Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® Review
Tricia has nearly two decades of experience in commercial and federal government lending. Her expertise is highlighted throughout small business loan content on Fit Small Business.
Nancy Fernandez is a Credit Card and Insurance Expert at Fit Small Business, specializing in business credit cards and business insurance.
This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® is a personal credit card designed for business owners who fly primarily with American Airlines. It offers an Admirals Club® membership with access to nearly 50 airport lounges worldwide. While it doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, it comes with a high annual fee of $450 and offers meager travel rewards.
If you wish to compare one card over another, select a maximum of three cards on this page and click Add to compare to view the details in a side-by-side comparison.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®
BEST FOR:
American Airlines frequent flyers who want premium airport lounge access
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
18.24% to 27.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$450
Credit Needed
Good - Excellent
- Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Earn 10,000 Elite Qualifying Miles after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year
- Admirals ClubMembership, a value of up to $650, includes access for authorized users
- Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
Pros
- Sign-up bonus
- Travel perks
- Admirals Club® membership
Cons
- No introductory APR
- High annual fee
- Low ongoing rewards
- Admirals Club® membership: Get full membership access to Admirals Club® lounges.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit: Receive one statement credit for Global Entry or the TSA Pre Check® application fee every five years, up to $100.
- Free first checked bag: Receive one free checked bag when traveling on American Airlines or affiliate airlines.
- Priority airport screening: You and up to eight companions will get priority airport screening.
- Priority boarding: Get priority boarding on American Airlines flights
- Inflight discounts: Get 25% off of inflight food and beverage purchases.
- Concierge services: Receive complimentary concierge services.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
18.24% to 27.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$450
Credit Needed
Good - Excellent
- Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Earn 10,000 Elite Qualifying Miles after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year
- Admirals ClubMembership, a value of up to $650, includes access for authorized users
- Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
Pros
- Sign-up bonus
- Travel perks
- Admirals Club® membership
Cons
- No introductory APR
- High annual fee
- Low ongoing rewards
- Admirals Club® membership: Get full membership access to Admirals Club® lounges.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit: Receive one statement credit for Global Entry or the TSA Pre Check® application fee every five years, up to $100.
- Free first checked bag: Receive one free checked bag when traveling on American Airlines or affiliate airlines.
- Priority airport screening: You and up to eight companions will get priority airport screening.
- Priority boarding: Get priority boarding on American Airlines flights
- Inflight discounts: Get 25% off of inflight food and beverage purchases.
- Concierge services: Receive complimentary concierge services.
How We Evaluate Travel Rewards Credit Cards
When evaluating travel rewards credit cards like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®, we first take into consideration the introductory rewards, ongoing rewards, and additional card features. We also rate the annual fee, ongoing annual percentage rate (APR), and introductory APR.
Grading Criteria | Card Score | Highest Possible Score |
|---|---|---|
Ongoing Rewards | 15 | 25 |
Introductory Rewards | 20 | 25 |
Additional Features | 20 | 25 |
Annual Fee | 2 | 15 |
Introductory APR | 0 | 5 |
Ongoing APR | 3 | 5 |
Total Score | 60 | 100 |
Who the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® Is Best For
- Those who fly frequently on American Airlines: You’ll earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and enjoy travel perks like free checked bags and inflight discounts on food and beverages.
- Those who have a qualifying Citigold account: Once you’re billed the $450 annual fee and remain a cardmember, you can earn a $145 statement credit when you have a qualifying Citigold account.
- Those who want an Admirals Club® membership: It offers a free Admirals Club® membership that allows access to nearly 50 lounge locations worldwide.
