Which is the best AAdvantage credit card?

AAdvantage has several co-branded credit cards, but some of our top choices for AAdvantage credit cards are the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card and the AAdvantage Globe card. If you’re looking for a starter card, consider the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card, which offers perks such as free checked bags and a waived annual fee for the first year. If you don’t mind paying a midrange annual fee, the AAdvantage Globe card offers numerous perks and a high welcome bonus offer.

Is AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card worth it?

The AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card is worth it, especially with its . It’s ideal for beginner American Airlines loyalists who don’t spend a lot but can get additional bonus miles with gas and restaurant purchases.

Does the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card have lounge access?

The AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card doesn’t have lounge access. However, the AAdvantage Globe card offers 4 Admirals Club Globe passes, which get you access to nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges.

Does the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card cover TSA PreCheck?

No, the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card doesn’t have a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. The AAdvantage Globe card has this benefit, and many other credit cards feature statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

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AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Card vs. AAdvantage Globe Card [2025]

Updated: November 7, 2025, 8:00am CST

Edited by:

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Table of Contents

Card Overview
Welcome Offer Comparison
Earning Points
Redeeming Points
Card Benefits
Statement Credits
Annual Fees and Authorized Users
Final Thoughts

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American Airlines (AA) flyers can significantly benefit from the perks and miles-earning potential offered by AAdvantage co-branded credit cards, especially the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^® and the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®.

With a decent selection of AAdvantage co-brand cards, consumers can pick the one that best suits their needs based on each card’s benefits, perks, annual fee, and bonus categories. If you’re in the market for a low-to-midrange annual fee, the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card and the newly launched AAdvantage Globe card are valid options. Although the cards are similar in how they earn miles, they also have many differences you should consider before choosing one.

Below, we’ll compare and contrast these cards so you can select the one that best fits your needs, based on your spending habits and how frequently you fly with American Airlines.

Card Overview

The AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card and AAdvantage Globe card are relatively straightforward to compare, mainly because they both earn AAdvantage miles and they’re both Citi cards. If you’re an American Airlines loyalist, think about which benefits are most valuable to you, how often you’ll be using the card (and for what type of spending), and what you’d like to pay in an annual fee to help you make the right choice.

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Benefit	Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®	Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®
Welcome offer	Earn 50,000 bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.	Earn 90,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first 4 months of account opening.
Earning points	2x miles at gas stations, restaurants, and American Airlines purchases 1 Loyalty Point for every eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases	6x miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings 3x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases 2x miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery 2x miles on Rides and Rails, including taxis, ride-sharing purchases, and public transit 1 Loyalty Point for every eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases
Redeeming points	Book travel with AAdvantage miles on AA and on Oneworld partners Hotels, car rentals, vacations, experiences
Travel, dining, and lifestyle benefits	Complimentary first checked bag for you and up to 4 companions on the same reservation on domestic AA itineraries No foreign transaction fees	4 Admirals Club Globe lounge passes annually AA Companion Certificate starting in your second card membership year ($99 plus taxes and fees) Complimentary first checked bag for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation on domestic AA itineraries Group 5 preferred boarding with AA Status fast track with Flight Streak bonus Access to Citi Entertainment, Mastercard World Legend benefits, and Mastercard Collection benefits Travel and purchase protections No foreign transaction fees
Statement credits	$125 AA flight discount after spending $20,000 or more during your card year (and renew your card) Up to $180 in Turo credits through October 18, 2026 (up to $30 per eligible trip)	Up to $100 in AA inflight purchase credits annually Up to $120 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit every 4 years after using your card to pay the application fee Up to $240 in Turo credits annually (up to $30 per eligible trip) Up to $100 in Splurge Credit annually
Fees	$0 intro annual fee, then $99 after the first year No additional fee to add authorized users	$350 annual fee No additional fee to add authorized users

Welcome Offer Comparison

Since both cards earn AAdvantage miles, the welcome bonus offers are easy to compare:

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

U.P. Rating

Status lovers will enjoy the variety of benefits that come with this card. From free bags to reduced-price inflight beverages, AA still flies in style.

