Link: Learn more about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
A limited time welcome bonus has just been introduced on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, which is the best offer that we’ve seen on the card in quite some time. This is a genuinely rewarding card, which offers lounge access, bonus Loyalty Points, and much more. In this post, I want to recap the details of this offer.
In this post:
Earn 100K AAdvantage miles with the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card
The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is offering a limited time welcome bonus of 100,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $10,000 within the first three months. Previously the bonus was for 70,000 AAdvantage miles, so this is significantly better.
Personally, I value AAdvantage miles at 1.5 cents each, so to me that bonus is worth $1,500. There are some incredible uses of American AAdvantage miles, so you can redeem this for experiences like Etihad’s A350 business class or Qatar Airways’ 777 business class.
Also keep in mind that any spending on the card will qualify for Loyalty Points (helping you earn elite status, including Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, or Executive Platinum), though the welcome bonus as such won’t. Upon completing minimum spending, you’d earn a minimum of 10,000 Loyalty Points.
Citi AAdvantage Executive Card eligibility requirements
If you’re interested in applying for the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, the typical Citi credit card application restrictions apply, including that you can be approved for at most one Citi card every eight days, and at most two Citi cards every 65 days.
On top of that, the bonus isn’t available to those who have received a new account bonus on this exact card in the past 48 months. Eligibility is unrelated to having any other American Airlines credit card, so you’re eligible for this card even if you have other products, like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (review).
Read my guide to Citi AAdvantage Executive Card approval.
Why the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is worth it
The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card has a $595 annual fee, though it offers a bunch of perks that can help offset that. For one, this is the best card for accessing American Admirals Clubs:
- The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers an Admirals Club membership for the primary cardmember
- The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card offers Admirals Club access for authorized users; you can add up to three authorized users for a total of $175 (so potentially under $60 each), and then beyond that it’s $175 per authorized user
What’s the difference between the Admirals Club membership for the primary cardmember and Admirals Club access for authorized users? Well, the member can access some partner lounges, like Alaska Lounges, while the authorized users can’t.
Regardless, the primary cardmember and authorized users are each able to bring two guests or their immediate family into Admirals Clubs when flying American or an eligible partner airline on the same day.
On top of that, the card offers a variety of other perks, including:
- A first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the primary cardmember and up to eight companions on the same reservation
- Priority check-in, priority security, and early boarding, when flying American Airlines
- Up to 20,000 bonus Loyalty Points per year, unrelated to spending on the card — if you earn 50,000 Loyalty Points with AAdvantage you’ll receive 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points, and if you earn 90,000 Loyalty Points you’ll receive another 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points
- Up to $120 back on eligible Avis or Budget rentals every calendar year, which can even be used toward a single rental
- Up to $120 back on eligible Grubhub purchases every year, in the form of up to a $10 statement credit with each billing statement
- Up to $120 in Lyft credits every year, in the form of up to a $10 credit each month after making three eligible rides
- A Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit of up to $100 every four years, as reimbursement for the application fee
- Travel protection, including for trip cancellation and interruption, trip delay, lost baggage, and worldwide rental cars
- 10x AAdvantage miles on eligible rental cars booked through aa.com/cars, and eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels
Read a detailed review of the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card.
Bottom line
The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card has a limited time welcome bonus of 100,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first three months. While the bonus is great (and I value it at $1,500), there are lots of reasons beyond the miles that you might want to keep the card.
The card’s $595 annual fee is less than you’d otherwise pay for an Admirals Club membership. You can then add up to three authorized users at a reasonable cost, and take advantage of all kinds of other perks, ranging from up to $360 worth of credits, to 20,000 bonus Loyalty Points per year.
If this card has been on your radar but you haven’t yet picked it up, this would be a fantastic time to apply. This card has been in my wallet for years.
Anyone plan to pick up the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card with 100K miles?
I'm planning on getting this card in June/July, after I downgrade my Strata Elite (and Citi converts my Aviator Silver to something I don't want). Any chance they will offer 100K points again around that time?
The same offer was available for a while by picking up applications in Admirals Club.
Free luggage only on domestic flights? Why do AA credit cards have that limitation? My Delta Amex cards get me a free check-in bag worldwide. And I believe UA cards as well.
What's the strategy for someone who has already has this card since before the pandemic?
You're welcome to try to churn it, but you'll be waiting the 48 months. If you're going for status, it's a keeper, because of the 20K bonus LPs (10K at 50K and 10K at 90K, though I'm sure you already know that, if you've had the card for 6+ years). The new credits somewhat help $10/mo (I use for Grubhub reimbursement), $120/calendar year prepaid Avis/Budget (I use it, rather than lose it). Of course, unlimited...
You're welcome to try to churn it, but you'll be waiting the 48 months. If you're going for status, it's a keeper, because of the 20K bonus LPs (10K at 50K and 10K at 90K, though I'm sure you already know that, if you've had the card for 6+ years). The new credits somewhat help $10/mo (I use for Grubhub reimbursement), $120/calendar year prepaid Avis/Budget (I use it, rather than lose it). Of course, unlimited Admirals Club access + guests. Yeah, it's not for everyone.
Thank you. Could you elaborate on churn like I've had a few drinks in the lounge? Do I have to cancel before I can reapply? Could they turn me down simply because I'm applying for the card I just had or still have? Spend a lot of money on the card, but haven't felt the "appreciation" in a while.
