citi platinum select travel insurance

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology .

• Credit Cards ›

Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® World Elite Mastercard ® — Full Review [2024]

Alex Miller

Founder & CEO

290 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 34 U.S. States Visited: 29

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

33 Published Articles 3136 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

Director of Operations & Compliance

1 Published Article 1172 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 10 U.S. States Visited: 20

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

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

50,000 miles

$99, waived for first 12 months

21.24% - 29.99% Variable

Status lovers will enjoy the variety of benefits that come with this card. From free bags to reduced-price inflight beverages, AA still flies in style.

Blue skies and fair winds make for a good day to fly! Choosing your airline can be difficult, since factors like location, time, and destination all go into whether or not you can fly somewhere.

An easy choice for many people is American Airlines, because they’re the largest airline in the world. If you’re an American, you’ve probably flown American Airlines at least once.

Frequent fliers tend to enjoy the treatment they can get, from boarding privileges to free bags to lounge access. There’s many reasons to fly with AA, and if so then getting a Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® World Elite Mastercard ® could be for you.

Card Snapshot

Welcome bonus & info.

• Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage ® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
• 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
• Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your card membership year and renew your card
• 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

Card Categories

Credit Card Reviews

• Airline Credit Cards

Rewards Center

American Airlines AAdvantage Program

Customer Service Number

1-888-248-4226 (Available 24/7)

Great Card If

• You’re a frequent traveler on American Airlines and their subsidiaries
• You already have a bunch of AA miles and status
• You’d like to earn enough miles quickly to get a free round-trip
• You like to travel in style and will enjoy the host of benefits available to you through the card

Don’t Get If

• You won’t fly American (or any Oneworld partner) frequently or you’re not a traveler in general
• You’re not a big spender in general (see Card Math for more details)

Welcome Offer, Earning Categories, and Points

Currently, applying for the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card could earn you the welcome offer bonus listed above in the card summary table.

You also earn AAdvantage miles at a rate of 2x on AA flights and services. While this isn’t the greatest, it is certainly a respectable amount of bonus miles for making flight purchases.

You’ll also earn 2X miles at restaurants and gas stations, and 1x for all other purchases made on the card. The card costs $99 per year, but this fee is waived the first year.

Bottom Line:   The AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card earns 2x points on all AA flights and services, 2x at restaurants and gas stations, and 1x points everywhere else. It costs $99 per year, but the fee is waived for the first 12 months.

AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Card: Bags, Boarding, and Discounts

However, what really makes the card great is its fringe benefits. American Airlines likes to operate on the idea of status, and this card gives you just that.

First, you and up to 4 people traveling with you get 1 checked bag free! You all must be listed on the same reservation though, so make sure you book your travel companions’ tickets through your card (which should be easy enough if they’re your family).

Next, once you’re through security and ready to board, you’ll have boarding privileges above the other non-status passengers.

This means you can get on, get your carry-on bags into the compartments before they fill up, and get comfortably situated before the rest of the plane boards.

Third, you get 25% off all inflight food and beverage purchases, as well as headsets if you need one.

That discount is enough to make the prices a bit more reasonable (a $7 drink is now only $5.25), and it allows you to enjoy your trip just a little bit more, save time from eating in the airport, and earn double miles for your purchase.

If you’re going to have a drink and a snack, you may as well do it in style at 30,000 ft in the air!

Bottom Line:   Get a free first bag for you and up to 4 traveling companions, priority boarding privileges, and a 25% inflight discount on food and beverages when you have the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card.

More Partners Than You Can Handle

One last thing that AA does to help you earn miles is partner with over 1,000 vendors. When you do business with them, you’ll get more miles in your account!

As you know, AA is a  Oneworld alliance partner , which allows you to share miles and status with other alliance members.

But did you know there are actually more airlines outside of Oneworld that are still partners? In addition, there are the hotel partners, car rentals, vacation packages, cruises, and any other bonus offers they have going.

With this option, however, keep in mind that earning AA miles may conflict with earning miles in those partners’ own loyalty programs. So, it’s really good to have an overall strategy to know where your earning priorities lie!

Bottom Line: When you fly American, you also have access to all their Oneworld and other airline alliance partners. Having the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card   gives you a head start on earning awards!

AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Card Drawbacks

Are there disadvantages? Sure. One is the annual fee of $99, although that is waived the first year. This isn’t too bad considering it’s the same price or less than you’d pay for the majority of other points cards out there .

This card’s points-earning potential at 2x is a bit low, especially when considering it’s restricted to just airline purchases. Users of the card need to be frequent and heavy travelers in order to get any value out of it.

Also, the fact that some of the benefits have fine print means you’ll need to check before you want to use the card for that purpose.

Bottom Line: Some drawbacks of the card include the $99 annual fee and no 0% APR period.

Best Way To Redeem AAdvantage Miles

We always encourage you to maximize the value of your redemptions . Be sure to check around for the best deals and do your homework so you can squeeze the best value out of your points!

Tip #1: When redeeming miles on AA, the best value will always be for international trips. At 30,000 miles one-way, you can get to pretty much anywhere in the world.

Tip #2: If you want to use rewards domestically, make sure to take advantage of the reduced mileage offer by calling in to book your ticket. You can get a discount of 7,500 miles on a round-trip by waiting for the specials that come out every other month.

Best Way To Maximize AAdvantage Miles

To maximize points using the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card you will need to put most of your spending on your card, but there are also other ways to earn lots of miles :

Tip #1: Purchase all flights directly with the airline, and make inflight purchases with the card as well.

Tip #2: If you book rental cars, use your AA account with Avis, Budget, and any of its other partners to earn 250-1,250 miles per rental. Plus, earn 1x miles if you book it with your card.

Tip #3: Sign up with the AA dining program and dine at designated restaurants using your registered card.  Use the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card to rack up even more points. That could end up as 7x miles total when using your Citi AAdvantage card!

Tip #4: Many hotel chains offer partnerships where you can earn AA miles for stays. These include Hilton Honors and more.

With Marriott, you can transfer hotel points to your AA account and earn a 25% bonus when you transfer 60,000 at a time!

Tip #5: If you’re checking bags past the free ones offered, pay with your AAdvantage credit card to earn 2x points for the baggage fee.

Being cognizant of American’s baggage fee rules is important to make sure you’re not spending more than you need.

Tip #6: Earning Elite Status helps you rack up points much more quickly: 25% for Gold, 100% for Platinum (this used to only be 50%), and 100% for Executive Platinum.

If you aren’t even close, there’s a quicker way to do it: an Elite Status Challenge. Check around for current deals, since sometimes it’s not even offered (although FoundersCard has offered it in the past).

The challenge is sometimes free, but other times you’ll have to pay (usually $100-$200) — but you’ll typically end up with Platinum after flying 10,000 miles within a 3-month period.

Once you complete it, you will be on your way to 100% bonus earning for only 10,000 miles, as opposed to the 30,000 normally needed!

