cash back toward travel purchases made with the card. That's a fantastic cash-back rate to earn on all spending — especially for a card with no annual fee.

Related: Bank of America Travel Rewards card: Simplicity for points beginners

Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card is great for folks who don't want to keep track of multiple bonus categories, but who still want to earn at a strong fixed rate on all their purchases. This no-annual-fee credit card earns unlimited 1.5% cash-back rewards on all purchases with no limit.

Platinum Honors and higher members would get back 2.625% on all your purchases — one of the best rewards rates any card offers for non-bonus everyday purchases.

Related: The best Bank of America cards of 2024

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Another no-annual-fee card is the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card . It earns 3% in one of the following categories of your choice each calendar month:

• Gas and EV charging stations
• Online shopping (including cable, streaming, internet and phone services)
• Drugstores/pharmacies
• Home improvement/furnishings

It also earns 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1% back on everything else. Just note that you can only earn 3% and 2% on up to $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1%).

So, if you're at least a Platinum Honors member, you'll earn up to a whopping 5.25% cash back on your 3% category. You'd also earn up to 3.5% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1.75% cash back on all other purchases. That's pretty phenomenal for a no-annual-fee cash-back rewards card.

How to convert your Bank of America points to cash

Several Bank of America credit cards earn straight-up cash. But some earn "points," which you can trade for cash.

To redeem your Bank of America points with a card like the Premium Rewards card, you'll find a "cash" option within your online account. This allows you to request a statement credit or a cash deposit into your Bank of America checking or savings account (or eligible Merrill Edge and Merrill Lynch accounts) at a rate of 1 cent per point. Note that you can also redeem into a 529 College Savings Plan.

Additionally, the Travel Rewards card earns a slightly different rewards currency. You can redeem them as a direct deposit into your Bank of America checking or savings account or as a credit into an eligible Merrill Cash Management Account — but you'll usually get a paltry value of 0.6 cents per point. You'll only achieve a value of 1 cent per point when offsetting a travel-related transaction on your card.

Bottom line

The Bank of America Preferred Rewards program is probably not worth pursuing unless you qualify for at least Platinum Honors to maximize the 75% bonus on credit card earnings. That said, the program's perks mean that if you already do business with Bank of America or Merrill, you should consider consolidating your banking and investing to boost your rewards and benefits.

It might even be worth switching to Bank of America if doing so won't cost you anything extra. After all, the Preferred Rewards program can tip the scale on some of Bank of America's top card offerings and reward you with significant discounts on other banking services like mortgage and auto loans.

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Credit Cards

6 little-known perks of the Citi Diamond Preferred Card

Harrison Pierce

Robin Saks Frankel

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Grace Pilling

Published 6:08 p.m. UTC March 25, 2024

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Citi is a Blueprint partner. 

The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is a balance transfer card ideal for those working on paying down debt. Although the card doesn’t come with a ton of benefits like a rewards program or travel benefits, there are plenty of perks that make it worthwhile for specific consumers. The Citi Diamond Preferred Card has no annual fee, making it even more enticing to those on a budget. Here are six perks of the Citi Diamond Preferred Card that you might not know about. 

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Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Welcome bonus

Regular apr, credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s Take

• New applicants receive four months to complete qualifying balance transfers and get intro APR financing.
• 21 months of intro APR financing from the date of the first transfers.
• No annual fee.
• Only 12 months of intro APR financing on new purchases.
• No rewards.
• No meaningful card benefits outside of the intro APR.

Card details

• 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
• There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
• Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
• With Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
• No Annual Fee – our low intro rates and all the benefits don’t come with a yearly charge.

1. Get a long intro APR period on purchases, too

Although it may be best known as a balance transfer card, there’s also a solid introductory APR period on purchases. For purchases, receive a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, followed by a regular APR of 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable). If you’re looking to make a large purchase on your card that you need extra time to pay off, this card could be the helping hand you’re seeking. 

For balance transfers, you can utilize a 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers, followed by a regular APR of 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable). Balance transfers must be completed in the first four months of account opening and are subject to a balance transfer fee of 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum. This gives you almost two full years to pay off your transferred debt without paying any interest. 

2. Choose your payment due date

Picking your own payment due date from any available date at the beginning, middle or end of the month can provide you with the flexibility you need to match spending patterns with incoming funds. This is ideal for those who want to make their payments closer to their paycheck or farther from other bills like rent and utilities. 

3. Set up account alerts 

To ensure you won’t ever skip or miss a payment, you can set up alerts to remind you of your current balance levels, payment due dates or if you’ve exceeded your credit limit. You can choose to get alerts by email or on your phone. 

