Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®

If you fly American Airlines often and want a business card that rewards you for travel-based purchases, this card offers competitive rates and an annual fee ($99 after the free promo period.) With a generous intro bonus, it’s worth trying for at least the first year to rack up miles… Continue

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Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®
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Great option for American Airlines travelers

Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®
Intro APR N/A
Annual Fee $99, waived for first 12 months

Rates and Fees

Terms, Rates & Fees

Intro APR N/A
Purchase APR 20.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee $99, waived for first 12 months
Welcome Offer Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage®bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
Rewards Rate 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.

Details

  • Designed for businesses.
  • Earn 65,000 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.

Nav's Verdict

Bottom Line American Airlines flyers earn travel perks and build business credit.

If you fly American Airlines often and want a business card that rewards you for travel-based purchases, this card offers competitive rates and an annual fee ($99 after the free promo period.) With a generous intro bonus, it’s worth trying for at least the first year to rack up miles and get some free flights.

Pros and Cons

Perks include:

  • Annual Fee of $99, waived for first 12 months
  • 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.
  • Get one free checked bag per domestic flight
  • Save 25% on in-flight Wi-Fi fees
  • Get preferred boarding status on tickets purchased with your card
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees
  • Made for businesses

Cons include:

  • Low earnings on most spending categories
  • Average annual APR
  • No intro APR

Summary

If you’re loyal to American Airlines and book several domestic flights per year, you can more than earn back the annual fee for this card ($99 annually) in waived checked luggage fees. 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.No foreign transaction fees sweeten the deal.

Full Review

Most all of the airline-branded business cards on the market charge annual fees these days, but the waiver offered the first year for new cardholders gives you a no-risk chance to try this card out, and see if it’s worth the ongoing $99 fee. In comparison to other cards, however, this fee is rather modest; other airline cards have toyed around with fees ranging from $125 – 250 or more for similar perks.

The card’s generous sign-on offer is where it really shines. The possibility of earning up to substantial AAdvantage miles is an attractive one, and it’s easy for most businesses to charge up the required amounts needed to snag these promo miles. If you commit to putting a good chunk of business travel expenditures on this card, you can see how these points can accumulate quickly for free and discounted future flights.

As far as earning rewards outside of the promo program, this card’s benefits are somewhat lackluster. A modest miles back rate on eligible American Airlines purchases, telecommunications/cable/satellite providers, car rentals, and fuel purchases is a bit less than competing, non-airline business cards. The 1 mile earned for everything else is underwhelming, as well. However, the card makes up for savings opportunities with the free checked bag per flight, and the upgraded seating is a solid perk for those who travel often.

How to Redeem your Rewards

You’ll receive an update to your miles balance through your linked AAdvantage loyalty account. Look for the total number of points earned on your credit card statement, then verify that this has been credited by logging into your AAdvantage online account.

It may take a few weeks for the loyalty account to sync up with your newly-earned points. You shouldn’t have to do anything extra to get your miles, however. It’s a fully-automated process, and your points are available to spend as soon as you see them in your AAdvantage dashboard. To ensure that you’re credited promptly for purchases made during the promo period, be sure to include your AAdvantage number in your credit card application.

Is the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® Right for You?

Like most airline-branded cards, these accounts are best for those who are loyal to one airline and plan on traveling on more than a few flights per year. For everyone else, taking advantage of sign-on bonus earning opportunities is the most effective way to use this card. Citi gives you a full year to see if you like it before charging that annual fee. You can hardly go wrong with at least giving it a try.

Other Options

If you aren’t loyal to one airline for most of your travel or like to accumulate more rewards in categories other than travel, you may want to consider one of these other Citi branded business credit cards. Additionally, if you’re a business owner who frequently shops at Costco, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi could be a better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Citi AAdvantage business card 75000 offer?

The Citi® AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® (not this card) had offered 75,000 miles for spending $7,500 in 4 months under a now-expired offer. Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage®bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. under the current welcome offer. 

How can I pay my Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®?

Payments need to be made directly to Citi and can be done using their online payment portal, by mail, or by calling 1-855-378-6468.

How long does it take to fill out the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® application?

If you have all your personal info handy, such as your name, social security number, business DBA, Tax ID number, and personal annual income, you can usually fill the form out in five minutes or less. Approvals may be instant, or you may receive a decision within 7-10 business days.  

How many times can I sign up for this bonus offer?

You may be ineligible to open a new account if you already have a Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® card. Also, Citi states that you will not receive the bonus miles if you have opened or closed a CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® card in the past 24 months.

Where can I see anotherCiti® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® review?

Since this card has been around for years and is a popular choice for those who travel and use American Airlines, many cardholders have given their thoughts on what it’s like to apply for and use this card. To see a full list of user experiences, see the “user reviews” section below.

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Linsey Knerl is a Midwest-based author, public speaker and member of the ASJA. She has a passion for helping consumers and small business owners do more with their resources through awareness of the latest financial and tech services.