If this doesn’t fit your needs, check out our guide to the top small business credit cards. Alternatively, you can head over to our Credit Card Marketplace to find the right card for your business.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® Fees
APR
- Introductory APR: None
- Ongoing APR for purchases and balance transfers: 18.24% to 27.24% variable—adjusts with the prime rate
- Cash advance APR: 27.49% variable—adjusts with the prime rate
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%; will be applied if you either make a late payment or make a returned payment
- Minimum interest charge: $0.50
- Plan fee (fixed finance change): Monthly fee of 1.72% of each transaction moved to a Citi Flex Plan, subject to a fee based on Citi Flex Plan duration
Fees
- Annual fee: $450
- Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Late payment and Returned payment fees: Up to $41
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® Rewards
- 50,000 bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases within the first three months after opening an account
- 2x miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 1x mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- 1 Loyalty Point will be earned for every eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
Primary cardholders will also earn 10,000 additional Loyalty Points after spending $40,000 in purchases for every qualifying year. The 2022 qualifying year will be defined as Jan. 1, 2022, to Feb. 28, 2023 (14-month period), and starting in 2023, a qualifying year will be defined as beginning on March 1st and ending on February 28 of the following year (12-month period).
You can redeem miles for flights to nearly 1,000 destinations around the world, with flexible redemption options for one-way or round-trip awards on American Airlines. You can also use miles to upgrade your American Airlines-operated flights, pay for car rentals, book hotel stays in more than 500 destinations worldwide, and redeem vacation packages.
How To Make Payments on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® Credit Card
- Online: Log in to your online account, then select the “make a payment” option.
- Phone: Call Citi at (800) 950-5114.
- Money order or check by mail: You can send your payment as a check or money order to the following Citi address:
P.O. Box 9001037
Louisville KY, 40290-1037
Alternatively, you can send your check or money order to the following Barclays address:
Card Services
P.O. Box 60517
City of Industry, CA 91716-0517
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® Features
Travel Benefits
- First checked bag free: Offers a free first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation. To be eligible, the flight reservation must have been paid for using this credit card.
- Admirals Club® membership: Primary cardmembers who are 18 years of age or older will receive full membership access privileges to Admirals Club® lounges, allowing you access to other airline lounges and clubs with which American Airlines may have reciprocal lounge or club access privileges.
- Enhanced Airport experience: Enjoy priority check-in, priority airport screening, and priority boarding privileges for you and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation. You may check in at any business class or first class check-in position (if business class isn’t available), regardless of your service class.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit: You can receive one statement credit up to $100 per account every five years for either the Global Entry or the TSA PreCheck® program application fee. To be eligible, you must charge the application fee to this card.
Travel Incentives
- Discount on inflight food & beverage: You’ll receive a 25% savings on inflight purchases of food and beverages on flights operated by American Airlines. You must pay for these inflight purchases with this card to qualify for the discount.
- Citi Entertainment®: Get special access to purchase tickets to events, including presale tickets and exclusive experiences including concerts, sporting events, and dining experiences. You’ll also receive access to select exclusive event offers with your Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®.
Other Benefits
- Banking relationship annual credit: This is an exclusive benefit to eligible Citigold clients. You can earn a $145 statement credit annually when you have a qualifying Citigold account. To be eligible, your credit card account should have been billed a $450 annual fee and should remain active.
Pros & Cons of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard®
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Lets you earn 50,000 bonus miles after meeting the spending requirements | Doesn’t offer a zero-interest financing option for both purchases and balance transfers |
| Comes with a variety of travel perks that are ideal for frequent travelers, including free checked bags, priority boarding, and inflight savings | Comes with a high annual fee of $450 and doesn’t offer a zero annual fee period |
| Can offer automatic Admirals Club® membership upon approval, and you enjoy access to nearly 50 airport lounges worldwide | Allows you to earn 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases—these rewards are much lower than other cobranded airline business credit cards |
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® Alternatives
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business is our top-recommended business credit card for miles as you can earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2x miles on all other business purchases. You can also receive 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 on purchases within the first three months of card ownership. It should be noted that this doesn’t have any interest-free financing option for both purchases and balance transfers.
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Unlimited 2x miles with every swipe
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
25.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $500 in travel after you spend $4,500 within the first three months
- 2x miles per $1 spent
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fee credit
Cons
- You’ll pay an annual fee after the first year
- Doesn’t offer interest-free financing
- Airport security screening reimbursement: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every four years.
