What Citi AAdvantage cards offer
Citi offers several AAdvantage credit cards in partnership with American Airlines. These cards earn miles on purchases, offer sign-up bonuses, and provide benefits like checked baggage allowances and priority boarding. The specific rewards, annual fees, and perks vary depending on which AAdvantage card you choose.
The cards are issued by Citibank and the miles you earn are redeemable through American Airlines' AAdvantage program. You do not have to be an American Airlines frequent flyer to open one, though having an AAdvantage account makes redeeming miles simpler.
Key Takeaways
- Citi offers multiple AAdvantage cards at different annual fee levels, each with different earning rates and sign-up bonuses.
- Miles earned on the card can be redeemed for American Airlines flights, seat upgrades, and other travel purchases through the AAdvantage program.
- Most AAdvantage cards include benefits like a free checked bag on American Airlines flights and priority boarding, which offset the annual fee for frequent travelers.
- You can transfer miles to other airline and hotel partners through American Airlines' transfer partners, though the exchange rate varies.
- The card process process happens online through Citi's website, and approval decisions are usually made within minutes.
The main Citi AAdvantage card options
Citi currently offers the AAdvantage Platinum Select, AAdvantage Gold, and AAdvantage Executive cards. The Platinum Select is the entry-level option with no annual fee. The Gold card charges an annual fee and offers higher earning rates and more benefits. The Executive card is the premium option with the highest annual fee and the most generous perks.
Each card earns miles at different rates on different purchase categories. For example, one card might earn 3 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else, while another earns 2 miles per dollar on dining and gas. Check the specific earning structure for each card before you open one, because the earning rates determine how quickly you accumulate miles.
All three cards come with a sign-up bonus—a large number of miles awarded after you spend a certain amount within the first few months. The bonus amount and spending requirement change periodically, so the current offer may differ from what you see on older websites.
How to open a Citi AAdvantage card
Visit Citi's website and search for AAdvantage cards. You will see the current options and their terms side by side. Click on the card you want and select "Open Now" or a similar button to start the process.
You will be asked for your Social Security number, date of birth, income, employment status, and current address. Citi will also ask whether you want to open a new AAdvantage account or link the card to an existing one. If you already have an AAdvantage number, enter it; if not, you can create an account during the process or afterward.
After you submit your process, Citi will make a credit decision within minutes in most cases. You will see the result on screen when ready, or Citi may tell you they need more time and will contact you by phone or email. If you are approved, your card will arrive by mail within 7 to 10 business days.
Understanding the sign-up bonus and how to earn it
The sign-up bonus is miles awarded after you meet a spending requirement—for example, 50,000 miles after you spend $2,500 in the first three months. This spending must be on purchases made with the card; balance transfers and cash advances do not count.
The bonus posts to your AAdvantage account automatically once you meet the requirement. You do not have to do anything to claim it. If you do not meet the spending requirement within the timeframe, you will not receive the bonus.
The spending requirement is designed to be achievable for most people through normal purchases, but you should only open the card if you plan to use it. Opening a card solely to chase a bonus you cannot meet wastes a hard inquiry on your credit report and may lower your credit score slightly.
How miles earning and redemption work
Miles are earned on every purchase you make with the card, at the rate specified for that purchase category. If you spend $1,000 on an American Airlines flight and the card earns 3 miles per dollar on airline purchases, you earn 3,000 miles. Those miles post to your AAdvantage account within one to three business days.
You redeem miles by logging into your AAdvantage account on American Airlines' website or app. You can search for available flights and see the mile cost for each one. Award availability varies by route and date; some flights have many seats available for miles, while others have none. You can also use miles to upgrade a paid ticket to a higher cabin, or to purchase other travel services like hotel stays through AAdvantage partners.
Miles do not expire as long as you have account activity—a flight, a purchase, or a transfer—at least once every 18 months. If your account goes inactive, miles will expire, but you can reactivate the account by earning or transferring miles.
Annual fees and whether they make sense for you
The no-annual-fee AAdvantage card has no yearly cost. The Gold card charges an annual fee (the amount varies and changes over time). The Executive card charges a higher annual fee but includes benefits like a statement credit toward American Airlines purchases and lounge access.
Whether an annual fee is worth paying depends on how much you fly and how much you value the included benefits. If you fly American Airlines at least once or twice per year, the free checked bag benefit alone may offset a modest annual fee. If you never fly American Airlines or only fly once every few years, the no-annual-fee card is the better choice.
You can downgrade to a different AAdvantage card at any time by calling Citi. If you downgrade before your annual fee posts, you will not be charged. If the fee has already posted, you may be able to request a refund within a short window, though policies vary.
Card benefits beyond earning miles
Most AAdvantage cards include a free checked bag on American Airlines flights for you and when ready family members traveling on the same ticket. This benefit alone saves $30 to $40 per round trip. Priority boarding is also included, which means you board before most other passengers and can place a carry-on bag in the overhead bin.
Higher-tier cards may include lounge access, either to American Airlines lounges or to airport lounges through a partner program. Some cards offer statement credits toward American Airlines purchases, which can offset the annual fee. Read the benefits section of the card you are considering to see exactly what is included.
These benefits explore only when you are the cardholder flying on American Airlines. They do not extend to other airlines, and they do not explore if someone else uses your card to book a flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my AAdvantage miles to another airline?
Yes. American Airlines allows you to transfer miles to partner airlines and hotel programs, including partners like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Marriott. The transfer rate varies by partner—you might transfer 1,000 AAdvantage miles for 1,000 partner miles, or at a different ratio. Transfers are permanent and cannot be reversed, so confirm the rate before you transfer.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles do not disappear when you close the card. They remain in your AAdvantage account as long as the account stays active. You can continue to redeem them for flights and other rewards. However, if your AAdvantage account becomes inactive (no activity for 18 months), the miles will expire.
Do I earn miles on credit card payments and fees?
No. You earn miles only on purchases of goods and services. Payments toward your balance, annual fees, interest charges, and cash advances do not earn miles.
How long does it take to receive my card in the mail?
Citi typically mails approved cards within 7 to 10 business days. You can set up the card as soon as it arrives by calling the number on the back or using the Citi mobile app. You do not have to wait for the card to arrive to start earning miles if you add it to a digital wallet.
Can I have more than one Citi AAdvantage card at the same time?
Yes, you can hold multiple AAdvantage cards from Citi simultaneously. However, each card process triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may temporarily lower your score. Most people do not benefit from holding more than one, since the miles all go into the same AAdvantage account and you would pay multiple annual fees.