Libby Sweeney is a credit cards editor. Her previous experience writing and editing content for readers to better understand includes both the world of sports and data protection. She is also an experienced copy editor for three published books and i.
Libby Sweeney Credit Card EditorLibby Sweeney is a credit cards editor. Her previous experience writing and editing content for readers to better understand includes both the world of sports and data protection. She is also an experienced copy editor for three published books and i.
Written By Libby Sweeney Credit Card EditorLibby Sweeney is a credit cards editor. Her previous experience writing and editing content for readers to better understand includes both the world of sports and data protection. She is also an experienced copy editor for three published books and i.
Libby Sweeney Credit Card EditorLibby Sweeney is a credit cards editor. Her previous experience writing and editing content for readers to better understand includes both the world of sports and data protection. She is also an experienced copy editor for three published books and i.
Credit Card Editor Harlan Vaughn Credit Card EditorHarlan Vaughn is a credit cards editor with over a decade of experience. With a deep understanding of the credit card industry, his passion for travel strategies drives his commitment to helping others maximize their credit card rewards. Harlan's exp.
Harlan Vaughn Credit Card EditorHarlan Vaughn is a credit cards editor with over a decade of experience. With a deep understanding of the credit card industry, his passion for travel strategies drives his commitment to helping others maximize their credit card rewards. Harlan's exp.
Harlan Vaughn Credit Card EditorHarlan Vaughn is a credit cards editor with over a decade of experience. With a deep understanding of the credit card industry, his passion for travel strategies drives his commitment to helping others maximize their credit card rewards. Harlan's exp.
Harlan Vaughn Credit Card EditorHarlan Vaughn is a credit cards editor with over a decade of experience. With a deep understanding of the credit card industry, his passion for travel strategies drives his commitment to helping others maximize their credit card rewards. Harlan's exp.
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Updated: Jan 4, 2024, 8:19am
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The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® * , from our partner, Citi, is an easy choice for anyone who wants to earn miles in the AAdvantage program and score basic perks , like preferred boarding and free checked bags on domestic flights without paying an exorbitant annual fee. It comes with a solid welcome bonus too: Earn 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® *Our ratings take into account the card’s rewards, fees, rates along with the card’s category. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Welcome Bonus 50,000 bonus miles Annual Fee $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99 Regular APR 21.24% - 29.99% (Variable) Credit Score Excellent, GoodCredit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Earn 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® * is Citi’s midtier premium credit card offered in partnership with American Airlines. The card offers 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, restaurants and gas stations and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. It carries an annual fee of $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99.
You’ll also get some frequent flyer perks with this card, including a free checked bag for you and up to four companions on your domestic itinerary when you fly American. Since a checked bag would normally set you back $40 for U.S. domestic flights, that’s a potential savings of $200 one way or $400 round trip when you fly with four companions. Additionally, you’ll get a 25% in-flight discount on food and beverage purchases made with the airline, as well as preferred boarding.
Finally, you’ll get a $125 flight discount after you spend $20,000 on your card within your card membership year. If you plan to spend this amount on your Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select card, this annual flight discount alone could justify the card’s annual fee.
Unlike many travel cards at the same price point, the card does not carry any travel insurance protections like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost baggage insurance or car rental collision damage waiver insurance.
Why you can trust Forbes Advisor
Our credit card editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so all are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the credit card methodology for the ratings below.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
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 Travel℠.
The Platinum Card® from American ExpressPartner Offer Apply Now →
On American Express's Website Rates & Fees / Terms Apply Welcome Bonus Earn 80,000 points Annual Fee Credit Score Good,Excellent Regular APR See Pay Over Time APRCredit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website Welcome Bonus 60,000 bonus points Annual Fee Credit Score Regular APR 22.49%-29.49% VariableCredit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Using an AAdvantage credit card is one of the ways to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles without boarding a plane. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® * earns 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, restaurants and gas stations and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
In addition to miles earned by using the card, the card offers a welcome bonus of 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
AAdvantage miles are used most commonly to fly on American Airlines , but they can be used on any Oneworld airline and with American’s other partners. Oneworld airlines include global airlines like British Airways, Iberia, Qantas and Japan Airlines, but also includes Alaska Airlines, which might be of particular interest to West Coast-based travelers.
Unlike other airlines, American Airlines publishes its starting values award chart, which you can consult to estimate how many miles you might need for a given itinerary.
Using data from various government agencies, Forbes Advisor has developed estimates for how much a family in the 70th percentile of income spends annually in various categories. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households brings in $118,438 annually and has $39,337 in annual expenses that can be charged to credit cards. These figures are used to estimate the potential rewards from this credit card.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® * Rewards Potential
Restaurants Gas Stations All Other Purchases Total: 47,719 Advantage miles See More See LessIf you don’t need the checked baggage or priority boarding benefits offered by the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select but still want a card that earns AAdvantage miles on everyday purchases, consider the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Mastercard® * . This card earns AAdvantage miles with a $0 annual fee.
Like the Platinum Select card, the MileUp card awards 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases but trades the Platinum Select’s gas station and restaurant bonus categories for 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent at grocery stores. Depending on your spending patterns, you might find that this award structure earns you more AAdvantage bonus miles.
The AAdvantage MileUp Mastercard currently offers a welcome bonus: Earn 15,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
If you’re a frequent American Airlines traveler who can benefit from lounge access, consider the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® * . The card comes with a credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
The Executive World Elite Mastercard earns 10 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through aa.com, 4 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. It also grants a free checked bag to up to eight travel companions flying on the same U.S. domestic itinerary.
If you would otherwise pay for an Admirals Club membership, this card’s $595 annual fee is significantly less than the rates charged by American Airlines for membership, which starts at $750 annually.
This card also comes with a welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
If you travel regularly you might find more value in a card that earns generous rewards on your travel spending, offers travel protections like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and allows you to book travel with points and transfer points to global airlines . If that sounds enticing, check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card .
For a $95 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
When it comes to booking travel, you can access awards on Oneworld members through point transfers to British Airways or Iberia. However your redemption options don’t stop there. Holding Chase Ultimate Rewards opens up opportunities for transfers to various SkyTeam and Star Alliance partners, plus airlines like Southwest and Aer Lingus. Additionally, rewards can be redeemed for travel at a 25% points bonus through Chase Travel ℠ .
The Sapphire Preferred also comes with travel protections and insurance, including primary auto damage collision coverage and trip cancellation and interruption services and a generous welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.