Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® Review: 50,000 Bonus Miles

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is the premium American Airlines co-branded card that includes Admirals Club lounge access and the ability to earn Elite Qualifying Miles if you spend enough on the card. Here are the full details.

• Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage(R) bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
• Admirals Club(R) membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you.
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
• Priority check-in, airport screening (where available) and early boarding when flying American Airlines.
• Earn 10,000 additional Loyalty Points after you spend $40,000 in purchases during the qualifying status year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases.
• Up to $100 statement credit every 5 years, as reimbursement for your application fee for Global Entry or The TSA PreCheck®.
• Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage(R) mile earned from purchases.
• $450 annual fee.

Note the following fine print:

American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive account in the past 48 months. The card offer referenced in this communication is only available to individuals who reside in the United States and its territories, excluding Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

As mentioned, this is the highest level Citi/American Airlines card, designed to make the frequent American Airlines customer as comfortable as possible. The primary reasons for the higher $450 annual fee are the Admirals Club lounge membership and the opportunity to earn more Loyalty Points towards status.

Admirals Club lounge membership value and details. Admirals Club membership usually costs $550+ a year on its own, and this is now the only card that gives it to you as a complimentary feature. Here’s the full cost chart:

This membership allows both you and your immediate family (or up to two traveling guests that accompany you) to access over 50 Admirals Club locations worldwide. Your immediate family includes spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18 years of age. You don’t even need to be on an American Airlines flight! You can even give your spouse or trusted friend/family an authorized user card and they’ll get lounge access too, even while traveling separately from you. (Authorized user cards have no additional fee.)

You can be flying on any airline, and if that airport has an Admirals Club you and your family can go inside. Lounge access might save you money on certain things like comfortable seats, free food/drink, WiFi, and sometimes hot showers. Mostly it just makes the overall flying experience more pleasant. I’ve been to Admiral’s Clubs with special kids rooms; perfect for families during delays or layovers.

Bottom line. Bonus miles are always nice, but this card is mostly about the Admiral Club lounge access and the help in achieving/maintaining elite status on American. If you don’t fly on American enough to value these perks, I would consider the Citi® AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard instead.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® application link