American airlines executive card
$450
50,000 AA Miles
$5,000 initial spend
($250 net value, .05/$)
Signup Bonus Chart2x AA Purchases
No Foreign Transaction Fee
If are planning to pay for an Admiral Club Membership, you are probably better off getting the AAdvantage Executive card. While the annual fee is $450, a standalone Admiral's Club Membership can cost as much or more. And you can add up to 10 authorized users for no extra charge, who each get access to Admiral clubs (but not partner clubs), along with family or guests, even when traveling without the primary cardholder.
In addition, if you are close to achieving mid or high-tier status with American, the Executive card can give you a helpful mileage boost.
Because it is hard to use credit card travel benefits during the pandemic, Citibank has made some temporary changes to their cards.
- If you had the card before March 31st, 2020, you should have received a $225 credit.
Collecting American Airlines Signup Bonuses
- Citibank limits your ability to collect another signup bonus within 48 months of signing up for, or cancelling, any of the personal versions of the Citibank American Airlines cards. For example, if you collect the signup bonus on the AAdvanage Executive card, you won't be eligible for the signup bonus on the AAdvantage Platinum card until four years later. And if you cancel the Executive card during that time, the clock resets.
- If you are interested in the ongoing benefits of the Executive card, you can collect an additional Citibank American Airlines signup bonus, every four years. Sign up for the Executive card first, and spend enough to earn the signup bonus. Then, after four years, apply for the AAdvantage Platinum card to collect an additional valuable signup bonus. Then after a few months, cancel the Platinum card, and reset the clock for your next sign-up.
- If you aren't interested in holding onto this card for the long term, DON'T sign up for it, just to get the signup bonus, You are better off getting the AAdvantage Platinum card. Even if you are permanently holding onto the Platinum card, and you are entitled to another Citibank signup bonus, you are better off applying for the AAdvantage Gold card. You'll receive a 25,000 mile bonus, without having to pay an annual fee; rather than a 50,000 mile bonus, with a $450 annual fee. The extra 25,000 miles is not worth the extra $450 in fees.
- You can receive additional American Airlines signup bonuses via the Barclay Aviator cards. These are handled completely independently from the Citibank cards.
Other Notable Benefits
Like the less expensive American Airlines Platinum Card, you'll get free checked bags, priority boarding, a 25% discount on inflight food and beverages, elite car rental status, and access to the Mastercard Luxury Hotel Program.
The added benefits of the Executive version of the card include:
- Admirals Club membership. The cardholder receives a full Admiral Club membership, and authorized card holders get access privileges at Admiral Club lounges. That means the primary cardholder gets access to additional lounges that have a reciprocal relationship with Admiral Club, but authorized cardholders do not. Both primary and authorized cardholder can bring in their immediate family members, or up to two travelling companions.
- Earn elite qualifying miles. If you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year, you'll receive 10,000 EQMs. These EQMs can be combined with the qualifying miles you can earn from the Aviator Silver Card.
- Priority check-in and screening. You'll get access to priority check-in and security screening (when available), which is normally only available to elite frequent flyers. However, if it is worth paying $450 for Admiral's Club access, there is a good chance you are already flying American Airlines often enough to qualify for these benefits.
- $100 TSA fee credit. Every five years, you can receive an automatic reimbursement of your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (up to $100).
- No point rebate. Unlike the cheaper Platinum version, you won't receive 10% of your miles back when you make an award redemption. As a result, it can be worth picking up the Gold version of the card, just to get this benefit.
- Free checked bags and priority boarding for 4 additional passengers. You can extend these benefits to 9 companion, instead of 5.
Bonus Categories
- You are better off making your American Airlines purchases with a card that earns a higher reward rate for airfare spending. 2x American Airline miles is okay but not as good as what you'd earn from one of the better cards.Best Credit Cards for Travel Spending.
- You don't want to use this card for your everyday spending. You'll earn higher rewards from a good general-purpose reward card. Get a Great General Purpose Reward Card and Use It for All of Your Spending.