The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is the crème de la crème of the American Airlines credit card portfolio. Other cards in the portfolio include Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card, American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card, and AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard.
One of the main reasons to pick up the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is the card benefits. More specifically, the card comes with an Admirals Club Membership, which can cost between $500-$650 annually.
Citi AAdvantage Executive Card Details
New cardmembers earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases in the first three months of account opening
The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card has an annual fee of $450 and does not charge foreign transaction fees.
Citi AAdvantage Executive Card Credits
A Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit and 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases come on the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card.
Cardmembers are eligible to receive 1-$100 statement credit every five years for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. The application fee must be charged to your Citi AAdvantage Executive Card to qualify for the statement credit.
25% savings on eligible inflight purchases also come with the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card. Qualifying inflight purchases include food and beverages on flights purchased with your card. Wi-Fi purchases are excluded. This benefit applies to domestic flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or on domestic flights marketed by American Airlines and operated by Envoy Air Inc., Republic Airways Inc., SkyWest Airlines, Inc., Mesa Airlines, Inc., PSA Airlines, Inc., or Piedmont Airlines, Inc. Codeshare flights booked with an American Airlines flight number but operated by another airline are excluded.
Citi AAdvantage Executive Card Perks
An Admirals Club Membership, Priority Boarding, One Free Checked Bag on domestic itineraries, and 10,000 Additional Loyalty Points are the benefits of the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card.
The primary cardmember and authorized users flying on a same-day You must be flying on a same-day flight with American Airlines, a Oneworld airline, or Alaska Airlines flight can access the lounges. Both the primary cardmember’s and authorized users’ immediate families and up to two guests receive Admirals Club access. However, authorized users are not able to access lounges that have reciprocal memberships with American Airlines. Only the primary cardmember can access these lounges that have a partnership with American Airlines. Access to the Arrivals Lounge, International First Class Lounges, or Flagship Lounge facilities is excluded from this benefit.
Priority check-in, priority airport screening, and priority boarding (Group 4) are the benefits you receive at the airport. These benefits apply when traveling on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines, or on flights marketed by American Airlines and operated as American Eagle flights by Envoy Air Inc., Republic Airways Inc., SkyWest Airlines, Inc., Mesa Airlines, Inc., PSA Airlines, Inc., or Piedmont Airlines, Inc. Up to eight companions traveling on the same reservation as the primary cardmember receive this benefit.
A free checked bag is available for the primary cardmember plus up to eight companions traveling with the primary cardmember on the same reservation. This benefit is available on domestic itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines, or on domestic itineraries marketed by American Airlines and operated as American Eagle flights by Envoy Air Inc., Republic Airways Inc., SkyWest Airlines, Inc., Mesa Airlines, Inc., PSA Airlines, Inc., or Piedmont Airlines, Inc.
10,000 additional loyalty points are earned after spending $40,000 on the card in a qualifying year. A qualifying year is defined as 14 months in 2022 and 12 months in 2023 and beyond. The 2022 qualifying period is from January 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023. The 2023 qualifying period is March 1st to February 28, 2024. Loyalty Points count towards AAdvantage elite status qualification.
How to Earn Cash Miles with the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card
The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card earns miles at the following rates:
- 2X miles on American Airlines purchases
- 1X miles on all purchases
- 1X Loyalty Point per every 1 AAdvantage mile earned from purchases
As a point of comparison, you can earn points at the following rates:
- 5X points on airfare with the Amex Platinum Card
- 2X points on all purchases with the Citi Double Cash Card
How to Redeem Miles with the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card
5 Best Ways to Use American Airlines AAdvantage Miles is your guide to redeeming and receiving max value including:
- 25,000 miles one-way American economy between the US and northern South America
- 57,500 miles one-way American or Iberia flight between the US and Europe
- 60,000 miles one-way American Airlines or Japan Airlines flight between the US and Japan or Korea
- 70,000 miles one-way Etihad or Qatar flight between the US and the Middle East
- 75,000 miles one-way Qatar flight between the US and Africa
Which Cards Compete with the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card?
United Club Infinite Card and Delta Reserve Card compete with the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card. Here’s the earning structure on each of these competing cards:
- United Club Infinite Card – 2x miles on United purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores, and local transit and commuting
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card – 3x miles on Delta Purchases
Conclusion on the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card
The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card benefits include Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases, Admirals Club Membership, Priority Boarding, One Free Checked Bag free on domestic itineraries, and the ability to earn 10,000 Additional Loyalty Points. If you value these benefits, this card may make sense for you.
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