American Airlines' Premier Credit Card Offers an Unprecedented 100,000-Mile Bonus

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The following offer was valid at the time of publication but is no longer available as of July 28, 2023.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is an elite cobranded credit card from American Airlines, designed for loyal customers who appreciate access to Admirals Club lounges and an upgraded airport experience. (Hello to early boarding and a free first checked bag on domestic flights!) Despite a $595 annual fee, this card remains popular due to the included Admirals Club membership (which costs $850 annually otherwise), along with the ability to add three additional cardholders (for a total of $175), all of whom can also access the lounge.

As American continues to revamp its lounges, this card is attracting new clients with a record-breaking welcome bonus of 100,000 miles after spending $10,000 within the first three months.

Here’s why frequent flyers of American Airlines should think about applying for this card now.

The largest welcome bonus ever

As of July 23, 2023, new cardholders of the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard can earn a remarkable 100,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $10,000 in the first three months. The standard welcome offer for this card is typically 50,000 miles, which seldom changes. Occasionally, we've seen it rise to 75,000 miles, and in 2022 it reached 80,000 miles, the highest in over five years.

When used wisely, 100,000 AAdvantage miles can take you a long way. As a founding member of the oneworld Alliance, American Airlines offers access to award availability from partner airlines, including Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways. Last year, the best value we found for AAdvantage miles was a business-class ticket from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Harare, Zimbabwe, for 70,000 miles. This journey took the traveler from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), then Doha (DOH), and finally to Harare (HRE), all in business class, featuring a 14-hour segment in a Q-suite on Qatar Airways.

Admirals Club access for you, your family, and additional guests

Currently, an Admirals Club membership costs $850 per year if purchased separately (up from $650 after the price increase on July 23, 2023). However, this membership is included as a complimentary benefit with the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard. Full membership provides access to nearly 50 American Airlines lounges for the cardholder and two guests or immediate family members traveling with them. It also allows entry into over 50 partner oneworld lounges, including the Alaska Lounge in Anchorage and the Qantas Club in Melbourne, Australia.

Additionally, the card offers a remarkable policy for adding extra cardholders. You can add up to three additional cardholders for a total fee of $175 (which is less than $60 each), each receiving Admirals Club access (along with two guests) but without access to oneworld partner lounges. Any additional cardholders beyond the first three will cost $175 each.

Earn loyalty points and status on American Airlines

In addition to the increased introductory bonus, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard allows new cardholders to accumulate points toward elite status. American Airlines’ elite status program, updated in 2022, requires earning a specific number of Loyalty Points throughout the status year to achieve Gold (40,000), Platinum (75,000), Platinum Pro (125,000), or Executive Platinum (200,000). Each dollar spent on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard earns one AA mile plus one Loyalty Point toward status.

As of July 23, 2023, the card features a new earning structure for AAdvantage miles on certain purchases: earn 4x AAdvantage Miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases and 10x AAdvantage Miles per dollar on eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars and qualifying hotel bookings through aa.com/hotels. For all other eligible purchases, earn 1x AAdvantage Mile per dollar (the same as before July 23, 2023).

Moreover, the card now provides Loyalty Point bonuses to facilitate achieving AAdvantage status. Cardholders can receive a 10,000 Loyalty Points bonus after accumulating 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year, with an additional 10,000 Loyalty Points bonus after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in the same period. These bonuses are not exclusively linked to spending on the Citi card; they can also be earned through actual AA flights and partner offers. Overall, these incentives are incredibly beneficial for loyalists aiming for the highest elite status tiers.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit

A Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit (available every four to five years) is a standard feature of credit cards with high annual fees, and the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard follows suit. Simply charge either application fee to your card, and the amount will be refunded as a statement credit. Keep in mind that this benefit is available only for the primary cardholder and does not apply to additional cardholders.

Benefits on American Airlines and travel insurance

When flying with American Airlines, the primary cardholder is entitled to one free checked bag for themselves and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation. Cardholders will also enjoy an enhanced travel experience, including priority check-in and early boarding when flying American Airlines. Additionally, expect a 25 percent discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases.

As of July 23, 2023, the card now includes several implicit travel insurance benefits when travel expenses are charged to it. These cover trip cancellation and interruption, trip delay, lost baggage, and global car rental insurance.

Key Takeaways

The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is an excellent option for frequent American Airlines flyers and those who often visit Admirals Club lounges. With an unprecedented welcome bonus of 100,000 miles, a complimentary checked bag, and an enhanced earning structure for additional miles and Loyalty Points, this card is hard to resist. The usual welcome offer is 50,000 miles and seldom varies, making the current 100,000-mile offer the most attractive we’ve seen, but it won't last long.

While the offers listed above are accurate as of publication, they can change at any moment and may have already changed or may no longer be available. This article was first published in 2022 and was updated on July 28, 2023, with the latest information.