Top 10 World Elite Mastercard Benefits & Best World Elite Mastercard Cards [2026]

The Mastercard credit card payment processing network is one of the largest and most widely accepted worldwide. Payment processing networks such as American Express, Visa, and Mastercard are important links that facilitate charges made to merchants with your credit card and then onward through the associated financial institution that issued your card.

While serving as a payment processor is its primary function, Mastercard also provides a long list of valuable benefit options. The bank that issues your credit card can select from the Mastercard benefit menu to decide which benefits it will add to each individual credit card.

In addition to the selected Mastercard benefits, a bank will also add its own benefits to the cards it issues. The result is a card that has a mix of both Mastercard and bank perks that can be unique to each card.

Today, we’re going to take a closer look specifically at the collection of World Elite Mastercard benefits, the highest level of benefits you’ll find on a Mastercard.

Here are some of the top benefits and examples of the best World Elite Mastercard credit cards available.

World Elite Mastercard Cards Overview

Before we expand on some of the benefits that come with the top World Elite Mastercard credit cards, let’s look at an overview of cards that have World Elite Mastercard benefits, including their current welcome offers and some of the key World Elite Mastercard benefits you’ll find on each card.

Bottom Line:

World Elite Mastercard credit cards are issued by several financial institutions including Chase, Citi, Capital One, Bank of America, and more. The card issuer determines the package of benefits for each specific card. 

Top 10 World Elite Mastercard Benefits

World Elite Mastercard cardholders can count on access to a long list of benefits and protections that come complimentary with the card. Here are some of the top benefits you may find on a World Elite Mastercard credit card:

1. Cell phone protection
2. Car rental insurance
3. Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance
4. Baggage insurance
5. Purchase protection, price protection, and extended warranty protection
6. Mastercard Luxury Hotels & Resorts Portfolio benefits
7. Priceless Experiences
8. World Elite Concierge
9. Shopping discounts and services
10. Car rental program perks

Note that some of these benefits you’ll also find on World Mastercard credit cards and even 1 or 2 on a Platinum Mastercard.

Also, note that any list of “top” benefits is subjective, as the best benefits for you will ultimately be the ones you can actually use.

Also, certain benefits may be available for card issuers to include on a World Elite Mastercard, but they may choose to exclude them. For example, not every World Elite Mastercard has cell phone protection.

Now let’s dig deeper into the details of how Mastercard benefits work.

Bottom Line: The Mastercard network offers a menu of available benefits from which card issuers can select. World Elite Mastercard cards offer the highest level of benefits but you’ll also find Mastercard benefits on World Mastercard cards and Platinum Mastercard cards.

Different Levels of Card Benefits

The Mastercard network offers several levels of card benefits — Standard Mastercard, Platinum Mastercard, World Mastercard, World Elite Mastercard, and World Legend Mastercard, with the World Legend Mastercard having the highest level of benefits.

Let’s look at each level and the associated individual services and perks you may expect to receive.

Standard Mastercard Benefits

Each Mastercard comes with basic protections such as theft and liability protection, digital access, and services that can help you get your life back in order when your card is lost:

• Mastercard ID Theft Protection — Monitor fraud, receive alerts for suspicious activity, and receive assistance should you experience ID theft.
• Mastercard Zero Liability Protection — You are not responsible for unauthorized activity on your card. Terms apply.
• Mastercard Global Service — Receive help if you lose your card anywhere in the world. Plus, you can receive an emergency card replacement and emergency cash.
• Mastercard Music and Entertainment — Gain exclusive access to ticket presales at top venues and festivals across the U.S. (through March 31, 2027).
• HealthLock — Receive complimentary access to HealthLock’s Medical Claim Monitor service and a 90-day premium upgrade to HealthLock’s Medical Claim Saver.
• Instacart — Free delivery with Instacart+ for 3 months for new members and $10 off your second delivery of the month (through January 31, 2027).
• Mastercard Transit Benefit — Pay for your transit fare with your Mastercard and get $2.50 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $10 in a month. (In participating U.S. cities only; through December 31, 2027.)

Example of a Standard Mastercard: BankAmericard^® Credit Card

Platinum Mastercard Benefits

On a Platinum Mastercard, you’ll find all the standard benefits mentioned above, plus access to the Priceless collection of benefits:

• Platinum Mastercard Priceless Rewards and Experiences — Enjoy Priceless Experiences such as a helicopter ride over Paris, dining with a Michelin chef, playing a bucket-list golf course, or booking a photographic excursion in Turkey. These, and more, are all possible with access to Priceless Experiences. Note that you still have to pay for these experiences.

