Link: Apply now for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
In this post I wanted to share six reasons you should consider applying for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. For a more detailed look at the card, check out my review of the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card. Let’s get right into it, in no particular order…
In this post:
Earn 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card is offering a welcome bonus of 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $2,500 within the first three months. I value AAdvantage miles at 1.5 cents each, so to me that bonus is worth $750.
Personally, my favorite use of AAdvantage miles is for travel on Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, given their excellent business class products. For example, I’ve redeemed 75,000 AAdvantage miles to fly Qatar Airways business class from Cape Town to Doha to Dallas to Miami, which was one of my favorite uses of AAdvantage miles ever.
See this post for more great ways to redeem AAdvantage miles.
Earn AAdvantage elite status with spending
Nowadays American AAdvantage elite status is earned using Loyalty Points, meaning that credit card spending can help you earn status, and also counts toward Loyalty Point Rewards. Every eligible dollar spent on this card will earn you one Loyalty Point.
As a reminder, here are the current requirements to earn AAdvantage elite status:
- AAdvantage Gold status requires 40,000 Loyalty Points
- AAdvantage Platinum status requires 75,000 Loyalty Points
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro status requires 125,000 Loyalty Points
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum status requires 200,000 Loyalty Points
While this isn’t how I’d recommend going about it, spending $200,000 on the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card would earn you top-tier Executive Platinum status. You can also take a hybrid approach, and earn status partly through credit card spending, and partly through travel and other activity, which is what I’d recommend.
$99 annual fee waived the first year
While the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card has a reasonable $99 annual fee, it’s waived for the first 12 months, so this is a card you can “try before you buy.” It’s hard to beat the combination of a waived annual fee for the first year and a great welcome bonus.
Non-restrictive eligibility requirements
Card issuers have a variety of eligibility restrictions when it comes to getting approved for cards. This card has among the less restrictive rules. Specifically, here are the terms for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card:
American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select account in the past 48 months.
You’re not eligible for this card if you’ve received a new cardmember bonus on this exact card in the past 48 months. However, having any of the other AAdvantage cards issued by Barclays or Citi would still allow you to pick up this card, including the bonus. So you’re eligible for this card even if you have or have had the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (review) or American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® (review), for example.
That’s great, since it means lots of people should be eligible for the bonus.
First checked bag free on American
Just for having the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card you receive a first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights. You don’t actually have to pay with the card to use this perk, but rather the AAdvantage number of the primary cardmember just has to be on the reservation. This benefit also applies for up to four additional passengers traveling on the same itinerary.
American usually charges $30 one-way per checked bag, for a total of $60 roundtrip. So if you had four companions, you’re looking at savings of up to $300 on a roundtrip ticket.
Preferred boarding on American
Just for having the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card you receive preferred boarding on American Airlines flights. This allows you to board with Group 5 — while that’s not priority boarding, it should put you in an early enough boarding group that you don’t have issues with finding overhead bin space, which is something that many value.
You don’t actually have to pay with the card to use this perk, but rather the AAdvantage number of the primary cardmember just has to be on the reservation.
Looking for a business credit card?
If this card sounds interesting to you, but you’re looking for a business card instead, consider the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®. There are several great reasons to get this card, as it also offers an excellent bonus and valuable perks.
Check out my review of the Citi AAdvantage Business Card.
Bottom line
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card is offering a welcome bonus of 50,000 miles after spending $2,500 within three months, with the annual fee waived the first year. On top of that, this is a card that many people don’t have and are eligible for, which will make it all the more interesting. 50,000 AAdvantage miles can get you well on the way to some awesome premium travel experiences.
With American AAdvantage’s Loyalty Points system, spending on this card also counts toward elite status, which is a big incentive to spend money on AAdvantage cards.
If you want to learn more about the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card or apply, follow this link.
Applied and approved. I applied for 2 Citi cards last year, so this approval is my 5th. I reduced the credit limits on some of the others before applying, but I have intermittently used all 4 cards (three for TY, one for AA) in the past year.
They have figured out that folks with a lot of cards are in the game gor the bonus (and perhaps annual free night). The spend ends once the bonus is achieved.
My wife is under 5/24, 830 credit, instant denial.
Hi Ben,
I just applied for this card and got denied instantly, without any explanation (they might send something in mail). This is the first time my credit card application got denied. I'm a 30-year old with 800+ credit score, decent annual income (200k+), no loans, own my primary residence (no mortgage), and not a churner (never cancelled a credit card). I have no idea what criteria Citi is using for approvals here, maybe...
Hi Ben,
I just applied for this card and got denied instantly, without any explanation (they might send something in mail). This is the first time my credit card application got denied. I'm a 30-year old with 800+ credit score, decent annual income (200k+), no loans, own my primary residence (no mortgage), and not a churner (never cancelled a credit card). I have no idea what criteria Citi is using for approvals here, maybe looking for customers who are not managing their finances well.
I'm a little disappointed and wanted to share this data point here, maybe will help someone avoid a hard pull :)
Lots of reports of people getting turned down for this card, many with the explanation that their utilization is too low on the other cards they have. Citi is not looking for people who just want the card for the bonus, they want to see evidence you'll spend on it continuously even after earning the SUB.
@BA 228
Hard to believe . Nice try. Unless you’re based in the UK and this card is for US consumers only ?
@D3kingg - Yes, it was hard for me to believe as well and that's why I posted the data point here. I'm based in the US.
@LarryInNYC - Waiting for explanation in the mail but low utilization might be the reason here. I have a habit of paying my balance before the billing cycle ends, so my utilization is usually low.
I wish airline cards had better earn rates with any category. The AA Exec card doesn't even make sense to put AA tickets on when I can put them on the Amex Plat. Their end-of-2022 bonus of 4x miles on AA purchases should be permanent, then I'd consider any spend here.