Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard Overview
this Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (See Rates & Fees) Best for American Airlines passengers who value lounge access. It offers free Admirals Club membership and several other benefits that make flying American even more enjoyable. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card ratings are based on the opinions of TPG editors and are not influenced by card issuers.
While many credit cards offer airport lounge access, the types of lounges each card allows you to access can vary greatly. There is only one co-branded credit card that offers free, unlimited access to the American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge, and that’s the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard.
The card has an annual fee of $595, which may seem a bit high, but it’s still much cheaper than the Admirals Club membership fee (which starts at $700).
To be approved for this card, a credit score of 670 or higher is recommended.
Let’s review all the benefits of this American Airlines co-branded card to help you decide whether to carry it or keep it in your wallet.
Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Pros and Cons
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Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Welcome Offer
New for a limited time Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard Cardholders can earn 100,000 miles after spending $10,000 within three months of account opening.
According to TPG’s January 2026 valuation, the welcome bonus is worth $1,550. This offer qualifies as the best bonus we’ve seen in the card’s history, so if you’ve been considering this card, now is a great time to apply.
Please note that if you have received a welcome bonus with this card (or another Citi card you converted to this product) within the past 48 months, you are not eligible to earn the bonus with this card.
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Related: Who is eligible for the Citi/AAdvantage Executive bonus?
Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Benefits
What is the setting Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard Unlike its competitors, it offers free Admirals Club access.
The primary cardholder will receive full membership in the Admirals Club, which allows them and their immediate family members or two guests access as long as they have a same-day boarding pass from American Airlines or one of its partner airlines. The credit card is tied to the cardholder’s AAdvantage account, so there is no need to carry a physical card to enter the club.
Individual Admirals Club membership typically costs $700 to $850, depending on your status level with American Airlines and whether you are a new or renewing member. That means the annual fee includes lounge access, even before considering the card’s other benefits.
There is an additional annual fee of $175 for the first three authorized users and $175 for each subsequent authorized user. Authorized users may use Admirals Club for themselves and up to two traveling companions. Please note that authorized users only receive access to Admirals Club, not full Admirals Club membership.
There are three types of claim credits available:
- Up to $120 back per calendar year on eligible prepaid Avis or Budget car rentals
- Get up to $120 back on eligible Grubhub purchases for every 12 bills (maximum $10 bill credit per monthly bill)
- Earn up to $120 in Lyft points per year ($10 in Lyft points per month), but you must first take 3 qualifying rides per month to earn the points
Here are some other great benefits this card offers:
- Enhanced airport experience: You and up to eight passengers on the same reservation will receive priority check-in (if applicable), airport security (if applicable) and priority boarding privileges. You can even check in at any business class check-in location (or first class if business class isn’t available), regardless of which class you’re flying.
- Free first checked baggage on domestic routes: On domestic routes operated by American Airlines or any of its regional subsidiaries, the first checked bag is free for you and up to eight traveling companions on the same reservation.
- In-flight discounts: Enjoy 25% discount on in-flight food and beverages when paying with your bank card (excluding in-flight Wi-Fi)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Fee Statement Credit: Get up to $120 in statement credit when you use this card to pay for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees. You will receive points every four years. Since you also receive TSA Pre-Check when you sign up for Global Entry, we always recommend choosing Global Entry.
The card also offers the following insurance:
- car rental
- Lost luggage
- trip canceled
- Travel delay
- trip interruption
Finally, there are no foreign transaction fees, making this card a good choice for traveling abroad.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Forex Trading Fees
Earn miles with Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite
along with Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercardyou can earn 4 miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Then, if you spend $150,000 on purchases in a calendar year, you’ll earn 5 miles for every $1 you spend on U.S. purchases during the remainder of the calendar year.
Also earn 10 miles for every $1 spent on qualifying car rentals and hotel bookings through American Airlines’ car rental and hotel booking site.
Finally, you’ll earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other qualifying purchases.
Cardholders will receive a bonus of 10,000 loyalty points after reaching 50,000 loyalty points in the status qualification year. After reaching 90,000 loyalty points in the same status year, they will be awarded an additional 10,000 loyalty points.
No matter how you earn loyalty points, you will receive your bonus. For example, you can earn 50,000 loyalty points by purchasing American Airlines tickets and shopping through the AAdvantage portal, earning you 10,000 bonus points just by holding the card.
Related: 8 Ways to Earn America’s AAdvantage Executive Platinum
Redeem Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite miles
For flights with less than 500 miles, the cheapest round-trip airfares in the U.S. tend to start at 7,500 miles one-way.
Network specials previously offered include domestic cross-country flights for 5,000 miles one-way in economy or 15,000 miles one-way in first class, flights to Europe for 9,000 miles one-way and flights to South America for 15,000 miles one-way.
Alternatively, you can get great value by redeeming your AAdvantage miles for premium cabin awards on partner airlines, including Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.
TPG Contributing Editor Matt Moffitt’s favorite way to redeem AAdvantage miles is to book business-class flights on Etihad Airways or Qatar Airways to the Middle East and Asia and Africa.
If you know how to redeem high-value miles, the miles you earn with this card can help you achieve your dream vacation.
Related: Best uses for American Airlines AAdvantage miles
Which cards compete with Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite?
This card’s biggest competitors are mostly other American Airlines co-branded cards. That said, you can also get a lot of value from more versatile premium cards.
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select information is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For other options, check out our full list of the best travel cards .
Related: Choosing the best credit card for American Airlines passengers
bottom line
With Admirals Club membership fees starting at $700 per year, the $595 per year Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard should attract the attention of American frequent flyers.
If you want to use Admirals Club and grow your AAdvantage mile balance with a welcome bonus (while also relaxing elite status requirements), this card can provide ongoing value.
However, if you’re looking for a card that gives you better returns on your spending, you may want to look elsewhere.
Apply here: Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
