Credit Card News
American Airlines and Citi Debut Mid-Tier AAdvantage Credit Card
During a recent Citi earnings call, a new mid-tier American Airlines co-branded card was teased. Now, that offering has come to fruition in the form of the Citi/AAdvantage Globe Mastercard.
About the Citi/AAdvantage Globe Mastercard:
Citi and American Airlines have officially unveiled the new AAdvantage Globe card. With an annual fee of $350, the mid-tier option now sits between the $99 AAdvantage Platinum Select and $595 AAdvantage Executive cards. The no-annual-fee AAdvantage MileUp card is also available.
One of the top perks of the new Globe card is Admirals Club access. Specifically, cardholders receive four passes each calendar year. Moreover, these passes are each valid for 24 hours, allowing those with multiple-stop itineraries to visit various clubs along the way.
As for other benefits, carholders enjoy up to $100 in inflight purchase credits per calendar year, free first check bags, and Group 5 preferred boarding. Then, each cardmember anniversary year, cardholders can claim an American Airlines Companion Certificate redeemable for $99 (plus taxes and fees) on an eligible round-trip domestic flight in Main Cabin.
Outside of American Airlines perks, the card also includes up to $30 in statement credits on completed Turo bookings (up to $240 annually). Additionally, the card includes a $100 annual Splurge Credit, somewhat similar to the one featured on the new Citi Strata Elite card. Current options for this credit include.
- Eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings
- 1stDibs
- Future Personal Training
- Live Nation
In terms of rewards, the card earns 6x AAdvantage miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotel bookings as 3x on American Airlines purchases. Elsewhere, the card also earns 2x at restaurants (including takeout and delivery), and 2x on “Rides and Rails” purchases — taxis, rideshares, and public transit. All other purchases earn 1x miles.
To celebrate the launch of the Citi/AAdvantage Globe Mastercard, a special welcome bonus is now available. Currently, new cardholders can earn 90,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on the card within their first four months.
My Thoughts:
When Citi stated that a mid-tier AAdvantage card was on the way, many expected an annual fee in the neighborhood of $250 to $295. Obviously, the $350 figure is a bit higher than that. Still, for the right flyer, I think this Globe card presents a decent option. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the card might be a good pick for someone like me who probably doesn’t need unlimited Admirals Club admissions but would love four passes per year (and, while I do love Delta, American does have better flight options from my home airport of SGF).
I’ll also point out that this 90,000 AAdvantage miles bonus tops the other current offers for American’s co-branded line up — and even requires a lower minimum spend than the Executive card’s available bonus offer. Plus, you’ll have four months to hit the $5,000 spending threshold versus the typical three month timeframe. So, if this new card sounds like a good pick to you, now may be the time to get it.
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