Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is the best American Airlines credit card for light-spenders. The AAdvantage Platinum Select card is worth it because it has one of the lowest annual fees among American Airlines credit cards and its initial bonus is among the best values. New cardholders need to spend at least
$3,500 within
4 months of opening an account to qualify for the bonus.
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card also offers perks like free checked bags, but its ongoing rewards leave a lot to be desired. Below, you can learn more about the pros and cons of this offer, which will help you make a more informed decision about whether or not to apply for the
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®.
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Review Highlights
Good initial bonus promotion
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard currently offers
75,000 miles to new applicants who spend at least
$3,500 within
4 months of account opening. That is redeemable for roughly
$997.5 in American Airlines airfare, according to WalletHub research. That is more than the
market average for a rewards bonus, in dollar terms. And it makes Platinum Select an excellent option for anyone with an upcoming flight to a destination serviced by American.
Average ongoing rewards
This American Airlines Mastercard gives you 1 mile per $1 spent on most purchases, except for airfare purchased directly from American Airlines, gas station purchases and restaurants, which yield 2 miles per $1. That equates to 1.33% to 2.66% back, according to WalletHub research.
Fairly hefty annual fee starting year two
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card peaks early, thanks in part to a
$99 annual fee that kicks in the second year your account is open. So you go from saving
$21.58 relative to the average credit card user to paying about 4 times that market average. And that may necessitate spending more than you’d like just to break even, if you decide to keep your account open through its first anniversary.
Up to 5 checked bags per flight
You and up to four guests each get a free checked bag on every American Airlines flight paid for with the Platinum Select American Airlines Mastercard (as long as everyone’s on the same reservation). Considering that American usually charges $30 for the first checked bag on a domestic economy flight, this perk could save you as much as $150 every time you fly.
Priority boarding and in-flight discounts
For what it’s worth (very little in actual dollar terms), having the American Airlines Platinum Card gives you preferred boarding privileges on all American Airlines flights. Perhaps even more importantly, the card also gets you 25% off in-flight food and beverages. That could save you a bundle if you regularly buy refreshments when you fly.
Big-spender discount
If you charge at least $20,000 to this card in a year and renew your account (by paying the next annual fee), you get a discount of $125 on an American Airlines flight.
Requires good credit for approval
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard is available to applicants with
good credit or better. So make sure to
check your latest credit score for free on WalletHub before applying.
Definitely not the card for carrying a balance
The fact that you need
good credit to get this Citi AAdvantage Mastercard definitely puts its regular APR into a negative light. That APR is probably going to be above-average for a credit card that requires
good credit, according to WalletHub’s latest
Credit Card Landscape Report. So you’re going to wind up overpaying on interest, perhaps big-time, if you carry a balance from month to month.