New Citi American Airlines AAdvantage Globe Card Offers a 90,000-Mile Bonus, Admirals Club Passes and Other Premium Perks
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Written by
Jason Steele
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
In recent years, issuers have made their premium credit cards even more upscale. Cards that once charged a few hundred dollars per year now command annual fees in the $800 to $900 range.
However, the new Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®, an advertising partner, has an annual fee of $350 and offers many of the same benefits as pricier travel rewards cards, without the jaw-dropping price tag.
Here are some Citi American Airlines Globe Card highlights to help you decide if it’s right for you.
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Welcome Bonus
New American Airlines Globe cardholders can earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first four months of account opening. While 90,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles might not go as far as they once did, there’s still plenty of value to be had.
For example, I’ve found award flights to Europe at off-peak times for just 19,000 miles, each way in economy class. Used this way, the new account bonus can be enough for two travelers to visit Europe on award tickets, with some miles left over.
If you prefer to fly in business class, you can often find partner award tickets to Europe for just 57,500 miles each way. So by the time you spend the $5,000 necessary to earn the 90,000-mile bonus offer, you’ll be no more than 10,000 miles short of a round-trip, business class partner award to Europe, and perhaps less if some of your spending was in this card’s numerous bonus categories.
I find strong value in short-haul economy class award tickets on American and its partner Alaska, which start at just 5,000 miles each way, even during peak times. When I’m able to redeem my miles for these awards, instead of paying for expensive last-minute flights, I’m often able to realize 2 to 3 cents in value per mile.
Earning Rates
This card offers 1 mile per dollar spent on most purchases, but features numerous bonus categories, including:
- 6x miles on eligible AAdvantage hotel bookings
- 3x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2x miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- 2x miles on eligible taxis, rideshares and public transit purchases
Travel Benefits
As with most airline credit cards these days, the Citi AAdvantage Globe Mastercard is packed with benefits. Highlights include:
Four Annual Admirals Club Globe™ Passes
Each calendar year, you receive four passes that give you access to nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges. These passes are good for 24 hours, so that you can use them at your departure airport, as well as during any connections.
American has done a fantastic job of upgrading some of its airport lounges. When I have a chance to visit one of their newly redesigned Admirals Clubs, such as in Denver (DEN), Newark (EWR) and Washington Reagan (DCA), I’ve found them to have superior dining options that feel much more like a premium club.
Other Day-of-Travel Perks
Citi American Airlines Globe cardholders and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive a free first checked bag on domestic AA itineraries, which is a savings of up to $40 per person each way. Cardholders and the same companions also get preferred boarding (Group 5) on American Airlines flights.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Application Fee Credit
This card offers you a statement credit of up to $120, every four years, to reimburse the application fee for Global Entry or TSA Precheck. Since I’m already enrolled in this service, I try to give these transferable fee credits as gifts to family, friends and co-workers. I simply use my card to pay for their application fees, and I still receive the credit.
Yearly Credits
- Up to $240 back on Turo car sharing: You’ll receive a statement credit of up to $30 for each eligible Turo trip completed, totaling up to $240 in statement credits per year. To qualify, simply link your card to your Turo account on Turo.com/Globe and pay for the trip with it.
- Up to $100 back on in-flight purchases each calendar year: You can earn statement credits for eligible in-flight purchases, such as food and alcoholic beverages, when you pay with your card on domestic American Airlines flights. I enjoy these kinds of credits as there’s no hassle and nothing to enroll in.
- Up to $100 annual Splurge Credit: Each year, you can earn up to $100 in statement credits on your choice of up to two of the following brands: 1stDibs, eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings, Future Personal Training and Live Nation (exclusions apply). This seems like an easy way to enjoy a $100 discount on a concert or sporting event through LiveNation, or just a discount on a hotel booked through American.
How the Citi AA Globe Card Fits In
Hard-core American Airlines flyers will probably gravitate to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, with its unlimited Admirals Club membership and elevated earning rates on American Airlines purchases, despite its $595 annual fee.
And occasional travelers may be interested in the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® (annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months), also an advertising partner. It lacks Admirals Club access but does offer a free first checked bag on AA domestic itineraries and preferred boarding.
For all others, the new American Airlines Globe Card might exist in the proverbial Goldilocks zone, striking the right balance between costs and benefits to appeal to a wide variety of AA customers.
For a closer look at everything the card has to offer, read our Citi AAdvantage Globe Card review.