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

Status lovers will enjoy the variety of benefits that come with this card. From free bags to reduced-price inflight beverages, AA still flies in style.

Welcome OfferEarn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
50,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$700

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee, $99 after the first year

APR

19.74% to 29.74% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card is a great option for American Airlines frequent flyers who want to earn more miles on their daily purchases and score perks such as free checked bags, preferred boarding, and savings on inflight food and beverage purchases.

Pros & Cons

Pros

2x miles at restaurants, gas stations, and eligible American Airlines purchases
1x miles on all other purchases
1x Loyalty Point per $1 spent on all purchases

Cons

Does not earn transferable rewards
Charges an annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage^® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Earn 2 AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases
Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage^® mile earned from purchases
Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your card membership year and renew your card
No Foreign Transaction Fees
First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.74% to 29.74% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: 0%

Rewards Center

American Airlines AAdvantage Program

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®

U.P. Rating

The AAdvantage Globe card gives you more value on every American Airlines flight and helps you qualify for elite status.

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®

The AAdvantage Globe card gives you more value on every American Airlines flight and helps you qualify for elite status.

Welcome OfferEligible new cardmembers can earn 90,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first four months of account opening.    
90,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$1,260

Annual Fee

$350

APR

19.74% to 29.74% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The AAdvantage Globe card is an excellent option for American Airlines frequent flyers who want a card that offers benefits on every American Airlines flight and makes it easier to qualify for American Airlines elite status.

Pros & Cons

Pros

6x miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings
3x miles on American Airlines purchases
2x miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery

Cons

$350 annual fee
Doesn’t earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Eligible new cardmembers can earn 90,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first four months of account opening.
6x AAdvantage^® miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels™ bookings.
3x AAdvantage^® miles on American Airlines purchases.
2x AAdvantage^® miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
2x AAdvantage^® miles on Rides and Rails™ purchases, including taxis, ride-shares, and public transit.
1x AAdvantage^® mile on all other purchases.
1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage status for every 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned from qualifying purchases.
No mileage cap, the earning potential is unlimited.
Get 4 Admirals Club^® Globe™ lounge passes annually, each valid for 24 hours, and enjoy access to nearly 50 Admirals Club^® lounges worldwide.
Receive an Annual Companion Certificate with every card renewal, redeemable for $99 plus taxes and fees, which is eligible for a single round-trip qualifying domestic flight in Main Cabin.
Earn up to $100 inflight purchase credits when using your card on American Airlines flights.
First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the primary cardmember and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.
Enjoy Group 5 boarding on American Airlines flights for the primary cardmember and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.
Receive up to $120 Global Entry^® or TSA PreCheck^® credit every four years.
Cardmembers receive 5,000 Loyalty Points after every 4 qualifying American Airlines flights, for up to 15,000 additional Loyalty Points each qualification year.
Earn up to $100 annual Splurge Credit℠ with a choice of up to two of the following: eligible AAdvantage Hotels™ bookings, 1stDibs, Future Personal Training and Live Nation^®.
Earn up to $30 in statement credits on each eligible trip with Turo, up to $240 in credits each calendar year.
No foreign transaction fees
$350 annual fee
Various travel and shopping protections

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.74% to 29.74% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Consider your expected spending and travel goals. If you won’t be able to meet the minimum spending requirement, it’s better to choose the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card. On the other hand, if you really want more miles and can afford to spend a higher amount within the allotted time frame, opt for the AAdvantage Globe card instead.

Hot Tip:

If neither of these credit cards suits you, American Airlines offers other AAdvantage co-brand cards. Cards that earn Citi ThankYou Rewards Points also allow you to transfer your points to American Airlines, as well as other travel partners.

Earning Points

A perk of the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card is that you can earn 2x on gas, restaurant, and American Airlines purchases. If you tend to spend a lot in these categories, especially gas, this card could help you rack up a solid points balance.

While the AAdvantage Globe card doesn’t have a bonus on gas purchases, you can earn the following:

6x miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings
3x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
2x miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
2x miles on Rides and Rails, including taxis, ride-sharing purchases, and public transit

Consider what you tend to spend the most on. If it’s gas, the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card might be a better option. If not, you’ll likely earn more (and faster) spending on the AAdvantage Globe card, especially if you book AAdvantage Hotels.

