Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive
American Airlines Premium Travel Card
Annual Fee
$695 (raised from $595 on August 23, 2026) • $175 for up to 3 authorized users, then $175 each
Earning Rate
4x american airlines purchases • 12x hotels via aadvantagehotels.com • 12x car rentals via aadvantagecars.com • 1x other purchases
Welcome Bonus
125,000 miles after $15,000 spend in 5 months
Card Material
Metal card with matte finish • colors: Black
Practical Recommendation
If you regularly fly American Airlines and want a quiet place to work, eat, or recharge, this is still the "buy the lounge, get a card attached" option. The lounge membership alone can justify the fee if you use it often and fly on American Airlines, oneworld, or Alaska Airlines.
Citi refreshed the card on August 23, 2026: it's now branded a World Legend Mastercard, the annual fee went from $595 to $695, and Citi added an up-to-$500 American Airlines Vacations credit and an up-to-$100 inflight/Admirals Club credit. The Grubhub credit is gone for new applicants (existing cardholders keep it through August 31, 2027), and the flat 25% inflight food discount was replaced by that $100 credit. On paper there's more value; in practice the two biggest credits are coupons you have to plan around—$500 of it only pays out on AA Vacations packages with two or more components.
The rest of the credits take a little effort (monthly rideshare, prepaid rental cars). If you hate tracking credits, focus on the lounge and the first checked bag, priority check-in, and boarding—those still cover a lot of the fee on their own. Bottom line: frequent American Airlines flyers who value lounge time get real, repeatable value here; everyone else is paying $100 more for credits they may not touch.
Credits
Practical Advice
This is what makes or breaks a card for you. If you can use these credits in your normal spend, the perks and protections are all bonus for you. We have a calculator at the bottom of this section to help you calculate that. Below we break down exactly what every credit is to show you if it's easy or if they're going to make you jump through 17 hoops to redeem it.
- Global Entry or Transportation Security Administration PreCheck fee credit – Reimburses up to $120 once every 4 years when you charge a Global Entry or Transportation Security Administration PreCheck application fee to the card. It posts as a statement credit; approval isn't required to get reimbursed. Good if you haven't renewed lately.
- American Airlines Vacations credit – Up to $500 back per calendar year, paid as two chunks: up to $250 January–June and up to $250 July–December. You have to book an American Airlines Vacations package with two or more travel components (flight + hotel, flight + car, etc.) and pay with the card. This is the single biggest credit on the card and the fussiest—if you don't book packages, half of the new value is $0 to you.
- Inflight & Admirals Club purchase credit – Up to $100 back per calendar year on eligible American Airlines inflight purchases and Admirals Club purchases (food, drinks, day passes for others). Replaced the old flat 25% inflight food-and-drink discount. Automatic after the charge posts; easy to use if you buy anything onboard or at the club.
- Avis & Budget prepaid car rentals – Up to $120 back per calendar year on eligible prepaid rentals booked directly with Avis or Budget. The credit is automatic after the charge posts. Practical if you rent cars a few times a year; $0 value if you never rent or you usually pay at pickup.
- Lyft monthly credit – Up to $180 per year as $15 per month after you complete 3 rides in that month and pay with the card (raised from $10/month). Automatic statement credit. Easy if you use rideshare anyway; ignore if you don't hit 3 rides most months.
- Grubhub monthly credit (legacy only) – Gone for anyone who opened the card on or after August 23, 2026. If you opened before that date you keep the $10 per billing statement, up to $120 per 12 statements, through August 31, 2027—then it ends for everyone. Not something to count on going forward, so it's left out of the calculator below.
Click Here to Calculate Your Annual Fee
Credit
Include
Your Value
Practical Tip
You can edit the amounts in the number fields if you value a credit at less than the full value. For example, if you only use the $15/month Lyft credit half the months, you might value it at $90 instead of $180.
