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LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

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

Citi<sup>®</sup> / AAdvantage<sup>®</sup> Platinum Select<sup>®</sup> World Elite Mastercard<sup>®</sup>

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

Sign-Up Bonus
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Bonus Rewards
First checked bag free on domestic itineraries & preferred boarding on American Airlines itineraries and flights
Rewards Rate
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

Who is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® best for?

If you frequently travel on American Airlines, a credit card that offers bonus miles on American Airlines purchases like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, issued by our partner Citi, should be on your radar. In addition to a generous sign-up bonus, cardholders earn an accelerated rewards rate on American Airlines purchases, as well as at gas stations and restaurants.

In this review, we’ll break down the pros and cons of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, as well as show how it compares with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.

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

    • 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
    660 720 850
    Excellent/Good
  • Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
  • 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases
  • Add authorized users for free
  • Foreign transaction fees: 0%

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

20.49% - 29.49% (Variable)

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

20.49% - 29.49% (Variable)

Annual Fee

$99, waived for first 12 months

Cash Advance Fee

5% of each cash advance; $10 minimum

Foreign Transaction Fee

0%

Balance Transfer Fee

Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

Pros and cons of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

Pros

  • Sign-up bonus
  • Rewards rate
  • Travel benefits
  • Free checked bag for up to 4 travel companions

Cons

  • Annual fee
  • No introductory APR

What we like about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

  • Generous sign-up bonus

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

  • Rewards on every purchase

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

    AAdvantage miles can be redeemed in a variety of ways, including flights on American Airlines, American Eagle or any oneworld airline or partner airline, as well as flight upgrades on American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia flights. Miles can also be redeemed for car rentals, hotel stays, activities and tours.

  • Valuable travel benefits

    Along with inflight savings and preferred boarding, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers a $125 American Airlines flight discount after you spend $20,000 during your card membership year and renew your card. Plus, receive their first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation.

What to watch out for with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

  • Annual fee

    The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® charges an annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months.

  • No introductory APR

    Because the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® doesn’t offer an introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers, it’s not the best option if you plan to carry a balance or transfer a balance from a different credit card.

Alternate travel rewards card to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

Compare it to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

If you are an American Airlines loyalist who prefers premium benefits, like complimentary membership to the Admirals Club, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is a great alternative.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® lets you earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases. Unlike the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® does not offer bonus miles at restaurants or gas stations.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®’s premium status comes at a much higher price, however, with an annual fee of $450, compared with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®’s annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months.

That said, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®’s travel perks far outweigh its annual fee. For example, the Admirals Club membership alone is worth up to $650. The card also offers a Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee credit and priority boarding on American Airlines flights. Plus, the first checked bag is free for you and up to eight companions traveling on domestic American Airlines itineraries.

Compare the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® to similar cards

Comparison of four different credit cards
Citi<sup>®</sup> / AAdvantage<sup>®</sup> Platinum Select<sup>®</sup> World Elite Mastercard<sup>®</sup> Citi<sup>®</sup> / AAdvantage<sup>®</sup> Executive World Elite Mastercard<sup>®</sup> Chase Sapphire Preferred<sup>®</sup> Card Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site
Review Coming Soon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site
Welcome Offer
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Rewards Rate
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 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Annual Fee
$99, waived for first 12 months $450 $95 $95
Intro Purchase APR
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.49% (Variable) 20.49% - 29.49% (Variable) 20.49% - 27.49% Variable 20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Recommended Credit
Excellent/Good Excellent/Good Excellent Excellent/Good
Card Details
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Additional card details unavailable Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® right for you?

Overall, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® are both great options if you travel frequently on American Airlines.

If you can bear the expensive $450 price tag, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® may be the better choice — simply for its complimentary Admiral Club membership.

But if you’d prefer to test out a card for free the first year, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® will be your best bet. Along with waiving the annual fee the first year, the card offers a generous sign-up bonus and bonus miles on restaurant and gas station purchases.

Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site