While each card allows you to earn 1 Loyalty Point per every AAdvantage mile earned, if you really want to reach elite status faster, the AAdvantage Globe card offers a status fast track with the Flight Streak bonus, where you can earn 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points after 4 qualifying American Airlines flights during the status qualification year, which runs from March through February each year. You can earn 15,000 extra Loyalty Points through Flight Streak each qualification year, requiring 12 flights.

Redeeming Points

American Airlines jets at Miami MIA — Redeem your AAdvantage miles for flights. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

We value American Airlines AAdvantage miles at 1.4 cents per mile. However, redeeming your miles requires a bit of strategy, as American Airlines has dynamic award pricing.

Both cards have the same redemption options. You can redeem miles for American flights, or you can use them to book partner awards, which can often earn you a much higher value.

I find the AAdvantage Globe card advantageous. For a reasonable annual fee, I receive perks such as free checked bags and priority boarding. The welcome bonus offer also helped me travel to Thailand on Japan Airlines in premium economy using American Airlines miles. The statement credits are well worth the fee, especially the Turo credit and the AA inflight credit.

Card Benefits

The AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card offers a couple of benefits: You and up to 4 travel companions receive your first checked bag free, and the card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

I keep the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card in my wallet year after year because it ends up paying for itself. I typically fly with American Airlines a few times annually, and having the ability to check a bag free of charge on each of those journeys makes it well worth paying the annual fee every year. It becomes an even better value when you remember that it has a $0 intro annual fee, then $99 after the first year.
Nick Ellis, Upgraded Points senior editor and content contributor

On the other hand, the AAdvantage Globe card offers:

4 Admirals Club Globe lounge passes annually
American Airlines Companion Certificate ($99 plus taxes and fees)
Complimentary first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
Group 5 preferred boarding with American Airlines
Access to Citi Entertainment, Mastercard World Legend benefits, and Mastercard Collection benefits
Travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees

The card also features the status fast track Flight Streak option.

Bottom Line:

The AAdvantage Globe card offers significant benefits that surpass those of the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card. Of course, there’s a difference in annual fees, but generally, the AAdvantage Globe card is where you can really enjoy some additional perks.

Statement Credits

The AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card offers just 2 statement credits:

$125 AA flight discount after spending $20,000 or more during your card year (and renew your card)
Up to $180 in Turo credits through October 18, 2026 (up to $30 per eligible trip)

In contrast, the AAdvantage Globe card has several statement credits, including:

$100 in AA inflight purchase credits annually, such as food, drinks, and Wi-Fi
Up to $120 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credits every 4 years if you use your card to pay
Up to $240 in Turo credits annually
Up to $100 in Splurge Credit each year. Select the 2 you’ll use before spending: AAdvantage Hotels bookings, 1stDibs, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation.

Bottom Line:

If you’re basing your card selection on benefits and statement credits, the AAdvantage Globe card is the obvious choice, because it has more of each. Still, weigh the benefits and credits against the higher annual fee to make sure you’ll offset it.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

A key factor in comparing these cards is understanding the annual fees. The AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card has a $0 intro annual fee, then $99 after the first year, making it an excellent deal if you’re not sure you’ll get value from the card but want to test it out.

The AAdvantage Globe card has a higher annual fee of $350, but it’s easy to offset the fee if you use the benefits and statement credits, especially if you frequently fly on American and can use the boarding and checked bag benefits. If you travel with a large family or a group and each check a bag, you might offset the annual fee in a single trip.

Both cards have no additional fee to add authorized users.

Hot Tip:

Looking for a credit card with no annual fee? These are the top no-annual-fee credit cards on the market.

Final Thoughts

American Airlines loyalists can’t go wrong with either of these credit cards, but if you’re willing to pay a midtier annual fee, the AAdvantage Globe card delivers excellent value with statement credits, American Airlines travel perks, and a high welcome bonus offer.

For those who would prefer to pay a lower annual fee, the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card is the perfect option. It’s great for beginners or anyone who wants to try American Airlines cards without a deep annual fee commitment.