Tip #7: You can earn additional miles through other partners (see partner details below), such as through the eShopping Mall or certain wine clubs. If these seem valuable to you, then use them to earn additional miles.

Hot Tip: Check out our article on earning 100k AA miles in 90 days , as well as our post on the best ways to redeem 100K AAdvantage Miles. 

The AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card gets you access to American Airlines and all its partners, which is probably the most extensive list available in any program. Being the largest airline in the world, anyone would be happy to sign up with them to promote their businesses!

• American Airlines (and American Eagle)
• AA Dining Restaurant Network (over 11,000)
• Other Retail Partners : AAdvantage eShopping Mall, Points.com, FTD, Teleflora, 1-800-FLOWERS.com, Vinesse Wine, Audience Rewards, Next Issue

Travel Partners: Airlines, Hotels, Rental Cars, and Cruises

Oneworld Partners : British Airways ,  Cathay Pacific , Finnair,  Iberia ,  Japan Airlines , LATAM Airlines, Malaysia Airlines,  Qantas Airways ,  Qatar Airways , Royal Jordanian Airlines, S7 Airlines, SriLankan Airlines

Additional Airline Partners :  Air Tahiti Nui,  Alaska Airlines /Horizon Air, Cape Air, EL AL,  Etihad Airways , Fiji Airways, Hawaiian Airlines , Jet Airways, Seaborne Airlines, WestJet (more info on airline partners)

Hotel Partners : Hilton Portfolio , Marriott Hotels ,  InterContinental Hotels ,  Choice Hotels ,  Wyndham Hotel Group ,  Best Western , Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Fiesta Americana Hotels and Resorts, Hotel JAL City, Hyatt, Langham Hospitality Group, La Quinta Inns & Suites, Melia Hotels International, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, New Otani Hotels, Nikko Hotels International, Park Inn, Park Plaza, PointsHound, Preferred Hotel Group, Quorvus Collection, Radisson, Radisson Blu, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Rocketmiles, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Swissotel Hotels & Resorts, WORLDHOTELS ( more info on hotel partners )

Rental Car Partners: A vis ,  Budget ,  Alamo ,  National ,  Dollar ,  Hertz ,  Thrifty , Carmel, Europcar,  Sixt , GroundLink, SuperShuttle ( more info on car  partners )

AA Vacations:  Total trip packages

Cruise Lines : Carnival Cruise Lines ,  Celebrity Cruises , Costa Cruises, Disney Cruise Line,  Holland America Line ,  MSC Cruises ,  Norwegian Cruise Line ,  Princess Cruises ,  Royal Caribbean , AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Azamara Club Cruises,  Crystal Cruises , Cunard, Oceania Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Ponant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises, Uniworld River Cruises,  Viking Ocean Cruises , Viking River Cruises, Windstar Cruises ( more info on cruises )

The information regarding the Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® World Elite™ Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the CitiBusiness ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information for the Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Gold Mastercard ® has been collected independently by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the aadvantage platinum select world elite card worth it what are the citi platinum benefits.

There are definitely advantages to this card (no pun intended!). The card offers decent earning of points for purchases, but it also offers you some good fringe benefits.

Without being an elite status member, you get a free checked bag for yourself and up to 4 others, as well as boarding privileges on flights.

You also save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases, which helps save a little time when traveling if you don’t want to eat at the airport.

On top of that, you get access to reduced mileage rewards, which enable you to spend even less when you DO redeem.

You’ll also get card benefits such as Apple Pay, extended warranty, Citi Price Rewind, and damage/theft purchase protection, plus insurances for travel, accidents, lost baggage, and trip cancellation.

Not bad for a card that costs $99 per year!

Are there other Citi / AAdvantage credit cards?

Yes, there is also a  CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard® ,  Citi® / AAdvantage® Gold World Elite™ Mastercard®,  and  Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®.

The Executive version of the card comes with an Admirals Club membership .

What is the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card login?

The login is the same place you would log in to any other Citi accounts . There, you can access your purchases and calculate your points earned.

To access your AAdvantage benefits and current miles balance, you must log in to your AAdvantage account .

What are AAdvantage reduced mileage awards?

This is a special benefit available to AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card members. Every other month, you will be eligible for a reduced fare flight.

These specials will cost 3,750 AAdvantage miles less each way, or save you 7,500 round-trip. To book them, however, you must either call in or purchase it from the ticket agent at the airport.

What is the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card foreign transaction fee?

No; there is no foreign transaction fee on this card.

What is the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card travel insurance?

With the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card, you get access to a variety of travel insurances.

The first is travel and emergency assistance. This is a 24/7 hotline to be used if you need help with travel arrangements, medical and legal referrals, or other issues in case of emergency while on travel.

Next is worldwide travel accident insurance. This covers you for up to $500,000 in case of a severe accident by a carrier. This can cover medical bills and other related costs.

Third is lost baggage insurance. If your bags are ever lost, you get coverage for up to $3,000 per person each trip.

You’ll get trip cancellation and interruption protection as well. If you have to cancel for any reason outside of your control, you can get up to $1,500 back per person for purchases that are non-refundable.

Does the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card have a 0% APR offer?

No. At this time there is no 0% APR offer for this card.

When do points expire on the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card?

As long as you have activity on your account every 18 months, your miles will not expire. This can be spending money on your card (and thus earning miles) or redeeming miles.

When do AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card miles post to your account?

According to their card agreement, miles can take 8-10 weeks to post into your account.

What is the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card annual fee?

The fee is waived the first year, then comes in at $99 per year after.

When does AAdvantage elite status expire?

Your elite status is good from the moment you earn it through the end of that year, then the next full year PLUS through February of the year after. For instance, status earned in March 2019 is good through the rest of 2019, all of 2020, and January-February of 2021.

How do I get priority check-in on American Airlines?

The only way to earn priority check-in is to earn elite status or hold the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.

About Alex Miller

Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business, The New York Times, and more.

Top Credit Card Content

• American Express Platinum Card
• American Express Gold Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
• Chase Freedom Unlimited Card
• Capital One Venture X Card

Buying Guides

• Best Credit Cards for High Limits
• Best Credit Cards for Young Adults
• Best Credit Card Combinations
• Best Credit Cards for Military
• Best Credit Card for Paying Monthly Bills

Credit Card Comparisons

• Amex Gold vs Blue Cash Preferred
• Amex vs Chase Credit Cards
• Amex Platinum vs Capital one Venture X
• Amex Platinum vs Delta Platinum Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Amex Platinum Card

Recommended Reading

• How to Pay Your Credit Card Bill
• Credit Card Marketshare Statistics
• Debit Cards vs Credit Cards
• Hard vs Soft Credit Checks
• Credit Cards Minimum Spend Requirements

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

• Is the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select the Best Credit Card for You?
• Benefits and Features
• Annual Fee and Other Costs

How the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Compares

• Frequently Asked Questions

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card Review

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, Citi Premier® Card, American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.

