Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard review

20 January, 2026 Ervin Howe 0 Comments 1 category

Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard overview

U.S. Airlines flyers who value lounge access should be advised to follow the Citi® / AAdvantageTM Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) as their preferred option for American Airlines flighters. In addition to several other advantages, it offers a free Admirals Club membership and provides for the flying American Airlines experience that makes flying Americans more enjoyable. 12** **Card Rating ***************.

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Although most credit cards offer airport lounge facilities, the type of Lounges that each card gets you into can be very different. Only one cobranded credit card is that it’s the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, which includes free, unlimited access to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges.

This is a very high-budget annual fee for the card, which may seem steep but still far cheaper than an Admirals Club membership (costing from $700) in general.

To be approved for the card, a credit score of 670 or higher is recommended.

If you have a choice to carry or keep – this American Airlines cobranded card, let’s review all the benefits of it in your wallet.

Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite pros and cons

Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite welcome offer

A new Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard cardholders can earn 100,000 miles for the first three months of account opening with $10,000, and have spent just under $20,000.

The welcome bonus is $1,550-a-$1,500-years worth according to TPG’s January 2026 valuations. It’s a good time to apply for the offer, which is the best bonus we have ever seen in the card history. If you’ve been thinking about the deal now has it become an excellent time of applying.

THE POINTS GUY

Note If you’ve received a welcome bonus from this card (or another Citi card that you have turned on to the same product) in the last two months, don’t you get it as your bonus on this cards.

Related: Who’s eligible for the Citi / AAdvantage Executive’s bonus?

Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite benefits

In addition, what distinguishes the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard from the competition is that it provides free Admirals Club access.

A full Admirals Club membership is granted to the primary cardholder, which allows them and their immediate family or two guests access to a club when they have same-day boarding pass for American or one of its partner airlines. The AAdvantage account number is associated with this credit card, so there’s no need to carry the physical card for club access.

Depending on your status level with American, an individual Admirals Club membership usually costs $700 to $850 (or more) whether it’s a new member or re-new. This is a way to pay the annual fee for access to the lounge, even before taking into account the card’s other benefits.

SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

After that, the first three authorized users are charged $175 annual fee for an additional $95 and each authorized user thereafter is charged with $125. A user with permission to use Admirals Club access for themselves, and upto two traveling companions are also allowed. If you have permission to use Admirals Club access, just be aware that only authorized users are allowed the full Admiral Club membership.

There are three statement credits available:

Up to $120 back on eligible prepaid Avis or Budget car rentals every calendar year
On eligible Grubhub, up to $120 back on each of 12 billing statements (up to $10 statement credit per monthly billing statement) *
Up to $120 per year ($10 Lyft credit each month) in LyFt credits, * if you have three eligible rides first and then take the same ride every month for this credit.

Here are some other valuable perks the card offers:

Enhanced airport experience You and up to eight travelers on the same reservation will receive priority check-in (where available), airport screening ( where available) and priority boarding privileges. No business-class check-in position (or first class check in when business class is not available), and you can even go to any business school where your traveling.
The first checked bag for you and up to eight traveling companions on the same reservation is free, according to * First checked bags free on domestic itineraries On domestic Itinerary flown by American Airlines or any regional subsidiary, the first check bag was used for your luggage and as many as eight travelling companion.
Inflight discount: 25% off inflight food and beverages when you pay with your card (excludes inflight Wi-Fi)
**Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee statement credit****** Pay your Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee with this card and get an up-to-$120 statement loan? You’ll get the credit once every four years. If we have to enroll for Global Entry because you also receive TSA PreCheck, so we always recommend choosing Global entry.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

This card also offers the following insurance for:

Car rentals
Lost baggage
Trip cancellation
Trip delay
Trip interruption

Finally, there are no foreign transaction fees, making this card a good choice when traveling abroad.

Related: Everything you need to know about foreign transaction fees

Earning miles on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite

Using the Citi/ AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, you’ll earn 4 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases. Then if you spend $150,000 on purchases in a calendar year, and for the rest of the calendar month, your spending rate is 5 miles per dollar spent on American purchases.

That’s a way you’ll also make 10 miles per dollar on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through American’s car rental and hotel booking sites, respectively.

Finally, you’ll earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

After reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year cardholders earn 5,000 LoYalti Point’s bonuses. They reach 90,000 LoyaltY Points in same status qualification year and receive another bonus of 10,000 Loiesalty Point.

No matter how you earn the Loyalty Points, it will be your bonuses regardless of what you do to get the bonuses. For example, if you buy American Airlines tickets and shop through the AAdvantage portal to earn 50,000 Loyalty Points by holding the card with the 10,000 bonus points just from your own perspective, you could get it.

Related: 8 methods that earned American AAdvantage Executive Platinum

Redeeming miles on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite

The U.S.’s lowest round-trip ticket is . S, meanwhile. If you fly less than 500 miles, s usually start at 7,500 mile one-way.

Previously, Web specials include domestic cross-country flights of 5,000 miles each way in economy or 15,000 mile per way first class (9,000 miles every way) and flights to Europe from 9,000 million points and South America from 150,000 miles.

Alternatively, you could earn as much as you can by redeeming your AAdvantage miles for premium-cabin awards on partner airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Etihad and Qatar Airways.

ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

To book business-class flights on Etihad or Qatar Airways to the Middle East and beyond to Asia and Africa, TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt’s favorite way of redeeming AAdvantage miles is to book high-end flights from Etilhad (or Qatar Airlines) into the middle east and backwards to Asian and African.

This card will give you the miles that make your dream vacation true if you know how to redeem them for high value.

Related: Best uses of American Airlines AAdvantage miles

Which cards compete with the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite?

The largest competitors to this card are largely other cobranded American Airlines cards. That said, you can also get tons of value from a more general premium card.

If you want a lower annual fee: The

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

It’s a solid mid-level credit card with good benefits for lowered annual fee of $99 ($0 introductory annual rate for the first year) (see rates and fees). Read our full review of Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select for more information.

If you’re not a loyal American Airlines flyer It may be more appropriate to follow ‘high travel rewards card like the premium-like airline (e.g.

American Express Platinum Card®

For example, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on flights (if booked directly with the airline or American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 for these purchases per calendar year, 1 point a dollar spent) See also our full review of Amex Platinum for more information read our complete review.

If you’re a business owner: The

Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®

A high-end cobranded business card (see rates and fees) is a premium travel benefit, with bonus-earning in business categories. It is a $0 annual fee for the first year, and $99 per year thereafter. The main cardholder earns Loyalty Points from his purchases. Read our review of Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard for full version to learn more.

The Points Guy has independently collected the information for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select. On this page, the card issuer has not reviewed or provided any information about the cards details.

For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel cards.

Related: Choosing the best credit card for American Airlines flyers

Bottom line

A frequent American Airlines flyer should be aware of the $595-per-year Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, since an Admirals Club membership starts at $700 per year.

This card is a permanent value for your current credit, if you want Admirals Club access and to increase your balance of AAdvantage mileage with ‘a welcome bonus (while also alleviating elite status requirements)?

And, if you’re looking for a card that will give you more money on your spending, you might want to go elsewhere.

Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

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