Key facts
If you enjoy flying with American Airlines, this is a solid option. You essentially get the best of both worlds — limited access to Admirals Club® lounges and an annual fee in line with other mid-tier airline cards. Don’t expect high-end, luxury benefits, as that isn’t what the card is designed for. However, the benefits more than outweigh the annual fee for the right traveler.
Annual Fee:
$350Min. Credit Score for Approval:
670-739 * GoodOngoing APR:
19.49%-29.49% VariableBalance transfer fees
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.Foreign Transaction Fee:
0%The welcome offer is one of the best ways to earn a substantial number of American Airlines AAdvantage® miles. Plus, frequent travelers will have no problem taking advantage of the suite of benefits.
Reward multipliers
This card offers some interesting bonus categories. You’ll earn American Airlines miles at the following rates:
- 6X miles per $1 spent on eligible AAdvantage Hotels™ bookings
- 3X miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2X miles per $1 spent on Rides and Rails™ purchases and at restaurants
- 1X mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
You’ll also earn 1 Loyalty Point for every AAdvantage mile earned on purchases.
Earns bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Key features
Unique Card Benefits
Annual Companion Certificate
Cardholders will earn an annual $99 American Airlines companion certificate starting in their second year of card membership. It is valid for a single round-trip, main cabin, domestic flight. Apart from the $99 ticketing fee for the companion certificate, you’ll need to pay taxes and fees, which can vary based on your itinerary.
Flight Streak™ bonus
You can earn 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points after every four qualifying American Airlines flights you take each year, up to 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points. If you’re working toward status, this feature alone may make the card worthwhile.
Airport Lounge Access
Each calendar year, you’ll receive four Admirals Club® Globe™ Passes, which grant access to nearly 50 lounges. If you don’t live near an airport with an Admirals Club, or you otherwise can’t justify the $595 annual fee on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard, the AAdvantage Globe presents a great option. You can enter an Admirals Club four times a year when you visit an airport with a lounge, but you get the benefit of a lower annual fee.
Please note that there is no other lounge access included with this card.
Primary Car Rental CDW Waiver
The car rental waiver is somewhat complicated. You’re covered under the MasterRental® Coverage, which states that you can decline the rental car’s coverage and charge the rental to your card to receive secondary coverage in the U.S., but primary outside your country of residence. If you tend to travel domestically and often rent cars, this might not be the best option.
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Reimbursement
You’ll receive a statement credit of up to $120 every four years for a Global Entry® or TSA Precheck® application fee. If you aren’t already enrolled, these are fantastic programs that seriously elevate your travel experience.
Annual Statement Credits
As a cardholder, you can take advantage of a variety of statement credits, including:
- Up to $240 back on Turo: Earn up to $30 in statement credits per eligible Turo trip completed. You can link your card to your Turo account by visiting Turo.com/Globe.
- Up to $100 back on in-flight purchases: If you get hungry during your flight, use your card to buy a snack on an American Airlines flight and receive up to $100 in statement credits each year.
- Up to $100 Annual Splurge Credit℠: You can receive up to $100 in statement credits for up to two of the following brands: 1stDibs, eligible AAdvantage Hotels™ bookings, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation®.
Free Checked Bags
Your first checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to eight companions traveling with you on the same reservation. If you’re a budget traveler, your first checked bag free can add up to substantial savings.
Priority Boarding
You and up to eight companions on the same reservation can take advantage of preferred boarding on American Airlines flights.
Extended Warranty
You can double the length of the original manufacturer’s warranty or store warranty for a covered purchase made with your card. The maximum extended warranty is 24 additional months.
Purchase Protection
With Purchase Assurance Plus, you are covered against theft or damage for up to 120 days from the date of purchase.
Trip Protections
If anything happens during your travels, you’re covered. As a cardholder, you can receive trip delay coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and protection for lost or damaged luggage. Note that this does not include delayed baggage.
Free Access to Credit Score
As a cardholder, you’ll receive free access to your FICO® Score online so you can stay on top of your credit profile.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
You can comfortably use your card when traveling abroad, knowing you won’t be accruing unnecessary fees on foreign purchases.
No Fees for Authorized Users
You won’t pay anything additional for authorized user cards added to your account. However, you should understand what benefits your authorized user will have. Some statement credits and benefits may only be available to you as the primary credit cardmember and not to them.
Concierge Services
As a World Legend Mastercard, you’ll receive 24/7 concierge service. You can also gain exclusive access to highly sought-after reservations.
