If you are a frequent American Airlines flyer, you have plenty of credit card options to help you earn additional miles and make the most of every American Airlines flight.
Plus, right now, there’s a highest-ever welcome offer on the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees).
While Barclays and Citi both have a cobranded card partnership with American Airlines, Citi is the issuer with the largest number of American Airlines card options. In fact, Citi will become the exclusive issuer of the AAdvantage cobranded card portfolio starting in 2026. And you can now transfer Citi ThankYou Rewards points to AAdvantage.
Here’s a rundown of the top Citi / AAdvantage credit cards and their current offers. Holding one of these cards could be a straightforward way to score a business-class ticket on American or its Oneworld partners.
Comparison of the Citi AAdvantage welcome offers
| Card | Welcome offer | Offer value* | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/22146206?pid=22146206&name=Citi%C2%AE%E2%80%AF%2F%20AAdvantage%20Business%E2%84%A2%E2%80%AFWorld%20Elite%20Mastercard%C2%AE&issuer=Citi” target=”_blank”>Citi / AAdvantage Business</a></strong> | For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first five months of account opening. | $1,163 | $0 introductory annual fee for the first 12 months, then $99 thereafter |
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/221410949?pid=221410949&name=Citi%C2%AE%20%2F%20AAdvantage%C2%AE%20Executive%20World%20Elite%20Mastercard%C2%AE&issuer=Citi” target=”_blank”>Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®</a> </strong>(see <a href=”/tc/221410949?pid=221410949&name=Citi%C2%AE%20%2F%20AAdvantage%C2%AE%20Executive%20World%20Elite%20Mastercard%C2%AE&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>) | Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first three months of account opening. | $1,085 | $595 |
| <a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/reviews/card-review-citiaadvantage-platinum-select/”><strong>Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®</strong></a> | Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 within the first three months of account opening. | $775 | $0 introductory annual fee for the first 12 months, then $99 thereafter |
| <a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/reviews/credit-card-review-aadvantage-mileup-mastercard/”><strong>American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®</strong></a> | Earn 15,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $233 | $0 |
*Based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations
The information for the Citi / AA Platinum Select and AAdvantage MileUp cards have been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard
The Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard is Citi’s business card for AA loyalists.
Welcome bonus: For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first five months of account opening.
According to TPG’s September 2025 valuations, the welcome bonus is worth $1,163. This is the highest offer the card provides, so now is the best time to apply if you’ve had this card on your radar.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first 12 months, then $99 thereafter
Best for: Business travelers
Earning rates:
- 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible business expenses, including cable and satellite providers, car rentals, gas stations and telecommunications merchants
- 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else
With this card, you and up to four companions get a free first checked bag when flying a domestic American Airlines itinerary on the same reservation.
If you put $30,000 in spending on the card in a cardmember year and renew your card, you’ll be rewarded with a companion certificate, which allows you to take a companion on a flight for $99 (plus taxes and fees). The certificate is only valid on a main-cabin round-trip domestic itinerary (48 contiguous states, unless you’re from Alaska or Hawaii). The certificate is granted upon account renewal, and the account must remain open for a full billing cycle after the anniversary date.
To learn more, check out our full review of the AAdvantage Business Mastercard.
Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite is AA’s top-tier personal card.
Welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first three months of account opening.
According to TPG’s September 2025 valuations, the welcome bonus is worth $1,085. This is the standard offer we typically see on this card, so you might be better off waiting for a higher offer.
Annual fee: $595
Best for: Those who want Admirals Club access
Earning rates:
- 10 miles per dollar spent on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through American’s car rental and hotel booking sites, respectively
- 4 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
This card benefits those who fly American frequently and want valuable statement credits and elite perks like Admirals Club access.
Also, after spending $150,000 on your card in a calendar year, cardholders earn a boosted rate of 5 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases for the rest of the year.
At $595, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite has a much higher annual fee than other options but comes with a notable benefit for frequent flyers: Admirals Club access for you and up to two guests traveling with you when you have a same-day boarding pass for an eligible flight.
You can add up to three authorized users for $175 total and additional authorized users for $175 each after that. Each authorized user receives Admirals Club access (with a same-day boarding pass for an eligible flight) for themselves and up to two traveling companions.
The card also comes with loyalty point bonuses, travel protections and statement credits for car rentals, food delivery, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck and ride-hailing services.
To learn more, check out our full review of the AAdvantage Executive.
Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select is Citi’s mid-tier AA option.
Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 within the first three months of account opening.
According to TPG’s September 2025 valuations, the welcome bonus is worth $775, which is the typical offer on the card. Be sure to periodically check back, as this card occasionally offers higher welcome bonuses.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first 12 months, then $99 thereafter
Best for: Casual American Airlines flyers
Earning rates:
- 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2 miles per dollar spent on gas station and restaurant purchases
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
If you fly American Airlines often enough to want an upgraded flight experience but are uninterested in Admirals Club access, this is a solid card option. It’s affordable and easy to keep in your wallet.
You’ll receive benefits like preferred boarding, a free first checked bag for you and up to four companions on domestic American Airlines itineraries, and discounts on inflight snacks and beverage purchases.
As a cardholder, you’ll also earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases, and this card does not charge foreign transaction fees.
Another great benefit of this card is the ability to earn a $125 American Airlines flight discount after spending $20,000 or more in purchases during your card membership year and renewing your card.
To learn more, check out our full review of the AAdvantage Platinum Select.
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp
The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp card is Citi’s entry-level AA product.
Welcome bonus: Earn 15,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
According to TPG’s September 2025 valuations, this welcome bonus is worth $233. This is the standard offer we typically see on this card.
Annual fee: $0
Best for: Beginners looking to earn American Airlines miles
Earning rates:
- 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2 miles per dollar spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
If you’re a beginner looking for an inexpensive way to earn American miles, this could be a good entry point into the Citi AAdvantage credit card lineup.
As a no-annual-fee card, it offers few perks, but you will get 25% savings on inflight drinks and snacks.
However, anyone taking more than a couple of American Airlines flights per year will likely be better off with an American Airlines card with an annual fee, since those offer greater earning rates and perks.
To learn more, check out our full review of the AAdvantage MileUp.
A quick note on application restrictions
Citi doesn’t limit the total number of credit cards you can hold, but it does cap your overall credit line across accounts.
You can only apply for one card every eight days, no more than two cards in 65 days and just one business card every 90 days.
Finally, Citi’s 48-month rule means you can’t earn a welcome bonus on the same AAdvantage card if you’ve received that bonus within the past four years.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
Bottom line
If you’re an American Airlines loyalist, a Citi / AAdvantage credit card can deliver serious value, from free checked bags and preferred boarding to bonus miles that bring premium-cabin redemptions within reach.
With Citi soon to become the exclusive AAdvantage card issuer and a record-high business card offer currently available, now is a smart time to decide which card best matches your travel and spending habits.
Whether you’re after entry-level earning, mid-tier perks or premium Admirals Club access, there’s a Citi / AA card designed to elevate your flying experience.
Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite
Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite
Related: How to redeem American Airlines AAdvantage miles for maximum value
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