Example of a Platinum Mastercard: Capital One Platinum Credit Card*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.

Bottom Line:

A basic Mastercard comes with ID theft protection, zero liability, and Mastercard Global Service assistance. A Platinum Mastercard comes with all of these benefits, plus Mastercard Priceless Rewards and Experiences.

World Mastercard Benefits

The World Mastercard level is where the majority of lifestyle benefits, travel benefits, and protections, and shopping benefits and protections kick in.

In addition to Standard and Platinum benefits, World Mastercard cardholders enjoy a selection of these additional benefits:

Travel Benefits

• Mastercard Hotels & Resorts Collection Benefits — Enjoy onsite benefits including daily breakfast for 2, an onsite amenity worth up to $100, a room upgrade, and early check-in and late checkout, when available.
• Mastercard Airport Concierge — Save 15% on airport meet and greet services when using your Mastercard World card.
• Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services — These services are provided by the travel company Ten Lifestyle Management USA and include booking flights, hotels, rental cars, event tickets, golf experiences, and more. You’ll have access to special hotel offers, car rental upgrades/status, and discounted private jets.
• Lowest Hotel Rate Guarantee — If you book your prepaid stay via Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services and find the same hotel stay for less, you could receive a refund of the difference in rates.
• Mastercard Hotel Stay Guarantee — Book a 3-star or better hotel stay via Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services, and if you have a problem with your stay, a Lifestyle manager will be assigned to make it right.

Travel Protection Perks

• Car Rental Insurance — Reserve and pay for your entire car rental with your card, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and receive secondary or primary car rental coverage for damage and theft. Secondary coverage means that you must first file a claim with any other applicable insurance. Primary coverage means that you do not need to do this, as card coverage will kick in immediately.

• Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance — Purchase your trip with your card (and/or points accumulated with your card), and if your trip needs to be canceled or is disrupted due to a covered reason, you will receive reimbursement for eligible non-refundable expenses.
• Baggage Insurance — Pay for your entire common carrier ticket with your card, and if your baggage is lost or stolen, you could receive compensation up to the coverage limit stated in your Guide to Benefits.

Shopping Benefits

• Lyft Credits — Use your card just 3 times each month for Lyft rides and receive $5 off your next ride purchase (through January 31, 2027).

Shopping Protections

• Cell Phone Protection — Pay for your monthly bill with your World Elite Mastercard and receive protection for damage and theft, up to $800 per claim, with a limit of $1,000 or 2 claims per year. Coverage limits can vary by card.
• Purchase Protection — Purchase an eligible item with your card and receive coverage for damage or theft for up to 90 days from the purchase date.
• Extended Warranty — Eligible items will receive double the manufacturer’s warranty, up to a maximum of 24 total months.
• Price Protection — While it’s rare to find price protection, the coverage will reimburse you if you find that an eligible item purchased with your card, within 60 days from the purchase date, is advertised as lower in price.

It can be a bit daunting to navigate all the benefits, sub-benefits, and information available with World Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle services, but it can be worth registering your card and exploring the offers available to you.

Note that this is not an all-encompassing list of benefits, and descriptions have been abbreviated. The actual terms and conditions and limits on coverages will be listed in each card’s Guide to Benefits.

Examples of World Mastercard Credit Cards: The JetBlue Card and the Amtrak Guest Rewards^® Preferred Mastercard^® (could be issued as a Platinum or World Mastercard)

World Elite Mastercard Benefits

World Elite Mastercard benefits are in addition to basic Mastercard, Platinum, and World Mastercard benefits.

• World Elite Concierge — Receive 24/7 assistance with reserving that special restaurant, finding a gift for a special occasion, securing tickets to a special event, and more, with access to your own concierge.
• Car Rental Perks — World Elite Mastercard cardholders receive up to 35% off Avis car rentals, President’s Circle Status and discounts at Hertz, perks and discounts at SIXT, and more.
• Lyft — Get 10% off all scheduled rides to the airport. The credit will be applied automatically for eligible rides (through January 31, 2027).
• Peacock — Get $3 off a Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus subscription each month when you pay with your card (through December 31, 2027).

Now that you have an overall idea of some of the benefits you can expect when holding a World Elite Mastercard, let’s look at some of the best cards available.

Bottom Line:

The actual collection of benefits on any given Mastercard will depend on which perks the card issuer (i.e., financial institution) has selected to include from the Mastercard menu of benefits. The card issuer will also add its own collection of proprietary benefits to the card, in addition to Mastercard benefits. 

