Complimentary Admirals Membership membership: Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard assessment
Editor’s be aware: This submit has been up to date with new info. Citi is a TPG promoting associate.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® overview
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® is greatest for American Airways flyers who worth lounge entry. It supplies a full Admirals Membership membership, in addition to various different advantages that make flying American Airways extra fulfilling, comparable to a free checked bag, precedence check-in, precedence airport screening and precedence boarding privileges, together with a lift towards elite standing. Card Score*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card Score is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Whereas there are a selection of bank cards that provide airport lounge entry, the kinds of lounges every card will get you into can differ significantly. There’s just one cobranded bank card that features complimentary entry to the American Airways Admirals Membership lounges: the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard.
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The cardboard has a $450 annual price, which could appear steep, however remains to be a lot inexpensive than a membership.
At this time, we’ll assessment all the advantages of this American Airways cobranded card that will help you determine whether or not you must take into account carrying it in your pockets.
Who is that this card for?
The Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard is good for individuals who fly American Airways sufficient that they want they’d elite standing however don’t fairly fly sufficient to earn it. The perks the cardboard presents are so much like having elite standing — however with out the first-class upgrades. And in the event you do need elite standing, the cardboard presents a chance to fast-track it.
Signal-up bonus
The Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard is at present providing a wholesome sign-up bonus of 80,000 miles after you make $5,500 in purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. This bonus is price $1,416 based mostly on TPG’s most up-to-date valuations.
You may additionally earn 4 miles per greenback on eligible American Airways purchases by way of Dec. 31, 2022 (2 miles per greenback after that).
The cardboard carries a $450 annual price and there are not any international transaction charges.
Major advantages and perks
What units this card other than the competitors is that it supplies complimentary Admirals Membership entry. The first cardholder receives a full Admirals Membership membership, which permits you and your rapid household or two touring companions entry to the membership when you’ve a same-day boarding go for American or considered one of its companions. Your bank card will likely be tied to your AAdvantage account quantity, so that you don’t even have to hold it with you to get membership entry.
Admirals Membership membership ordinarily prices between $550 and $650, relying in your standing degree with American. Meaning the annual price with out all the opposite advantages covers the lounge entry — but it surely will get even higher.
You possibly can add as much as 10 approved customers to your account for no further price. Every approved person receives Admirals Membership entry for themselves and as much as two touring companions. Simply remember that approved customers solely get Admirals Membership entry, versus a full Admirals Membership membership.
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Listed here are another worthwhile perks the cardboard presents:
- Enhanced airport expertise — You and as much as eight vacationers on the identical reservation will get precedence check-in (the place obtainable), precedence airport screening (the place obtainable) and precedence boarding privileges. You possibly can even examine in at any business-class check-in place (or first-class check-in when enterprise class shouldn’t be obtainable), whatever the class of service by which you’re touring.
- First checked bag free on home itineraries — On home itineraries flown by American or any regional subsidiary, the primary checked bag for you and as much as eight touring companions on the identical reservation is free. The flight have to be marketed, bought and operated by American to be able to get the free checked bag.
- 25% off eligible inflight purchases — This basically means 25% off inflight meals and drinks once you pay for them with the cardboard (not together with inflight Wi-Fi).
- International Entry/TSA PreCheck price assertion credit score — Get an up-to-$100 assertion credit score when paying the International Entry price ($100) with the cardboard or when enrolling in TSA PreCheck ($85). You’ll obtain the credit score as soon as each 5 years. Since you additionally obtain TSA PreCheck when enrolling for International Entry, there’s no actual motive you must ever simply enroll in PreCheck.
The right way to earn factors
With the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard, you will earn 4 miles per greenback on eligible American Airways purchases by way of Dec. 31, 2022 and a couple of miles per greenback after that, plus 1 mile per greenback on all different spending.
That is a pleasant bump from this card’s regular fee, however maybe not as worthwhile as AA’s Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard®, which additionally earns 2 miles per greenback at eating places and gasoline stations.
The right way to redeem factors
The bottom round-trip tickets within the U.S. begin at 7,500 miles one-way for flights lower than 500 miles lengthy. In different phrases, the sign-up bonus is sufficient for as many as six one-way economic system flights.
Net specials beforehand provided embrace home cross-country flights for 5,000 miles every manner in economic system or 15,000 miles every manner in first-class, flights to Europe from 9,000 miles every manner and flights to Brazil from 15,000 miles every manner. Alternatively, you possibly can get a ton of worth redeeming your AAdvantage miles for premium-cabin awards on associate airways together with Cathay Pacific, Etihad and Finnair.
Associated: The right way to redeem miles with the American Airways AAdvantage program
Which playing cards compete with the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard?
American shouldn’t be a switch associate of any of the foremost factors applications besides Bilt Rewards, so the largest rivals of this card are different cobranded American Airways playing cards — and there are so much to select from. The entire different playing cards have decrease annual charges and most nonetheless include perks like free checked luggage, precedence boarding, 25% inflight financial savings and a couple of miles per greenback on eligible American Airways purchases.
These playing cards embrace the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Choose World Elite Mastercard and the Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Purple World Elite Mastercard. What these playing cards don’t supply, nonetheless, is Admirals Membership entry, so that you’ll must determine whether or not that profit is definitely worth the considerably bigger annual price for you.
The knowledge for the AAdvantage Aviator Purple card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
For those who’re not an avid AA flyer who values Admirals Membership entry and are merely seeking to earn a number of journey factors and miles, it might make extra sense to stay to a premium journey rewards card comparable to The Platinum Card® from American Categorical or Citi Status® Card. Except for Admirals Membership entry and precedence providers, each playing cards’ advantages match or beat the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard on the vast majority of fronts.
The knowledge for the Citi Status has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Each playing cards will let you earn as much as 5 factors per greenback on airfare (when booked instantly with the airline or Amex Journey for the Platinum card) and make the most of myriad airline switch companions. On the Platinum card, you’ll earn 5 factors per greenback on as much as $500,000 on these purchases per calendar yr.
Though American isn’t a switch associate of both of the applications, you possibly can nonetheless use factors earned with these playing cards to e book AA flights by transferring them to Oneworld companions like British Airways and Cathay Pacific in addition to non-alliance associate Etihad.
Associated: Selecting one of the best bank card for American Airways flyers
Backside line
For the reason that worth of an Admirals Membership membership is at the very least $550 annually, the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard ought to catch the attention of any frequent American flyer’s consideration.
In order for you Admirals Membership entry and to spice up your AA mileage stability by 50,000 miles (whereas additionally easing elite standing necessities), this card is likely to be a great match. Nevertheless, you would possibly need to look elsewhere in the event you’re in search of a card that gives you a great return in your spending.
APPLY HERE: Earn 80,000 American Airways AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,500 in purchases throughout the first 3 months of account opening with the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard.
Further reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Stella Shon.
