Link: Learn more about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (review) is the newest credit card in the Citi American Airlines co-brand card portfolio. The card has a $350 annual fee, which is obviously on the steep side, so people will think twice about signing up.
However, I think there’s potentially a lot of merit to picking up this card, especially given the big welcome bonus and strong perks. In this post, I’d like to share nine reasons you should consider getting the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card, if you don’t yet have it (I’ve already applied!). In no particular order…
In this post:
Limited time 90K AAdvantage miles bonus offer
The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card has a limited time welcome bonus where you can earn 90,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first four months. Personally, I value AAdvantage miles at 1.5 cents each, given all the great uses there are of them, so to me that bonus is worth an impressive $1,350.
You’ll want to be aware of Citi’s general application restrictions, including the 48-month rule, plus the rules for American AAdvantage credit cards. Fortunately, eligibility for this card is considered independently from American’s other co-branded credit cards, so a vast majority of people should be eligible for the card, including the bonus.
15,000 bonus Loyalty Points Flight Streak bonus
The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card offers the Flight Streak bonus, which is an opportunity to earn up to 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points per AAdvantage program year.
The way this works, you earn 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points after every four qualifying American flights you take, and you can take advantage of this up to three times per membership year. In other words, if you take at least 12 eligible American flights per year, you’d earn 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points with this opportunity.
The ability to earn Loyalty Points with spending
As is the case with virtually all of American’s co-branded credit cards, the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card offers one Loyalty Point per dollar spent. Loyalty Points is the system by which you can qualify for elite status nowadays, so spending on the card can help you achieve that.
For example, AAdvantage Executive Platinum status requires 200,000 Loyalty Points per year, so spending $200,000 on this card would earn you that (though potentially even less, if you take advantage of some of the extra opportunities.
Four annual American Admirals Club passes
The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card offers four Admirals Club lounge passes every calendar year. Each pass is valid for 24 hours, so it can be used across multiple lounge visits. Each pass is valid for one adult plus accompanying children.
While this isn’t a replacement for a full Admirals Club membership, like what you might get with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (review), it’s useful for someone who flies American every once in a while.
Annual $99 domestic American companion certificate
The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card offers a $99 American companion certificate on the account anniversary every year.
The certificate is valid for tickets booked in economy (excluding basic economy), and is valid for domestic travel, in the lower 48 (unless you live outside the lower 48, in which case you can originate in those US states or territories). When redeeming, you have to pay $99 for the companion, plus any taxes and fees. If maximized, this could easily be worth hundreds of dollars.
Up to $100 annual American inflight credit
The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card offers up to $100 in American inflight credits annually.
The credit is offered per calendar year, and applies to domestic American flights. This can be used toward the purchase of food, drinks, or Wi-Fi, so if you fly American frequently, it shouldn’t be too hard to maximize value with that, as it can be used across as many transactions as needed, until the cap is reached.
Up to $100 annual credit with select retailers
The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card offers up to $100 in annual “Splurge Credits.” The credit is offered per calendar year, and you can receive up to $100 in credits for purchases with select businesses. This is valid with 1stDibs, AAdvantage Hotels, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation. You need to register with merchants to do this, and you can register for up to two merchants at a time, at this link.
Personally, I think the best option is to use this with AAdvantage Hotels, so you can use this to receive a $100 rebate on a hotel stay. AAdvantage Hotels can be a useful portal in general, since you can earn lots of Loyalty Points and AAdvantage miles for hotel stays.
First checked bag & priority boarding on American
The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card offers priority service on American, as you’ll find with some other cards as well. This includes a first checked bag free on domestic American itineraries for the cardmember and up to eight companions traveling on the same reservation, plus Group 5 boarding on American flights.
While not the most exciting perks on earth, that adds value if you don’t have elite status but do fly American with some frequency.
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit every four years
The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card offers a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit once every four years. Just charge the enrollment fee to your card, and it will automatically be reimbursed. Even if you already have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, you can always use this for someone else, as long as your card is used to pay.
Bottom line
The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card is American’s newest co-branded credit card, and there are potentially lots of reasons to consider applying. The card has a huge welcome bonus, and while it has a $350 annual fee, there are lots of benefits that can help justify that. Those perks range from up to 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points, to an annual inflight credit, to an anniversary companion certificate, and more.
If you’re at all involved in the AAdvantage ecosystem and are eligible for this card, then I absolutely think it’s worth giving the card a try, and seeing if the value makes sense for you in the long run.
What’s your take on the value proposition of the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card?
This card is definitely a moneymaker for a couple or family that flies domestically at least once a year.