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
25.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $500 in travel after you spend $4,500 within the first three months
- 2x miles per $1 spent
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fee credit
Cons
- You’ll pay an annual fee after the first year
- Doesn’t offer interest-free financing
- Airport security screening reimbursement: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every four years.
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business is our best business credit card for travel since it lets you earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and unlimited 1.5 miles on all other purchases. You can also get 20,000 bonus miles , which is equivalent to $200 in travel, after spending at least $3,000 for the first three months. It doesn’t charge any annual fees and has an interest-free financing option on purchases for the first 9 months after account opening.
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.
BEST FOR:
Travel rewards and annual spending less than $19,000
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
18.24% to 28.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $200 in travel after you spend $3,000 within the first three months
- 1.5x miles per $1 spent
- 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings through the issuer
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Interest-free financing on purchases
Cons
- No 0% APR balance transfer offer
- Limited list of airline partners
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
Intro APR
0% on purchases
Regular APR
18.24% to 28.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $200 in travel after you spend $3,000 within the first three months
- 1.5x miles per $1 spent
- 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings through the issuer
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Interest-free financing on purchases
Cons
- No 0% APR balance transfer offer
- Limited list of airline partners
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Sapphire Reserve® is another personal credit card you can consider if you want access to over 1,300 airport lounges. It offers numerous rewards for both new and existing cardholders that will help maximize its usage, making it a great alternative if you travel for your business frequently. However, it charges a very high annual fee of $550 and doesn’t have an interest-free financing option for both purchases and balance transfers.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
BEST FOR:
Receiving exceptional travel rewards and benefits
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.24% to 26.24% variable
Annual Fee
$550, plus $75 for each authorized user
Credit Needed
Excellent
- 60,000 bonus points (worth $900 in travel) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening an account
- 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 are spent on travel purchases annually
- 10x total points on Chase dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards® after making prepaid restaurant reservations, order takeout or joining virtual cooking events
- 5x total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
- 3x points on other dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
- 3x points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
Pros
- With $300 annual travel credit
- Lucrative rewards at 50% more when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- With complimentary airport lounge access
Cons
- With high annual fee
- No interest-free financing option
- Needs excellent credit
- Airport lounge access: Enjoy access to more than 1,300 priority pass lounges worldwide for free prior to airline travel
- Annual travel credit: You’ll receive a $300 annual travel credit that can be applied liberally toward your travel purchases.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad.
- Trip delay insurance: If your travel is delayed more than 12 hours or you require an overnight stay as a result of a delay, you’re covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Covers up to $10,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses if your trip is cut short or interrupted by sickness or bad weather.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.24% to 26.24% variable
Annual Fee
$550, plus $75 for each authorized user
Credit Needed
Excellent
- 60,000 bonus points (worth $900 in travel) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening an account
- 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 are spent on travel purchases annually
- 10x total points on Chase dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards® after making prepaid restaurant reservations, order takeout or joining virtual cooking events
- 5x total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
- 3x points on other dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
- 3x points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
Pros
- With $300 annual travel credit
- Lucrative rewards at 50% more when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- With complimentary airport lounge access
Cons
- With high annual fee
- No interest-free financing option
- Needs excellent credit
- Airport lounge access: Enjoy access to more than 1,300 priority pass lounges worldwide for free prior to airline travel
- Annual travel credit: You’ll receive a $300 annual travel credit that can be applied liberally toward your travel purchases.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad.
- Trip delay insurance: If your travel is delayed more than 12 hours or you require an overnight stay as a result of a delay, you’re covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Covers up to $10,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses if your trip is cut short or interrupted by sickness or bad weather.
Bottom Line
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® is a great personal credit card if you fly primarily with American Airlines as you can earn 2x miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. A welcome offer of 50,000 bonus miles can be earned after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first three months after account opening. However, it doesn’t have any interest-free financing option for both balance transfers and purchases and charges a high annual fee of $450.
If this doesn’t fit the bill, compare these top credit cards to find one for your business.