$99, waived for first 12 months

21.24% - 29.99% variable

Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Bonus categories help you earn miles on everyday purchases
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $125 American Airlines flight discount is nice, but you need to spend $20,000 in a cardmember year to earn it

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is one of the best credit cards for people who like to fly American Airlines and earn miles in the AAdvantage loyalty program but don't want a card with a high annual fee.

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Overview

Citi issues several credit cards for American Airlines , but the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a great pick if you fly American Airlines, even occasionally, because the benefits alone can save you a significant amount of money. Cardholders get their first checked bag free (normally $30) on domestic AA itineraries, as do up to four companions traveling on the same reservation. I had this card for years when I flew American Airlines frequently for work, and it saved me hundreds of dollars on checked-bag fees.

Another handy perk, preferred boarding (Group 5), allows you to board just after first-class, business-class, and elite passengers. This gives you earlier access to coveted overhead bin space and more time to get settled into your seat. 

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is currently offering a welcome bonus of  75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $3,500 in purchases within the first four months of account opening. You'll also earn American Airlines miles for your everyday spending, including 2x miles on American Airlines purchases and at restaurants and gas stations, and 1x miles everywhere else. And when you use your card for eligible American Airlines inflight purchases, you'll get a 25% discount in the form of a statement credit.

Plus, if you spend $20,000 or more on the card in a cardmember year, you'll receive a $125 American Airlines flight discount certificate, valid for travel on American Airlines (including codeshares) and Oneworld partner flights.

Note that you won't be eligible for the bonus on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® if you've received a new cardholder bonus on the same card in the past 48 months.

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Rewards

Citi aadvantage platinum select welcome bonus offer.

The intro bonus offer is currently 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $3,500 in purchases within the first four months of account opening. The miles from the bonus are worth around $1,050 in flights, based on Business Insider's points and miles valuations .

This is an impressive offer, especially considering the annual fee is just $99, waived for first 12 months. 

How to earn miles with the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a good choice for American Airlines purchases, as well as other everyday spending in popular categories. Cardholders earn:

• 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases (including AA.com, American Airlines reservations, American Airlines Admirals Club, American Airlines Vacations, and American Airlines airport and city ticket counters)
• 2 miles per dollar at restaurants (including cafes, bars, lounges, and fast-food restaurants) 
• 2 miles per dollar at gas stations
• 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

How to use miles from the Citi AAdvantage card

American Airlines is one of the few U.S. airlines to still publish a region-based award chart, although it just eliminated its pricing for saver and anytime-level awards. Instead, the new AA award chart is dynamically priced, similar to other U.S. airlines. The number of miles required for an award ticket will depend on various factors, although you could score a deep discount if your route or date is classified as a Web Special, which can sometimes shave thousands of miles off the price of a standard ticket. 

Even if you don't fly American Airlines, there's a ton of value to be had from AA miles. Because American Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance, you can redeem AAdvantage miles for award tickets on any of these Oneworld partners:

• Alaska Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines

Another option is to use American Airlines miles for flights on the carrier's non-alliance partners, which include Air Tahiti Nui, Cape Air, China Southern Airlines, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, GOL Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines (except for flights between the mainland US and Hawaii), JetBlue, and Silver Airways. American Airlines hasn't moved toward dynamic award pricing on partner awards, so it's easier to estimate the number of miles you'll need to book a ticket.

Other options for redeeming American Airlines miles (most of which aren't the best value) include car rentals, hotels, vacation packages, seat upgrades, Admirals Club airport lounge memberships, merchandise, gift cards, and charity donations.

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Benefits and Features

Along with the solid welcome bonus offer and earning on everyday spending, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® comes with benefits that can save you money and hassle when you fly American Airlines, and a discount if you spend $20,000 or more on the card each year.

Free first checked bag

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® cardholders get a free first checked bag — for themselves and up to four others traveling on the same reservation — on American Airlines domestic itineraries (US mainland, Hawaii, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico). American Airlines normally charges $30 for the first checked bag on these routes, so on a round-trip itinerary, you could save $60 (or much more if you have companions with you).

Unlike some other airline cards, like the United℠ Explorer Card , you don't have to use the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® to pay for your ticket to receive a complimentary first checked bag. As long as your card has been open for at least seven days, and the AAdvantage frequent flyer number associated with your card is attached to your reservation at least seven days before departure, you're good to go.

Even if you only travel American Airlines occasionally, having the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® can translate into big savings on checked bag fees, especially for couples or families.

Preferred boarding

The struggle to find overhead bin space nowadays is real, and getting on the plane sooner can make the difference between finding a spot for your carry-on or having to put it in the baggage hold. With the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, you'll get preferred (Group 5 boarding), which means you'll have a better shot at storing your belongings in the cabin.

Group 5 passengers board right after elite flyers, first- and business-class travelers, and those who've paid extra for priority boarding or who have the premium Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® . You'll get on the plane at the same time as passengers who've paid more for Main Cabin Extra seats, and before the rest of economy class. 

American Airlines $125 flight discount

Each card anniversary year in which you spend $20,000 or more, you'll earn a $125 American Airlines flight discount certificate. Your discount code will come via email 8-12 weeks after renewing your card, and it's valid for flights on American Airlines (and flights marketed by American Airlines on regional carriers Envoy Air, Republic Airways, SkyWest Airlines, Mesa Airlines, PSA Airlines, and Piedmont Airlines), as well as Oneworld partners.

The flight discount certificate is valid for one year from the date it's issued, but keep in mind it can only be applied to itineraries that originate in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands.

American Airlines 25% inflight discount

When you use your Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® for eligible inflight purchases like food or alcoholic beverages, you'll get a 25% discount in the form of a statement credit. The discount is valid on American Airlines flights, plus American Airlines-marketed flights on Envoy Air, Republic Airways, SkyWest Airlines, Air Wisconsin Airlines, PSA Airlines, and Piedmont Airlines.

The credit should appear on your statement 8-10 weeks after your purchase. One important thing to note is that inflight Wi-Fi purchases (which aren't processed by American Airlines) aren't eligible for the discount.

Earn Loyalty Points toward elite status

The new American Airlines Loyalty Point structure makes it possible to earn AAdvantage elite status without ever leaving your house. In addition to earning Loyalty Points from flights (1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned = 1 Loyalty Point), you can earn Loyalty Points from non-flying activities, including spending on American Airlines credit cards, shopping through the AA Shopping Portal , and spending with partners.

Keep in mind you'll only earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar you spend on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, even if the purchase is in a 2x bonus category. For example, if you spent $40,000 on your card in a qualifying year, you'd unlock AAdvantage Gold elite status, which requires 40,000 Loyalty Points to achieve.

World Elite Mastercard benefits

Because the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a World Elite Mastercard, it comes with additional travel and shopping perks, including free Shoprunner membership, Lyft and DoorDash credits, and access to a global assistance hotline and concierge.

