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3. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® review: Solid rewards for American Airlines travelers

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reviews

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Rating: 3 out of 5.

Great for American Airlines perks

Annual Fee: $99, waived for first 12 months

This content is curated by Intuit Credit Karma’s Editorial team using data from members who were approved for this card or similar cards, or who self-matched this card or similar cards. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse this content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.

Here’s the average credit limit of members who matched their Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® or similar cards.

% of members by credit limit range

The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $12,786, with $1,000 being the most common.

Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® or similar cards.

% of members by credit score range

The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 698, with 817 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.

Member stats

Updated daily

30.7%

Average credit utilization (or what percent of the card’s credit limit is being used) of members who matched with this card or similar cards.

46 years

Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.

$106,303

Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards. Note: Income may be estimated for some members by Credit Karma and may differ from members’ actual incomes.

Pros and cons

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Free checked bags and preferred boarding add comfort at the airport

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Bonus miles at gas stations and restaurants add rewards value

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Valuable welcome bonus to help build your miles balance

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Other airline cards offer more perk

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Annual fee after first year might be too much for less frequent travelers

4 things to know about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

1. Generous sign-up bonus

Like most travel rewards cards, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® card offers a pretty generous sign-up bonus. New cardholders will earn 75,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

2. Earn AAdvantage® miles through everyday spending

You’ll earn two AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases — including tickets — and two miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants. If you travel a lot — and tend to fly exclusively on American Airlines — you can rack up some serious miles. Which brings us to the next point …

3. Travel perks only make sense if you’re a frequent American Airlines flyer

You can forget this card if you aren’t — or aren’t planning on becoming — a loyal American Airlines flyer. Double miles can only be earned on eligible American Airlines purchases, and miles can only be redeemed on flights with American Airlines, American Eagle®, oneworld® airlines or partner airlines. The airlines in the oneworld® alliance include international carriers like British Airways, Quantas and Cathay Pacific, and the other airline partners include JetBlue and Hawaiian Airlines. If you want more flexibility, consider a card that offers points redeemable for travel rewards across a wider variety of airlines and hotels.

4. Annual fee takes off after the first year

Let’s face it — the skies are a little less friendly when you have to pay fees. And while the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has no annual fee for its first year, the $99 annual fee every year after means this card may not be ideal for the long haul.

What else you need to know about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

Cardholders also enjoy certain perks every time they fly, including …

• Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights.
• One free checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights for you and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation. Domestic flights can charge $30 for the first checked bag, so checking a bag on just a few domestic flights per year can make up for the card’s ongoing annual fee.
• A 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights.
• No foreign transaction fees.

At the same time, it’s important to note that this card doesn’t offer free entry or membership in the Admirals Club®. If you’re a frequent American Airlines flyer looking for airport lounge access, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® may be a better, albeit pricier, option.

Understanding your points and redemption options

Your American Airlines AAdvantage® miles could be worth an estimated 1.93 cents each, based on Credit Karma’s points valuations as of 2024. For tips on how to make the most of your miles, read our guide to the American Airlines AAdvantage® program.

Who this card is good for

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® might be appealing for people who fly a lot and fly exclusively with American Airlines. While some travel rewards cards require you to keep track of spending categories, this one keeps it simple: You get two miles for every $1 spent on American Airlines purchases, at gas stations and at restaurants, and one mile for every $1 spent elsewhere. That makes it really easy to plan your spending to maximize rewards.

If you fly American Airlines even just a couple of times per year, don’t let the annual fee dissuade you from checking out this card. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® can offer enough perks to offset that fee and then some.

Besides the free checked bag on domestic flights, this card’s lack of foreign transaction fees is a potentially huge perk for international travelers. Many credit cards impose foreign transaction fees on charges processed outside of the U.S., typically around 3%. Those costs can quickly erode any benefits to using that card for international purchases.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

• Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card:
This card offers a nice mix of rewards opportunities with a $0 annual fee.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card:
If you’re looking for flexible travel rewards and redemptions, this card could be a solid choice.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card:
This card includes a straightforward rewards program and some nice perks.