New Citi AAdvantage Card Benefits
Citi and American Airlines announced today a few changes to their existing AAdvantage co-branded products. While the changes aren’t huge, it’s always nice to see things added and not taken away. Let’s take a look.
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card already comes with 2X earning on American Airlines, a free checked bag, 25% off food & beverage purchases and no foreign transaction fees, however on July 22nd the following benefits will be added:
- Earn 2X miles at restaurants and at gas stations
- Get a $100 American Airlines flight discount after spending $20,000 in purchases during the cardmembership year and after renewal of the card
$100 Flight Discount
The language on the flight discount is a bit confusing, so I’ll go over the terms.
Earn a $100 American Airlines Flight Discount (the “Flight Discount”) after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases on your Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card during your card year (each 12 month period running from the date your annual fee is billed). To receive the Flight Discount, your account must be open for one billing cycle after your annual fee is billed.
Basically, it seems like if you hit the $20K threshold during your cardmember year, the flight discount will be issued after your next annual fee is charged. Some cards give spending bonuses like this when you hit the threshold, but that doesn’t appear to be the case here.
CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Card
Similar to the personal card, the business version earns 2X miles on American Airlines purchases, receives 25% off food & beverage purchases, has no foreign transaction fees and comes with a checked bag. On July 22, 2018 the following perks will be added:
- Earn 2X miles at gas stations, on certain telecom and cable spending and car rentals
- 25 percent savings on American Airlines inflight WiFi purchases when using the card.
Analysis
The WiFi benefit on the business card is unique (although Chase/United recently added it to their personal card) and is something I could see many people taking advantage of. While I don’t value AAdvantage miles too highly personally (mostly because I have so many), the ability to earn 2X in some bonus categories is a nice addition. I wouldn’t personally spend $20K to get a $100 discount either, but to each his own.
Conclusion
In the end American and Citi added to these cards and that’s a good thing. For me the big news is the WiFi discount, although I tend to have enough Gogo codes through my Amex Platinum and U.S. Bank cards that I don’t often pay. You can find the full press release here.
What do you think about these new Citi AAdvantage Card Benefits. Let us know in the comments!
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I still value the 10% miles back on award redemptions up to 10k/yr that is on the personal card (but not the biz). This alone pays for my AF. You don’t mention it in your post, but it is still a solid benefit of the card.
Otherwise the new NF card would be an excellent downgrade option since I also hold the biz version & there is now some bonus category duplication between them with gas purchases. If they ever offer this NF card as a business card I will definitely downgrade.
Doesn’t the new united updated card offer 25% off wifi inflight as well?
You are right. They did add it to their personal card, but I believe it isn’t on their business card. I added that info to the post.
Nothing for the Citi Executive card?
Nope they just announced the changes mentioned.