Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® Review for 2023
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®
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:
American Airlines frequent flyers who want premium airport lounge access
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.74% to 29.74% Variable
Annual Fee
$450
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
- 2x miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 1x mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases
Pros
- With sign-up bonus
- Offers comprehensive travel perks
- With Admirals Club® membership
Cons
- No interest-free financing option for both purchases and balance transfers
- With high annual fee
- Low mileage points earned as compared to other cobranded airline business credit cards
- 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.
- 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
- Discount on inflight food and beverage: You’ll receive a 25% savings on inflight purchases of food and beverages on flights operated by American Airlines.
- 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.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.74% to 29.74% Variable
Annual Fee
$450
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
- 2x miles for every dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 1x mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases
Pros
- With sign-up bonus
- Offers comprehensive travel perks
- With Admirals Club® membership
Cons
- No interest-free financing option for both purchases and balance transfers
- With high annual fee
- Low mileage points earned as compared to other cobranded airline business credit cards
- 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.
- 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
- Discount on inflight food and beverage: You’ll receive a 25% savings on inflight purchases of food and beverages on flights operated by American Airlines.
- 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.
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 frequently fly 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 card member, 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.
See our recommended alternatives below if this card isn’t the best fit for your business.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® Fees
APR
- Introductory: None
- Ongoing, balance transfers, and Citi Flex Plan: 20.74% to 29.74% variable—adjusts with the prime rate
- Cash advance: 29.99% variable—adjusts with the prime rate
- Penalty: Up to 29.99%—will be applied if you either make a late payment or make a returned payment
Fees
- Minimum interest charge: 50 cents
- 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
- Annual: $450
- Balance transfer: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Foreign transaction: None
- Cash advance: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Late and returned payments: Up to $41
Your due date is at least 23 days after the close of each billing cycle.
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 miles 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 1 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 and select the “make a payment” option. Then, indicate how much to pay, when the payment will be processed, and where the payment will be coming from.
- Citi Mobile® App: Similar to paying through the online portal, log in to your account, select your credit card, and click “Make a Payment.”
- Phone: Call (800) 950-5114 or the number found on the back of your card, enter your card information, and then follow the prompts to make a payment.
- In-person: Make a payment at the nearest Citibank branch during regular business hours.
- Mail: Send either a check or money order (but not cash) to the following address:
PO Box 9001037
Louisville, KY 40290-1037
- Overnight delivery/express payments: Send your check or money order (but not cash) to the following address:
Citibank Express Payments
6716 Grade Ln., Bldg. 9, Ste. 910
Louisville, KY 40213
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 and beverage: You’ll receive a 25% savings discount 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.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard® Alternatives
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
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
25.74% (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
- $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓
- 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
25.74% (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
- $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓
- 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.
- Is great for those who travel frequently and book hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel, as it offers 5x unlimited reward miles, unlimited 2x miles on any business purchase, and up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Allows you to get two free visits to a Capital One airport lounge each year
- Charges an annual fee of $95, waived for the first year
- Is in our roundups of the:
American Express Business Platinum Card®
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
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:
Gaining access to unrivaled travel rewards and luxury travel perks like airport lounge access
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.24% - 27.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$695
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
- Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your Card and get up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR® Plus membership. CLEAR® lanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market as of 9/2021.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Premium travel rewards
- Free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- High annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen United States airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Free Wi-Fi: 10 annual free Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.24% - 27.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$695
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
- Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your Card and get up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR® Plus membership. CLEAR® lanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market as of 9/2021.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Premium travel rewards
- Free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- High annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen United States airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Free Wi-Fi: 10 annual free Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
- Is a viable option for those who frequently fly with American Airlines and want access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries through the American Express Global Lounge Collection®
- Lets you earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com and 1.5x Membership Rewards® points per dollar on eligible purchases and key business categories
- Does not offer an introductory APR bonus on purchases and balance transfers
- Charges an annual fee of $695
- Is in our lists of the:
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
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
18.74% to 28.74% (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
18.74% to 28.74% (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.
- Is a great alternative for those wanting to have a travel business credit card with an introductory APR—0% introductory APR on purchases for the first nine billing cycles
- Lets you earn unlimited 1.5x miles on all purchases regardless of spending categories
- Does not charge annual, balance transfer, and foreign transaction fees
- Is one of our:
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 balance transfers and purchases and charges a high annual fee of $450.
