Citi and American Airlines Update 2 Credit Cards: New Perks and Higher Annual Fees

Citi and American Airlines offer multiple credit cards, and two of the most popular options are getting a makeover.

Announced today, October 27, 2026, there are updates to the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^® and the Citi^® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard^®, adding new bonus categories, statement credits, and travel protections to both cards.

There’s some bad news, though: Each card’s annual fee is going up to $150.

However, none of the changes are happening right away. The new benefits and the higher annual fee take effect on January 24, 2027. The card names and card art aren’t changing, and Citi hasn’t shared any details about new welcome offers tied to the refresh.

Here’s a look at what’s changing (and what isn’t) on these cards.

AAdvantage Platinum Select Card

The AAdvantage Platinum Select card will undergo several changes, including new ways to earn miles and a few lifestyle perks that have nothing to do with flying.

Changes to the card include:

• 3x miles on eligible hotel bookings at aadvantagehotels.com and car rentals booked at aadvantagecars.com
• 2x miles at gas stations, now including EV charging stations
• 2x miles on certain streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Spotify, YouTube TV, and more
• 2x miles on Rides and Rails purchases, covering ride-shares, taxis, subways, commuter and passenger trains, buses, ferries, tolls, and parking
• $150 American Airlines flight discount (up from the previous $125 benefit) after you spend $20,000 in an account year and renewing the card
• Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every 4 years, available by paying the application fee with this card
• Up to $100 in inflight statement credits each calendar year, good for Wi-Fi and food and beverage purchases
• Complimentary Walmart+ membership ($98 value) for primary cardmembers
• 50% off an annual FOX One subscription
• Improved travel insurance protections, including trip delay, trip cancellation, trip interruption, rental car insurance, and lost baggage protection
• Annual fee remains at $0 introductory fee in the first year but goes up from $99 to $150 in years 2 and beyond

Walmart+ and FOX One both require enrollment. After that, each membership renews automatically every year as long as your card is used for the renewal.

There aren’t any earning caps on the AAdvantage Platinum Select card’s bonus categories. If you’re chasing American Airlines elite status, though, you should bear in mind that the bonus categories don’t earn extra Loyalty Points. You’ll still earn 1 Loyalty Point per base mile, so a $100 hotel booking earns 300 miles but only 100 Loyalty Points.

What’s Going Away?

The 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases will be gone. The new $100 inflight credit will replace it, and it’s actually better. You’d need to spend $400 on inflight snacks and drinks each year to get $100 in value from the old discount. The credit is more valuable for anyone not passing that threshold.

What Isn’t Changing?

Cardholders still earn 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and at restaurants, plus 1x on other spending. The free first checked bag on domestic AA itineraries and preferred boarding still apply to the cardholder and up to 4 companions on the same reservation. Other continuing benefits are up to $180 annually in Turo credits ($30 per eligible trip), 10% off eligible American Airlines Vacations packages, and no foreign transaction fees.

AAdvantage Business Card

The AAdvantage Business card’s changes include a new Self-Select Category that can add real value if it aligns with your company’s spending patterns.

Changes to the card include:

• 3x miles on eligible hotel bookings at aadvantagehotels.com and car rentals at aadvantagecars.com
• 2x miles on an earning category of your choice: U.S. shipping providers, office supply stores, or U.S. advertising services
• Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every 4 years, received by paying the application fee with this card
• Up to $100 in inflight statement credits each calendar year
• 25% off a Melio subscription plan for managing business expense payments
• Improved travel insurance protections, including enhanced trip cancellation, trip interruption, lost or damaged luggage, rental car coverage, and trip delay protection
• Annual fee remains at $0 introductory fee in the first year but goes up from $99 to $150 in years 2 and beyond

The Self-Select Category takes effect on January 24, 2027. Cardholders can switch once per quarter at citi.com/selfselect or by calling 1-866-458-4216. Cardholders will be automatically enrolled in the office supplies category until they choose a different category. There’s no earning cap on this category.

What’s Going Away?

Cardholders are losing the 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases and the 25% savings on inflight Wi-Fi purchases. Both are being replaced by the $100 inflight credit.

What Isn’t Changing?

The existing 2x categories won’t change: American Airlines purchases, car rental merchants, gas stations, and telecommunication, cable, and satellite providers. Other purchases will continue to earn 1x.

Cardholders will continue to earn 1 Loyalty Point per $1 spent on purchases. Through December 31, 2028, primary cardmembers also earn 1 extra Loyalty Point for every $1 spent by authorized users. The $99 American Airlines Companion Certificate is still available after you spend $30,000 in an account anniversary year and renewing the card by paying the annual fee.

Other benefits that aren’t changing include the free first checked bag and preferred boarding for you and up to 4 companions on the same reservation, 10% off American Airlines Vacations packages, and no foreign transaction fees.

Final Thoughts

A $51 annual fee increase is significant on a midtier airline credit card. That said, the $100 inflight credit covers it on its own if you’d be buying Wi-Fi or snacks on American flights anyway — though it’s fair to point out that the utility of this benefit will continue to go down as more and more American Airlines flights offer complimentary Wi-Fi.

The AAdvantage Platinum Select card is worth its higher fee if you’d use the inflight credit, already pay for Walmart+, or spend heavily on streaming, gas, and transit. It’s not worth it if you were only keeping the card in your wallet for the free checked bag and rarely buy anything once you’re on the plane.

The AAdvantage Business card is worth its increased fee if your company spends a lot on shipping, office supplies, or advertising, or if you regularly earn the Companion Certificate. If you don’t fly American often enough to use the inflight credit, the extra $51 is much harder to justify.

As a reminder, the changes don’t start until January 24, 2027, on either card. That means you have a few months to figure out how the new benefits align with your spending and travel habits.