If you’re someone who flies often or values travel perks, the AAdvantage Executive Credit Card could be a smart choice for you. I’ve had the opportunity to use this card myself, and in this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about it. I’ll share its key features, costs, benefits, and provide a clear comparison with other similar cards. This should give you a solid understanding of how the AAdvantage Executive Credit Card works and whether it’s the right option for you.
Table of Contents
What is the AAdvantage Executive Credit Card?
The AAdvantage Executive Credit Card is a premium travel rewards card offered by Citi in partnership with American Airlines. It’s designed for frequent flyers, especially those who are loyal to American Airlines and the OneWorld alliance. The card provides an array of benefits including travel perks, points accumulation, and additional services that are geared towards making your flying experience more comfortable.
Key Features of the AAdvantage Executive Credit Card
The card’s primary features revolve around travel benefits, earning points, and status elevation within the American Airlines frequent flyer program, AAdvantage. Here are the main features that stood out to me:
- Sign-up Bonus: When I signed up for the AAdvantage Executive Credit Card, I received a generous sign-up bonus. It’s common for premium cards to offer a large initial bonus after meeting a certain spending threshold. In this case, you earn up to 75,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months. This can go a long way when it comes to booking flights with American Airlines or its partner airlines.
- Annual Fee: There’s an annual fee of $450 for this card. While this is on the higher end, the benefits and travel perks it offers can justify this cost, especially if you travel frequently.
- Earn AAdvantage Miles: The card offers a straightforward way to earn miles. You earn:
- 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. These rates can add up quickly, especially when using the card for frequent flights or business expenses.
- Free Checked Bags: One of the most useful perks I found was the free checked bag benefit. For you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation, American Airlines waives the fee for the first checked bag. If you travel with family or friends, this can save you a lot over time.
- Admirals Club Access: As a cardholder, I received complimentary access to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges. This perk allows you to relax in comfortable, quiet spaces at airports, enjoy snacks and drinks, and access premium amenities before boarding. If you travel internationally or frequently, this is a massive benefit.
- Priority Boarding: The card provides priority boarding on American Airlines flights, which means you get to board earlier, get settled in faster, and often have more space in overhead bins.
- Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs): The AAdvantage Executive Credit Card also helps you earn more EQMs, which are needed to maintain or elevate your status with American Airlines. When I used this card, I earned 10,000 bonus EQMs after spending $40,000 in a calendar year, which helped me achieve elite status faster.
Comparison with Other Travel Cards
To get a better sense of how the AAdvantage Executive Credit Card stands out, let’s compare it to a few other popular travel cards on the market. Below is a comparison of the AAdvantage Executive Credit Card and two other premium travel cards: the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Platinum Card from American Express.
| Feature | AAdvantage Executive Credit Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Platinum Card from American Express |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $450 | $550 | $695 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 75,000 AAdvantage miles | 60,000 points | 100,000 Membership Rewards points |
| Rewards on Travel Purchases | 2x miles on American Airlines | 3x points on travel | 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines |
| Lounge Access | Admirals Club lounges | Priority Pass and more | Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, and more |
| Free Checked Bag | Yes, for you and 8 companions | No | No |
| Travel Credit | No | $300 annual travel credit | $200 annual airline fee credit |
| Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit | Yes | Yes | Yes |
As you can see, each card has its strengths. The AAdvantage Executive Credit Card is ideal if you’re loyal to American Airlines and its partners. You can earn bonus miles, enjoy free checked bags, and access exclusive lounges. On the other hand, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Platinum Card provide broader travel benefits across airlines and services, but they come with higher fees and different rewards structures.
Is the AAdvantage Executive Credit Card Worth It?
I think the AAdvantage Executive Credit Card is definitely worth it if you travel often with American Airlines or its partner airlines. The benefits like Admirals Club access, free checked bags, and the ability to earn AAdvantage miles are valuable if you’re someone who wants to make the most of their travel experiences.
However, if you don’t fly with American Airlines regularly, or if you value flexibility in your rewards, you may find other cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Platinum Card from American Express to be better suited to your needs. These cards offer more general travel rewards and are accepted across a wider range of airlines and services.
Maximizing Your AAdvantage Miles
The AAdvantage miles you earn with the Executive Credit Card can be used for a variety of travel rewards. You can redeem miles for flights, seat upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, and more. Here’s a breakdown of how I used my miles:
- Flights: I used my miles to book flights with American Airlines and its OneWorld partners. For instance, a round-trip flight from New York to London can cost anywhere from 50,000 to 70,000 AAdvantage miles, depending on availability and the time of booking.
- Upgrades: You can use AAdvantage miles to upgrade to a higher class of service, such as from economy to business or first class. Depending on the route and availability, this can provide substantial value.
- Hotel Stays: You can transfer AAdvantage miles to various hotel loyalty programs, though I personally prefer using them for flights as I find the value per mile is often higher.
Examples with Calculations
Let’s say you’re planning a trip from New York to Los Angeles, and you’ve earned 30,000 AAdvantage miles from your spending on the card. A round-trip flight might cost 25,000 AAdvantage miles, which means you can book your flight using your miles and have some left over for future travel.
Now, let’s add in the value of the free checked bag perk. A checked bag on American Airlines costs $30 per bag each way. For a round-trip flight, that’s $60 in savings. If you’re traveling with family or friends, you can save even more.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Flight Cost: 25,000 miles
- Checked Bag Savings: $60
- Annual Fee: $450
- Total Value: You’re getting significant value, especially if you travel often, considering both the points and travel savings.
Conclusion
After using the AAdvantage Executive Credit Card for some time, I can confidently say it’s a great option for those who frequently fly with American Airlines. The perks like free checked bags, lounge access, and the ability to earn AAdvantage miles are valuable. However, if you don’t fly often or prefer a card with broader travel benefits, there are other options available that may be more suited to your needs.
I recommend this card if you are a loyal American Airlines customer or if you want to elevate your travel experience with perks and rewards. The AAdvantage Executive Credit Card can offer you excellent value, particularly when combined with the benefits of the American Airlines frequent flyer program.
