Citi AAdvantage Executive Card Loyalty Points Earning Explained

I keep the Citi AA Exec for the 20K LP bonus at 50K and 90K, which have helped me re-qualify for Platinum Pro at 125K for a few years now, and for the unlimited Admirals Club access.

I'm less 'tickled' about the various coupon credits, $120/calendar year prepaid Avis/Budget, $10/mo Grubhub, and $10/mo Lyft after 4 rides (ugh), but I don't like to leave value on the table, so I use 'em.

Once I give up on AA status, I'll product change to Custom Cash, then restart the clock on SUB.

The credits are bad. But the value from AA Hotels is where you can make back your money. 10x miles on spend plus whatever is being offered from AA Hotels is actually pretty valuable. If you can find a max 15,000 miles offer and spend $1000 on it (can be less...) that's 25,000 AA miles for $1000. And can be more LPs if in the bonus - even in the new 25% bonus that's 3,750 extra LP plus 1x LP on the spend = 4,750 LP. So for a $1,000 transaction it's 25k miles and 19,750 LP. If you value an AA mile at 1.5cpp, that's $375 on $1k spend (if getting 15k mile offer). Card can easily pay for itself that way and that's BEFORE accounting for the extra 20k LP (which has an indeterminate value). And go visit your local Admirals Club! Closer to the gates at LGA versus the trek from the Amex/Chase lounges...

Agreed. Peter, I credit you with opening my eyes to AA Hotels. For years, I ignored them, like I ignore Delta Stays and JetBlue Vacations, etc. Yet, I'm contemplating stays with AA for status earning potential.

As for LGA TB, I literally start with Chase, they usually have a 15 minutes wait, and send me to Air Canada, so I either go there, or to Centurion if there's no wait; get the text, go to Sapphire, then closer to boarding, head over to the AC on the other side of the terminal. I wish JFK had a better AC (far side); needs some TLC, food there is especially weak. EWR TA has a decent new AC.

I think the problem with Delta Stays, etc. is that other than during these promotional periods, you don't earn status. AA Hotels is just more reliable. And other than the Strata Elite 12x portal bonus, hard to do better than 10x spend (other than through Rakuten when Agoda is on promotion).

Yeah, I think that's the correct order of lounges at LGA - assuming you have time. JFK T8 AC is not great, due for a refresh for sure. Soho though is really quite excellent.

EWR TA AC is pretty nice actually, I just hate that it's open to the terminal below - just kind of loud?