For business owners and frequent flyers on American Airlines, maximizing travel rewards is a smart strategy. The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers a suite of benefits designed to enhance your travel experience while earning valuable AAdvantage® miles on everyday business spending. This card is tailored for those who prioritize American Airlines travel and seek to leverage their business expenses into travel perks. Let’s delve into the key features and benefits of this American Airline Travel Credit card to see if it aligns with your business travel needs.
Key Benefits for American Airlines Flyers
The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card is packed with features that directly benefit American Airlines customers. From earning miles on purchases to enjoying travel conveniences, here’s a breakdown of the most valuable perks:
Earn AAdvantage Miles on Business Spending
This american airline travel credit card allows you to accumulate American Airlines AAdvantage® miles quickly through your business expenditures. You’ll earn:
- 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. This includes flights booked through American Airlines channels like aa.com, reservations, Admirals Club®, and airport ticket counters.
- 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent at gas stations, car rental merchants, telecommunications providers, and cable and satellite providers. This broad range of bonus categories ensures that many everyday business expenses contribute to your mile balance.
- 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Every business transaction helps you get closer to your next flight reward.
The miles earned are typically credited to your AAdvantage® account within 8-10 weeks after meeting purchase requirements, allowing you to plan your next trip sooner. Miles can be earned by both primary cardholders and employee cardmembers, making it a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes.
First Checked Bag Free & Priority Boarding
Travel with ease and skip some of the common airport hassles with these benefits:
- First Checked Bag Free: Cardholders and up to four companions on the same reservation enjoy their first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights. This benefit can lead to significant savings, especially for frequent travelers or those traveling with teams.
- Preferred Boarding: You and up to four companions on the same reservation are eligible for preferred boarding on American Airlines flights. Boarding in Group 5, after priority boarding but before general economy, allows you to settle in and secure overhead bin space more easily.
To activate these benefits, ensure your CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® account is open at least 7 days before your flight and that your AAdvantage® number is included in your reservation at least 7 days prior to travel.
Inflight Savings
Enjoy discounts on onboard amenities when you pay with your CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card:
- 25% Savings on Inflight Food and Beverage: Receive a 25% discount on food and beverage purchases made onboard American Airlines flights.
- 25% Savings on Inflight Wi-Fi: Stay connected in the air and save 25% on inflight Wi-Fi purchases from providers like Gogo, Viasat, or Panasonic, as well as on American Airlines’ Wi-Fi Subscription Plans.
These savings are applied as statement credits and will appear 8-10 weeks after the transaction posts to your account.
American Airlines Companion Certificate
As a valuable loyalty reward, the card offers a Companion Certificate:
- $99 Companion Certificate: After spending $30,000 or more in purchases within your cardmembership year, you’ll earn a $99 domestic economy fare American Airlines Companion Certificate. This allows a companion to travel with you for just $99 plus taxes and fees when you purchase a qualifying round-trip domestic Main Cabin fare ticket.
This certificate is valid for travel within the 48 contiguous United States, and also to/from Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It must be redeemed and travel completed by the expiration date on the certificate.
Understanding the Terms and Conditions
While the benefits are attractive, it’s important to be aware of the terms and conditions associated with this american airline travel credit card:
APR, Fees, and Costs
- Annual Fee: The card has a $99 annual fee, which is waived for the first 12 months.
- Purchase APR: The standard variable APR for purchases ranges from 20.24% to 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Cash Advance APR: The standard variable APR for cash advances is 29.49%.
- Penalty APR: A variable Penalty APR of up to 29.99% may apply for late or returned payments.
- Foreign Transaction Fee: There are no foreign transaction fees, making it suitable for international business travel.
- Cash Advance Fee: The cash advance fee is either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
Bonus Miles Offer Details
- Eligibility: Bonus AAdvantage® miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® account in the past 48 months.
- Geographic Restrictions: The card offer is available to individuals residing in the United States and its territories, excluding Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Important Fine Print
- Merchant Category Codes (MCCs): Bonus miles on select categories depend on merchant category codes. Ensure that your purchases at gas stations, car rentals, etc., are coded correctly to receive bonus miles.
- Authorized Users: You can add employees as authorized users, and miles earned by them will accrue to the primary cardholder’s AAdvantage® account.
- Fraud Prevention: Citi reserves the right to take action against accounts suspected of fraud or misuse, which could include account closure or loss of miles.
- AAdvantage® Program Changes: American Airlines AAdvantage® program terms and conditions are subject to change, which may affect the value of your miles.
Is This American Airline Travel Credit Card for You?
The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a strong contender for businesses that:
Ideal for:
- Frequent American Airlines Flyers: If your business frequently utilizes American Airlines for travel, the miles earning and airline-specific benefits will be highly valuable.
- Value Travel Rewards: For businesses that prioritize travel perks over cash back, the AAdvantage® miles, free checked bag, and priority boarding offer tangible benefits.
- Utilize Business Expense Categories: Businesses with significant spending in gas, car rentals, telecommunications, and cable/satellite services can maximize mile accumulation through the 2x bonus categories.
Consider Alternatives If:
- Infrequent American Airlines Travel: If your business travel is not primarily with American Airlines, a more general travel rewards card or a cash-back card might offer greater flexibility.
- Prefer Cash Back or Different Rewards: If you prefer cash back, points in other loyalty programs, or rewards beyond airline benefits, explore other business credit card options.
Conclusion
The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a targeted american airline travel credit card designed to reward businesses loyal to American Airlines. With its miles earning potential, travel conveniences, and inflight savings, it offers a compelling value proposition for frequent AA flyers. By understanding its benefits and terms, you can determine if this card is the right tool to elevate your business travel experience and maximize your rewards within the American Airlines ecosystem.