The Best World Elite Mastercard Cards

If you want to take advantage of the highest level of Mastercard benefits, you’ll want to select a World Elite Mastercard.

Here are some of the best World Elite Mastercard credit cards:

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. 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.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$960

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.49% to 27.49% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
• 3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
• $100 annual hotel benefit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
• Earn 10X points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
• Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% to 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Receive elevated points-earning on everyday purchases and travel plus enjoy flexible redemption options with the Citi Strata Premier card.

Here are just a few reasons the card is a favorite World Elite Mastercard:

• Modest annual fee
• Elevated points-earnings in everyday purchase categories
• Redeem ThankYou Points earned on the card via the Citi Travel With Booking.com portal for 1 cent each in value
• Transfer ThankYou Points to Citi’s airline and hotel partners for greater potential value
• Receive onsite benefits with Mastercard Luxury Hotels & Resorts
• $100 annual hotel credit when booking a prepaid hotel of $500 or more via the Citi Travel With Booking.com portal
• Purchase protection and extended warranty
• No foreign transaction fees

Hot Tip:

Explore transferring Citi ThankYou Points to partners such as Choice Privileges, the rewards loyalty program for Choice Hotels, at the rate of 1:2. Citi also has several airline transfer partners with transfer ratios of 1:1 that can offer you elevated value for your ThankYou Points. 

Citi Double Cash^® Card

Citi Double Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. 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.

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Citi Double Cash^® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Welcome Offer

Earn $200 cash-back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

$200 cash-back

Annual Fee

$0

APR

17.49% to 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Double Cash^® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
• Flexible redemption options
• No annual fee

Cons

• No bonus categories
• 3% foreign transaction fees

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
• Earn a total of 5 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions, excluding air travel, when booked through the Citi Travel^® portal.
• To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers; after that, the variable APR will be 17.49% to 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 17.49% to 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

When simplicity is your priority, the Double Cash card can fit that objective. The card also serves the purpose of making sure every purchase you make earns a solid amount of rewards.

Here’s why consumers who pay off their cards each statement period like this World Elite Mastercard:

• $0 annual fee
• 2% cash-back on all purchases (1% cash-back when you make the purchase, and an additional 1% when you pay your bill)
• 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% to 27.49%
• Redeem points for cash-back, travel, shopping, charitable contributions, or select loan payments

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. 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.

The Capital One Savor card is a great no-annual fee card for those who regularly spend on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target).

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Savor card is a great no-annual fee card for those who regularly spend on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target).

Welcome Offer

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

Purchases: 0% intro on purchases for 12 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable thereafter

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Savor card is a phenomenal option when it comes to no-annual-fee cash-back credit cards. With popular bonus categories like dining, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), entertainment, and popular streaming services, and the ability to earn 3% cash-back on these purchases, it is easy to see why those who use the card can earn some serious cash-back throughout the year.

The card also allows you to take your rewards and experiences even further by offering access to Capital One Travel, Capital One Dining, and Capital One Entertainment.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% cash-back on hotels, rental cars, and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply.
• 3% cash-back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
• 1% cash-back on all other purchases
• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fees
• Access to Capital One Dining, Capital One Travel, and Capital One Entertainment

Cons

• Rewards are purely cash-back, so there is no option for miles transfers to transfer partners for redemptions

Card Highlights

• Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart^® and Target^®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
• Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.49% – 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• Top rated mobile app

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 0% intro on purchases for 12 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable thereafter
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Cash Back
• No Annual Fee Cards

More Reads

• Amex Gold Card vs. Capital One Savor Card [Detailed Comparison]
• Capital One Platinum Card vs. Capital One Savor Card [Detailed Comparison]
• Capital One Venture Card vs. Capital One Savor Card [Detailed Comparison]

If you’re a foodie, the Capital One Savor card*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One. should never leave your wallet. Here are some of the additional reasons foodies will love this World Elite Mastercard:

• Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases.
• Redeem rewards for cash, statement credits, gift cards, shop with Amazon, or PayPal.

Best Airline and Hotel Program World Elite Mastercard Credit Cards

Several airlines and hotel loyalty programs have co-branded World Elite Mastercard credit cards that offer additional benefits specific to that brand.

Here are some of the best airline and hotel programs World Elite Mastercard cards:

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Business™ World Elite Mastercard^®

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Business™ World Elite Mastercard^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. 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 low annual fee, a free checked bag, and tons of perks and discounts make this card valuable for business owners who frequently travel with American Airlines.

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Business™ World Elite Mastercard^®

A low annual fee, a free checked bag, and tons of perks and discounts make this card valuable for business owners who frequently travel with American Airlines.

