Citi and American Airlines have a co-branded credit card agreement, which includes five cards issued in the United States. It has just been announced that we’ll see changes to the mid-range personal and business cards — we’re talking the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard and the Citi AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard.
The cards are getting some new benefits, though the annual fees will also be increased. Let’s cover the details, and let me emphasize that there are no changes to the no annual fee Citi AAdvantage MileUp Card, or the premium Citi AAdvantage Globe Card and Citi AAdvantage Executive Card.
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card changes: $150 fee, new benefits
Let’s start with the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card, which has historically had a $99 annual fee, waived the first year. The card’s annual fee will be increasing to $150, though the card will also be getting all kinds of new benefits. Here are the new benefits being added to the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card:
- 3x miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage Cars bookings
- 2x miles at gas stations, now expanded to include EV charging stations
- 2x miles on select streaming services
- 2x miles on eligible Rides and Rails purchases
- $150 American Airlines Flight Discount, increased from $125, after spending $20,000 or more in purchases during the anniversary year and renewing the card
- Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years
- Up to $100 back in statement credits annually on inflight purchases
- Complimentary annual Walmart+ membership ($98 in value) for primary cardmembers, offering free delivery ($35 minimum for scheduled delivery orders), gas savings, and video streaming choice
- 50% discount on an annual FOX One subscription
- Travel protections, including trip delay protection, trip cancellation & interruption protection, worldwide car rental insurance, and lost baggage protection
These changes are in addition to the current Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card benefits, which include the following:
- 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2x miles at restaurants
- 1x miles on all other purchases
- 1x Loyalty Point for every mile earned from purchases
- Up to $180 annually on Turo car rentals (up to $30 in statement credits for each eligible Turo car rental trip completed)
- 10% savings on eligible American Airlines Vacations travel packages
- Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights for the primary cardmember and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation
- First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the primary cardmember and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation
- No foreign transaction fees when traveling internationally
Citi AAdvantage Business Card changes: $150 fee, new benefits
Next, let’s cover the Citi AAdvantage Business Card, which has historically had a $99 annual fee, waived the first year. The card’s annual fee will be increasing to $150, though the card will also be getting all kinds of new benefits. Here are the new benefits being added to the Citi AAdvantage Business Card:
- 3x miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage Cars bookings
- 2x miles on an eligible self-select category of the cardmember’s choice, which options include U.S. shipping providers, office supply stores, or U.S. advertising services
- Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years
- Up to $100 back in statement credits annually on inflight purchases
- 25% off a Melio subscription plan to help manage business payments
- Travel protections, including enhanced trip cancellation and trip interruption, lost or damaged luggage, MasterRental (car rental), and trip delay
These changes are in addition to the current Citi AAdvantage Business Card benefits, which include the following:
- 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2x miles at car rental merchants
- 2x miles at gas stations
- 2x miles at telecommunication merchants and cable and satellite providers
- 1x miles on all other purchases
- 1x Loyalty Point for every dollar spent on business card purchases by each cardmember (primary and employees); primary cardmembers will also earn 1x additional Loyalty Point for every dollar spent by any authorized users on eligible business card purchases through December 31, 2028
- $99 American Airlines Companion Certificate for a qualifying single roundtrip Main Cabin domestic flight after $30,000 in purchases each card membership year and card membership is renewed
- 10% savings on eligible American Airlines Vacations travel packages
- Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights for the primary cardmember and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation
- First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the primary cardmember and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation
- No foreign transaction fees when traveling internationally
When these Citi AAdvantage card changes kick in
While these changes apply effective immediately for new applicants, existing cardmembers won’t immediately see the changes. Beginning January 24, 2027, existing cardmembers (on both the personal and business card) will have access to the new benefits. They’ll also be billed the new $150 annual fee on their next account anniversary after that date.
My take on these Citi AAdvantage card changes
Essentially we’re seeing the annual fees on American’s two mid-range cards increase by $51 per year, and I’d say we’re seeing three primary improvements. Those include a $100 annual inflight credit, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years, and much better travel coverage.
Obviously I’m not a fan of credit card annual fee inflation, and of the general trend of cards with sub-$100 annual fees becoming more expensive.
However, I generally think that if you found either card worthwhile before, you’ll probably still find it worthwhile after. At the same time, I don’t necessarily think these changes will make the card materially more appealing for anyone. So I’d view these as being pretty balanced and reasonable changes, even though I wish we weren’t seeing a fee hike. Then again, the cards have had these same types of fees for years, so the price increase basically just matches inflation.
Random thought — with all the American cards adding new inflight credits, I sure wish American would actually improve its selection of drinks and snacks for purchase, including shortening the minimum length of flight for items to be for sale. Actually using these credits just isn’t easy at times.
Bottom line
American Airlines and Citi are making changes to their co-brand credit card portfolio, particularly impacting the Platinum and Business products. Both cards will be seeing annual fees increase from $99 to $150, while getting new perks, including new bonus categories on spending, a $100 annual inflight credit, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, and improved travel coverage.
I’d probably view these changes as broadly being “breakeven,” in terms of the overall value propositions. I’m not a fan of the fee increase, but I also don’t think the value proposition is getting worse here, assuming you’re someone who values either card as is.
What do you make of these Citi AAdvantage card changes?
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