Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card Review: A No-Brainer Value for Casual American Airlines Flyers
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Written by
Sarah Hostetler
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, an advertising partner, is among the best American Airlines credit cards. It gives you a taste of airline elite status — with no effort on your part. Just for holding the card, you’ll get perks comparable to those with AA Gold status (think preferred boarding and a free first checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights).
Here’s what you need to know about the Citi AA Platinum Select Card to help you decide if it’s worthy of your wallet’s limited real estate.
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Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
19.74% – 29.74% (Variable)
Intro Bonus
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Rewards
1x – 2x Miles Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
Annual Fee
$99, waived for first 12 months
CardCritics™ Opinion
The Citi AA Platinum Select Card is a midrange airline credit card that can save even casual American Airlines flyers serious money. It offers preferred boarding and the first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights. And because it has an annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months, it’s a great way to dip your toe into the world of travel rewards credit cards without an upfront investment.
Our Critical Analysis:
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
- First checked bag free on domestic AA flights for cardholder and up to four companions
- Preferred boarding on AA flights
- Valuable welcome bonus
PROS
- Annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months
- Annual $125 AA flight discount requires considerable spending
- Unmemorable return rates for common purchases
CONS
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card Benefits
Generous Welcome Bonus
The Citi AA Platinum Select Card offers new cardholders 50,000 Bonus Miles after spending $2,500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. That’s enough to book multiple round-trip domestic trips for (nearly) free. You can even fly round-trip to Europe during American Airlines’ off-peak dates.
We estimate that American Airlines AAdvantage miles are worth about 1.5 cents each, on average — meaning this bonus should net you around $750 in travel.
First Checked Bag Free
You and up to four companions on the same reservation will receive the first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries. Considering the first checked AA bag costs $40 ($35 when paying online), the potential savings are considerable — especially for families.
My husband recently booked AA flights for our family of three from Columbus (CMH) to New York (JFK) using Qantas miles. We all received free checked bags simply because I held the card and was on the reservation, even though I wasn’t the one who made the reservation, and I didn’t use my card to book.
Preferred Boarding
Having the Citi AA Platinum Select Card will guarantee Group 5 boarding on American Airlines flights for you and up to four companions on your itinerary, even if you book a Basic Economy fare. Preferred boarding means you’ll have a decent selection of overhead bin space for your carry-on luggage.
Turo Rental Car Reimbursements
Turo is a peer-to-peer car rental service that operates primarily in the US, Canada, Australia, France and the UK. The Citi AA Platinum Select Card offers up to $180 in Turo reimbursements, doled out in $30 increments per rental, through Oct. 18, 2026.
Annual $125 Flight Discount
The card comes with a $125 American Airlines flight discount after you spend $20,000 on purchases within a card membership year and renew your credit card. That’s a solid credit — more than enough to justify the card’s annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months (though its spending requirement is a bit high).
No Foreign Transaction Fees
When you use the Citi AA Platinum Select Card outside the US, you won’t be charged a foreign transaction fee. This makes it a good card to take on your international trips.
Earn Loyalty Points Toward Elite Status
The card earns 1 Loyalty Point for every eligible mile earned from your purchases. Earn enough Loyalty Points and you’ll qualify for American Airlines elite status.
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card Drawbacks
Annual Fee
The Citi AA Platinum Select Card charges an annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months. When you’ve got to pay money for the privilege of holding a credit card, it’s a clear drawback. That said, the best credit card perks are typically exclusive to cards that charge a fee. If you can get more value from a card’s benefits than you’re paying each year to keep it in your wallet, the annual fee is virtually irrelevant.
Unimpressive Earning Rates
For everyday spending, the Citi AA Platinum Select Card earns the following:
- 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2 miles per dollar at restaurants
- 2 miles per dollar at gas stations
- 1 mile per dollar for all other eligible purchases
A maximum return rate of 2 miles per dollar isn’t great. Many other non-AA Citi credit cards accrue rewards faster.
