I Already Have 11 Credit Cards, but Here’s Why I’m Getting the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card

I have 11 credit cards in my wallet, and even with Priority Pass lounge access, I still find myself occasionally sitting in a crowded airport without the ability to enter a lounge. And that airport is frequently Chicago O’Hare.

After some research and contemplation, I realized applying for just one more credit card could fix my lounge issues. Here’s how getting the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Executive World Legend Mastercard^® solved a pain point in my travels.

Backstory

I never thought too much about lounge access until recently. My home airport is Madrid Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), and no matter which terminal I fly out of, I have access to the AENA Sala VIP lounges, a collection of elevated spaces where I know I’ll have a pleasant and consistent experience accessible with my Priority Pass membership.

Lately, though, I’ve been flying frequently between Madrid and Chicago (ORD) on American Airlines and its partner Iberia (I’m a Oneworld flyer), leaving from T3. And there aren’t any Priority Pass lounges or Capital One lounges in this terminal. Not having lounge access isn’t the most horrible problem I’ve ever had, but it’s one that’s easily fixable.

Last year, I got the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card, the card I use for Priority Pass lounge access, because it allows me to bring in 2 guests. The card also offers 4 Admirals Club passes annually, in addition to perks like various statement credits that make it simple to offset its $595 annual fee.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Citi Strata Elite℠ 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 Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

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Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.

75,000 Points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,200

Annual Fee

$595

APR

20.74% to 28.74% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is a great option for frequent travelers, foodies, and those who are fans of the Citi ThankYou Rewards ecosystem thanks to its combination of bonus categories, perks, and annual credits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
• 6x points on airfare through Citi Travel
• 6x points on dining on Citi Nights (Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and 3x points on dining at all other times

Cons

• $595 annual fee
• Boosted dining rewards are limited to 2 nights per week

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
• Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
• Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
• Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
• Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% to 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

These 4 passes worked well for me until my increase in flying this route with family members meant I was out of passes just a couple of months into the year — and I still have a few more trips to Chicago on the calendar. I’ll be flying the route at least 4 times per year for the foreseeable future, in addition to a route with a layover in Dallas a couple times annually.

I realized that because I was frequently traveling with family, I’d need more than just a few passes if I wanted to bring them in with me. Plus, after a few failed attempts to enter Admirals Clubs in various terminals at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) using day passes (the lounges block day pass access if they get too crowded), I decided I needed a new strategy.

Getting Admirals Club Membership Is Expensive

My first proposed solution was the most straightforward: buying an Admirals Club membership. I already have so many credit cards that adding another one for lounge access seemed overkill. After all the cards I have include the Citi Strata Elite card I mentioned above, whose Citi ThankYou Points transfer to AAdvantage, and another American Airlines co-branded card, the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®.

But I soon realized that wasn’t the answer in August 2026, when the cost of an Admirals Club membership increased significantly, nearly doubling its starting price for a membership. It now costs $1,400 for a general membership, which gets you into more than 100 Admirals Club and partner lounges with 2 guests.

My dreams of an Admirals Club membership were fading into dust with such high pricing — until I heard about the newly refreshed AAdvantage Executive card.

Getting the Refreshed AAdvantage Executive Card

The revamped AAdvantage Executive card offers Admirals Club membership that includes unlimited lounge visits for the primary cardholder and up to 2 guests or immediate family members at over 100 lounges worldwide (and yes, even partner lounges), among other perks, for a $695 annual fee.

Essentially, with this card, I’m getting my Admirals Club membership (with the ability to bring in guests when I need it) for about half of the price of the formal cost of the membership, in addition to other perks and benefits. Now I have 12 credit cards in my wallet — and an easy way to access the lounge in both Chicago and Dallas with my family in tow.

Other Benefits of the AAdvantage Executive Card

It’s worth noting that the AAdvantage Executive card is the only credit card that offers Admirals Club membership. Currently, the card also has a generous welcome offer:

Earn 125,000 bonus miles after spending $15,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening.

