Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Review: 50,000 Bonus Miles

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is the co-branded American Airlines card from Citi. Here are the updated card highlights:

• 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
• First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 4 travel companions on the same reservation – savings of up to $300 per round trip
• Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations*
• Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at restaurants*
• Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases*
• Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage(R) mile earned from purchases.
• Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your cardmembership year and renew your card.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees*
• Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights*
• Receive 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights*
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99*

Bonus details. Note the following language for the personal card, which has been changed from 24 to 48 months. Having the business version is okay.

American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® account in the past 48 months.

To clarify, you can have one of both the consumer version of this card and the CitiBusiness® version designed for businesses under your name. The bonuses are also separate.

Baggage fee value. Currently, American Airlines recently joined the other airlines and now charges $30 one-way for the first checked bag and $40 one-way for the second checked bag in Economy. That’s $60 roundtrip for a single checked bag, per person. With this card, your first checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation. $60 roundtrip x 5 people = $300 benefit.

Bottom line.  The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has a nice bonus offer. As with most of these co-branded cards, a lot of the ongoing value comes when you fly on American and utilize the free first checked bag benefit for you and up to 4 companions (value of $60 per person, round-trip).

Also see: Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.