Get vaccinated?
Ben and The Points Guy praise this card as one of the best high end airline cards. AA sends me offers on this card multiple times per year. Clearly, I'm missing something or my priorities don't align with this card.
The card does provide Admiral's Club membership, increased rewards for spending through AA, and some OK bonuses. However, my AA Platinum card has 2x miles on restaurants and gas, while this more expensive card...
Ben and The Points Guy praise this card as one of the best high end airline cards. AA sends me offers on this card multiple times per year. Clearly, I'm missing something or my priorities don't align with this card.
The card does provide Admiral's Club membership, increased rewards for spending through AA, and some OK bonuses. However, my AA Platinum card has 2x miles on restaurants and gas, while this more expensive card is just 1x. If one's goal is to rack up miles to redeem for travel, 2x beats 1x, so the Platinum card is better. I suppose if you book trips via AA, as we did a cruise, then the Exec card is better, but I switched travel expenses to the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
I don't get having the more expensive card earn less than the less expensive card.
Again, what am I missing?
@ DavidW -- Of course the card isn't going to be for everyone, and that's totally fair. The way I see it, this card is worthwhile if you value Admirals Club access, given that it's the best deal for getting it.
I think one of the competitive advantages compared to other comparable airline cards is how affordably you can also get Admirals Club access for authorized users.
The other main benefit is that you...
@ DavidW -- Of course the card isn't going to be for everyone, and that's totally fair. The way I see it, this card is worthwhile if you value Admirals Club access, given that it's the best deal for getting it.
I think one of the competitive advantages compared to other comparable airline cards is how affordably you can also get Admirals Club access for authorized users.
The other main benefit is that you can get 20K Loyalty Points just for being a cardmember, with no spending requirement, assuming you pass certain Loyalty Points thresholds. For some people that's worth noting, and for others that's the thing that gets them to the next status tier.
I totally agree with you that purely in terms of the rewards structure, there's not much upside to this card vs. less premium American cards.
So I think this is a situation where your needs just (fairly) don't align with the card's value proposition.
“The way I see it, this card is worthwhile if you value Admirals Club access, given that it's the best deal for getting it.”
@Ben, I’m going to disagree with your statement. The best way to get Admirals Club access is the FREE membership at 250,000 LPs, rather than paying $595 for the privilege.
The secret sauce to this card is the 10x miles on hotels booked on AAdvantagehotels.com; if one has AA elite status and pays with the Citi exec card they will earn between 20-30x miles per dollar and 11-21x LPs per dollar, which is boosted 20-30% (LPs) as one obtains 60k and 100k LP milestones. The return on hotel spend is simply unparalleled.
for 2025 qualifying year I spent $15,169 USD on Citi Exec Card for hotels booked on AAdvantagehotels.com.
I earned 224,612 LPs
339,199 RDM
So that is a 22.36 miles per Dollar spent on Hotels using the Citi Exec Card.
I value AA miles at two cents each so for me that's a 44.72% return on hotel spend.
The secret to massive miles is the hotel program as the other poster mentioned. If you want to earn more AA miles now a Citi setup will get you way more miles than the AA cards ever will now that they are a transfer partner. Custom cash will earn you 5x miles on multiple everyday such as gas or dining categories pair with a citi double cash which will get you 2x on everything, then...
The secret to massive miles is the hotel program as the other poster mentioned. If you want to earn more AA miles now a Citi setup will get you way more miles than the AA cards ever will now that they are a transfer partner. Custom cash will earn you 5x miles on multiple everyday such as gas or dining categories pair with a citi double cash which will get you 2x on everything, then a premier that will get you 3x on food gas and travel. You can add the strata elite if you want to game the 6x on dining. You should be using Premier for your travel expenses and not CSR if you want more access to AA miles. The CSR has a marginally higher earn rate on direct flights but comes with 9x the annual fee. Just not a good deal unless you can use all of the credits.
You are not missing a thing. The main value of AA Exec card is Admirals Club at 20K additional LP points. The fee is partially offset by annual $120 Avis credit. For other spending, one can also use no-fee Costco Anywhere Visa that pays 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel, including Costco Travel and 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com, +5% cash back on gas at Costco and 4% cash...
You are not missing a thing. The main value of AA Exec card is Admirals Club at 20K additional LP points. The fee is partially offset by annual $120 Avis credit. For other spending, one can also use no-fee Costco Anywhere Visa that pays 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel, including Costco Travel and 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com, +5% cash back on gas at Costco and 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging. Note that AA Exec card is a Mastercard. There is no referral link so no one is talking about this card.
@lucky literally just got this card in the mail yesterday (through your website)...am i eligible for the newer bonus? registered on 1/2.
@ surfer -- Thanks for the support, and sorry to hear about the timing. It can't hurt to ask Citi to match the offer. Sometimes they'll do it, and sometimes they won't... good luck!
Should mention - 90K for Citi Globe card, 80K for Citi Plat card. For someone who wants a lower fee card.
There's recent reports on Flyertalk this card no longer works consistently for AA Hotel bookings. Muktiple postings about folks being unable to complete bookings with this card, receiving no explanation or help from customer service, other than 'use a different card'.