Earn more rewards by combining credit cards
Pros & cons
- 4 Admirals Club Globe Passes each year
- A variety of lucrative and easy-to-use statement credits
- A clear path to elite status
- Steep annual fee
- Many benefits are limited to domestic itineraries
- Limited flexibility in how you can use your miles
Our review
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® is American Airlines’ mid-tier credit card option. All in all, it’s a solid card for semi-frequent American Airlines flyers who don’t live near an airport with an Admirals Club®. You’ll enjoy access to American Airlines lounges a few times per year, but you aren’t paying the hefty annual fee for unlimited access.
For starters, you’ll receive a $99 American Airlines companion certificate starting in your second year as a cardholder. Although it’s only valid on a main cabin domestic flight, you could potentially cover your entire annual fee from this benefit alone. You’ll also earn 3X miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, which is a great way to boost your AAdvantage miles balance.
You can earn three different statement credits annually — up to $240 back on Turo, up to $100 back on inflight purchases, and up to $100 for your Annual Splurge Credit, which can include merchants like Live Nation or AAdvantage Hotels. You’ll also earn a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years, which can provide value if you aren’t already enrolled.
The Flight Streak Bonus is also an interesting feature for anyone chasing status, allowing you to earn 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points for every four flights you take in a calendar year, up to 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points. If that’s not enough, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point for every AAdvantage mile you earn on purchases.
Plus, you’ll receive your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries, enjoy preferred boarding, and a variety of travel and shopping protection benefits. When you add up each of these perks, it’s incredibly easy to find value in the card — much more value than a $350 annual fee.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® have an annual fee?
Yes, it charges an annual fee of $350.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® get you into airport lounges?
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® gives cardholders four Admirals Club® Globe™ Passes each year.
Is it hard to get the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®?
Whether it is challenging to get approved for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® will depend on your financial situation. However, increasing your credit score, limiting your other credit applications, and decreasing your credit utilization are all steps you can take to improve your approval odds. Also, carefully review the application rules to be sure you’re eligible.
Is it worth getting the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®?
If you fly with American Airlines somewhat regularly and fully utilize its benefits, it can absolutely be worth applying for.
How do I earn miles with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®?
You’ll earn bonus points on AAdvantage Hotels™ bookings, American Airlines flights, at restaurants, and on eligible Rides and Rails™ purchases, which include taxis, rideshares, and public transit. All other purchases earn 1 mile per $1 spent.
Is there a better credit card than the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®?
There isn’t a single “best” credit card, so you may find a better option than the AAdvantage Globe Mastercard for your individual travel and financial goals. You can consider a card like the Citi Strata Premier® or Citi Strata Elite℠, both of which transfer points to American Airlines at a 1:1 ratio. Or, consider other cards in the Citi / AAdvantage lineup, like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® or the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® charge foreign transaction fees?
No, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® does not charge foreign transaction fees.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® have car rental coverage?
It offers MasterRental Coverage, which provides primary coverage outside of the cardholder’s home country and secondary coverage in the U.S.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® come with any Elite Status?
No, the card does not come with automatic elite status. However, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point per 1 AAdvantage mile earned. You’ll also earn 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points for every four American Airlines flights you take each year, up to 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® offer extended warranty?
Yes, as long as you make the purchase with your card, you can double the length of the original manufacturer’s warranty or store warranty for a covered purchase. The maximum extended warranty is 24 additional months.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® offer purchase protection?
Yes, it offers Purchase Assurance Plus, which covers your stolen or damaged item for up to 120 days from the date of purchase.
Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® offer trip protections?
Yes, you’re covered with a variety of trip protections, including trip delay coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and lost or damaged luggage protection.
What credit score do I need to get a Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®?
Citi considers more than just your credit score when reviewing your application, including your recent applications, income, and overall creditworthiness. However, having a good to excellent credit score will improve your chances of approval.
What can I do with the points earned for spending on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®?
The miles you earn can be redeemed for American Airlines flights, as low as 7,500 miles one-way. You can also use miles for upgrades, hotels, car rentals, vacations, cruises, online shopping, experiences, and Admirals Club passes.
Does Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® have Cell Phone Protection?
No, it does not offer cell phone protection.
How Does the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® card compare with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard
If your goal is to earn as many American Airlines AAdvantage miles as possible, you’re better off with the Globe Mastercard. Although the Executive World Elite earns an additional mile for every $1 spent on American Airlines purchases, the other bonus-earning categories are subpar.
The primary benefit of the top-tier card is unlimited Admirals Club access, which is particularly helpful if you live near an American Airlines hub. The Executive World Elite also offers different statement credits to offset the premium $595 annual fee, including up to $120 back on eligible prepaid Avis® and Budget car rentals, up to $120 with Lyft, and up to $120 back on Grubhub purchases.
You can compare the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® card with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard