American's card site lists four consumer AAdvantage cards from Citi, with annual fees from $0 to $695: the MileUp, the Platinum Select, the Globe and the Executive. The earning rates get the attention, but the perks decide which card is worth its fee: free checked bags, boarding, Admirals Club access, a Companion Certificate and credits.
Every fee, offer, earning rate and benefit below comes from American's card pages and the Executive card's benefit terms, all read on September 29, 2026.
The Four Cards at a Glance
- AAdvantage MileUp: no annual fee
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select: $0 introductory annual fee the first year, then $99
- Citi / AAdvantage Globe: $350 annual fee
- Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Legend: $695 annual fee
American's card site also lists a business card, which this guide leaves aside.
What They Share, and Where They Differ
Loyalty Points from card spending. Each card page says you earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases, which counts toward AAdvantage status.
25% off inflight food and beverages on the MileUp and Platinum Select. The Globe and Executive instead give up to $100 a year in inflight credits, covered below.
Foreign transaction fees are not universal. The Platinum Select, Globe and Executive list no foreign transaction fees; the MileUp's pricing terms list a fee of 3% of each transaction.
AAdvantage MileUp ($0)
- Offer: a $100 statement credit plus 15,000 bonus miles after $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Earning: 2X at grocery stores, including grocery delivery, and on eligible American purchases; 1X on everything else
- Benefits: 25% off inflight food and beverages, and authorized users at no extra charge
The MileUp is the no-fee way to keep earning AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points. It has no checked-bag or boarding benefit listed.
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select ($0 the First Year, Then $99)
- Offer: 80,000 bonus miles after $3,500 in purchases in the first 4 months
- Earning: 2X at restaurants, at gas stations and on eligible American purchases; 1X on everything else
- Bags: first checked bag free on domestic American itineraries for you and up to four companions on the same reservation
- Other: preferred boarding, 25% off inflight food and beverages, a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after $20,000 in purchases in a cardmembership year and renewal, up to $30 back per eligible Turo trip (up to $180 a year), no foreign transaction fees
This is the card for the traveler who checks bags on a few domestic American trips a year and wants to board earlier.
Citi / AAdvantage Globe ($350)
- Offer: 60,000 bonus miles after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Earning: 6X on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings, 3X on eligible American purchases, 2X at restaurants and on Rides and Rails (taxis, rideshares and public transit)
- Lounges: four Admirals Club Globe Passes every calendar year, for access to nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges
- Companion Certificate: starting in your second cardmembership year, as long as you renew, on a qualifying round-trip Main Cabin domestic flight; you pay $99 for the ticketing fee plus taxes and fees
- Bags and boarding: first checked bag free on domestic American itineraries, and preferred boarding, for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation
- Credits: up to $100 a year on inflight purchases; up to $100 a year Splurge Credit on up to two of 1stDibs, eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings, Future Personal Training and Live Nation; up to $30 per eligible Turo trip (up to $240 a year); up to $120 every 4 years for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Status: a Flight Streak bonus of 5,000 Loyalty Points after every four qualifying American flights, up to 15,000 additional Loyalty Points each status qualification year
- Other: travel protections including trip cancellation and interruption, trip delay and car rental coverage; no foreign transaction fees
The Globe is the middle option: some lounge access, a Companion Certificate from the second year and a bag benefit that covers a bigger group. Our Citi AAdvantage Globe review goes deeper.
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Legend ($695)
- Offer: 125,000 bonus miles after $15,000 in purchases in the first 5 months
- Earning: 12X on eligible AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage Cars bookings, 4X on eligible American purchases (5X for the rest of the year after $150,000 in purchases in a calendar year), 1X on everything else
- Admirals Club membership: unlimited visits to more than 100 Admirals Club lounges and partner lounges worldwide for primary cardmembers and up to 2 guests or immediate family members
- Bags and boarding: first checked bag free on domestic American itineraries, plus priority check-in, screening (where available) and boarding, for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation
- Status: a 10,000 Loyalty Point bonus after reaching 50,000, 90,000, 165,000 and 240,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year
- Credits: up to $100 a year on inflight and eligible Admirals Club purchases; up to $500 a year on American Airlines Vacations ($250 in each half of the year); up to $120 a year on prepaid Avis and Budget rentals; a $15 Lyft credit after 3 eligible rides in a calendar month, up to $180 a year; up to $120 every 4 years for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Other: Avis President's Club status through August 31, 2028, an Omni Free Night Award once per calendar year after a qualifying stay, and no foreign transaction fees
Authorized users cost $175 each for up to 3, and $175 for each one after that. Our guide to the Executive card's statement credits covers how each credit works, and our Admirals Club access comparison covers the lounge side.
How the Perks Compare
Free first checked bag: Platinum Select (you and up to four companions), Globe and Executive (you and up to eight). The MileUp has none listed.
Boarding: preferred boarding on the Platinum Select and Globe; priority check-in, screening and boarding on the Executive.
Admirals Club: four Globe Passes a year on the Globe; a full membership with up to 2 guests or immediate family on the Executive.
Companion Certificate: the Globe, from the second cardmembership year.
Inflight: 25% off on the MileUp and Platinum Select; up to $100 a year in credits on the Globe and Executive.
Which Card Fits How You Fly
You fly American once or twice a year. The MileUp, if you want to keep earning without a fee. Watch the foreign transaction fee if you travel abroad.
You fly American domestically a few times a year and check bags. The Platinum Select. The first year costs nothing, and the bag benefit covers you and up to four companions.
You fly American often, want some lounge access and travel with a companion. The Globe. Four Globe Passes a year, the Companion Certificate from year two and the Flight Streak bonus for status.
You'd otherwise pay for an Admirals Club membership. The Executive. It's the only one with a full membership, and it adds priority check-in, screening and boarding and the Loyalty Point bonuses for status.
Pick for the trips you take now, not the ones you hope to take. You can always look again when your travel changes.
Updated September 29, 2026: Rewritten from American's current card pages and the Executive card's benefit terms. Corrected the Lyft credit ($15 after 3 rides a month, up to $180 a year), the Globe's earning (3X on American purchases) and benefits, the Flight Streak bonus (a Globe benefit), the foreign transaction fee on the MileUp, the fees and welcome offers, and the Executive's credits; removed the Aviator Red details and estimated values that no source states.
