Key facts
If you live near an American Airlines hub and want to kick back and relax at the Admirals Club, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® offers a complimentary membership for lounge access. Other perks include a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit (every 4 years) and a first free checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries.
Annual Fee:
$595Min. Credit Score for Approval:
670-739 * GoodOngoing APR:
20.49%-29.49% VariableBalance transfer fees
5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.Foreign Transaction Fee:
0%You’ll earn 4-5X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1x miles on everything else, and remember that you’ll also earn 1 Loyalty Points per $1 spent to help you earn elite status.
Not to mention the Loyalty Point bonuses we’ll go over below.
Reward multipliers
- Earn 4X AAdvantage Miles® on eligible American Airlines purchases. After spending $150,000 in purchases in a calendar year, cardmembers can earn even more with a total of 5X AAdvantage Miles® on eligible American Airlines purchases for the remainder of the calendar year
- Earn 10X AAdvantage Miles® on eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars and eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels *
- Earn 1X AAdvantage Miles® on all other eligible purchases
* Loyalty Points are earned on base miles. For this benefit, Citi/AAdvantage cardmembers will receive 1 Loyalty Point for every on $1 spent on car rentals or hotels booked through AA.com.
Earns bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Key features
Unique Card Benefits
Earn Loyalty Points
For every dollar spent on the card, you’ll also earn 1 Loyalty Point towards qualifying for American Airlines elite status. Also earn:
- 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 year
Priority Check-in and Airport Screening
You and up to eight companions on your American Airlines flights can visit the priority check-in desk and be expedited through a priority security screening at available airports.
25% Discount on In-flight Food and Beverage Purchases
You’ll get a 25% discount on eligible American Airlines purchases when you pay with the card to purchase food and drink onboard.
Authorized Users Get Their Own Admiral’s Club Access
You’ll pay $175 (total) for your first 3 Authorized Users and $175 per Authorized User after that.
Airport Lounge Access
An Admirals Club membership (a $500-$650 value) comes with the card, granting you unlimited access to the network of 50+ airport lounges when flying American Airlines, Alaska Airlines or other Oneworld partners.
You can bring your immediate family (your spouse and children under 18 years of age) or two guests.
Annual Statement Credits
- 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.
Priority Boarding
You’ll get to board ahead of the crowd with Group 4 priority boarding privileges.
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Reimbursement
You’ll receive up to a $100 statement credit toward either trusted traveler program application every four years.
Free Checked Bags
You and up to eight companions can get your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries.
It normally costs $40 to check a bag one-way, so the savings can rack up significantly for larger groups or family members traveling together.
Trip Protections
- Trip Cancellation & Interruption Protection
- Trip Delay Protection
- Lost Baggage Protection
Extended Warranty
You’ll get up to an additional 24 months of coverage on items you purchase with the card that come with a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of a year or more.
Purchase Protection
Items that you buy on the card are protected against theft or damage for the first 120 days of purchase and can be reimbursed with an approved claim.
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
This card includes Worldwide Car Rental Insurance Coverage. See site for details.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
The card waives all foreign transaction fees whenever you use your Mastercard internationally.
Concierge Services
You’ll get access to Citi concierge services that can help you plan travel, book restaurant reservations and everything in between.
Metal Card
The Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is a gunmetal-colored metal card. It weighs 18 grams.
Earn more rewards by combining credit cards
Pros & cons
- Admirals Club membership (a $650 value) for unlimited entry for you and immediate family or up to two guests. Authorized users also get access, but see fees for Authorized Users below,
- Free checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to eight travelers on the same reservation
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point per $1 spent; plus threshold Loyalty Point bonuses
- $595 annual fee may be too costly for many
- The earning rate isn't the most optimal at just 4-5x miles on American Airlines flights and 1x miles on other purchases (+10x miles on car and hotels booked via aa.com)
- While Authorized Users used to be free, they are now $175 for the first three and $175 for each additional AU after that
Our review
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.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® have an annual fee?
The Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard charges a $595 annual fee.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® get you into airport lounges?
Yes, the card offers airport lounge access for all 50+ American Airlines Admirals Club locations.
Is it hard to get the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard®?
You’ll most likely need a high credit score and sufficient income to qualify for a prestigious card like the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard.
Is it worth getting the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard®?
If you’re a frequent American Airlines flyer, the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard offers great perks and the chance to rack up American Airlines miles — which are traditionally hard-to-earn compared to other airline programs. The Admirals Club membership is really the highlight of the card and can be worth it alone.
How do I earn miles with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard®?
You’ll earn 4x American Airlines miles on eligible purchases with the carrier (including flights, onboard purchases, seat upgrades and more), as well as 1x miles on all other eligible purchases.
Is there a better credit card than the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard®?
The Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is the top-of-the-line offering co-branded with American Airlines, but for more general travel benefits, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a greater network of lounges to visit, such as the Amex Centurion Lounge and Priority Pass locations.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard®charge foreign transaction fees?
No, there are no foreign transaction fees when paying with this card.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® have car rental coverage?
Yes. Coverage is secondary.
Does the the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® come with any Elite Status?
Via 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
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® offer extended warranty?
Yes, the extended warranty benefit is quite generous, adding up to 24 months of coverage on eligible items.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® offer purchase protection?
Yes, the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard offers a purchase protection benefit as described above.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® offer trip protections?
It has:
- Trip Cancellation & Interruption Protection
- Trip Delay Protection
- Lost Baggage Protection
What credit score do I need to get a Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard®?
To qualify for American Airlines’ premium rewards card, you’ll likely need an excellent credit score of 700 (or higher).
What can I do with the points earned for spending on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard®?
AAdvantage miles offer great redemption for American Airlines flights or for partner airlines through the Oneworld alliance, such as British Airways, Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines and more.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® have Cell Phone Protection?
No, the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard does not provide cell phone protection benefits.