TSA PreCheck / Global Entry Credit
| What It Is: | Up to $120 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, once every 4 years. |
| How It Works: | Pay the application fee with the card, and the charge gets wiped automatically. |
| Gotchas: | One credit per 4 years, so if you already have it, you'll need to gift it to a friend or family member. Doesn't stack with other cards offering the same perk. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Anyone without TSA PreCheck/Global Entry yet. Frequent travelers especially. |
| Practical Value: | Solid $120 saved every 4 years |
$0
Include:
Your Value:
$0
Avis & Budget prepaid car rentals
| What It Is: | $120 back per calendar year on eligible prepaid Avis or Budget rentals booked direct. |
| How It Works: | Pay for an eligible prepaid booking at avis.com or budget.com with the card; credits apply automatically after the charge posts. |
| Gotchas: | Prepaid only (pay-at-counter won't trigger); must book direct; taxes/fees count only if included in the prepaid charge. Prices can be higher than aggregator sites. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Anyone renting cars a couple of times a year who can book prepaid direct. |
| Practical Value: | Easy $120 if your plans fit prepaid direct bookings; $0 if you rarely rent. |
$0
Include:
Your Value:
$0
Lyft monthly credit
| What It Is: | $15 back each month (up to $180/year) after 3 rides in that month paid with the card. |
| How It Works: | Complete 3 rides in a calendar month; get a $15 statement credit automatically. |
| Gotchas: | Requires 3 rides to unlock; unused months don't roll over. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Urban commuters and airport-ride folks who hit 3 rides most months. |
| Practical Value: | Worth $180/year if you're a regular rider; otherwise, don't chase it. |
$0
Include:
Your Value:
$0
American Airlines Vacations credit
| What It Is: | Up to $500 back per calendar year on eligible American Airlines Vacations purchases, split as $250 January–June and $250 July–December. |
| How It Works: | Book a package with two or more travel components (flight + hotel, flight + car, hotel + car) through American Airlines Vacations and pay with the card; the credit posts automatically. |
| Gotchas: | Flight-only bookings don't count—you need two or more components. Each $250 half expires with the half; nothing rolls over. Package prices can beat or lose to booking the pieces separately, so compare before you commit. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | People who take two package vacations a year and were going to book flight-plus-hotel anyway. |
| Practical Value: | The biggest number on the card and the hardest to actually use—$500 if you book two packages, $250 if you book one, $0 if you never do. |
$0
Include:
Your Value:
$0
Inflight & Admirals Club purchase credit
| What It Is: | Up to $100 back per calendar year on eligible American Airlines inflight purchases and Admirals Club purchases. |
| How It Works: | Buy food, drinks, Wi-Fi, or club items with the card onboard or at an Admirals Club; credits post automatically until you hit $100 for the year. |
| Gotchas: | This replaced the old flat 25% inflight food-and-drink discount, which existing cardholders keep only through September 30, 2026. Calendar-year cap, no rollover, and you already get free food and drinks in the club as a member—so the realistic use is onboard buys and guest charges. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Anyone who buys a drink or snack on most flights, or who buys club day passes for guests. |
| Practical Value: | Easy to use if you fly American often; realistically $40–$100 for most people rather than a clean $100. |
$0
Include:
Your Value:
$0
Annual Fee:
$695
Your Credits:
$0
YOUR Annual Fee:
$695
This is effectively what you are paying for this card. It is now up to you if the perks, protections, and earning rates are worth this fee to you over other cards.
Perks
- Earning rates (headline) – 4x american airlines purchases; 12x hotels via aadvantagehotels.com; 12x car rentals via aadvantagecars.com (both raised from 10x on August 23, 2026); 1x everything else. After $150,000 in calendar-year purchases, american airlines purchases earn a total 5x for the rest of that year.
- Admirals Club membership (primary) – Primary cardholder gets full Admirals Club membership with entry for immediate family (spouse/domestic partner and children under 18) or up to 2 guests when flying American Airlines, oneworld carriers, or Alaska Airlines the same day. Bring a government ID and your physical card or your American Airlines number on the boarding pass. — See lounge list
- Admirals Club access (authorized users) – Authorized users cost $175 for the first three, then $175 for each one after that. They get Admirals Club access (not full membership) and may bring immediate family or up to 2 guests when flying eligible airlines the same day. Authorized users do not have partner-lounge access and do not receive first checked bag or priority boarding benefits. — See lounge list
- Partner lounges – Full Admirals Club members (primary cardholder) can use select partner lounges when rules allow; arrivals lounges, International First Class Lounges, and Flagship Lounges are excluded. Always check the list before you bank on it. — See lounge list
- First checked bag (domestic) – First checked bag free for the primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same domestic reservation on American Airlines-marketed and operated (or American Eagle) flights.
- Priority check-in, screening, and boarding – Primary cardholder gets priority check-in, preferred security lanes where available, and Group 4 boarding; extends to up to 8 companions on the same reservation.
- In-flight savings – The old flat 25% statement credit on American Airlines food and beverage purchases is being retired; existing cardholders keep it only through September 30, 2026. Going forward it's the up-to-$100 annual inflight and Admirals Club credit instead.
- Loyalty Points bonuses – Earn 1 Loyalty Point per mile earned from purchases, plus 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points at each of four thresholds—50,000, 90,000, 165,000, and 240,000 Loyalty Points in the same qualification year. That's up to 40,000 bonus Loyalty Points, double the old 20,000 cap.
- Omni Hotels & Resorts Champion status – Complimentary Select Guest Champion status for the primary cardholder (early check-in, late checkout, room upgrades when available), plus one free night award each year after a qualifying stay of two or more consecutive nights booked direct.
- Avis President's Club status – Complimentary top-tier Avis status, with enrollment open through August 31, 2028. Skip-the-counter service and upgrades when available.
