Citi has refreshed its most expensive American Airlines credit card recently with a higher welcome bonus and a higher annual fee. Who should sign up for this card? (Hint: Probably not first-timers or newbies in the miles and points hobby). Let’s take a look at this card in more detail.
Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
The Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard (affiliate link) welcome bonus just went from 50k to 100k bonus miles! That’s nothing to sneeze at! The annual fee also increased from $450 to $595 but with some added benefits.
- Spend $10,000 in the first 3 months to get 100,000 bonus miles
- Includes AA Admirals Club membership for primary user and access to lounge for user’s family or two guests (cost of Admirals Club membership without this card is $850/year or $79 for a day pass)
- 4x on AA (was 2x)
- 10x on hotel and cars book through AA portals
- Opportunity to earn up to 20,000 Loyalty points
- The addition of travel insurance
- New credit: $120 back on Avis or Budget annually
- New credit: $10/month Grubhub
- New credit: $10/month Lyft
- Free checked bag for cardholder and up to 8 travel companions
- Enhanced airport experience (priority check-in, priority screening and priority boarding)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Global Entry/TSA Pre-check credit once every 4 years
- Annual fee: $595
- Authorized user fee: $175 for up to 3
You can read all of the terms and conditions here. Note: You can’t get the bonus on this card if you’ve received the bonus on this exact card within the past 48 months.
Who should get this card?
This card isn’t for people new to this miles and points hobby. The annual fee is high, and you can get AA bonus miles on other cards with a lower annual fee.
This card is best for travelers who travel on American Airlines multiple times each year and can take advantage of the lounge benefit and priority lines.. The Admirals Club membership is the main draw for this card. Clubs have free food, drinks and showers and provide a comfortable place to relax before or in between flights. Note that you must show a same-day boarding pass on AA to be admitted into the club.
In addition, this card could be attractive to folks who really want the 100k welcome bonus but are not eligible for other AA cards. If the rental car/Lyft/Grubhub credits are used, the annual fee is effectively $235. But even with the full $595 annual fee, getting 100,000 AA miles is still worth more than the annual fee.
Offer ends soon!
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
Expires 9.6.23
@Pam Thanks!
You state the Citi 48 month rule doesn’t apply here
BUT following the link the T&C state
Offer Availability
American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive account in the past 48 months.
@Marc Good catch! Thanks, I fixed it.