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The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® is the newest addition to the American Airlines credit card lineup. Its above-average perks and annual fee position it between premium travel credit cards and beginner travel credit cards.
With Citi as the exclusive card issuer for American Airlines, the Barclays AAdvantage credit cards are no longer available for application. That makes this new card a welcome addition to the competitive travel credit card landscape, and a solid option for earning AAdvantage miles.
CNBC Select takes a look at the newest Citi AAdvantage Mastercard and the value of its perks and benefits.
Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard review
Welcome bonus
The Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard comes with a generous welcome bonus. Earn 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
With a one-way Main Cabin seat from the U.S. to Europe starting at 25,000 miles, this bonus can unlock numerous travel options with American Airlines and its partners.
Benefits and perks
The Citi/ AAdvantage Globe Mastercard focuses primarily on travel, but it also includes a few helpful lifestyle credits. Here's a closer look at the card's benefits:
- Four Admirals Club® Globe™ passes: Every calendar year, you'll receive four passes. Each pass grants one person Admirals Club lounge access for 24 hours.
- American Airlines Companion Certificate: Each calendar year after renewing your card, you'll receive a Companion certificate ($99 plus taxes and fees) for an eligible Main Cabin round-trip domestic flight.
- First checked bag free: On domestic American Airlines flights, you and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive a free checked bag.
- Preferred boarding: The primary cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive Group 5 boarding.
- Up to $240 in annual Turo credits: Earn up to $30 in statement credits for each Turo trip you pay for with the card.
- Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: Receive a statement credit (once every four years) of up to $120 to cover the application fee of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
- Up to $100 back on in-flight purchases: Earn up to $100 in statement credits for in-flight purchases on American Airlines flights.
- Up to $100 in annual Splurge Credits℠ : Every calendar year, you can receive up to $100 in statement credits at up to two of the following brands: eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings, 1stDibs, Future Personal Training and Live Nation.
The four Admirals Club Globe passes can be used for up to 24 hours once redeemed, and you can bring up to three children under 18 along. The companion certificate can be redeemed for a Main Cabin flight within the contiguous 48 states, so it typically gets the most value when applied to longer, more expensive routes.
One unique aspect of this card is the new Flight Streak™ bonus, which could make earning AAdvantage status a little easier. After every four qualifying American Airlines flights, you'll earn a bonus 5,000 Loyalty Points, up to a maximum of 15,000 points toward elite status qualification each year. American Airlines offers four tiers of elite status, starting with AAdvantage Gold® status, which requires 40,000 Loyalty Points.
The Turo credit, which is for a car rental marketplace, may be harder to use for some. The credit only covers up to $30 per trip, so it's a relatively small dent in the overall cost of renting a card.
The card also comes with Citi Entertainment and World Legend Mastercard benefits, which include special access to event and concert tickets, plus travel protections, such as:
- Trip delay coverage
- Lost or damaged luggage insurance
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Rental car insurance (secondary in the U.S.)
- Extended warranty
- Purchase protection
How to earn and redeem AAdvantage® miles
Earning
The Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard earns miles and Loyalty Points on every eligible purchase at the following rates:
- 6X miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels™ bookings
- 3X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2X miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- 2X on eligible Rides and Rails™ purchases, including taxis, rideshares and public transport
- 1X miles on all other purchases
- 1 Loyalty Point per $1 in eligible purchases
While it's nice that a travel card has bonus categories for spending outside of airlines or hotels, you'll still be earning the highest rates on American Airlines purchases.
Redeeming
The AAdvantage miles you earn are deposited into your American Airlines account. Typically, the most valuable way to use AAdvantage miles is to book flights. You can book or upgrade American Airlines flights with miles or book travel with oneworld Alliance airlines and other American Airlines partners.
Since American Airlines shifted to dynamic award pricing for its own flights, the chart simply offers "starting" prices. One-way tickets within the contiguous 48 U.S. states and Canada officially start at 7,500 miles in economy and 15,000 miles for business.
However, American Airlines still has fixed prices for partner awards. You can fly in business class from the U.S. to Europe for 57,500 miles each way or to the South Pacific for 80,000 miles in business class each way.
Rates and fees
The Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard comes with an annual fee of $350, putting it in the middle range for travel cards. The card doesn't charge any foreign transaction fees, and it doesn't feature an introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers.
Card comparison
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
If you're looking for a travel card that offers more premium perks, the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card is the next step up. It offers a few similar benefits, such as four passes to the American Airlines Admirals Club and a credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee.
However, the Citi Strata Elite also comes with double the Annual Splurge Credit ($200), up to $300 in annual hotel benefits (on hotel stays of two nights or more booked through Citi Travel each calendar year) and a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which gives you unlimited visits to Priority Pass airport lounges.
The Strata Elite does charge a higher $595 annual fee, but if you travel more frequently, you may appreciate the additional perks. Plus, you can transfer the Citi ThankYou® Points you earn with this card to American Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card aims to brings premium restaurant rewards and travel benefits to users, including an annual hotel benefit of $300.
- High rewards rate on travel
- 6X on restaurants
- Can transfer points to American Airlines at a 1:1 rate
- Up to $200 annual splurge credit
- High annual fee
- Limited rewards categories
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Balance transfer fee
Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a good option if you want American Airlines perks for a lower annual fee. The card charges a $0 annual fee for the first year (then $99), and you still get a free checked bag and preferred boarding for you and up to four companions.
The AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite also earns the same 2X AAdvantage® miles at restaurants (as well as at gas stations and eligible American Airlines purchases), and you can receive up to $180 in Turo credits: up to $30 for Turo rides completed from Oct. 19, 2025, to Oct. 18, 2026.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is worth considering if you fly with American Airlines once or twice a year because you'll get your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries.
- First checked bag free on eligible American Airlines flights for the cardholder and up to four travel companions on the same reservation
- No foreign transaction fees
- Preferred boarding
- American Airlines Flight Discount has a high spending requirement
- Has an annual fee
Is the Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard right for you?
The Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard could be a good fit for those who travel with American Airlines enough to fully utilize the four lounge passes, Flight Streak Bonus, credits and other perks. It's possible to offset the card's $350 annual fee, but note that some of the benefits (like the Turo credit) aren't super straightforward
If you're looking for more premium perks, a card with unlimited airport lounge access may be a better fit. Or, you may prefer a travel card with more flexibility; in that case, a card that earns transfer rewards could better suit your travel style.
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