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Annual Fee and Other Costs

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® annual fee is $99, waived for first 12 months, so you won't have to worry about an additional cost in the first year of having the card. That said, the ongoing benefits can make the card worth keeping for the long term, as you can get a value that far exceeds the annual fee, especially if you fly American Airlines often.

In addition, the card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee , which makes it a good choice for international travel. However, you should strive to pay off your card in full every month; otherwise, you'll be charged a 21.24% - 29.99% variable APR on your balance.

Other fees apply to certain situations, including balance transfers, cash advances, late payments, and returned payments.

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select vs other American Airlines cards

Citi aadvantage platinum select frequently asked questions (faq).

If you fly American Airlines, even occasionally, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is definitely worth considering. The free checked bag benefit alone can more than offset the annual fee in just a couple of trips, and perks like priority boarding and inflight discounts can help you save time and money.

However, if you aren't usually an American Airlines flyer, or prefer earning rewards that don't lock you into a single frequent flyer program, you may be better off opening a card that earns flexible rewards points, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Citi Premier® Card . You can still use points from these cards toward paid flights on American (and other airlines) by booking through the bank travel portal, but you won't get AA-specific perks like checked bags or priority boarding.

Usually, folks who are approved for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® have a credit score in the good  to  excellent range . This means a  FICO score of at least 670.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is probably the best all-around American Airlines card considering its moderate annual fee and solid benefits on the airline.

However, there are other American Airlines cards to consider. For example, if you're a very frequent flyer, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® may be a better choice, because it comes with Admirals Club airport lounge membership. And if you're totally opposed to paying an annual fee and don't care about airline-specific benefits, the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is also worth a look.

Here's our guide to the best American Airlines credit cards for a full rundown of your options.

Methodology: How we reviewed the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select

Business Insider's experts compared the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® to other American Airlines and competitor airline credit cards. We looked at several factors, including: 

• Simplicity — Is the card's earning and redeeming structure straightforward? Are there lots of ways to redeem miles?
• Earning potential — Are there bonus categories on the card that are useful to average travelers? Is there a spending cap on any of the categories or other limitations?
• Annual fee — Is the card's annual fee (if there is one) justified based on the benefits and rewards you receive? 
• Benefits — Are the card's perks, especially airline/day-of-travel benefits, competitive with other cards in the same category?

For an in-depth look at our methodology, read about how we rate credit cards at Business Insider.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please click here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

• Main content

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

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.

About the author s

Gregory Karp

Melissa Lambarena

• Credit Cards
• All Credit Cards
• Find the Credit Card for You
• Best Credit Cards
• Best Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best 0% APR Credit Cards
• Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
• Best Credit Cards to Build Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
• Find the Best Personal Loan for You
• Best Personal Loans
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans
• Best Loans to Refinance Credit Card Debt
• Best Loans with Fast Funding
• Best Small Personal Loans
• Best Large Personal Loans
• Best Personal Loans to Apply Online
• Best Student Loan Refinance
• Best Car Loans
• All Banking
• Find the Savings Account for You
• Best High Yield Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Checking Accounts
• Best No Fee Checking Accounts
• No Overdraft Fee Checking Accounts
• Best Checking Account Bonuses
• Best Money Market Accounts
• Best Credit Unions
• All Mortgages
• Best Mortgages
• Best Mortgages for Small Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for No Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for Average Credit Score
• Best Mortgages No Origination Fee
• Adjustable Rate Mortgages
• Affording a Mortgage
• All Insurance
• Best Life Insurance
• Best Life Insurance for Seniors
• Best Homeowners Insurance
• Best Renters Insurance
• Best Car Insurance
• Best Pet Insurance
• Best Boat Insurance
• Best Motorcycle Insurance
• Travel Insurance
• Event Ticket Insurance
• Small Business
• All Small Business
• Best Small Business Savings Accounts
• Best Small Business Checking Accounts
• Best Credit Cards for Small Business
• Best Small Business Loans
• Best Tax Software for Small Business
• Personal Finance
• All Personal Finance
• Best Budgeting Apps
• Best Expense Tracker Apps
• Best Money Transfer Apps
• Best Resale Apps and Sites
• Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Apps
• Best Debt Relief
• Credit Monitoring
• All Credit Monitoring
• Best Credit Monitoring Services
• Best Identity Theft Protection
• How to Boost Your Credit Score
• Best Credit Repair Companies
• Filing For Free
• Best Tax Software
• Best Tax Software for Small Businesses
• Tax Refunds
• Tax Brackets
• Taxes By State
• Tax Payment Plans
• Help for Low Credit Scores
• All Help for Low Credit Scores
• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
• Personal Loans if You Don't Have Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Building Credit
• Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score Lower
• Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower
• Best Mortgages for Bad Credit
• Best Hardship Loans
• All Investing
• Best IRA Accounts
• Best Roth IRA Accounts
• Best Investing Apps
• Best Free Stock Trading Platforms
• Best Robo-Advisors
• Index Funds
• Mutual Funds
• Home & Kitchen
• Gift Guides
• Deals & Sales
• Sign up for the CNBC Select Newsletter
• Subscribe to CNBC PRO
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices
• Terms Of Service
• CNBC Sitemap

Follow Select

Our top picks of timely offers from our partners

Find the best credit card for you

Citi/aadvantage platinum select world elite mastercard review: get a free checked bag and priority boarding, this card offers useful perks for occasional american airlines flyers and earns valuable loyalty points..

Citi is an advertising partner.

As the largest airline in the world by market share, American Airlines opens up a world of travel opportunities to its customers. Despite recent setbacks to its loyalty program , AAdvantage miles can still be incredibly valuable, whether you want to use them to fly on American itself or one of its many partner airlines, such as JetBlue, British Airways, Japan Airlines and Qantas.

If you're looking to boost your AAdvantage balance, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is an excellent way to do so. The card is offering a welcome bonus of 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 within three months of account opening. And with the card's $99 annual fee waived the first year, it's an easy opportunity to dip your toe into the AAdvantage program and see if this card is a good fit long-term. 

Below,  CNBC Select  breaks down everything you need to know about the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard , from its rewards to its additional benefits and fees.

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

2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases; 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases

Welcome bonus

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

$0 first year, then $99

Regular APR

21.24% - 29.99% variable

Balance transfer fee

5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum

Foreign transaction fees

Credit needed.

Good/Excellent

Terms apply.

Read our Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® review.

• 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
• Preferred boarding for eligible credit cardmembers
• First checked bag free
• Priority boarding
• No special 0% financing offers
• No airport lounge access
• Estimated miles earned after 1 year: 78,138
• Estimated miles earned after 5 years: 190,690

Rewards totals incorporate the miles earned from the welcome bonus

Information about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard review

Benefits and perks, how to earn and redeem aadvantage miles, rates and fees, card comparison, is the citi aadvantage platinum select world elite mastercard right for you, bottom line.

The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select offers a generous sign-up bonus of 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first three months of card membership.