- No foreign transaction fees – Use it abroad without the extra 3% tax.
Protections
- Trip cancellation & interruption – Reimburses up to $5,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel if you cancel, interrupt, or reasonably extend a trip for covered reasons (like illness, injury, severe weather).
- Trip delay – If your common-carrier trip is delayed 6+ hours, covers up to $500 per covered traveler, per trip for meals, lodging, transport, and necessities. Secondary to other reimbursements.
- Lost baggage – Up to $3,000 per traveler per trip (max $10,000 per trip) for checked baggage lost, stolen, or damaged by a common carrier (New York: $2,000 per bag).
- Worldwide car rental insurance – Collision and theft coverage up to $75,000 when you pay with the card and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver.
- Damage & theft purchase protection – New purchases covered for 90 days against damage or theft, up to $10,000 per incident, $50,000 per account per year.
- Extended warranty – Extends eligible manufacturer warranties by up to 24 months, up to $10,000 per item, with total coverage up to 7 years from purchase.
American Airlines Lounges
A big perk of Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive is a built-in Admirals Club membership. If your airport has one, it's an easy quality-of-life win: quieter space, desk help, snacks, drinks, and power outlets. Note: this is Admirals Club membership—not the fancier Flagship Lounge—so manage expectations accordingly.
Guest Access
- Admirals Club — Primary cardholders get full Admirals Club membership. Show your membership (digital or physical), ID, and a same-day boarding pass on a flight marketed or operated by American, any oneworld airline, or Alaska Airlines. You may bring immediate family (spouse/domestic partner and children under 18) or up to 2 guests at no extra charge, space permitting. Authorized users receive Admirals Club access when flying the same eligible itineraries, but do not get partner-lounge privileges or conference-room discounts. Day passes are sold at select clubs for $79 or 7,900 miles. — See lounge list
- Alaska Lounges (partner access) — As an Admirals Club member, you can use Alaska Lounges when you're flying American or Alaska the same day. Guest rules follow Alaska's lounge policy. Authorized users do not receive partner-lounge access via this card benefit. — See lounge list
- Flagship Lounges & Joint Premium Lounges (not included by membership) — Access requires an eligible premium ticket or status-based itinerary; Admirals Club membership alone doesn't get you in. No complimentary guests via membership. — See Flagship rules • See joint premium lounges
Admirals Club (U.S.)
- Atlanta (ATL) — Domestic Terminal North, Concourse T (near T11). Terminals connect landside; no airside links between concourses. — Official page
- Austin (AUS) — Main Terminal (near Gate 22). Single-terminal airport; easy walk from all AA gates. — Official page
- Boston (BOS) — Terminal B (upper level, near B4). Terminals B-C not linked airside; allow time if switching. — Official page
- Charlotte (CLT) — Concourses B and C; plus Provisions by Admirals Club concept in Concourse A (grab-and-go). All concourses are airside-connected. — Official page
- Chicago–O'Hare (ORD) — Terminal 3: Concourses G, H/K, L. All in T3; use connectors for other concourses. — Official page
- Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) — Terminals A, B, C, D (mezzanine locations). Skylink connects all terminals airside. — Official page
- Denver (DEN) — Concourse C mezzanine near C32. Underground train links A/B/C airside. — Official page
- Honolulu (HNL) — Terminal 2 Admirals Club / JAL Sakura (shared), Level 3 above The Local @ HNL. — Official page
- Los Angeles (LAX) — Terminal 4 Admirals Club (near security); airside connectors to T5-T8 and TBIT. — Official page
- Miami (MIA) — Concourse D lounges (multiple zones). D↔E have airside links; other concourses may require re-screening. — Official page
- New York–JFK (JFK) — Terminal 8, Concourse C (Level 3 across from Gate 42). No airside links between terminals. — Official page
- New York–LaGuardia (LGA) — Terminal B lounge level near Eastern Concourse bridge. Terminals aren't airside-connected. — Official page
- Philadelphia (PHL) — A-West (mezzanine between A15–A16) and B/C connector. Terminals connect airside. — Official page
- Phoenix (PHX) — Terminal 4: Concourse A (above A7–A9) and Concourse B (near B5). T4 concourses connect airside. — Official page
- Raleigh–Durham (RDU) — Terminal 2 (across from C1/C3). Single-terminal post-security concourses. — Official page
- San Francisco (SFO) — Terminal 1, Concourse B (near B13). Airside walkway to most of T1; other terminals may require re-screening depending on gate. — Official page
- Washington National (DCA) — Terminal 2 (National Hall). All piers inside T2 are airside-connected. — Official page
Important fine print: Admirals Club membership (including via this card) does not include Flagship Lounge, International First Class Lounge, Flagship First Dining, or Arrivals Lounge access; those require separate eligibility. Authorized users: lounge access only (no partner-lounge privileges). Policies can change and local lounge rules apply; always check the official page before you go.