4. Enjoy access to Citi Entertainment

Citi Entertainment gives you special access to presale tickets and exclusive experiences. There are a wide array of entertainment and sporting events in 2024, including a Foo Fighters concert and an MLB New York Mets game. With concert tickets increasingly challenging to get, having a presale code with your credit card can give you a leg up for your favorite artists. 

5. Stay informed with identity protection and credit score monitoring

The Citi Diamond Preferred Card is a Mastercard, which means you can enroll in the ID Theft Protection program at no additional cost. Once enrolled, coverage includes ID monitoring, alerts if any suspicious activity is found and access to resolution specialists if your identity has been compromised. You’re also completely protected against unauthorized charges with $0 liability coverage. Plus, get access to your FICO Score to monitor how your score improves while paying off your debt.

6. Swap it for a different Citi card (eventually)

Although the Citi Diamond Preferred Card is excellent at helping you knock out debt, once the balance is paid off and the intro APR period expires, you may find that the card doesn’t have as much appeal. If that’s the case and you qualify, you might be able to call Citi and request a product change to a card that offers rewards or other benefits that you value more.

Which Citi card is right for you? See our list of the best Citi cards to help you choose.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

There is no annual fee for the Citi Diamond Preferred Card.

Citi recommends a good to excellent credit score to increase your chances of getting approved for the Citi Diamond Preferred Card. FICO generally defines a good credit score as 670 or higher, but issuers will look at a variety of factors when reviewing your application, including income and other debt obligations. Whether it is hard to get will depend on your overall credit profile. 

Your credit limit is determined based on several factors, including your credit history, credit score and more. However, online users have reported credit limits ranging from $500 to as much as $10,000 for the most creditworthy borrowers. 

As a balance transfer card, the Citi Diamond Preferred Card does not have lounge access. The main event with this card is the introductory APR period.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Harrison Pierce is a freelance writer and digital nomad that is passionate about all things personal finance and travel. While traveling full-time, he refined his love for writing and now enjoys working with various brands to tell stories and create meaningful content.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

Grace Pilling is a deputy editor for credit cards at USA TODAY Blueprint. She believes credit cards are the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure tools of the financial world and gets excited about helping people discover the best credit card strategy for their unique goals. Prior to joining Blueprint, Grace worked on and led personal finance teams at Bankrate, CreditCards.com, MoneyUnder30 and MoneyGeek. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and writing and a diploma in editing and publishing.

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Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card Review: Worth the Fee for Airline Loyalists

This is a cost-effective pick for travelers who fly American Airlines regularly.

• Free checked bag

Early boarding

• Bonus categories
• Has annual fee
• Rewards have limited flexibility

$0 intro for the first year, then $99

21.24%-29.99% Variable APR

Rewards rate

Bonus offer

• Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Ongoing APR

APR: 21.24%-29.99% Variable APR

Cash Advance APR: 29.99%, Variable

Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%, Variable

Balance transfer fee

Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

Foreign transaction fee

• Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases
• Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
• Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights

Compare to Other Cards

Detailed review: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® can offer value for travel and everyday purchases, but it’s only an ideal match if you can make full use of the card’s benefits to offset the annual fee ( $0 intro for the first year, then $99 ).

Making up that cost is easier to do if you typically check bags when traveling. The card offers free first checked bags for you and up to four people on the reservation, a potential value of hundreds of dollars if used often. And you'll also earn double miles on purchases in two big everyday categories: at restaurants and gas stations. Every purchase also earns points toward elite status on the airline.

If you’re an American Airlines loyalist who can make use of these benefits, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a solid pick. But if you prefer flexibility when you travel, then a general travel credit card might be a better fit.

» MORE: How to choose an airline credit card

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® : Basics

Card type: Airline .

Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $99 .

Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent with American Airlines.

2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent at restaurants and gas stations.

1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.

NerdWallet values American miles at 1.7 cents each. This is a baseline value, drawn from real-world data on hundreds of economy routes, not a maximized value. In other words, you should aim for award redemptions that offer 1.7 cents or more in value from your American miles.

Interest rate: The ongoing APR is 21.24%-29.99% Variable APR .

Foreign transaction fee: None.

Other perks:

First checked bag free for you and four companions on your reservation.

$125 American Airlines flight discount after $20,000 in purchases within a year and after the card is renewed.

Early boarding when flying with American Airlines.

Receive 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights.

» MORE: American Airlines AAdvantage program: The complete guide

Benefits and perks

Free checked bags.