Before applying for this card, remember that Citi restricts approvals for co-branded American Airlines credit cards. You won't be eligible for another bonus if you've received a sign-up bonus from this card in the last 48 months. However, you are eligible for this bonus even if you recently applied for a different American Airlines card, such as the higher-end Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® .

The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select is packed with travel benefits that can help cardholders save money and improve their travel experience when flying American Airlines. Chief among them is the ability to earn one Loyalty Point for every dollar spent on the card. 

Loyalty Points determine your elite status with American Airlines. Earning status used to be determined by the number of miles or segments flown. Nowadays, you can earn status through various activities that include flying, using American's shopping portal and credit card spending, to name a few. AAdvantage elite status starts at 40,000 Loyalty Points for Gold and reaches 200,000 for top-tier Executive Platinum.

Even if you don't earn status, you can enjoy elite-style benefits with the card, including:

• First checked bag free: You and up to four companions on the same reservation will receive your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries (normally $30).
• Preferred boarding: You and your companions can board with Group 5.
• Savings on in-flight purchases: Receive a 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases when you use your credit card to pay.

Plus, the card's annual flight discount can provide value beyond the $99 annual fee. If you can manage $20,000 in credit card spending per membership year, you'll get a $125 flight discount valid on American Airlines tickets. It's a nice spending incentive to the card's already solid earn rates on everyday purchases. 

Lastly, using your card abroad won't incur those pesky foreign transaction fees , which can add up quite a bit, with some cards charging around 3%. 

The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select offers elevated rewards in several common spending categories. Here's a look at how many miles the card earns in various categories:

• 2X miles per dollar at restaurants and gas stations.
• 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• 1X mile on all other purchases. 

As mentioned above, you'll also earn 1X Loyalty Points toward elite status on all purchases.

American Airlines recently scrapped its traditional frequent flyer award chart in favor of dynamic pricing without a specified mileage cap for American-operated flights. However, the program maintains several "sweet spot" awards to help you maximize your rewards.

According to American, one-way tickets within the contiguous 48 U.S. states and Canada start at 7,500 miles in economy, though we've seen some flights for as low as 6,000 miles.

If you want to travel abroad, you can book a trip to the Middle East in Qatar Airways' famous Qsuite business class seat for just 70,000 miles each way. Or, if the last few years of travel restrictions have you pining for a trip to Asia, it will be the same number of miles to fly Japan Airlines or Cathay Pacific business class to destinations like Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam.

If you want a trip abroad with a shorter flight, you can book round-trip economy tickets to Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean for just 35,000 miles each. And if you're looking for bargain award flights to Europe, you can get there in the off-season for as few as 45,000 AAdvantage miles round-trip.

Regardless of your travel goals, the card's welcome bonus from this card will go quite a long way in getting you there. In addition to American Airlines flights, you can redeem AAdvantage miles for flights on the following Oneworld and non-alliance partners:

• Air Tahiti Nui
• Alaska Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• China Southern Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• Fiji Airways
• GOL Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• Silver Airways
• SriLankan Airlines

The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select has a $99 annual fee, which is waived for the first year. The card charges no foreign transaction fees and carries a 20.99%- 29.99% variable purchase APR.

Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our  credit card marketplace  or get personalized offers via  CardMatch™ .

Chase Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard vs. AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard

Aadvantage® aviator® red world elite mastercard.

2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases; 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.

Earn 60,000 bonus miles after making your first purchase within the first 90 days

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99

0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening

21.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

The closest competitor to the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select is the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard . The Aviator Red card has a $99 annual fee, which isn't waived the first year. The card has a higher welcome bonus at a much lower spending requirement: 70,000 miles after the first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee within the first 90 days. 

The Aviator Red card earns 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile everywhere else. The card's earning rate is much more limited than what the Citi card offers as it doesn't offer bonuses for spending at restaurants and gas stations. 

Like the Citi card, this card offers 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases, a free checked bag, and preferred boarding for up to four companions. Instead of a flight voucher, cardholders who spend $20,000 yearly receive a companion certificate to book a second traveler's flight for just $99 plus taxes. 

One significant advantage of the Aviator Red card is that it provides travel accident insurance , trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage delay insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver . The card also offers 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening, 20.99% - 29.99% variable thereafter. 

The Aviator Red card is better if you want a card with travel protections and a 0% APR offer during the first year. However, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum card comes out ahead if you want a bigger welcome bonus and higher ongoing rewards.

Chase Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard vs. Capital One Venture

Capital one venture rewards credit card.

5 Miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

N/A for purchases and balance transfers

19.99% - 29.99% variable

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

Foreign transaction fee

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees ) might be an odd choice to compare against the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select. After all, Capital One miles don't transfer to American Airlines. However, you can use your Venture miles to pay for American flights at a fixed rate of one cent per mile. You can book any flight without worrying about award inventory or dynamic pricing. You can also transfer Venture miles to British Airways Executive Club, and then book American Airlines flights from there.

The Venture Card currently offers a generous welcome bonus similar to the AAdvantage Platinum card: 75,000 miles after $4,000 spent within three months of account opening. You can redeem this bonus for $750 worth of flights or transfer them to over a dozen airlines and hotels for a potentially higher value.

The Venture card has a $95 annual fee and earns 2 miles per dollar on all spending, making it ideal if most of your spending falls outside of the dining, gas and American Airlines categories that earn 2X rewards with the AAdvantage Platinum card (see rates and fees ). In addition, you'll earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and get premium perks like two free lounge visits per year and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application credit every four years.

Don't miss: 6 times you should redeem points and miles rather than pay cash

The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select is best for travelers who wish to earn miles and receive perks with American Airlines. This card offers a variety of benefits, such as a free checked bag, priority boarding and elevated rewards in select spending categories. The ability to earn an annual flight voucher makes the card even more rewarding, helping cover the annual $95 annual fee. 

Since the annual fee is waived the first year, this is an excellent opportunity to test-drive the card. You'll get a generous welcome bonus and valuable perks if you fly with American Airlines. You'll either decide it's worth holding onto long-term or that an alternate card might be a better fit. Either way, it won't cost you anything except a credit inquiry. 

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard offers a generous welcome bonus for an airline credit card . If you want to boost your AAdvantage balance and add a card to your wallet with practical travel benefits, this card could be an excellent fit. Even if you're just an occasional traveler, but usually check a bag, this card will quickly pay for itself. With no annual fee during the first year and a sign-up bonus that can potentially take you around the world, it's certainly worth looking into.

Money matters —  so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products . While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

• How Quicken Simplifi can help you get a grip on your spending Elizabeth Gravier
• IRA vs CD — what's the difference and which one should you pick? Andreina Rodriguez
• 3 best Chase balance transfer credit cards of 2024 Jason Stauffer

To provide you with extra security, we may need to ask for more information before you can use the feature you selected.

Just a moment, please...

