Home › Credit Cards › Reviews

Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard — Full Review [2023]

Name: Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard — Full Review [2023]
Item: Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Rating: 4.5
Author: Alex Miller

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertiser Disclosure for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

U.P. Rating ? The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who are immersed in the credit card world. Please see our card rating methodology for more information. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

"A premium card with Admirals Club membership"

Access to Admirals Clubs, tons of added benefits, and a way to spend towards elite status make this a great option for American Airlines loyalists.

Learn More (at our partner's secure site)

Alex Miller

- Updated: May 21, 2023, 11:22pm CDT|

2Comments

The Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is a go-to card thanks to its exclusive perks and benefits for people who love to fly American Airlines. With a complimentary Admirals Club membership, free checked bags, inflight discounts, and the ability to earn Loyalty Points for every $1 you spend, there is plenty to love about the card.

Pros

Earn big on American Airline purchases
Complimentary Admirals Club access
10,000 additional Loyalty Points after you spend $40,000 in purchases during the qualifying status year
Priority boarding
Free checked bag for you and up to 8 traveling companions
Priority check-in and priority airport screening
25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases
No foreign transaction fees
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Add authorized users for no added fee

Cons

$450 annual fee
Doesn’t earn many miles on flight purchases

AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card — Snapshot

Welcome Bonus & Info (Partner Content)
- Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
- Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
Card Categories:
- Credit Card Reviews
- Best Airline Credit Cards
Rewards Center
American Airlines AAdvantage Frequent Flyer Program
Customer Service Number
888-248-4226
Login Link
https://www.citi.com/
Related Articles

Great Card If

American Airlines is your preferred airline
You will take advantage of the Admirals Club membership
You want a card that will help you earn elite status

Don't Get If

You aren’t a frequent flyer
You don’t travel with American Airlines much

AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card — Fees

Interest Rates
- 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
Late fees
- Up to $41
Balance Transfers
- 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
- Fee: 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Cash Advance APR
- 29.99% Variable
- Fee: 5% of each cash advance; $10 minimum.

AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card - Top Benefits

Citi AAdvantage Executive Card GIG Champagne — The AAdvantage Executive World Elite card makes all your time in the airport a little more comfortable with its many perks. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

Earning Categories, and Miles

You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar for all other purchases. You can redeem those miles for free flights, upgrades, hotels, car rentals, and more!

Add authorized users at no extra cost and earn miles for their purchases, too!

Welcome to the (Admirals) Club

By far, the biggest benefit of the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card is a membership to the Admirals Club. It gives you access to 50+ Admirals Club lounges and almost 40 partner lounges at airports around the world.

This would be a good place to mention that the annual fee for this credit card is $450, which is certainly an investment. But the Admirals Club benefit alone makes this card worth it since an individual membership starts at $550 per person!

So what kind of perks can you enjoy in Admirals Club lounges? For starters, you get light snacks and house drinks. You’ll also get free Wi-Fi and access to power ports so you can catch up on work or binge-watch your favorite shows.

Some lounges even have shower suites, computers, copiers, and printers!

You can bring 2 guests or immediate family with you, including your spouse, domestic partner, or children under 18.

Plus, if you are already an Admirals Club member, you may be eligible for a prorated refund of your membership fee.

Bottom Line: The Admirals Club benefit more than makes up for the $450 annual fee of the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card.

International Travel Benefits on the AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card

The AAdvantage Executive World Elite card is designed for domestic and international travelers.

It offers you VIP airport experiences where available, including priority check-in, priority airport screening, and priority boarding.

This benefit applies to you and up to 8 companions listed on your reservation.

EMV smart chip integration makes international purchases hassle-free in places like Europe and Asia where the technology is standard. Plus, you won’t pay any foreign transaction fees, which is another big savings.

In addition, you’ll receive Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit.

More AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card Benefits

Because it’s a Citi AAdvantage card, you get a variety of extra travel benefits. For instance, you (and up to 8 travel companions) get your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights.

Want a beverage, snack, or headphones while in the sky? Save 25% on many inflight purchases.

Plus, with reduced mileage awards you can fly to select destinations for 7,500 fewer miles. That way you can get even more value out of the miles you earn

Finally, the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card includes a dedicated concierge for help 24/7 with your shopping, entertainment, and dining needs during foreign or domestic travel.

Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your AAdvantage Miles

The quickest way to stockpile miles with the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card is to use it for all of your American Airlines flights and purchases to get 2x miles. There are also other ways to earn tons of AAdvantage miles with the card, as you will see in our detailed guide.

You spend a lot of time earning miles on your card, so when it’s time to redeem them you want to get as much value as you can. Check out our tips for redeeming your AAdvantage miles.

Hot Tip: For even more ideas on redeeming your AAdvantage miles, check out our post on the best ways to redeem 100k AAdvantage miles.

Alternative Card to the AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card

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

If you don’t think you’ll use the Admirals Club but still want to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles, you can try the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card.

With this card, you earn 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar for all other purchases. There is usually a relatively valuable sign-up bonus after meeting certain spending requirements when you’re approved for the card.

The information regarding the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® and CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Featured Image Credit: Citi

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card?

There are many benefits for people who travel regularly with American Airlines, but the biggest plus is a membership to the Admirals Club. Members receive access to 50+ Admirals Club lounges and nearly 40 partner lounges around the world.

Other benefits of the card are a free first checked bag, a 25% discount on inflight purchases, and a dedicated concierge.

In addition, members enjoy VIP airport experiences where available, which include priority check-in, screening, and boarding.

Does the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card have a sign-up bonus?

Typically it does — see the card snapshot above.

How do you earn miles with the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card?

Use the card for American Airlines purchases to earn 2 miles per dollar spent. Also, earn 1 mile per dollar for all purchases. Redeem miles for free flights, upgrades, hotels, car rentals, and more!

Does the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card have any foreign transaction fees?

No. There are no foreign transaction fees with the card.

Can American Airlines AAdvantage miles be transferred?

No. You cannot transfer American Airlines AAdvantage miles to partner airlines. However, you can redeem miles for award flights with partner airlines and other benefits.

Are there other American Airlines credit cards?

Yes, there are several cards issued by Citi and Barclays. See our full guide to the best American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards.

What is the difference between the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card and CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®?

Both cards earn 2x miles for American Airlines, but the CitiBusiness Platinum Select card also earns 2x miles at car rental agencies and for telecommunication services.

The CitiBusiness Platinum Select card has an annual fee of $99 that is waived for the first year. The AAdvantage Executive World Elite card has a $450 annual fee but includes membership to the Admirals Club.

About Alex Miller

Alex has been traveling for over 25 years and from a young age was lucky enough to set out on numerous family trips all over the world, which gave him the travel bug. Alex has since earned tens of millions of travel points and miles, mainly through maximizing every opportunity to earn the most points possible on each dollar spent.

moses schlesinger September 11, 2022
How do you add Loyalty Points?
- Katie Seemann September 11, 2022
  Hi Moses,
  The Loyalty Points you earn from spending on your Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard will be added to your American Airlines account automatically every month.

Earn Points

Use Points

Business Credit Card Reviews

Business Guides

Air Travel Guides

Airline Points

Earn & Use Hotel Points