Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Citi's American Airlines Travel Card
Practical Recommendation
If you fly American Airlines a few times a year, this is the simple pick: first checked bag free (you + 4), preferred boarding, 25% back on in-flight food and drinks, and a $125 flight discount after $20,000 yearly spend. That combo can more than offset the fee.
If you want airport lounges or richer insurance, this is not it—consider the premium Executive card instead. Otherwise, use this for American purchases, dining, and gas, and keep a general rewards card for everything else.
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.
- $125 American Airlines Flight Discount – Earned after $20,000 in purchases in a cardmembership year and after you renew (account must stay open one full billing cycle after renewal). Valid on American-marketed flights originating in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands; expires one year after issue; entered at checkout as a flight discount code. Good real cash savings if you buy at least one paid American ticket yearly.
- 25% In-Flight Food & Drink Savings – Automatic statement credit for eligible food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights when you pay with the card. Useful if you buy snacks or drinks onboard; tiny but effortless.
| What It Is: | $125 flight discount each cardmembership year after $20,000 in purchases and renewal. |
| How It Works: | Meet the $20,000 spend, keep the account open one full billing cycle after the anniversary; a discount code arrives (now typically as trip credit). Apply it on AA.com at payment under "Gift card/Travel Voucher/Flight Discounts." |
| Gotchas: | U.S./PR/USVI origins only; American-marketed flights; one-year expiry; nonrefundable if you cancel; not for award taxes/fees. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Anyone who buys at least one paid American ticket annually. |
| Practical Value: | Real $125 if you fly American once; not worth chasing $20k spend solely for this. |
| What It Is: | 25% back as a statement credit on eligible American Airlines onboard food and beverage purchases. |
| How It Works: | Pay with the card; the credit posts automatically after the charge. |
| Gotchas: | Only food and drinks; no Wi-Fi or duty-free; savings is a percentage, not a cap-free coupon. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Regular American flyers who buy snacks or drinks in the air. |
| Practical Value: | Small but automatic; treat it as a nice-to-have. |
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 details (plain English) – 2x on American Airlines purchases, 2x at restaurants, 2x at gas stations; 1x everywhere else. Also earns 1 Loyalty Point per eligible mile from purchases, which counts toward AAdvantage status.
- First checked bag (domestic) – First bag free for you and up to 4 companions on the same reservation; families can wipe out the annual fee with one round trip.
- Preferred boarding – Board earlier to find overhead bin space and settle in; applies to you and companions on the same reservation.
- American Airlines Vacations discount – 10% off eligible American Airlines Vacations packages when you use your card; decent for flight-plus-hotel bundles.
- Car & hotel deals when logged in – Primary cardmembers get discounted rates through American's cars and hotels portals when logged into AAdvantage.
- No foreign transaction fees – Bring it abroad without extra issuer fees (acceptance depends on merchant/network).
Protections
- No built-in travel insurance – This card does not include the classic trip delay, trip cancellation, or lost-baggage insurance found on some premium cards. Plan to self-insure or use a card with coverage for those bookings.