Citi AAdvantage Platinum and Business Cards: Higher Annual Fees, Added Perks

Citi and American Airlines share a co-branded credit card lineup in the U.S., and changes have now been announced for the mid-tier personal and business products: the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard and the Citi AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard.

Both cards will pick up new benefits, but the annual fee will also go up. The no-annual-fee Citi AAdvantage MileUp Card remains unchanged, as do the premium Citi AAdvantage Globe Card and Citi AAdvantage Executive Card.

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card: fee rises to $150, with new perks

The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card has long carried a $99 annual fee, waived for the first year. That fee is increasing to $150, and the card is also gaining a slate of new benefits:

• 3x miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage Cars bookings
• 2x miles at gas stations, now including EV charging stations
• 2x miles on select streaming services
• 2x miles on eligible Rides and Rails purchases
• $150 American Airlines Flight Discount, up from $125, after spending $20,000 or more during the anniversary year and renewing the card
• Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years
• Up to $100 in statement credits each year for inflight purchases
• Complimentary annual Walmart+ membership, valued at $98, for primary cardmembers, including free delivery on scheduled delivery orders with a $35 minimum, gas savings, and a streaming selection
• 50% off an annual FOX One subscription
• Travel protections, including trip delay coverage, trip cancellation and interruption coverage, worldwide car rental insurance, and lost baggage protection

Those additions come on top of the card’s existing benefits, which include:

• 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
• 2x miles at restaurants
• 1x mile on all other purchases
• 1x Loyalty Point for every mile earned from purchases
• Up to $180 per year on Turo rentals, with up to $30 in statement credits per eligible trip
• 10% savings on eligible American Airlines Vacations packages
• Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights for the primary cardmember and up to four companions on the same reservation
• First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the primary cardmember and up to four companions on the same reservation
• No foreign transaction fees

Citi AAdvantage Business Card: fee rises to $150, with new perks

The Citi AAdvantage Business Card also carries a $99 annual fee, waived the first year. That fee will move to $150, and the card will gain several new benefits as well:

• 3x miles on eligible AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage Cars bookings
• 2x miles on an eligible self-select category of the cardmember’s choice, with options including U.S. shipping providers, office supply stores, and U.S. advertising services
• Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years
• Up to $100 in statement credits each year for inflight purchases
• 25% off a Melio subscription plan for managing business payments
• Travel protections, including enhanced trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage, lost or damaged luggage coverage, MasterRental coverage, and trip delay coverage

These updates come in addition to the card’s current benefits, which include:

• 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
• 2x miles at car rental merchants
• 2x miles at gas stations
• 2x miles at telecommunication merchants and cable and satellite providers
• 1x mile on all other purchases
• 1x Loyalty Point for every dollar spent on business card purchases by each cardmember, including primary and employees; primary cardmembers also earn an additional 1x Loyalty Point for every dollar spent by any authorized users on eligible business card purchases through December 31, 2028
• $99 American Airlines Companion Certificate for a qualifying single roundtrip Main Cabin domestic flight after $30,000 in purchases each card membership year and card membership renewal
• 10% savings on eligible American Airlines Vacations packages
• Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights for the primary cardmember and up to four companions on the same reservation
• First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the primary cardmember and up to four companions on the same reservation
• No foreign transaction fees

When the new Citi AAdvantage card terms take effect

The changes apply immediately for new applicants, but current cardmembers will not see them right away. Existing holders of both the personal and business cards will gain access to the new benefits starting January 24, 2027, and the new $150 annual fee will show up on the next account anniversary after that date.

My take on the Citi AAdvantage card updates

In practical terms, the two mid-range American Airlines cards are seeing a $51 annual fee increase. In exchange, the main improvements are a $100 annual inflight credit, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years, and stronger travel protections.

I’m never a fan of annual fee increases, especially when cards that once sat below the $100 mark become more expensive. Still, if a card already made sense for you, it will likely still make sense after these updates.

That said, I’m not sure the changes make either card dramatically more attractive for new cardmembers. Overall, they seem fairly balanced and reasonable, even if the fee hike is unwelcome. The increase also roughly tracks with the passage of time and inflation, given how long these fees have stayed where they were.

One unrelated thought: with so many American cards now offering inflight credits, I wish the airline would make onboard buy-on-board options easier to use by improving the food and drink selection and shortening the minimum flight length required for purchases. Using these credits can still be awkward at times.

Bottom line

American Airlines and Citi are updating their co-branded card portfolio, with the biggest changes affecting the Platinum and Business cards. Both products will move from a $99 annual fee to $150 while adding new perks such as new spending categories, a $100 annual inflight credit, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, and improved travel coverage.

On balance, I’d describe the changes as roughly a wash. I don’t like the higher fee, but I also don’t think the cards are becoming less compelling for people who already value them.