American Airlines frequent flyers have plenty of credit card options that can help them earn additional miles and get access to travel benefits. There are two banks offering co-branded AAdvantage credit cards: Citi and Barclays. Here we will talk about top Citi/AAdvantage credit cards for consumers and small businesses.
Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®
Sign-Up Bonus: For a limited time, earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening.
Annual Fee: $99, waived for first 12 months
Key Feature: Earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate for domestic travel after $30,000 in purchases each cardmembership year and cardmembership is renewed. Fees apply.
The current welcome bonus offer on the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® is 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles for spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 5 months of account opening. This bonus is enough to pay for a one-way business class flight within the United States.
You will earn more miles on credit card purchases. The standard earning rate is 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. However, the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® also allows earning
2 miles per dollar in select categories, such as purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations.
The card benefits also include free first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries, 25% savings on American Airlines inflight Wi-Fi, preferred boarding, and a companion certificate. To qualify for the companion certificate, you will need to spend at least $30,000 on the card in a cardmember year.
Other card benefits include preferred boarding on American Airlines flights, free first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries, and 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights.
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®
Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles and receive a $50 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Annual Fee: $0
Key Feature: Earn 2x miles on groceries and mores.
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® is designed for those who are just getting acquainted with American Airlines miles. The card comes with a small bonus offer, even though it has no annual fee. New cardmembers will be able to earn 10,000 bonus miles after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Meeting the welcome bonus requirements will also entitle you to receive a $50 statement credit.
Ongoing rewards will allow you to earn AAdvantage miles on everyday purchases as the card gives 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent at grocery stores (including grocery delivery services). You will also earn 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
The card’s additional travel benefits include 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights and no cap to the miles you can earn.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual Fee: $595
Key Feature: Complimentary Admirals Club® membership.
This card is basically designed for American Airlines frequent flyers who often come by Admirals Club lounges. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® offers 70,000 bonus miles for spending $7,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus it gives a free Admirals Club membership (a value of up to $650).
AAdvantage members will also like the opportunity to earn 10,000 EQMs (AAdvantage Elite Qualifying Miles) for spending $40,000 on purchases within each calendar year. As for the ongoing rewards, you will earn 1 miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent on other purchases.
Other card’s benefits include no foreign transaction fees, free checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries, priority boarding on American Airlines flights, priority check-in and priority airport screening, Global Entry or TSA Pre application fee credit, and 25% savings on flight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights.
Bottom Line
There are AAdvantage credit cards for every wallet and every need. Whether you want to boost your American Airlines miles earning potential, reach the next AAdvantage elite status faster, or simply enjoy travel perks, you will find a Citi AAdvantage card for you.
However, you should remember that Citi removed travel and shopping protections from most of their credit cards. So if you want to get such protections as worldwide travel accident insurance, car rental insurance, or baggage delay protection, you should consider other options before you book a trip with your Citi card.