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The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite MasterCard has an offer of: 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles. These 50k miles will be worth about $700. With this bonus miles offer, it makes it simpler for their loyal American Airlines members to build up miles and save time and money.
But, if you don’t normally fly with American Airlines, then you should consider a general travel rewards credit card that’s better designed for your needs.
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Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card Quick Facts
| Bonus Available | Receive 50,000 bonus miles once you’ve spent a minimum of $2,500 in the first 3 months of opening your account. |
| Bonus Value | $700 |
| Travel Credit | Gain a $100 American Airlines flight discount once you’ve spent a minimum of $20,000 in expenses in your card membership year and renew your credit card. |
| Ongoing Rewards/Benefits | Earn 2 miles for each $1 used towards qualifying American Airlines expenses, 2 miles for each $1 used towards dining and gas, and 1 mile for each $1 used towards other expenses. Free checked bag for you and no more than 4 people on your reservation. 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases. |
| Foreign Transaction Fees? | No |
| Airport Lounge Access | N/A |
| Annual Fee | $99, waived first 12 months. |
Recommended Free Credit Score (Get Free Score)
690 – 850 (Good – Excellent)
*If interested see our list of Citi Bank bonuses for Checking & Savings accounts.*
Pros
- Bonus miles
- Free checked bag & preferred boarding
- Flight Discount
- Option to redeem with partner airlines
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- Good-Excellent credit needed to qualify
- Not the best choice if you don’t fly American often
Editor’s Alternate Pick
 The United Explorer Card offers 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. You'll earn: • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United purchases • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services Perks of this card include: • Getting up to $100 Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Fee Credit • Get your first bag checked for free (up to $140 savings per roundtrip) when you using your Card to purchase your ticket • Get priority boarding perks & visit the United Club with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary This card does come with a $95 annual fee, however, the annual fee is waived for the first year. |
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card 50,000 Bonus Miles
Make use of the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card amazing welcome bonus miles offer of: 50,000. These 50k miles can be redeemed for no more than $700 in airfare. It’s a pretty competitive welcome bonus offer when you compare it to other credit cards with the same annual fees in the market.
You must charge your card with at least $2,500 in the first 3 months of having your account open to be able to qualify for this bonus miles offer.
Here are some ideas on meeting the spending requirement:
| • Plastiq: Plastiq allows you to pay for expenses that you generally won’t be able to with your card like rent, tuition, auto lease, mortgage payment, and more. There’s a 2.5% processing fee for using your credit card. However, this’ll be worth the card bonus you’ll get. There’s also a referral program where you can earn “Fee-Free Dollars” to use towards processing fees. See our Plastiq review. |
| • Fund Checking accounts with your card: Many banks will allow you to fund the opening deposit with a credit card. Consider opening Checking accounts that also offer a sign-up bonus. This way, you can work towards bonuses from two different sources. Big banks like Chase, HSBC, Huntington, and TD Bank have great offers and allow credit card funding. You can generally fund anywhere from $50 to $1,000 towards the opening deposit with a credit card, depending on the bank. |
| • Buy gift cards: Consider buying gift cards with your credit card that you can then spend later at your leisure. Individual merchant cards (restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, etc.) generally don’t have purchase fees, so this is a plus. On the other hand, American Express and Visa gift cards will have purchase fees. Amazon gift cards are a great idea as you can shop for almost anything there with no purchase fees either. Unfortunately, Citi credit cards tend to code gift card purchases as Cash Advances and there’ll be a fee. Call in to customer service and lower your Cash Advance limit to $0 before purchasing gift cards. You can also buy discounted gift cards as well from Raise or find gift cards on eBay. |
| • Everyday spending & bills: Always using your credit card for everyday spending, such as for dining, gas, groceries, etc. You can also use your credit card to pay for things like insurance bills, property taxes and income taxes. However, you’ll have to consider the convenience fees. |
What are AAdvantage Miles Worth?
Compared to other airline branded credit cards, depending on how you decide to use your miles will reflect their value. Typically, every AAdvantage mile will be worth about $0.014. Where, when, and which airline you pick will all make your miles value vary.
You are able to redeem your miles for: American Airlines. American Egale, and OneWorld flights. Or towards one of their partners (more on that below).
These AAdvantage miles can even be used for gift cards, magazines, seat upgrades, car rentals, and hotel bookings. However, to receive the best value for your miles is to redeem them for flights.
Being a card member will give you discount privileges. Your AAdvantage miles can be used to buy a round-trip domestic MileSAAver flights, and you will be able to reserve award travel towards:
- 7,500 miles on longer destinations
- 2,000 miles on shorter destinations
Their destinations will change each month, and MileSAAver seats aren’t unlimited.