Welcome Offer

For a limited time, earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage^® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening.

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,050

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99

APR

19.49% to 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

With the Citi^® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®, you get a card that helps you earn more miles on all of your business expenses, and gives you perks like preferred boarding, free checked bags, and discounts on inflight purchases, while also helping you qualify for higher levels of elite status.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x miles per $1 spent on American Airlines purchases
• 2x miles per $1 spent on cable and satellite providers, at gas stations, on car rentals, and on select telecommunications merchants
• 1 Loyalty Point per $1 spent

Cons

• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Designed for businesses
• For a limited time, earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage^® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening.
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries to reduce travel costs and boost your bottom line.
• 25% savings on American Airlines inflight Wi-Fi when you use your card
• Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
• Earn 2 AAdvantage^® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations
• Earn 1 AAdvantage^® mile per $1 spent on other purchases
• Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage^® mile earned from purchases
• No Foreign Transaction Fees

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% to 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Airlines AAdvantage Frequent Flyer Program

Business owners who fly American Airlines often will benefit significantly from having an AAdvantage-branded credit card.

Here are the top benefits of having the AAdvantage Business card for business travelers who frequent American Airlines:

• 2x miles on American Airlines, cable and satellite providers, gas stations, car rentals, and select telecommunications
• Free checked bag on domestic flights for the cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions
• Priority boarding on American Airlines
• 25% statement credit for inflight purchases
• Companion certificate for $99 (+taxes/fees) good for domestic travel after spending $30,000 on the card in a card anniversary year

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

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

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. 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.

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 Offer

Earn 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

19.49% to 29.49% 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.
• 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: 19.49% to 29.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 0%

Rewards Center

American Airlines AAdvantage Program

If American Airlines is your airline of choice, you’ll find plenty of flight benefits just for having the card. Here are some of the top benefits of the card:

• 2x miles on American Airlines purchases
• Free checked bag on domestic flights for the cardholder and up to 4 traveling companions
• Preferred boarding on American Airlines
• 25% statement credit for inflight purchases
• $125 flight certificate after spending $20,000 on the card in a card anniversary year

If having complimentary Admirals Club access is important to you and you don’t mind paying a higher annual fee, you’ll want to consider the Citi^®/AAdvantage^® Executive World Elite Mastercard^®.

To learn more about the best credit cards for American Airlines loyalists, you’ll also want to read about our top picks for cards that deliver the best airline-related benefits, including additional World Elite Mastercard options.

Hot Tip:

It’s worth noting that although Citi co-branded AAdvantage credit cards come with American Airlines benefits, many of the top World Elite Mastercard travel protections are not included on the cards.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. 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.

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

Welcome Offer

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

140,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$700

Annual Fee

$99

APR

19.24% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you regularly visit IHG hotels throughout the year, then the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is probably a perfect card to have in your wallet.

The IHG Premier card offers a great bundle of perks and benefits, including automatic Platinum elite status, an annual free night certificate, and travel protections.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 26x points per $1 on IHG stays
• 5x points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
• Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG^® Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
• Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental^®, Crowne Plaza^®, Kimpton^®, EVEN^® Hotels, Hotel Indigo^® & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

If you are a regular guest at IHG Properties, the IHG Premier card is a great card to consider and includes these benefits:

• Earn up to 26x points per dollar spent at IHG
• 5x points per dollar spent on travel, dining, and gas stations
• Receive a free reward night certificate, worth up to 40,000 points, each card anniversary year
• Receive a 10,000-point bonus after spending $20,000 in a calendar year on the card
• Complimentary Platinum Elite status
• Spend $40,000 in a calendar year and receive Diamond Elite status
• $50 United Travel Bank credit
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee reimbursement
• Travel and shopping benefits and protections

Learn more about the best card options for IHG loyalists.

Bottom Line:

If you frequently fly a specific airline or stay often at 1 hotel chain, securing that brand’s credit card can deliver benefits that can make your trip more comfortable, provide travel and shopping benefits/protections, and make it easier to earn rewards quickly. 

Final Thoughts

It can be confusing as to which benefits come with each Mastercard, but there’s no doubt that a World Elite Mastercard has the highest levels of Mastercard benefits.

The bottom line is that you probably wouldn’t select a credit card based solely on a list of ancillary benefits. Elevated earnings on the purchases you make most, flexible redemption options, and an annual fee you’re comfortable paying should likely play a much larger role in your decision.

You can find more information on some of the best overall Mastercard credit cards in our article on the topic.