Compare the Features and Benefits of Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® and
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

If you and your immediate family members fly American Airlines often, the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard offers an outstanding slew of perks. As the most premium offering of all of the American Airlines’ AAdvantage credit cards, the most enticing and primary benefit by far is the ability the Admirals Club membership (though you’ll need a same day boarding pass on American or on any of the Oneworld partner airlines). You can bring your immediate family, which counts as your spouse/domestic partner and children under the age of 18 or two guests.

Valued at $500 – $650 per year outright, you can save quite a big chunk of cash by applying for the card instead. What’s more, you can add up to 10 authorized users to the primary card account with fees as follows: $175 total for the first three authorized users and $175 for each additional AU after that. While the card used to give free Authorized Users, that was simply too good to last. It remains a good deal on up to 3 AUs.

Your authorized users, whether you add your trusted friends or family members, will get their own American Airlines Admirals Club® membership. This makes the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard for larger families with lots of guests to bring along the way.

When you’re flying on American Airlines, you’ll not only get a 25% discount on inflight eligible American Airlines purchases for food and drinks, but you’ll get the VIP treatment at the airport. It starts with priority check-in, where you can bring a first checked bag free, and priority airport screening allows you to skip the line when available. Finally, priority boarding allows you to board with Group 4. Best of all, these three benefits apply to you and up to eight travelers on the same reservation!

Not only does the card help provide an enhanced airport experience, but you get to earn both American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points to help you qualify for AAdvantage® frequent flyer status. You’ll earn 2x redeemable miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1x miles on everything else. On top of that, you’ll earn 1x Loyalty Point per $1 spent.

As well, there are now Loyalty Point bonuses:

• A 10,000 Loyalty Point Bonus after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year
• A 10,000 Loyalty Point Bonus after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification years

And statement credit:

• Lyft – Citi/AAdvantage Executive cardmembers can earn a $10 Lyft credit after taking 3 eligible rides in a calendar month and paying with their card.
• Grubhub – Citi/AAdvantage Executive cardmembers are eligible to receive a statement credit of up to $10 per monthly billing statement (for a total of up to $120 every 12 monthly billing statements) on eligible purchases made at Grubhub.
• Avis/Budget – Citi/AAdvantage Executive cardmembers are eligible to receive a statement credit up to $120 every calendar year when purchases of up to $120 or more made Avis or budget car rentals or both are charged to their card.

It not only has Global Entry / TSA PreCheck reimbursement every 4 years, but now comes with a suite of Trip Protections:

• Trip Cancellation & Interruption Protection
• Trip Delay Protection
• Lost Baggage Protection
• Worldwide Car Rental Insurance Coverage

In short, if you want American Airline’s Admiral’s Club access (and don’t need Priority Pass or other lounge access), the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is a fantastic pick.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card offers a slew of perks that will appeal to several types of business owners. Whether you’re looking to join the early ranks of Silver or Gold Medallion status, or want to climb further toward Platinum or Diamond, this business card provides excellent incentives for higher spend, helping you earn your way towards higher status levels.

Not only that, but you will earn 3x bonus miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases, 1.5x miles on transit, U.S. shipping, and large purchases of $5,000 or more (up to an aggregate limit of $100,000 per year; earn 1X thereafter) plus 1x miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

In short, the Delta Platinum Business card’s earning rate is solid for businesses who want to reap the rewards on their high operating expenses.

The $350 annual fee can be hard to swallow, but several notable perks can help you save money when you’re flying with Delta.

First, you and up to eight passengers can get a first checked bag free on Delta Flights + Zone 5 Priority Boarding.

You’ll also receive up to a $100 credit toward your Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application or renewal (Terms apply).

And upon paying your annual fee every account anniversary, you’ll receive an annual companion certificate that’s valid for Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights on Delta. If used wisely, you can easily score hundreds of dollars in value from this recurring benefit.

Other smaller, but just as impactful, benefits include no foreign transaction fees, a 15% discount when redeeming SkyMiles for flights on Delta, as well as a solid range of travel and purchase protection benefits, including cell phone insurance.

For those that need a hand with reaching the next Delta Medallion® elite status level, this card earns 1 MQD (Medallion Qualifying Dollars) for every $20 spent on eligible purchases with your Card plus $2,500 MQDs each year – just for holding the card!

There are also up to $440 worth of statement credits available on this card.

You can get an statement credit of up to $200 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.

You’ll also be eligible for up to $120 in Resy Credit (earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card) and you can earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.

Note that you cannot enter the Delta Sky Clubs with the Delta Platinum Amex Business card. If you anticipate needing airport lounge access,  you may want to consider the Delta SkyMiles® Business Reserve Card, which comes with a much higher $650 annual fee. However, you’ll get access to Delta Sky Clubs when you fly Delta that same day with the Delta SkyMiles® Business Reserve Card. (Limitations apply.)

Overall, the Delta Platinum Amex Business Card is a phenomenal option for business owners who want to maximize their earning potential on Delta purchases, enjoy flight perks, and work towards elite status on Delta.

Rates and Fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card