In 2017, I launched my dot and miles trip when I requested my first credit card from the airline, in love with the idea that my daily expense could be translated into prize trips.
Eight years later, the CITI® / Aadvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite MasterCard® (see rates and rates) It is still a battle horse of my wallet. The same card that ever made cheaper and more pleasant fly as a budget traveler has continued to be a card that I frequently looked for as a warrior and TPG Road steering wheel with elite status.
That is thanks in your low annual fee, the impulse that gives me towards American Airlines elite status And travel savings offers me every year.
A large credit card for beginners
Ask any of us here in TPG, and you will get an opinion about what the The best credit card is for beginners.
Personally, I think a lower annual rate airline card Like this, it can be a great place to start.
In my case, the Citi aadvantage platinum select It helped me to immerse my foot to win miles from the airline in daily purchases, and obtain some travel advantages that saves effective, before feeling ready for a card that offered transfers to a broader range of partner loyalty programs.
I also obtained a welcome offer that started my sum of miles from Aadvantage that later used to fly with my wife in a handful of trips to the beginning of our era of “redemption”, especially our honeymoon in the Cayman Islands.
Read more: Starting with points, miles and credit cards to travel
Welcome Bonus
Today, the same could do the same with the current bonus for the new applicants: 80,000 miles of bonus for the new card holders who spend $ 3,500 in the first four months.
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That is one of the The best offers We have ever seen this card.
It is enough to take you to you a travel partner to Europe, unidirectional, in a premium economy. You could also write down a lie seat in American commercial classroomor book several family members on a round trip domestic flight.
But, as always, the welcome bonus is only part of the reason to request a new card.
Here is why I have kept this one in my wallet for most of the decade, even when I added a handful of additional cards (and more premium) to my wallet.
Read more: Current Welcome Offers of the Citi American Airlines card
Solid travel benefits for travelers without a state
He Citi aadvantage platinum select Card offers some elite advantages to passengers who do not fly enough to qualify for the state of Aadvantage.
FIRST FREE REVISED BAG
A higher benefit: the The first recorded bag is free For you and up to four companions flying in the same reserve in the domestic itineraries of the United States.
Taking into account that the reviewed bags begin at $ 35 by American, a round trip for two travelers would justify the annual card rate, which is $ 99 (annual introductory rate of $ 0 for the first year).
The single luggage advantage was a great money savings for my wife and for me before starting to qualify routinely to Elite state in American.
Previous shipment
With this card, you can address before That most passengers, which gives better access to the container space.
Card holders will be able to address with group 5, which places it on the plane after the first -class flyers and elite level, but ahead of the masses.
Personally, I always found that this is a good advantage to climb to the plane.
Why have I kept the card even after winning the state
Now, the two benefits that I just mentioned (bags and shipping) are excellent if it still has no status.
But there is a reason why I have stayed on the card long after becoming an elite member of Aadvantage, which comes with a better luggage and shipping benefits that this card offers.
Win aadvantage miles in daily purchases
Ultimately, the main reason why I carry an American credit card is to win Aadvantage miles about daily spending.
Unlike Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, American currently does not have a true transfer association with an important credit card issuer.
Therefore, the best way to win Aadvantage miles in its regular expenses is generally to carry one of your cards charged.
With the Citi Aadvantage Platinum Select, it will win:
- 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases of American Airlines, and in restaurants and service stations
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
To be fair, there are other cards that can earn more total rewards. For example, there are credit cards that earn up to 4 points per dollar spent on restaurants and groceries, and Capital One has cards that offer double miles in all shopping.
But, again, none of those offers a way to convert their rewards into Miles by American Aadvantage.
Win Fidelization Points by state
Another main reason why I carry this card year after year: the impulse you get towards the elite status of Aadvantage.
With each slip, you will get loyalty points that will help you upload the status scale. Specifically, card holders can accumulate 1 loyalty point for each base mile earned in eligible purchases.
This has helped me unlock the state of Aadvantage and, with it, complementary access to the additional seats of the main cabin and first -class updates, not to mention Access to the Admiros Club Before long distance flights.
For context, you need:
- 40,000 loyalty points to reach the golden state
- 75,000 for Platinum
- 125,000 for the state of Platino Pro
- 200,000 for Platinum Executive State
Combined with my extensive flying in American, this card has helped me to take advantage of my daily expense to achieve platinum status for several consecutive years, a level that comes with a lot of benefits when I am flying in American and it is Oneworld Alliance Partners.
Annual Certificate of $ 125
In addition, I am always happy (and, somehow, a little surprised) when my Annual Certificate of $ 125 He reaches the mail.
Card holders get this when they spend $ 20,000 during their anniversary year.
Other letters to consider
Very frequent American Airlines flyers looking for high -end travel advantages such as access to the living room could consider the CITI® / AADVANTAGE® Executive Executive Mastercard® Executivethat comes with access to the courtesy admire them, but has an annual rate of $ 595 stronger (see rates and rates).
There are also a lot of travel cards that the TPG team loves that offers flexible transfers to a wide range of aerial and hotel partners, which can be an excellent way to make the most of its loyalty currency depending on the trip you are looking to do. Some of our favorites include the CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED® card (see rates and rates), he Capital One Venture Rewards CED CED Credit and the American Express® Gold Card.
But, again, no emitters currently offers transfers to American.
End
As a traveler without any elite state in 2017, the Citi Aadvantage Platinum Select Card It was an excellent way to immerse yourself in the world of points and miles with aadvantage mileage profits in daily purchases and small advantages to make my trip cheaper and softer.
Today, as TPG Road Warrior, the card is my launch platform to a higher status than I could win when flying alone.
For those who consider the card, I would notice that the welcome offer of 80,000 miles (after complying with the minimum expenditure requirement) is one of the best we have seen for this card, valued at around $ 1,240, according to the last of TPG. Valuations.
Even if it is a relatively rare American passenger, the card can be a good investment only for the money it will save in the checkered bag rates.
For more information, see our Complete review of Citi Aadvantage Platinum Select.
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