Citi is raising the annual fee on two American Airlines cards from $99 to $150, and adding benefits to match. In a release dated October 27, 2026, American Airlines, Citi and Mastercard said the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select and the Citi AAdvantage Business cards move to a $150 fee beginning January 24, 2027, the same day existing cardmembers get the new benefits.
If you hold either card, the question is whether it earns a spot at the higher price. Below: what's new on each card, what stays, and how I'd weigh the higher fee.
What Changes on January 24, 2027
Citi's footnotes list the annual fee on both cards as $99 as of October 27, 2026 and $150 as of January 24, 2027. They also say the fee is waived for the first 12 months after you open the account. Existing cardmembers get the new and enhanced benefits starting January 24.
What the Platinum Select Adds
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select is the occasional-traveler card. Citi lists these new or enhanced benefits:
- 3X AAdvantage miles on eligible bookings made on aadvantagehotels.com and aadvantagecars.com.
- 2X miles at gas stations, now including EV charging stations.
- 2X miles on select streaming services.
- 2X miles on eligible Rides and Rails purchases.
- A $150 American Airlines Flight Discount, up from $125, after you spend $20,000 or more in a cardmembership year and renew the card.
- Up to $120 toward a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years.
- Up to $100 a year back in statement credits on inflight purchases.
- A complimentary annual Walmart+ membership for the primary cardmember, which Citi values at $98, and 50% off an annual FOX One subscription.
The earning you have today stays: 2X on eligible American Airlines purchases and at restaurants, and 1X on everything else. So do the free first checked bag on domestic American itineraries for you and up to four companions, preferred boarding, up to $180 a year in Turo credits and 10% off American Airlines Vacations packages. Our Platinum Select review covers how those pieces fit together.
What the Business Card Adds
The Citi AAdvantage Business card gets 3X on the same AAdvantage Hotels and Cars bookings, plus 2X on one Self-Select category you choose: U.S. shipping providers, office supply stores or U.S. advertising services. It also gains the same up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years and up to $100 a year back on inflight purchases, along with 25% off a Melio subscription for managing business payments.
The existing 2X categories stay: American Airlines, car rental merchants, gas stations, and telecommunications, cable and satellite providers. So does the $99 Companion Certificate on a qualifying domestic round trip, which still needs $30,000 in purchases each cardmembership year and renewal. Citi also says each cardmember earns 1 Loyalty Point per $1, and primary cardmembers earn an extra Loyalty Point per $1 on authorized users' purchases through December 31, 2028. Our guide to Business card Loyalty Points explains how employee cards earn status, and our card page and Citi's own card page have the terms in force today.
Weighing the $150 Fee
One new credit can cover the move from $99 to $150 on its own, if you'd really use it. The up to $100 a year back on inflight purchases does it if you buy enough onboard. On the Platinum Select, the Walmart+ membership Citi values at $98 does it too, if you'd pay for Walmart+ anyway. The Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit is up to $120 every four years, so count it only in a year you'd apply, and don't count it at all if another card already pays for it.
If you chase the flight discount, the $150 version needs $20,000 or more in purchases in a cardmembership year and a renewal. Count it only if you're already putting that much on the card, since it isn't worth chasing on its own.
What to Do Before January 24
Check which of the new credits you'd use in a year, and total only those against the move from $99 to $150. If that total covers it, the card keeps earning its spot. If you'd use none of them, decide whether $150 a year for the airline perks you already have is worth it before your next annual fee posts. Citi says benefits are subject to terms, conditions and limitations, and it points cardholders to its Platinum Select and Business refresh pages for the details.
