American Airlines, Citi and Mastercard Enhance AAdvantage Credit Cards With New Rewards and Travel Benefits
American Airlines, Citi and Mastercard are introducing a series of enhancements to two credit cards in the AAdvantage portfolio, offering cardmembers additional opportunities to earn airline miles, access travel benefits and receive rewards on everyday purchases. The updates apply to the Citi/ AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard and the Citi/ AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard.
The enhancements are designed to serve different customer groups, from occasional travelers seeking additional lifestyle benefits to business owners looking to earn more rewards through business-related spending. Both cards will offer new earning opportunities, expanded travel protections and additional benefits intended to provide greater value throughout the cardmembership year.The changes build on American Airlines and Citi’s recent efforts to expand their co-branded credit card portfolio. Following the introduction of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe Mastercard in 2025 and enhancements to the premium Citi® / AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard in 2026, the latest updates aim to provide cardmembers with more flexible rewards and benefits suited to their travel and spending habits.
American Airlines, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, continues to work with Citi and Mastercard to strengthen its loyalty program and expand the benefits available to AAdvantage® members.We’re continuing to evolve the Citi® / AAdvantage® portfolio to better reflect how our members live, spend and travel today,” said Scott Long, American Airlines’ senior vice president of AAdvantage®. He explained that the new benefits are intended to deliver value through rewards and experiences that fit into customers’ everyday lives and travel journeys.
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard Adds Travel and Lifestyle Benefits
The refreshed Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is primarily designed for occasional travelers who want to earn airline miles through everyday purchases while enjoying additional benefits when flying with American Airlines.The updated card introduces new mileage-earning opportunities across hotel bookings, car reservations, electric vehicle charging and selected digital entertainment services. It also increases the value of an existing flight discount and adds travel-related statement credits, subscription benefits and protections.
Expanded Opportunities to Earn AAdvantage Miles
One of the main enhancements is the introduction of additional spending categories that allow cardmembers to accumulate AAdvantage miles more quickly.Cardholders will earn three times the miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings made through the official AAdvantage Hotels website and eligible AAdvantage Cars bookings made through AAdvantage Cars. These benefits provide additional rewards opportunities for customers who arrange accommodation and car rentals through American Airlines’ designated booking platforms.The card will also offer two times the miles at gas stations, with the category expanded to include electric vehicle charging stations. This change broadens the rewards program to accommodate customers who drive electric vehicles alongside those who use conventional fuel-powered cars.
Additional earning opportunities include two times the miles on select streaming services and eligible Rides and Rails purchases. These categories enable customers to earn rewards from certain entertainment subscriptions and qualifying ground transportation expenses.Cardmembers will continue to earn two times the miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and restaurant spending, while all other eligible purchases will earn one mile per dollar spent. In addition, cardmembers will receive one Loyalty Point for every eligible AAdvantage® mile earned through purchases, helping them progress toward qualifying AAdvantage loyalty benefits.
Increased Flight Discount and New Travel Credits
The enhanced Platinum Select card will increase its American Airlines Flight Discount from $125 to $150. Eligible cardmembers can receive the discount after spending at least $20,000 on purchases during their cardmembership year and renewing the card.The card will also introduce an application fee credit of up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years. These programs help eligible travelers access expedited airport security procedures, with Global Entry also supporting expedited U.S. customs processing for eligible international arrivals.
Cardmembers will be eligible for up to $100 annually in statement credits on qualifying inflight purchases. The card will additionally provide a complimentary annual Walmart+ membership, valued at $98, for primary cardmembers. Walmart+ benefits include free delivery on qualifying scheduled orders meeting the applicable minimum purchase requirement, fuel savings and a video-streaming choice.Another addition is a 50% discount on an annual FOX One subscription. Together, these benefits extend the card’s value beyond airline travel to selected shopping, entertainment and everyday services.
Existing American Airlines Travel Benefits Continue
The Platinum Select card will retain several existing travel benefits for eligible cardmembers.The primary cardmember and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation will continue to receive preferred boarding on American Airlines flights. Eligible domestic American Airlines itineraries will also include a first checked bag free for the primary cardmember and up to four companions on the same reservation, subject to applicable terms.
Additional benefits include up to $180 annually in statement credits for eligible Turo car rental trips, with credits of up to $30 for each qualifying completed trip. Cardmembers will also continue to receive 10% savings on eligible American Airlines Vacations℠ travel packages and avoid foreign transaction fees on purchases made internationally.
The enhanced card will include travel protections such as Trip Delay Protection, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Worldwide Car Rental Insurance and Lost Baggage Protection, subject to the applicable coverage terms and conditions.These features are intended to support travelers before, during and after their journeys, while providing opportunities to earn miles through routine spending.
Citi / AAdvantage Business Mastercard Expands Business Rewards
The Citi / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard is also receiving enhancements, with a focus on business owners who want to earn airline miles from operating expenses and receive additional benefits when traveling.The updated card will provide more ways to earn AAdvantage miles on eligible hotel and car bookings, as well as selected business expenses. It will also introduce additional travel credits, subscription savings and enhanced travel protections.