For example, I hold the Citi AA Platinum Select Card, but I use the Citi Strata Premier® Card, an advertising partner, for my restaurant and gas station purchases, as it earns 3 Citi ThankYou® points per dollar in those categories. I then transfer Citi points to American Airlines at a 1:1 ratio. In other words, I earn 50% more American Airlines miles by not using my AA card.
No Travel Insurance
The best airline credit cards often come with protections like trip delay insurance, baggage delay reimbursement, primary rental car insurance and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. The Citi AA Platinum Select Card does not come with travel insurance, making it a less-than-ideal payment option to reserve your travel. If these perks are important to you, consider one of the best credit cards for travel insurance instead.
Who Is the AAdvantage Platinum Card Best For?
The Citi AA Platinum Select Card is best for those who fly American Airlines a few times each year. Ignoring all other card benefits, the first checked bag fee on domestic AA itineraries can easily save you more than the annual fee each year. A family of two could save $140 with a single round-trip.
The card is also valuable for those who often book Basic Economy flights, as it helps mitigate some of the unpleasant aspects of American’s most restrictive fare class. For example, you’ll board in Group 5 (instead of dead last), and you’ll have your pick of overhead bin space.
Is It the Right Card for You?
The Citi AA Platinum Select Card can be worth it for you if:
- Your family routinely checks bags with American Airlines
- You value boarding before most other passengers
- You want to fast-track your elite status goals through credit card spending
Alternatives to the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card
Whether you feel like the Citi AA Platinum Select Card doesn’t offer sufficiently tantalizing benefits or you simply don’t want to pay an annual fee, there are plenty of other American Airlines credit cards to choose from:
- American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card: The AAdvantage MileUp Card, an advertising partner, is the only no-annual-fee American Airlines credit card. You won’t get perks like free checked bags and preferred boarding. However, you’ll earn 2 miles per dollar at grocery stores, and you’ll continue to earn Loyalty Points toward elite status.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®: The American Airlines Globe, an advertising partner, is a premium credit card with a $350 annual fee. You’ll get perks like four annual AA Admirals Club airport lounge passes, up to $240 back each year with Turo, up to $100 back annually on in-flight purchases, and decent travel insurance.
Card Details From Citi®
- Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
- Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
How Does the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card Stack Up Against Competitors?
The Citi AA Platinum Select Card is far from the only credit card for American Airlines flyers. Here’s how it compares.
| Citi AA Platinum Select Card | Citi AAdvantage MileUp Card | Citi American Airlines Globe Card | |
| Welcome Bonus | Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. | Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. | For a limited time, earn 90,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. |
| Annual Fee | $99, waived for first 12 months | $0 | $350 |
| APR | 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) | 0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable). A 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) APR will apply for purchases. | 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) |
| Rewards Rate | Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases. | Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. | Earn 6 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked through aadvantagehotels.com. Earn 3 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery. Earn 1 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases. |
| Standout Feature | Free first checked bag on domestic AA itineraries and preferred boarding | Earn AA miles and Loyalty Points with no annual fee | Statement credits and four Admirals Club lounge passes each year |
Frequently Asked Questions About Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card
What is the annual fee for AA Platinum Select?
The annual fee for the Citi AA Platinum Select Card is $99, waived for first 12 months.
Is AA Platinum Select worth it?
The Citi AA Platinum Select Card is worth it if you can extract more value than you’re paying for the annual fee each year. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or only travel with American Airlines a few times a year, it’s easy to save with benefits like a free first checked bag and preferred boarding. And if you’re a big enough spender to unlock the card’s annual $125 AA flight credit, it’s an even better deal.
What is the credit score for AA Platinum Select?
Most travel credit cards require at least a good credit score (670 or above, according to FICO) to apply. That said, Citi will look at additional factors, such as other cards you have and your overall credit profile, when it considers your application.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.