• Citicards.com
• Terms & Conditions
• Notice at Collection
• CA Privacy Hub

5 lesser-known benefits of the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Citi is a TPG advertising partner

For American Airlines flyers, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is one of the best card options out there . It provides benefits that can make traveling with American Airlines better -- even if you're flying in basic economy . It's also a useful credit card for travelers that don't fly on American much, since it has lots of valuable airline partners you can redeem miles with . There are plenty of reasons to add this card to your wallet, including the card's current sign-up bonus of 50,000 American AAdvantage miles after spending $2,500 in the first 3 months of account opening. The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Aside from the sign-up bonus and benefits directly related to flying on American Airlines, the card features some perks that aren't as widely advertised. Citi recently removed travel and shopping protections on most credit cards, though the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card retains a few important benefits. Here are five lesser-known benefits of the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card.

For the latest credit card offers and deals, sign up for our free daily newsletter .

1. Damage & Theft Purchase Protection

If you make a purchase with your Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, it's covered against damage and theft within 90 days of purchase or delivery, whichever comes first. Citi will repair the item or reimburse the cost. The card covers up to $10,000 per incident and up to $50,000 per year, per card account.

You must have purchased the item at least in part with your AAdvantage Platinum Select Card in order for it to be eligible for the card's coverage. If you didn't pay for the item completely with your Citi Card, the card's protection will only cover up to the cost that was charged to the card.

This coverage is secondary, meaning if you have other coverage, you'll need to file a claim with your insurance first. Coverage doesn't apply if the item wasn't reasonably cared for to prevent the damage or theft; the item is used in a way that goes against the manufacturer's instructions or warnings, or is altered from its designed purpose; the item is damaged because of a product defect or experiences normal wear and tear where no failure has occurred; the item is damaged because of an act of God; or the item was under the care and control of a third-party.

Purchases that aren't eligible for this coverage include but are not limited to boats, cars, aircraft or any other motorized land, air or water vehicles and their original equipment; products that can spoil or be consumed; currency, cash, gift cards or traveler's checks; tickets of any kind; items purchased for resale, professional or commercial use; advice or services for a purchased item; watches or jewelry; and fire arms or ammunition.

To file a claim, call 1-866-918-4670 or visit www.cardbenefits.citi.com as soon as possible after the incident. You'll need to return all requested documents within 180 days of the date of the incident. You may be asked to provide the damaged item for inspection. For stolen items, you'll need to provide a police report.

2. ShopRunner

If you shop anywhere outside of Amazon , you know how tough it can be to find free two-day shipping. Unless you're spending at least $50, you'll most likely be on the hook for shipping fees. With ShopRunner membership courtesy of your Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, you'll receive free two-day shipping and returns at over 100 retailers.

Normally, ShopRunner membership will set you back $79 per year. Membership is free for those with an American Express credit card , PayPal or Yahoo account. Or you login to your Citi account, head to the card benefits section and claim your free ShopRunner account.

Related Reading: The Beginners Guide to Airline Shopping Portals

3. Offers For You

As a Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard accountholder, you qualify for a suite of personalized from Citi. Under the Offers section in your account, you'll periodically find things like introductory purchase APR offers, travel deals, bonus points for opening qualifying checking accounts and spending in certain categories.

4. Citi Entertainment

The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard gets you access to Citi Entertainment, where you can book presale and preferred tickets to your favorite concerts, sporting events, theatre shows and dining experiences. Examples of recent offers include preferred tickets to Brad Paisley concerts, presale tickets to Lady Gaga's Chromatic Ball, a Jerry Seinfeld show and more.

Citi is even offering discounts on dining experiences. Every Wednesday, cardholders who use Apple Pay receive 20% off at Urban Space 570 Lex in New York. There are also other discounts and freebies at various other merchants, not to mention Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard earns 2X miles at restaurants.

Be sure to login to your Citi account to find out how Citi Entertainment can help you save on your next dining or entertainment experience.

Related Reading: The Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Spending

5. Extended Warranty

The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard's warranty coverage will extend the manufacturer's warranty on an item for an additional 24 months. If an eligible item breaks, Citi will repair, replace or reimburse you up to the amount charged on your card. The maximum coverage per item is $10,000.

Keep in mind that total coverage won't exceed seven years from the purchase date. Also note that Citi will only extend the warranty on an item paid at least in part with your Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard. If you only pay for part of the item with your card, Citi will only reimburse you for up to the amount charged.

Coverage doesn't apply to some items, including boats, cars, aircraft or any other motorized land, air or water vehicles and their original equipment; tires; services unless covered under the manufacturer's warranty; used, antique or pre-owned items; items purchased for resale, professional or commercial use; land or buildings; housing properties; plants and live animals; and items that don't come with a manufacturer's warranty.

Additionally, damage that occurs under some circumstances isn't covered. These circumstances include but aren't limited to when you fail to care for or service the item appropriately as required by the manufacturer; the item has a product defect, recall or experiences normal wear and tear where no failure has occurred; or the item is damaged because of an act of God, such as a flood, hurricane, lightning, wind or earthquake.

To file a claim, call 1-866-918-4670 as soon as possible after the incident and return all requested documents within 180 days of the incident.

Bottom Line

As shown in this article, the benefits of the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard aren't limited to travel on American Airlines. Indeed, the card continues to offer valuable purchase and shopping benefits, despite the recent cut-back. The ShopRunner benefit alone can take a substantial chunk out of the card's $99 annual fee.

