Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard — Full Review [2025]

Great Card If

• You’re a frequent American Airlines flyer.
• You want Admirals Club airport lounge access.
• You want a card that helps you achieve higher levels of American Airlines elite status.

Don’t Get If

• You rarely fly with American Airlines.
• You want a card that earns transferable rewards.

AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card: Is It Worth It?

If you’re a frequent American Airlines flyer who is looking to attain high-level elite status in the AAdvantage program and you want Admirals Club airport lounge access, the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card is a must-add to your wallet.

Not only does the card help you earn more AAdvantage miles on all of your daily purchases, it also comes loaded with perks like free checked bags, priority check-in and screening, priority boarding, a discount on inflight food and beverage purchases, in addition to annual credits with Lyft, Grubhub, Avis, and Budget rental cars.

Plus, for those looking to qualify or requalify for AAdvantage elite status, the card has a bonus of 10,000 Loyalty Points after you reach 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. It awards another 10,000 Loyalty Points bonus after you reach 90,000 Loyalty Points in a qualification year.

AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card Top Benefits and Perks

While the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card does charge a high annual fee, it also comes loaded with benefits that frequent American Airlines flyers are sure to get plenty of value from.

• Admirals Club membership: Receive access to nearly 100 Admirals Club airport lounges and partner lounges locations worldwide. Immediate family members or up to 2 guests can join you.
• Loyalty Point bonus: Earn a 10,000 Loyalty Points bonus after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year and another 10,000 Loyalty Points bonus after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year.
• Earn Loyalty Points: Earn 1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage elite status for every $1 you spend on the card.
• Up to $120 in annual Lyft credits: After taking 3 eligible rides in a calendar month, earn a $10 Lyft credit, for a total of up to $120 Lyft credits annually.
• Up to $120 in annual Grubhub credits: Earn a statement credit of up to $10 per monthly billing statement on eligible Grubhub purchases, for a total of up to $120 each year.
• Up to $120 in annual Avis or Budget credits: Earn up to $120 in statement credits every calendar year on eligible prepaid car rentals booked directly with Avis or Budget.
• Free checked bags: Get your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights for you and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.
• 25% saving on inflight purchases: Applies to food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights purchased with your card.
• Enhanced airport experience: Receive priority check-in and screening, as well as priority boarding privileges for you and up to eight passengers on the same reservation.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Get priority security screening both when departing from U.S. airports and when returning to the U.S. from abroad.
• No foreign transaction fees: Use your card overseas to continue earning miles without paying additional fees.

Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your AAdvantage Miles

If you want to earn more American Airlines miles, use your AAdvantage Executive World Elite card for as many purchases as you can, especially on American Airlines flights, where you earn 4x miles, as well as eligible hotels booked through aadvantagehotels.com and on eligible car rentals booked through aadvantagecars.com, where you earn 10x miles.

Plus, every $1 you spend on the card also helps you earn 1 Loyalty Point toward your status qualification, as well. Additionally, you can use platforms like the AAdvantage Shopping Portal and SimplyMiles, both of which help you earn more Loyalty Points and redeemable miles.

As far as airline loyalty programs go, American Airlines miles are one of the most valuable, and you have no shortage of great ways to redeem your American Airlines miles both with American and its Oneworld partners like Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Qatar Airways.

Alternative Card to the AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card

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

If you regularly fly with American Airlines and want additional perks and to earn more miles on your daily expenses but don’t want to pay a large annual fee, then the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card would be a better fit for you.

With it, you earn 2x miles at restaurants, gas stations, and eligible American Airlines purchases, along with 1x mile and 1x Loyalty Point on all other purchases. Plus, it still offers perks like a free checked bag for you and up to 4 traveling companions, preferred boarding, and a 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

For those who want a premium card with premium perks but prefer a card that earns transferable rewards, the Amex Platinum card is easily one of the best cards on the market.

Not only is it arguably the best card for airport lounge access, including Amex Centurion lounges, Delta SkyClubs, and Priority Pass lounges upon enrollment, but it also comes loaded with benefits like statement credits with Uber, CLEAR, digital entertainment, Saks Fifth Avenue, and more. Plus, you receive hotel and rental car elite status with Hilton, Marriott, Avis, Hertz, and National, along with great consumer and travel protections. Note that some statement credits and elite status benefits may require enrollment to use.