BEST FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES LOUNGE ACCESS

The Citi / AAdvantage Executive card is the only card with a full Admirals Club membership. It also provides perks for American Airlines flyers for an annual fee of $595. (Partner offer)

At a glance

  • 4X Earn 4x AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
  • 1X 1 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on other purchases
70,000 miles
Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
Up to 29.99% (Variable)
29.99% (Variable)
21.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
21.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
$595
  • Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
  • Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you

At a glance

  • 4X Earn 4x AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
  • 1X 1 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on other purchases
70,000 miles
Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
Up to 29.99% (Variable)
29.99% (Variable)
21.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
21.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
$595
  • Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
  • Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
  • Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
  • First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation

Our Take

TPG Editor's Rating

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3/5

Overview

The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is the only cobranded credit card that includes a complimentary membership to the American Airlines Admirals Club lounge network. The primary cardmember also enjoys priority check-in (where available), screening (where available) and boarding for themselves and up to eight travel companions. Other perks include a free checked bag for domestic travel, 25% off eligible inflight purchases and a $100 statement credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck.

Pros

  • Offers Admirals Club lounge access — cheaper than purchasing a membership
  • Earns valuable AAdvantage miles for travel on AA and its partners
  • Boost elite status with Loyalty Points on everyday spending
  • Free checked bag when traveling domestically
  • Inflight food and beverage discount
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee statement credit
  • Ability to add authorized users (for a fee)
  • Statement credits for food delivery, ride-hailing services and car rentals
  • Priority check-in, airport screening and boarding

Cons

  • High annual fee
  • Miles redemption is limited to American Airlines and its partners
  • Inflight credit doesn't include Wi-Fi
  • Have to pay to add authorized users

Who is this card good for?

The Citi / AAdvantage Executive is best for frequent AA flyers and regular Admirals Club visitors. It is also a great card that allows regular flyers to fast-track their elite status, as you earn Loyalty Points on every dollar you spend.

Earning Rewards

Earn 4 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Then, after spending $150,000 in a calendar year, you’ll earn an elevated 5 miles per dollar spent on eligible AA purchases for the remaining calendar year. You’ll also earn 10 miles per dollar spent on eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels and eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars. Finally, you’ll earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. There is no cap on how many miles you can earn in a year.