Citi aadvantage executive world elite mastercard annual fee

The high annual fee of the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is something that requires considerable evaluation. Take a look at all the details that come with owning this card.

• In order to obtain the card, you must pay an annual fee of $450.

• There are no 0% introductory APR periods for this card, and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® comes with a relatively high variable APR of 15.99% to 24.99%. Your exact rate depends on the market prime rate along with your creditworthiness at the time of approval.

• For every balance transfer, a fee of $5 or 3% of the amount is paid, whichever is greater. The APR is also similar to the regular APR of the card, at 15.99% to 24.99%.

• An APR of 25.24% is applied to cash advances, along with a fee of $10 or 5% of the amount that was advanced, whichever is greater.

• If you make a late payment or have a payment that gets returned, a fee of $40 will apply along with a 29.99% APR. This APR may be applied indefinitely, but you can always plead your case if either occurrence were a one-time thing.

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Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Full Review

Card Type

The Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card is a co-branded airline travel credit card. Because you’ll earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles on your spending, it’s best suited for travelers who frequently fly with American Airlines.

Annual Fee

This premium travel card charges a high annual fee of $450. But if you travel often, the card’s travel and airline benefits can help offset the cost.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening

Rewards

You’ll earn a total of 4 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases through December 31, 2022. After that, earn 2 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases. There’s no limit to the number of miles you can earn.

When you’re ready to redeem, you can use your miles toward award flights with American Airlines, fare class upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, and more.

Fees 

This card has a $450 annual fee and variable purchase APR of 18.99% – 27.99%. There are no foreign transaction fees on international purchases. Late and returned payments may incur a fee up to $40 and penalty APR up to 29.99%.

How to Use the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card

If you’re a frequent American Airlines flyer, you’ll likely get a lot of use out of this card. Not just in terms of the benefits it gets you onboard and at the airport, but also when earning miles to use on future American flights.

Begin maximizing this card by spending $5,500 in the first three months from account opening, to earn the 80,000 AAdvantage miles welcome bonus. Just be careful not to spend more than you normally would (or can afford) to get the bonus; the high interest payments you’ll accrue carrying credit card debt can quickly offset any rewards value.   

You’ll want to use this card to book your American Airlines flights, since it earns 4x miles on those purchases through December 31, 2022. After that, earn 2 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases. That strategy, combined with using the American Airlines AAdvantage shopping portal for online purchases, can help you rack up miles quickly — and really help you save once it’s safe to travel freely again.

Since the card only earns 1x mile per dollar on everything else, it’s not a particularly good choice to earn rewards on everyday spending. For that, you might want to use a card that provides bonus points on the categories you spend on most often — for example an American Express card, since Amex points can be transferred to American Airlines to book flights.

Another card earning bonus points on common everyday spending categories is the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. However, Chase points do not transfer to AAdvantage miles (although you can use them to book travel on the Chase portal).

And don’t forget to take advantage of this card’s many benefits to save yourself time and money while traveling. 

The TSA PreCheck credit of $100 every five years covers the fee for the application to, or renewal of, membership in the expedited screening program that gets you through airport security faster and with more ease. Alternatively, the credit can be used to apply for, or renew, membership in Global Entry, which expedites immigration procedures for returning to the U.S. at airports equipped with Global Entry kiosks. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, so we recommend that people who fly internationally often apply for the latter. 

Since you get complimentary Admirals Club access, you can head to an airport lounge before your flight to grab some food and drink. This is a great way to save money on dining while at the airport or traveling. American Airlines has almost 50 of those airport lounges worldwide, plus 60 operated by partners around the world. (Keep in mind that some may be closed or feature altered service because of the pandemic, so check in advance.)  

The Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card also comes with priority boarding. Once on board, be sure to use the card on any in-flight purchases (such as food, beverage and even Wi-Fi) to get 25% off.

This card does not charge foreign transaction fees, so it could be worth taking it with you on any international trips.

Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card Compared to Other Cards

• Intro offer:

  80,000 miles

• Annual fee:

  $450

• Regular APR:

  18.99% – 27.99% (Variable)

• Recommended credit:

  670-850 (Good to Excellent)

• Learn more externa link icon At our partner’s secure site

• Intro offer:

  Earn 100,000 points

• Annual fee:

  $695

• Regular APR:

  See Pay Over Time APR

• Recommended credit:

  670-850 (Good to Excellent)

• Learn more externa link icon At our partner’s secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply.

• Intro offer:

  80,000 points

• Annual fee:

  $550

• Regular APR:

  19.99% – 26.99% Variable

• Recommended credit:

  740-850 (Excellent)

• Apply Now externa link icon At Chase’s secure site

Is Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Right for You?

This card is best for dedicated American Airlines customers. If you live near an American Airlines hub or you travel often along routes the airline offers, it may be a great value — if you travel enough to offset the cost. 

With a $450 annual fee, it’s aimed squarely at people who fly American Airlines often enough to value the elevated travel benefits in exchange for the high annual fee — such as complimentary Admirals Club access to grab a bite and relax before a flight. 

You may also find extra value in this card if you often travel with others. Not only can you enjoy priority check-in, priority airport screenings (where available) and priority boarding, as well as your first checked bag free, but those privileges also extend to up to eight travel companions. 

If you typically fly other airlines such as Delta or United, you won’t get much use out of this card. However, if you fly American Airlines frequently and want to add more perks to your flying experience, this card is worth a look.

EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE

As with all of our credit card reviews, our analysis is not influenced by any partnerships or advertising relationships.

*All information about the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by NextAdvisor and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card have an annual fee?

Yes, it has a $450 annual fee.

What credit score do you need to be approved for the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Card?

You’ll need good-to-excellent credit, or a credit score of at least 690, for the best chances of approval for this card.

Does Citi AAdvantage card have an annual fee?

Is Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard?

What credit score do you need for Citi AAdvantage Executive World Mastercard?

Is Citi AAdvantage card worth it?