Citi AA Platinum Select card Review
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Written by
Dawn Allcot
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a great pick for travelers who fly American Airlines regularly. This card from our partner Citi delivers a tremendous package of benefits for frequent travelers, especially if American Airlines is your carrier of choice for flights. The card has a $99 annual fee, which is waived the first year, but frequent travelers can quickly justify this expense with the long list of perks and ongoing rewards.
Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
20.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
Intro Bonus
For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 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
This is a great match for frequent American Airline travelers who are seeking rewards at gas stations, restaurants, and eligible American Airline purchases. The card also comes with a welcome bonus and specific travel perks with American Airlines.
Our Critical Analysis:
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
- 2X points at restaurants, gas stations and American Airlines purchases
- No foreign transaction fee
- No limit on miles earned
- 25% discount on American Airlines in-flight food and beverage purchases
- First checked bag free on AA domestic flights
- Preferred boarding on AA flights
- No cap on miles earned
- Add additional users free of charge
PROS
- No introductory APR
- Annual Fee of $99, waived for first 12 months
- Cannot redeem rewards for cash
CONS
Rewards
The rewards program for Citi AA Platinum Select card rewards program is fairly straightforward and especially profitable for American Airlines frequent flyers. Cardholders earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at/on:
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
- Eligible American Airlines purchases
You will earn 1 mile for all of your other purchases, plus one loyalty point on every mile earned. You can also earn a $125 American Airlines flight discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your card year and you renew your card.
Important Fees to Consider
The Citi AA Platinum Select card has an APR of 20.24% – 29.24% (Variable) depending on your creditworthiness. Other fees include a:
- Annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
There are no foreign transaction fees, which makes it a good card to carry for international travel.
Rewards Redemption Options
You can redeem your rewards for:
- Flights on American Airlines, American Eagle or oneworld airlines and partner airlines
- Upgrades on your seating on most domestic and international flights with American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia
- Hotels
- Car rentals
- Activities
- Tours
Welcome Offer
This card offers a generous welcome bonus. For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. AAdvantage Miles are worth roughly 1.37 cents per mile, so that’s a value of about $1,096.
Additional Benefits
This card gives you your first checked bag free on any domestic AA flight for you and four travel companions. You will get preferred boarding AA flights, 25% off in-flight food and beverage purchases when you use your card, and a discount of $125 on American Airlines flights after you spend $20,000 for the year, each year you carry and renew the card.
As a World Elite Mastercard, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card offers a host of benefits with high dollar values. For instance, you can:
- Earn two months of free delivery with Instacart+ $10 off your second order each month
- Save $3 off Peacock Premium or $5 off Peacock Premium Plus
- Save 7% on prepaid stays at Booking.com
Is It the Right Card For You?
The Citi AA Platinum Select card may be the right fit for you if any of the following apply:
- You are a frequent American Airlines flyer and AAdvantage member
- You want a card with no foreign transaction fees
- You want to add additional users to your card for no additional charge
- You spend a lot on travel and restaurants
- You want the added benefits of a World Elite Mastercard
Card Details From Citi®
- For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 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
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers to some frequently asked questions will help you decide if the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is the right card for you.
Does the Citi AA Platinum Select card charge an annual fee?
Yes, the Citi AA Platinum Select card charges an annual fee though it is waived your first year. Annual fee: $99, waived for first 12 months
Does the Citi AA Platinum Select card offer a welcome bonus?
The Citi AA Platinum Select card does offer a welcome bonus in the form of bonus miles. For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
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.