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Executive World Legend 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.

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.

All information about Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Executive World Legend Mastercard^® has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Executive World Legend Mastercard^®

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.

Welcome Offer

Earn 125,000 AAdvantage^® bonus miles after $15,000 in purchases in the first 5 months of account opening.

125,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,750

Annual Fee

$695

APR

19.74% to 29.74% 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 (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The AAdvantage Executive card is a must-have for frequent American Airlines flyers who want Admirals Club lounge access, to earn more miles on their daily expenses, and a fast-track to American Airlines AAdvantage elite status.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn 12x miles on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through aadvantagehotels.com and aadvantagecars.com
• Earn 4x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, and 5x miles after you spend $150,000 in purchases in a calendar year
• Earn 1x mile and 1 Loyalty Point on all other purchases

Cons

• $695 annual fee
• Doesn’t earn many miles on all other eligible purchases

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Card Highlights

• For a limited time, earn 125,000 American Airlines AAdvantage^® bonus miles after $15,000 in purchases in the first 5 months of account opening.
• The only card with Admirals Club^® membership. Membership includes access for you and up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you.
• Global Entry^® or TSA PreCheck^® application fee credit of up to $120 every 4 years.
• Earn a 10,000 Loyalty Point bonus after reaching 50,000, 90,000, 165,000 and 240,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year.
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Airlines AAdvantage Frequent Flyer Program

The card has the following earning rates:

• 12x miles on hotels and car rentals booked through aadvantagehotels.com and aadvantagecars.com
• 4x miles on American Airlines purchases, and 5x miles after you spend $150,000 in purchases in a calendar year
• 1x miles on all other purchases
• 10,000 Loyalty Point bonus after you reach 50,000, 90,000, 165,000, and 240,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year, up to a total of 40,000 bonus Loyalty Points
• 1 loyalty point for every 1 mile earned from purchases

Other perks and benefits of the card include:

• Up to $120 in annual credits with Avis or Budget
• Up to $180 in yearly Lyft credits
• Up to $500 in statement credits each year for American Airlines Vacation purchases
• $100 back in statement credits each calendar year for inflight and eligible Admirals Club purchases
• Free checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling on the same reservation
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Priority boarding and priority check-in for you and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation
• Automatic Omni Hotels & Resorts Champion status
• Complimentary Avis President’s Club status
• No foreign transaction fees.

While I’m mostly getting the card for the Admirals Club membership, I definitely appreciate the 4x miles on American Airlines purchases, as I do pay cash for some tickets. Plus, the generous welcome offer is an added perk. I’d like to use it to fly Qatar Airways to Bangkok (BKK) with a stop in Doha (DOH), Qatar, sometime in the near future.

What About My Exisiting AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Card?

While I may not hold on to both AA co-branded cards forever, I will keep the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite card in my wallet for now, in addition to the AAdvantage Executive card.

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.

All information about Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^® has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

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

For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage^® bonus miles after $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

80,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,120

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 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

• For a limited time, earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage^® bonus miles after $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 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: 19.74% to 29.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 0%

Rewards Center

American Airlines AAdvantage Program

This is so I can earn 2x AAdvantage miles at restaurants and gas stations. The card has a $0 intro annual fee, then $99 after the first year, so for now, I’ll stick with it, but I may rethink holding on to both cards in future years — it’ll depend on how much I’m flying, how much I value Admirals Club lounge access in the years to come, and how much I’m spending on both cards.

Final Thoughts

Admirals Club membership isn’t cheap, but getting the AAdvantage Executive card is the best and most affordable way to gain access to Admirals Clubs with 2 guests just for paying the $695 annual fee.

Day passes to the lounge cost $79 (though remember that those with day passes are the first to be rejected if the lounge is overcrowded), so do the math on your annual travels, not forgetting about your companions, and see if it makes sense. You might even be able to outweigh the annual fee in just 2 round-trip itineraries, especially if you’re traveling with companions.