American AAdvantage is, in my opinion, the most interesting frequent flyer program among the big three US carriers right now. As a oneworld member, American miles can be redeemed on partner airlines including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and more, often at rates that deliver outstanding value for premium cabin travel. The Etihad partnership alone opens up first class redemptions that few other US-based programs can match.
This post covers the full AAdvantage co-branded card lineup first, including which card makes the most sense at each price point, and then covers the best non-co-branded alternatives for those who want to build an AAdvantage balance through the Citi ThankYou ecosystem. For most serious American flyers, the right answer is some combination of both.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard®
Limited Time: Earn 125,000 miles after qualifying purchases
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
- Admirals Club Membership
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Earn 4 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. After you spend $150,000 in purchases in a calendar year, earn a total of 5 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases for the remainder of the year
Earn 12 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible AAdvantage Hotels® bookings and eligible AAdvantage Cars® bookings
Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- For a limited time, earn 125,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $15,000 in purchases in the first 5 months of account opening.
- The only card with Admirals Club® membership. Membership includes access for you and up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you.
- Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit of up to $120 every 4 years.
- Earn a 10,000 Loyalty Point bonus after reaching 50,000, 90,000, 165,000 and 240,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year.
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation.
For a limited time, earn 125,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $15,000 in purchases in the first 5 months of account opening.
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
Earn 75,000 bonus points after qualifying purchases
- Earn Bonus Points on Dining
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Citi Strata Elite Card Review: Are The Premium Perks Worth The Fee?
- Is The New Citi Strata Elite Card Worth It? 10 Reasons To Apply
- The Citi Strata Elite Card’s Incredible First Year Value: Why It Stands Out
- Citi Strata Elite Card Application Experience: Instant Approval!
- Citi Strata Elite Card Welcome Bonus Summary
- Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after qualifying purchases
- Earn 3x Points on Airfare
- Earn 3x Points on Hotels
- Earn 3x Points at Restaurants
Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®
Earn 65,000 miles after qualifying purchases
- Earn 2x AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
- First Checked Bag Free
- American Airlines Companion Certificate
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations
Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on other purchases
- Designed for businesses.
- Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries to reduce travel costs and boost your bottom line.
- 25% savings on American Airlines inflight Wi-Fi when you use your card.
- Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights.
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations.
- Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on other purchases.
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®
Earn 60,000 miles after qualifying purchases
- Earn 3x AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
- First Checked Bag Free
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Earn 6 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked through aadvantagehotels.com.
Earn 3 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
Earn 1 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
- American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have received AAdvantage® bonus miles for a new AAdvantage® Globe™ account in the past 48 months or if you converted another Citi credit card account on which you earned a new account bonus in the last 48 months into a AAdvantage® Globe™ account.
- Every calendar year, receive four Admirals Club® Globe™ Passes.
- Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit of up to $120 every 4 years.
- Earn 6 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked through aadvantagehotels.com.
- Earn 3 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
- Earn 1 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Earn 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
Citi Strata℠ Card
Earn 20,000 bonus Points after qualifying purchases
- Earn 2x Points at Restaurants
- Intro APR On Purchases & Balance Transfers
- No Annual Fee
Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
- Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
- Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
- No Annual Fee
Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
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