Additional reporting by Ariana Arghandewal

Featured photo by The Points Guy

• Auto Insurance Best Car Insurance Cheapest Car Insurance Compare Car Insurance Quotes Best Car Insurance For Young Drivers Best Auto & Home Bundles Cheapest Cars To Insure
• Home Insurance Best Home Insurance Best Renters Insurance Cheapest Homeowners Insurance Types Of Homeowners Insurance
• Life Insurance Best Life Insurance Best Term Life Insurance Best Senior Life Insurance Best Whole Life Insurance Best No Exam Life Insurance
• Pet Insurance Best Pet Insurance Cheap Pet Insurance Pet Insurance Costs Compare Pet Insurance Quotes
• Travel Insurance Best Travel Insurance Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Best Cruise Travel Insurance Best Senior Travel Insurance
• Health Insurance Best Health Insurance Plans Best Affordable Health Insurance Best Dental Insurance Best Vision Insurance Best Disability Insurance
• Credit Cards Best Credit Cards 2024 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Best Rewards Credit Cards Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards Best 0% APR Credit Cards Best Business Credit Cards Best Credit Cards for Startups Best Credit Cards For Bad Credit Best Cards for Students without Credit
• Credit Card Reviews Chase Sapphire Preferred Wells Fargo Active Cash® Chase Sapphire Reserve Citi Double Cash Citi Diamond Preferred Chase Ink Business Unlimited American Express Blue Business Plus
• Credit Card by Issuer Best Chase Credit Cards Best American Express Credit Cards Best Bank of America Credit Cards Best Visa Credit Cards
• Credit Score Best Credit Monitoring Services Best Identity Theft Protection
• CDs Best CD Rates Best No Penalty CDs Best Jumbo CD Rates Best 3 Month CD Rates Best 6 Month CD Rates Best 9 Month CD Rates Best 1 Year CD Rates Best 2 Year CD Rates Best 5 Year CD Rates
• Checking Best High-Yield Checking Accounts Best Checking Accounts Best No Fee Checking Accounts Best Teen Checking Accounts Best Student Checking Accounts Best Joint Checking Accounts Best Business Checking Accounts Best Free Checking Accounts
• Savings Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Best Free No-Fee Savings Accounts Simple Savings Calculator Monthly Budget Calculator: 50/30/20
• Mortgages Best Mortgage Lenders Best Online Mortgage Lenders Current Mortgage Rates Best HELOC Rates Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders Best Home Equity Loan Lenders Best VA Mortgage Lenders Mortgage Refinance Rates Mortgage Interest Rate Forecast
• Personal Loans Best Personal Loans Best Debt Consolidation Loans Best Emergency Loans Best Home Improvement Loans Best Bad Credit Loans Best Installment Loans For Bad Credit Best Personal Loans For Fair Credit Best Low Interest Personal Loans
• Student Loans Best Student Loans Best Student Loan Refinance Best Student Loans for Bad or No Credit Best Low-Interest Student Loans
• Business Loans Best Business Loans Best Business Lines of Credit Apply For A Business Loan Business Loan vs. Business Line Of Credit What Is An SBA Loan?
• Investing Best Online Brokers Top 10 Cryptocurrencies Best Low-Risk Investments Best Cheap Stocks To Buy Now Best S&P 500 Index Funds Best Stocks For Beginners How To Make Money From Investing In Stocks
• Retirement Best Gold IRAs Best Investments for a Roth IRA Best Bitcoin IRAs Protecting Your 401(k) In a Recession Types of IRAs Roth vs Traditional IRA How To Open A Roth IRA
• Business Formation Best LLC Services Best Registered Agent Services How To Start An LLC How To Start A Business
• Web Design & Hosting Best Website Builders Best E-commerce Platforms Best Domain Registrar
• HR & Payroll Best Payroll Software Best HR Software Best HRIS Systems Best Recruiting Software Best Applicant Tracking Systems
• Payment Processing Best Credit Card Processing Companies Best POS Systems Best Merchant Services Best Credit Card Readers How To Accept Credit Cards
• More Business Solutions Best VPNs Best VoIP Services Best Project Management Software Best CRM Software Best Accounting Software
• Manage Topics
• Investigations
• Visual Explainers
• Newsletters
• Abortion news
• Coronavirus
• Climate Change
• Vertical Storytelling
• Corrections Policy
• College Football
• High School Sports
• H.S. Sports Awards
• Sports Betting
• College Basketball (M)
• College Basketball (W)
• For The Win
• Sports Pulse
• Weekly Pulse
• Buy Tickets
• Sports Seriously
• Sports+ States
• Celebrities
• Entertainment This!
• Celebrity Deaths
• American Influencer Awards
• Women of the Century
• Problem Solved
• Personal Finance
• Small Business
• Consumer Recalls
• Video Games
• Product Reviews
• Destinations
• Airline News
• Experience America
• Today's Debate
• Suzette Hackney
• Policing the USA
• Meet the Editorial Board
• How to Submit Content
• Hidden Common Ground
• Race in America

Personal Loans

Best Personal Loans

Auto Insurance

Best Auto Insurance

Best High-Yields Savings Accounts

CREDIT CARDS

Best Credit Cards

Advertiser Disclosure

Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Credit Cards > Reviews

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card Review: A low-priced winner for American Airlines flyers

Robin Saks Frankel

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

Updated 9:41 a.m. UTC April 2, 2024

• path]:fill-[#49619B]" alt="Facebook" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
• path]:fill-[#202020]" alt="Email" width="19" height="14" viewBox="0 0 19 14" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">

Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

Citi is a Blueprint partner.

You can quickly earn piles of miles on flights, restaurants and gas stations. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® * The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. also grants decent perks when you fly American, plus a fast track to elite status.

Why trust our credit card experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

• 50+ cards analyzed.
• 8 data points considered.
• 5-step fact-checking process.

Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard basics

• Annual fee: $99, waived for the first 12 months.
• Welcome bonus: 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles after spending $3,500 in purchases in the first four months of account opening. 
• Rewards: 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, restaurants and gas stations and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• APR: 21.24% to 29.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
• Other perks and benefits: First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries, preferred boarding on American Airlines flights, 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights, $125 flight discount after spending $20,000 or more on purchases each cardmembership year and renewing the card, Loyalty Points towards AAdvantage elite status, no foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad. 
• Does the issuer offer a preapproval tool? None.
• Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.

About the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® * The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is one of three cobranded consumer credit cards issued by Citibank for American Airlines customers. The card offers an impressive 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles after spending $3,500 in purchases in the first four months of account opening. You’ll also earn 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, restaurants and gas stations and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Every eligible mile you earn also nets you 1 Loyalty Point, which counts toward AAdvantage elite status.

The card also offers free checked bags and preferred boarding on American Airlines flights for you and up to four travel companions. Cardholders earn a 25% inflight discount on food and beverages and a $125 American Airlines flight discount after spending $20,000 or more on purchases in a cardmembership year and renewing the card. Finally, the card’s annual fee is $99, waived for the first 12 months. A checked bag fee for a domestic flight on American starts at $30 one way, so if you and a companion fly round trip once a year on the airline, you’ll save money on baggage fees in spite of the card’s annual fee.

• Solid welcome bonus: The card’s welcome bonus gives you the chance to earn enough miles to book multiple award flights, depending on where you want to travel. With no annual fee the first year, you don’t have to worry about fees eating into your initial bonus value.
• Good flight perks: Every time you fly domestic with American Airlines, you and up to four companions on your itinerary will get the first checked bag free. You’ll also get preferred boarding and 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases in the form of a statement credit.
• Value outpaces the annual fee: Even after the first year, you can get more value than the cost of the card’s annual fee if you spend $20,000 or more on purchases and renew your card each cardmembership year to earn the $125 flight discount. And if you spend enough to earn loyalty rewards and elite status, the card is well worth its annual fee.
• Rewards are inflexible: As with other airline credit cards, it only makes sense to get the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard if you only want to redeem your rewards with American Airlines and its partners. If you want more flexible rewards, consider a general travel credit card. 
• Perks are limited: While you can get more value with this card than the cost of the annual fee, many other travel credit cards offer more premium benefits, such as airport lounge access, general travel credits, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application credits and more.
• Bonus rewards are limited: While you can earn double the miles on purchases with American Airlines and at restaurants and gas stations, other travel credit cards may offer higher rewards rates and more bonus categories.

Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard rewards

The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite earns 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, restaurants and gas stations and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

As a new cardholder, you’ll also earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles after spending $3,500 in purchases in the first four months of account opening.

