SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED
This page includes information about the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information about the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.Our Take
4.6
NerdWallet rating
The bottom line:
If your business has you flying American Airlines on the regular, this Citi business credit card ought to be in your wallet. The checked-bag perk alone can easily pay for the annual fee. If you spread your airline business around, though, look to a general travel card.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Regular APR
21.24%-29.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
More details from Citibank
- Designed for businesses
- Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries to reduce travel costs and boost your bottom line.
- 25% savings on American Airlines inflight Wi-Fi when you use your card
- Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations
- Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on other purchases
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free checked bag
- Early boarding
- Bonus categories
- Companion benefit
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
Compare to Other Cards
at Chase | at American Express | at American Express |
Annual fee $95 | Annual fee $375 | Annual fee $0 |
Regular APR 20.24%-26.24% Variable APR | Regular APR 18.49%-29.24% Variable APR | Regular APR 17.49%-27.49% Variable APR |
Intro APR N/A | Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months from the date of account opening | Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening |
Recommended credit score 690-850good - excellent | Recommended credit score 690-850good - excellent | Recommended credit score 690-850good - excellent |
Full Review
If your business has you flying American Airlines regularly, the
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
is almost a must-have — especially if you're checking bags. The card boasts a competitive sign-up bonus, high travel rewards and a slew of AA-specific perks. Plus, it gives extra rewards on several categories of common business purchases.Among business credit cards from major airlines with similar annual fees, this card rates highly. Its main competition, however, will be general travel cards, which offer more flexibility for earning and spending rewards outside of American Airlines.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Basics
Card type: Small business and airline.
Annual fee:
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
. (The fee is deductible as a business expense.)Rewards:
- 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
- 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and gas stations.
- 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar on all other purchases.
NerdWallet values American miles at
1.6 cents
each. This is drawn from real-world data on hundreds of economy routes, so it's not a maximized value. In other words, you should aim for award redemptions that offer 1.6 cents
or more in value from your American miles.Sign-up bonus:
Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
Interest rate:
The ongoing APR is 21.24%-29.99% Variable APR
.Foreign transaction fees: None.
Noteworthy perks:
- First checked bag free for you and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation.
- Preferred boarding.
- 25% savings on in-flight purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi service.
- American Airlines Companion Certificate each year you spend $30,000 or more.
Why you might want the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Free checked bags
American Airlines charges $30 on domestic flights for a first checked bag each way. So the savings on just two round trips (or one with a colleague) cover this card's annual fee of
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
.Preferred boarding
The
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
allows you to board the plane earlier in the process. That gives you time to settle in before takeoff and almost guarantees you overhead bin space for your carry-on.Companion certificate
Every year you spend $30,000 on this Citi business credit card, you’ll receive a $99 companion certificate. This means you can take someone with you on a domestic economy trip for $99 plus applicable taxes and fees (as of November 2021, taxes and fees were $21.60 to $43.20, depending on itinerary, according to American's website). Keep in mind that you need to renew your card membership — and pay the annual fee — to take advantage of this perk.
2X miles and a great bonus
Aside from earning bonus miles on purchases from American Airlines, the
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
also earns 2 miles per dollar on several common business expenses, including telecommunications, gas and rental cars (terms apply). Plus, this Citi business credit card starts you off right with a meaty sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
Why you might want a different card
Locked into the AAdvantage program
As an airline-branded credit card, the
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
limits how you can redeem miles. If you fly American often, it's no problem. But if you want the flexibility of redeeming rewards for flights on any airline, or for other travel expenses, consider a general-purpose business travel card.The
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
is a great option. It earns 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent each year on travel and select business categories, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Points are worth more when redeemed for travel through Chase. The sign-up bonus is potentially huge if you can spend enough to earn it: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The annual fee is $95
.Bonus categories might not be useful
For many small businesses, the bulk of spending won’t fall under the bonus categories of telecommunications, gas and rental cars. That's when a card with flat-rate rewards could be much more valuable.
Consider the
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
, for example. It earns an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all purchases. Miles can be redeemed for statement credit against any travel purchase. Book however you want, then use miles to pay for it, with no blackout dates or restrictions. There's a great sign-up bonus, too: Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
The annual fee is $0 intro for the first year, then $95
.No lounge access
The
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
doesn't get you into American Airlines Admirals Club airport lounges. If you're in airports often, lounge access can be a nerve-soother. The airline's premium card, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
, includes Admirals Club access for you and up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you. It comes at a cost, however. The annual fee is $595
. It isn’t specifically a business credit card, but it’s the best choice for getting into American Airlines lounges.How it compares to other Citi business credit cards
The
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
is one of two Citi credit cards designed for small businesses. This card is a great fit for business owners who like Mastercard and frequently fly American Airlines.If you want to stick with the Citi family of cards, prefer simple cash-back rewards and are a frequent Costco shopper, consider the Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card by Citi. This card earns 4% per dollar spent on eligible gas purchases, 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com, and 1% on all other purchases. This Citi business credit card has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
The card does come with a few limitations: You will need to have a Costco membership in order to apply for this card, and your cash back will come in the form of an annual credit card reward certificate after your February billing statement closes. You’ll need to go to a Costco warehouse within the U.S. and Puerto Rico to redeem your certificate for cash or merchandise.
Is the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® right for you?
American Airlines loyalists will easily squeeze enough value from the
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
to justify its annual fee. The main question is whether you’re OK being locked into the American Airlines rewards system, which has unique perks, as opposed to earning flexible rewards with a general travel card.