Like finding the best value for your miles? Then this is most definitely worth your time. However, if calculating numbers doesn’t sound like something you want to do, then you should get a general travel rewards credit card instead.
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card Top Features
First checked bag free. Typically, people will normally spend $30+ on checked bags on their trips and it can add up rather quickly. But, when you fly with American Airlines in the United States, the baggage fees (and fee for no more than 4 people in the reservation) are waived. You can go on 2 round trips with a travel buddy and your baggage fee savings will make up for the annual fee with this card.
Preferred boarding. Board the plane before the economy class. This will guarantee first dibs on the overhead space for your carry on bags, and will give you more time to get comfortable.
Inflight discount. Benefit from a 25% savings on American Airlines inflight food and drinks. You must charge these expenses on your card for this it to be eligible.
You can get bonus rewards and airline expenses on any other airline branded credit card. But, gaining double rewards on daily spending isn’t as common. You are able to benefit from 2x rewards for expenses made at restaurants and gas stations. With the additional bonus category options, you can even get a free flight in no time.
Gain a $100 American Airlines Flight Discount when you’ve made a minimum of $20,000 in expenses in a year. But, you have to renew your credit card to be able to qualify for this offer.
If you don’t reside in the DFW area, Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select can still be up your alley. They have 23 airline partners that you can choose from to gain AAdvantage miles for traveling to more than 1,000 locations globally. View the list provided below.
AAdvantage Partner Airlines:
| Air Tahiti Nui | Alaska Airlines | British Airways |
| Cape Air | Cathay Pacific | Etihad Airways |
| Fiji Airways | Finnair | Gulf Air |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Iberia | Interjet |
| Japan Airlines | Jet Airways | LATAM Airlines |
| Malaysia Airlines | Qantas | Qatar Airways |
| Royal Jordanian Airlines | S7 Airlines | Seaborne Airlines |
| SriLankan Airlines | WestJet |
Be sure that your miles won’t expire. Gain or redeem your bonus miles with American Airlines or an AAdvantage partner at least one time every 18 months.
Buy things overseas without having to stress over any foreign transaction fees with the Citi AAdvantage Select World Elite Mastercard.
Bottom Line
The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is an amazingly worthwhile credit card to have if you fly with American Airlines frequently. Their competitive welcome bonus offer, rewards on daily expenses, and flight benefits make this card seem very appealing.
If you fly with American Airlines often, then this credit card is a great match for you. However, if you don’t, then you should consider getting a non-branded travel rewards credit card.
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What’s the Competition?
There are some of Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard’s top competitors listed below.
 The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers 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. You'll earn: • 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards • 3X points on dining • 3X points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases • 2X points on all other travel purchases • 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases Enjoy new benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit and when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you'll get 25% more value! You get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee & reduced service fees on orders over $12 for a minimum of one year on qualifying food purchases with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21. This card carries a $95 annual fee. |
 The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card offers 20,000 Miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. You'll earn 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and pay no annual fee. This card comes with no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees which is a great choice as your go-to travel card! |
 The American Express® Gold Card offers 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms apply. You'll have the opportunity to earn: • 4X Membership Rewards Points on Restaurants, including takeout and delivery, plus, earn 4X points for Uber Eats purchases too. • 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). This card has an annual fee of $250 with no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees). Terms Apply. |
Alternative Airline Credit Cards:
 The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 11/10/2021. Earn now. Travel when you're ready. After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year, you will receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit on your Card to inspire your next travel. You'll earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery, and at U.S. supermarkets; 1X mile for every eligible dollar you spend on purchases. Earn now. Travel when you're ready. After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year, you will receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit to inspire your next travel. There is a $99 annual fee, however, there is a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (See Rates & Fees). Now, you'll get get more savings with your first checked bag for free on Delta flights. Terms Apply. |
The United Explorer Card offers 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. You'll earn: • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United purchases • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services Perks of this card include: • Getting up to $100 Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Fee Credit • Get your first bag checked for free (up to $140 savings per roundtrip) when you using your Card to purchase your ticket • Get priority boarding perks & visit the United Club with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary This card does come with a $95 annual fee, however, the annual fee is waived for the first year. |
 The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card offers 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, earn 3X points on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services, for the first year. In addition, you'll earn 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary each year. You'll earn: • 2x points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases & Rapid Rewards® hotel/car rental partner purchases; • 1x point on all other purchases. You're able to redeem your points for flights, hotel stays, gift cards, access to events and more. This card does carry a $99 annual fee, but there are no foreign transaction fee. |
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