Additionally, each mile you earn — not including the welcome bonus — nets you 1 Loyalty Point. With 15,000 Loyalty Points, you can pick a reward, such as priority boarding or preferred seat coupons. Starting at 40,000 Loyalty Points, you can qualify for elite status, which comes with complimentary upgrades and more.

Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has around $25,087 in annual expenses that can be charged to a credit card. Here’s how our sample household’s rewards could break down:

You can redeem your American Airlines AAdvantage miles in a number of ways, including:

• Award flights
• Seat upgrades
• Car rentals
• Vacation packages
• Admirals Club lounge access
• Luxury experiences

The value of your miles can vary depending on how you redeem them, but you’ll generally get the most value when you redeem them for award flights. Depending on where you want to fly, award flights start at just 7,500 miles each way. 

With our sample cardholder’s 32,810 AAdvantage miles, they could fly one-way from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport (GIG) in January 2024, round trip from Chicago’s O-Hare International Airport (ORD) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in April 2024 or even one way from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) in May of 2024.

Other options that could stretch your mileage further include redeeming AAdvantage miles for flights with one of American’s airline partners via the Oneworld network or other non-alliance partners.

Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard APR

Like most travel credit cards, the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard doesn’t offer an introductory 0% APR promotion. Depending on your creditworthiness, your variable APR will be 21.24% to 29.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.

How the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard compares to other travel credit cards 

Citi/aadvantage platinum select world elite mastercard vs. other american airlines credit cards.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® * The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is the middle card in the American Airlines Citi-cobranded lineup plus there is a Barclays-issued AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® * The information for the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . Here’s how the Platinum Select compares to the other options. The right one for you between these options will depend on your willingness to pay an annual fee in exchange for perks and benefits.

Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

If you prefer to fly with Delta Air Lines, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card (terms apply, rates & fees ) might be a better fit. The card offers 40,000 miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. The card earns 2 miles per $1 on Delta purchases, at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 1 mile per $1 on other eligible purchases. 

Other perks include a 15% discount anytime you book Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using delta.com and the Fly Delta app, a free checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions, a $200 Delta flight credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year and 20% back in the form of a statement credit after using your card on eligible Delta inflight purchases. The card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you’re looking for a card that offers travel rewards you can use for more than just flights, look to the Capital One Venture card . The card charges a $95 and earns 5 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and purchases through Capital One Entertainment and 2 miles per $1 on other purchases. Those rewards can be used for travel several ways: via booking through Capital One Travel, booking through any travel provider for and getting a statement credit back for the purchase or transferring your miles to one of Capital One’s multiple airline and hotel transfer partners.

The multiple redemption options make the Venture card a far more flexible choice than the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum card and the Venture also offers two free airport lounge passes per year and an up to $100 application fee credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry. You won’t get a free checked bag perk or preferred boarding however.  

Should you get the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard?

The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard can be an excellent choice if you fly American Airlines at least once or twice a year and have a good idea of whether you’d be able to take full advantage of the card’s perks. It can be particularly useful if you only fly American and want to take advantage of loyalty rewards and elite status benefits offered by the airline.

That said, if you want a little more flexibility with your rewards and don’t like being tied down to one airline, you may consider a travel credit card with transferable points, so you’ll have a little more flexibility over how you can spend your hard-earned rewards.

Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard summary

Methodology

Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of travel credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. We factored the following into our analysis:

• Annual fees.
• Travel reward rates.
• Value of rewards.
• Redemption options.
• Additional benefits that a card may offer for travelers, such as travel insurance.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

No, the card does not offer access to airport lounges. If you want a card that grants you access to the American Airlines Admirals Club lounge, you’ll need to apply for the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard instead.

Yes, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card has an annual fee of $99, waived for the first 12 months.

Yes, you can upgrade your Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard to the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard by calling the number on the back of your credit card and speaking with a customer service representative.

You may even receive an offer in the mail to upgrade your card. If that’s the case, you’ll visit the specified website and provide your invitation code, last name, the last four digits of your Social Security number and your billing zip code.

The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard does not offer travel insurance.

For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card please visit this page .

*The information for the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

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.

Ben Luthi is a freelance writer who covers all things personal finance and travel. His work has appeared in dozens of online publications. Ben lives in Salt Lake City with his two children and two cats.

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.

Check it out: This is what the average household spends on grocery costs per month

Credit Cards Stella Shon

Capital One Quicksilver benefits guide 2024

Credit Cards Lee Huffman

United Airlines credit cards have a secret perk that makes it easier to book awards

Credit Cards Jason Steele

Can you pay off one credit card with another?

Credit Cards Louis DeNicola

Amex Gold vs. Platinum

Credit Cards Harrison Pierce

Why I chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred as my first ever rewards card

Credit Cards Sarah Li Cain

How to use Alaska Airlines Companion Fare

Credit Cards Ariana Arghandewal

How I maximize my Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card

How to do a balance transfer with Discover

9 ways to maximize the Citi Custom Cash card’s 5% cash-back categories

American Express Business Platinum benefits guide 2024

Credit Cards Chris Dong

Why I applied for the new Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

Which Citi balance transfer card should I get?

Credit Cards Julie Sherrier

5 reasons why the Citi Diamond Preferred is great for paying down debt

Credit Cards Michelle Lambright Black

Welcome offer on Chase’s IHG One Rewards Premier Business card soars to 175K points

Credit Cards Carissa Rawson

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

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® EARN 50,000 BONUS MILES Terms apply

EARN 50,000 BONUS MILES

Terms apply

Pricing details

For all your travel needs

Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles plus travel benefits

Bonus miles earned after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, $0 intro annual fee for the first year , then $99 * offer available if you apply here today. offers may vary and this offer may not be available in other places where the card is offered., discover the amazing travel rewards and benefits with the citi® / aadvantage® platinum select® world elite mastercard®:.

Leaving so soon?

50,000 bonus miles are waiting

View offer >

Don’t miss out on up to $300 in round trip savings with your free checked bag on domestic travel

Explore benefits >

Citi® / AAdvantage® credit cards now give you two great ways to earn with the AAdvantage® program:

Aadvantage® miles earn miles from purchases   what can miles do for you +, what can miles do for you ―.

• Seat upgrades
• Car rentals, hotels and vacations
• Admirals Club® access

Loyalty Points Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible mile earned from purchases   What can Loyalty Points do for you? +

What can loyalty points do for you ―.

• Premium cabin upgrades
• Complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra and Preferred Seats
• Same-day standby priority

Explore our Citi® / AAdvantage® credit cards to find the best fit for you:

For everyday purchases

Admirals Club® membership

For business owners

CARD REVIEWS

Offer availability.

American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® account in the past 48 months. The card offer referenced in this communication is only available to individuals who reside in the United States and its territories, excluding Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Offer available if you apply here today. Offers may vary and this offer may not be available in other places where the card is offered.

ApplyURLsPlatinum