With the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® , you’ll get a first checked bag free for you and four companions on your reservation. That saves you roughly $40 per person each way, or around $400 on a round-trip flight for you and traveling partners. Assuming you would have otherwise paid to check bags, this could quickly justify the annual fee.

One important note: You must include your frequent flyer number on your reservation to get the checked-bag fee waiver.

If you typically don’t check bags, you might find that the early boarding perk that comes with the card can be beneficial. You're more likely to find space in the overhead bin for your carry-on if you can board the plane earlier, in a lower-number group than you might otherwise be in. Or you might just enjoy the ability to get settled into your seat before the cabin fills. And, like free checked bags, the privilege applies to up to four others on your reservation.

2X rewards on gas and dining

Many travelers might find an airline's card perks more valuable than its frequent flyer miles. As a result, they might hold the card more as a membership card than a credit card to use for daily purchases. But if your goal is to earn free flights or upgrades to a premium cabin — two of the most valuable ways to use AAdvantage miles — racking up rewards from credit card purchases is a good way to do that.

American makes this easier by not only giving double miles on airline purchases but two additional — and useful — categories of spending: restaurants and gas stations.

Sign-up bonus

Bonuses change, but this card generally gives you enough miles to get a domestic award flight, or at least enough to get close to one. That could translate into savings of several hundred dollars.

The current bonus is: Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Earn status through credit card spending

In 2022, American Airlines revamped the process to earn elite status. Following this change, you're able to earn points toward AAdvantage status when you make purchases with your Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® . For every dollar you spend, you'll earn 1 loyalty point.

You’ll need at least 40,000 loyalty points to earn the airline’s lowest tier, AAdvantage Gold® and at least 200,000 to earn the highest tier, AAdvantage Executive Platinum®.

To learn more about elite status in the frequent flyer program, see NerdWallet's complete guide to the American Airlines AAdvantage program.

How it compares with other American Airlines cards

Among American Airlines credit cards, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is the mass-market option. It comes with good airline benefits and charges an annual fee. If you're looking to earn miles with American Airlines but want more premium benefits or want to skip paying an annual fee, consider going with one of the other cards. For more analysis, read NerdWallet's comparison of American Airlines credit cards.

Here's how the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® stacks up with some of its sister cards on key benefits.

» MORE: AAdvantage Aviator Red vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum

Drawbacks and considerations

The annual fee on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® — $0 intro for the first year, then $99 — is about typical for this type of airline card. But if it's not worth the cost for you — say, because you rarely check bags on American, or can't earn enough rewards to make up for the fee — go with a different card.

No-annual-fee alternatives include the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and the Discover it® Miles . Each offers an unlimited 1.5 points or miles per $1 spent on all purchases. And, of course, if you are a fan of the airline, there’s the $0 -annual-fee American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® . It doesn’t offer free checked bags, but it does earn rewards. (See how it stacks up in the table above.)

Lack of flexibility

Usually, the best redemption options for AAdvantage miles are award flights and seat upgrades on American and its Oneworld partners. General travel cards, on the other hand, like the $95 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , allow you to apply rewards toward several different kinds of travel expenses, including flights on any airline.

This card earns 5 points per $1 spent on all travel purchased through Chase, 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout), 3 points per $1 spent on select streaming services, 3 points per $1 spent on online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points per $1 spent on travel not purchased through and 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases. You can also transfer rewards to other loyalty programs for potentially more value.

If you don’t want to worry about blackout dates, rewards expiring or other limitations, a low-maintenance travel credit card that earns a flat rate on all purchases can also help you reach your travel goals. The $95 Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , for instance, earns 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases. You can redeem them for statement credit against any travel purchase.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best airline credit cards

How to decide if it's right for you

If you’re a frequent American Airlines flyer, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is worth a look. Its free checked bags, early boarding, double-miles categories and ability to earn loyalty points can help make up for the annual fee. However, if you shop by price and fly several airlines, you might prefer a cash-back or general travel credit card.

• The best credit cards of 2024
• Best travel credit cards
• Best rewards credit cards
• Best cash back credit cards

Methodology

NerdWallet reviews credit cards with an eye toward both the quantitative and qualitative features of a card. Quantitative features are those that boil down to dollars and cents, such as fees, interest rates, rewards (including earning rates and redemption values) and the cash value of benefits and perks. Qualitative factors are those that affect how easy or difficult it is for a typical cardholder to get good value from the card. They include such things as the ease of application, simplicity of the rewards structure, the likelihood of using certain features, and whether a card is well-suited to everyday use or is best reserved for specific purchases. Our star ratings serve as a general gauge of how each card compares with others in its class, but star ratings are intended to be just one consideration when a consumer is choosing a credit card. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

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