Citi Platinum Select / AAdvantage World MasterCard Review

If you travel by airplane often, and you find that the best prices for your routes center around one airline, it can often be beneficial to join that airline’s frequent flier loyalty program. In addition, many airlines also partner with credit card companies to offer travel rewards credit cards that help you accrue frequent flier miles faster.

American Airlines is a large airline with a long history, and over that time the company has developed loyal customers. For those who fly this airline often, the Citi® Platinum Select®/AAdvantage® World MasterCard® offers rewards for credit card users. Right now, signing up for this card means you’re eligible for 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles once you make $1,000 in purchases within the first three months of cardmembership. Here’s a review of the card’s features and how to earn bonus miles.

As mentioned above, to start you off, new Citi Platinum Select/AAdvantage World MasterCard cardholders can earn 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $1,000 on the card during the first three months of card ownership. Putting your monthly groceries on the card and paying them off before the bill is due might help you get close to that amount. The 30,000 bonus miles can be applied towards a round-trip economy ticket within the continental U.S. (including Alaska) and Canada, if you can book one of the restricted MileSAAver award seats. When you redeem AAdvantage bonus miles, you also earn 10% of those redeemed miles back as new AAdvantage bonus miles, up to 10,000 AAdvantage(R) miles each calendar year.

On an ongoing basis, the rewards program for the Citi Platinum Select/AAdvantage World MasterCard is fairly straightforward. Spenders earn two AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and one AAdvantage mile for every dollar spent on other purchases.

Every card membership year in which you make at least $30,000 in purchases and you renew your cardmembership, you can also receive a $100 flight discount redeemable towards an American Airlines flight discount originating in the U.S.

Frequent American Airlines fliers will appreciate that this card lets you check one standard eligible bag for free (normally $25 for a domestic flight). Cardholders also get priority boarding with Group 1 boarding and 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases*.

There is a $95 annual fee associated with this card, but the fee is waived during the first twelve months. Plus, if you usually check a bag on your American Airlines flights, the first-checked-bag-free benefit would help cover that annual fee within one round-trip itinerary.

When you look at the Citi Platinum Select/AAdvantage World MasterCard from top to bottom, the card appears to come off as average or perhaps below average. This card is best for people who can pay their balance in full each month and who are American Airlines frequent flyers, both because the bonus miles you earn for initial spending adds up toward a flight and because of the travel perks that can make each American Airlines flight a little more pleasant. Only frequent flyers of American Airlines should consider owning this card. To apply, or for additional information on terms and conditions visit the Citi Platinum Select/AAdvantage World MasterCard application.

*See terms and conditions on Citi Platinum Select/AAdvantage World MasterCard application page for additional information

Important Note! The information in this article is believed to be accurate as of the date it was written. Please keep in mind that credit card offers change frequently. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this article. Please verify all terms and conditions of any credit card prior to applying.