For business owners and frequent travelers, managing expenses and maximizing rewards are crucial. Travel Cards, especially business travel cards, offer a suite of benefits designed to streamline spending and enhance the travel experience. Let’s delve into the world of travel cards, using the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® as a prime example, to understand if such a card could be the right tool for your business travels.
Key Benefits of the CitiBusiness Travel Card
The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is packed with features aimed at making business travel more rewarding. Understanding these benefits is key to evaluating if a travel card aligns with your business needs.
AAdvantage Miles Program: Earn Rewards on Every Purchase
At the heart of this travel card is the American Airlines AAdvantage® program. Cardholders earn AAdvantage® miles on purchases, which can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related rewards within the American Airlines ecosystem and partner network. Specifically, you earn:
- 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. This includes flights booked through AA channels like aa.com, reservations, Admirals Club®, and airport ticket counters.
- 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent in select business categories:
- Telecommunications merchants: For business communication needs, purchases from providers of phone services, internet, and related equipment qualify.
- Car rental merchants: Essential for business trips, renting cars from eligible agencies earns double miles.
- Cable and satellite providers: Keep your business connected and entertained with rewards on these services.
- Gas stations: Fueling up for business errands or road trips also earns double miles.
- 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. This ensures that every business expense contributes to your rewards balance.
It’s important to note that certain purchases like balance transfers, cash advances, and fees do not earn miles. Miles typically appear in your AAdvantage® account 8-10 weeks after meeting purchase requirements.
First Checked Bag Free: Travel Lighter and Save
For frequent flyers, baggage fees can add up quickly. This travel card offers a valuable perk: the primary cardmember and up to four companions on the same reservation get their first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights.
To avail this benefit, ensure your CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® account is open at least 7 days before your flight, and your AAdvantage® number is included in the reservation at least 7 days prior to travel. This benefit applies to flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle® on domestic itineraries.
Priority Boarding: Get Settled Sooner
Boarding earlier can make the travel experience smoother. With this card, you receive priority boarding, allowing you and up to four companions on the same reservation to board after Priority Boarding and before general economy boarding (Group 5 on American Airlines boarding passes).
Similar to the free checked bag, ensure your account is open and AAdvantage® number is linked to your reservation at least 7 days prior to travel. This benefit applies to flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle®.
Inflight Savings: Enjoy Discounts on Board
Making purchases during your flight becomes more economical with this card. You receive:
- 25% savings on eligible inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines operated flights when using your CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® card.
- 25% savings on inflight Wi-Fi purchases from American Airlines’ Wi-Fi providers like Gogo, Viasat, or Panasonic, including American Airlines’ Wi-Fi Subscription Plan.
These savings appear as statement credits 8-10 weeks after the transaction posts to your account.
American Airlines Companion Certificate: Bring a Companion for Less
After spending $30,000 or more in purchases within your cardmembership year, you can earn a $99 domestic economy fare American Airlines Companion Certificate. This allows you to book a round-trip domestic economy ticket for a companion for just $99 (plus taxes and fees) when you purchase a qualifying Main Cabin ticket.
This certificate is valid for travel within the 48 contiguous United States on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle®. For residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, it extends to round-trip travel originating from those locations to the contiguous U.S. Redemption and travel must be completed by the travel expiration date on the certificate, booked through American Airlines Meeting Services.
Understanding the Costs and Terms
While the benefits are attractive, it’s crucial to understand the associated costs and terms of any travel card.
APR and Fees: Know the Financial Details
- Purchase APR: The standard variable Annual Percentage Rate (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 higher at 29.49%.
- Penalty APR: A variable Penalty APR of up to 29.99% may be applied if you make late payments or have a returned payment.
- Annual Fee: There is a $99 annual fee, but it is waived for the first 12 months.
- Foreign Purchase Fee: Notably, there is no fee for foreign purchases, 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.
- Minimum Interest Charge: $0.50.
Bonus Miles Terms: Eligibility and Exclusions
Keep in mind that you are not eligible for American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles if you have received a new account bonus for a CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® account in the past 48 months.
Certain transactions do not qualify as purchases for earning bonus miles, including balance transfers, cash advances, interest, fees, and similar cash-like transactions.
Purchase Categories for Double Miles: Maximizing Rewards
While the card offers double miles in specific categories, it’s important to understand the fine print. Merchant category codes (MCCs) determine if a purchase qualifies for bonus rewards. Citi does not control MCC assignments, and sometimes a merchant may be categorized differently than expected (e.g., a restaurant inside a retailer coded as “retailer”). Purchases made through mobile/wireless technology may also not always earn bonus miles depending on processing setup. It’s wise to be aware that not all purchases within the described categories might automatically qualify for double miles.
Important Disclosures and Conditions
Several other conditions and disclosures are important to consider:
Offer Availability: Geographic Restrictions
The card offer is available only to individuals residing in the United States and its territories, excluding Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Authorized Users: Employee Cards for Business Spending
You can add employees as authorized users to the account. Spending by authorized users earns miles for the primary cardholder’s AAdvantage® account. You are responsible for all charges made by authorized users, who can also access account information. Authorized users must be employees or contractors of your business.
Fraud and Account Misuse: Responsible Card Use
Citi reserves the right to take action against fraud, misuse, abuse, or suspicious activity. This can include declining applications, stopping mile accrual, closing accounts, and even legal action. Examples of misuse include applying for cards solely for bonuses without genuine business use, excessive account churning, or fraudulent purchase patterns.
AAdvantage Program Changes: Program Terms are Subject to Change
American Airlines has the right to change the AAdvantage® program terms and conditions at any time with notice, and can end the program with six months’ notice. These changes could affect the value and usability of accumulated miles.
Is the CitiBusiness Travel Card Right for Your Business?
The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers a compelling package of benefits for businesses that frequently travel with American Airlines or value AAdvantage® miles. The free checked bag, priority boarding, inflight savings, and companion certificate can translate to significant cost savings and enhanced travel experiences.
However, it’s essential to weigh the annual fee, APR, and spending habits against these benefits. If your business travel aligns with American Airlines, and you can maximize the bonus categories and travel perks, this travel card can be a valuable asset. Carefully consider your business travel patterns and spending to determine if a travel card like the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is the right choice for unlocking business travel rewards.
