7 Reasons to get the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers a couple of benefits that make flying American Airlines more pleasant, but it’s also a great pick for anyone looking to diversify their loyalty portfolio.

These are the top seven reasons why you may want to add it to your wallet.

The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Sizable welcome offer

This card offers 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases in the first four months of account opening.

Based on TPG’s latest valuations, these 75,000 miles are worth about $1,163. From round-trip first-class flights to Alaska to one-way business-class flights to Europe or Asia, there are plenty of ways to make excellent use of those miles — especially when redeeming for partner awards in and out of the Oneworld Alliance.

Free checked bags

The Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard waives the first checked bag fee on domestic American Airlines-operated itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation.

While this benefit isn’t particularly unique for an airline credit card, it can be valuable for those who don’t hold American elite status.

Since American charges $40 (or $35 if you pay online) for the first checked bag on domestic itineraries, it only takes four avoided first checked bag fees each year to offset the card’s $99 annual fee (which is waived for the first year).

Best of all, the benefit becomes linked to your AAdvantage account, so you can still book and pay for your tickets any way you’d like.

Preferred boarding

As a cardholder, you and up to four customers traveling on the same reservation will receive Preferred Boarding for your flights, which means you’ll board in Group 5.

This perk is especially beneficial when flying basic economy on American since it means you’ll have early access to overhead bin space and get to keep your usual carry-on allowance.

Access to reduced mileage awards

One of the lesser-known yet valuable perks of the card is access to reduced mileage awards. With reduced mileage awards, you can save up to 7,500 miles per round-trip saver award (or up to 3,750 off a one-way saver award) to or from any of the airports listed in the current quarter’s promotion.

TPG does an in-depth analysis of the eligible award routes when they’re released. You do have to call to book, however.

Ability to earn a $125 flight discount

The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card also offers a $125 American Airlines flight discount after you make $20,000 in purchases in a cardmember year and renew your card.

The certificate is redeemable for flights marketed by American and must be used on itineraries originating in the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

25% off inflight purchases

If you frequently fly American domestically and purchase food or drinks on board, this benefit could save you some serious cash. You’ll get 25% savings — applied via a statement credit — each time you use your Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard to purchase inflight food and beverages.

Savings only apply on domestic flights marketed by American Airlines and operated by American or any of American’s regional airlines.

Bonus miles at restaurants and gas stations

In addition to 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar for all other purchases, the card also offers 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants and 2 miles per dollar spent at gas stations.

Since TPG currently values American AAdvantage miles at 1.55 cents, this means you’ll get a 3.1% return on eligible American Airlines purchases, purchases at gas stations and spending at restaurants.

While these returns aren’t outstanding — and you can do better in each category with other cards — having bonus categories beyond extra points on AA purchases can come in handy when working to rack up AAdvantage miles.

Bottom Line

The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is the way to go for occasional AA flyers and anyone looking to score valuable premium-cabin redemptions on American’s partners such as Cathay Pacific, Etihad and Japan Airlines.

Besides the perks mentioned here, the card comes with some lesser-known benefits — including no foreign transaction fees — that apply when you use your card for purchases. If you frequently fly American Airlines and want some elevated protections and perks, this card is worth having.