More Rewards for Business Spending
Business cardmembers will earn three times the AAdvantage miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings made through the designated website and eligible AAdvantage Cars bookings.A new self-select earning category will allow eligible cardmembers to earn two times the miles in one chosen category from three options: U.S. shipping providers, office supply stores or U.S. advertising services.
This flexibility enables businesses to select a category that better reflects their spending patterns. For example, companies that regularly ship products may benefit from choosing shipping providers, while businesses with significant advertising or office supply expenses can select the corresponding category.
The business card will retain two times the miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, car rental merchants, gas stations, and eligible telecommunications, cable and satellite provider purchases. All other eligible purchases will continue to earn one mile per dollar spent.
The card also includes Loyalty Point earning opportunities tied to business spending. Each cardmember, including the primary cardmember and employees, will earn one Loyalty Point for every dollar spent on eligible business card purchases. In addition, primary cardmembers will earn one additional Loyalty Point for every dollar spent by authorized users on eligible business card purchases through Dec. 31, 2028, subject to the program’s terms.These features allow business owners to connect everyday operating expenses with their AAdvantage® loyalty activity.
New Travel Benefits and Business Services
The enhanced business card will offer an application fee credit of up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years. Cardmembers will also be eligible for up to $100 annually in statement credits on qualifying inflight purchases.For businesses managing payments and administrative expenses, the card will provide a 25% discount on a Melio subscription plan. Melio offers business payment management services, making the discount an additional benefit for eligible businesses seeking tools to manage payment workflows.
Travel protections will include enhanced Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption coverage, Lost or Damaged Luggage protection, MasterRental car rental coverage and Trip Delay protection. Coverage, eligibility and benefit limits will be governed by the applicable terms and conditions.
The business card will continue to provide preferred boarding for the primary cardmember and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation, along with a first checked bag free on eligible domestic American Airlines itineraries for the primary cardmember and up to four companions.Other existing benefits include 10% savings on eligible American Airlines Vacations℠ travel packages and no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
Companion Certificate for Qualifying Business Cardmembers
The business card will retain its $99 American Airlines Companion Certificate benefit. Eligible cardmembers can receive the certificate for a qualifying single round-trip Main Cabin domestic flight after spending $30,000 on purchases during each cardmembership year and renewing their card.
This benefit can provide additional value to qualifying business owners who travel domestically and meet the required annual spending and renewal conditions. The certificate remains subject to applicable eligibility requirements, restrictions and terms.
American Airlines, Citi and Mastercard Emphasize Customer Value
The three companies say the enhancements reflect their continuing effort to make the AAdvantage® card portfolio more useful for customers with different travel frequencies and spending needs.John LaCosta, Citi’s head of partnership cards and development for U.S. Consumer Cards, said the partnership continues to evolve to serve different types of travelers. He highlighted the expanded rewards categories and benefits that extend beyond travel as ways to provide customers with more value from their cards.Mastercard also emphasized the role of travel-related benefits, consumer services and protections in the updated offerings.
Kiki Del Valle, Mastercard’s executive vice president of U.S. Market Development, said the collaboration aims to combine travel benefits, consumer advantages, added protections and experiences that help cardmembers get more from their journeys.The expanded benefits across the two cards reflect a broader approach to airline loyalty programs, in which rewards are linked not only to flights but also to hotel reservations, car rentals, transportation, business expenses and everyday purchases.
Effective Date and Annual Fees
The new and enhanced benefits will become available to existing Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard and Citi / AAdvantage Business™ Mastercard® cardmembers beginning Jan. 24, 2027.Both cards will carry an annual fee of $150 under the announced changes. Cardmembers should review the applicable benefit terms, spending thresholds, eligibility rules and coverage limitations to understand how the updates apply to their accounts.
With the changes, American Airlines, Citi and Mastercard are expanding the rewards and travel benefits available through two established co-branded credit cards. The Platinum Select card’s expanded lifestyle and travel features are aimed at occasional travelers, while the Business card’s flexible spending category and business-related benefits are designed to serve business owners.The enhancements reinforce the role of the AAdvantage® credit card portfolio in connecting everyday spending with airline rewards, while offering additional services and protections for eligible cardmembers beginning in January 2027.
About American Airlines Group
American Airlines is a premium global airline connecting more of the U.S. to the world. With roots tracing back to an air mail carrier in the Midwestern United States in 1926, American now operates more than 6,000 daily flights to more than 350 destinations in more than 60 countries and serves more than 200 million customers annually. Powered by a proud and talented team of 130,000 aviation professionals, American’s team lives out the airline’s purpose of caring for people on life’s journey every day.
The world’s largest airline proudly celebrates its centennial year in 2026, reaching a milestone that reflects a century of innovation and the Forever Forward℠ spirit that changed the industry and the world. American introduced the first scheduled air cargo service, the first airport lounge and the first airline loyalty program and continues to reinvent the customer experience today. The airline is also a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members serve more than 900 destinations around the globe.