Greatest bank card for American Airways Admirals Membership entry: Citi AAdvantage Govt Card

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For a lot of vacationers, airport lounge entry is essential because it permits an area the place you possibly can both calm down earlier than a journey or be productive and get work performed.
That is the place American Admirals Membership lounges are available — over 50 of them exist everywhere in the world, and you will get entry by buying a daypass for a payment or utilizing AAdvantage miles.
Nonetheless, the easiest way to entry Admirals Golf equipment is thru one particular bank card: the Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and charges) — which is the one card that may get you into Admirals Golf equipment. Whereas it does include a $595 annual payment, the unique lounge entry may make it value including to your pockets.
In truth, managing editor Matt Moffitt’s foremost purpose for opening the Citi AAdvantage Govt card was for Admirals Membership entry.
Associated studying: The last word information to Admirals Membership entry
Why this card is a winner
If you cannot get entry to an Admiral Membership from elite standing or the category of service you are flying, one possibility is to buy a membership. Right here is annual pricing damaged down by AAdvantage degree:
Associated studying: Full overview of the Citi/AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard
1. Cheaper than paying for an Admirals Membership membership
Nonetheless, the easiest way to ensure entry into Admirals Golf equipment is to have the Citi AAdvantage Govt card. You’d really get monetary savings by having the cardboard versus paying for any of the membership choices.
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For example, say you had been contemplating buying an Admirals Membership membership as a normal AAdvantage member (no elite standing). As a substitute of paying $850 for entry per yr, you would be higher off making use of for the Citi Govt card and paying the $595 annual payment per yr, plus getting different credit score card-specific perks.
The cardboard presently presents a sign-up bonus of 70,000 AAdvantage miles after you spend $7,000 in purchases throughout the first three months of account opening, value $1,106, based mostly on TPG’s most up-to-date valuations.
Associated studying: American Airways joins Delta and United in extending elite standing and extra
2. Approved consumer entry
The Citi AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard lets you add as much as 3 licensed customers for $175, then $175 for every extra licensed consumer. Approved customers may entry Admirals Golf equipment.
This is applicable whether or not the first cardholder is flying with that individual or not, a unbelievable perk that’s notably totally different from related premium playing cards supplied by different U.S. carriers.
Notice that whereas major cardholders have entry to all Admirals Golf equipment (over 50 worldwide) and companion lounges (about 60 worldwide), licensed customers solely get entry to American Admirals Golf equipment. Nonetheless, each the first cardholder and every licensed consumer can convey speedy relations or as much as two touring friends into the lounge.
Associated studying: The perfect bank cards for airport lounge entry
3. Different Citi Govt card perks
With this Citi card, you will additionally earn 10 miles per greenback on eligible inns booked by means of aa.com/inns and eligible automobile leases booked by means of aa.com/automobiles.
As well as, cardholders earn 4 miles per greenback on eligible American Airways purchases, as much as $120 in assertion credit score for eligible Grubhub purchases (as much as $10 per thirty days) and as much as $120 assertion credit score on Avis or Funds automobile leases every calendar yr.
The cardboard comes with Group 4 precedence boarding and your first checked bag free on home American Airways itineraries for you and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation.
As well as, like lots of different premium playing cards, this one additionally presents a World Entry or TSA PreCheck software payment credit score. You will rise up to a $100 assertion credit score as soon as each 4 years to reimburse your software payment.
Associated studying: Battle of the premium journey rewards playing cards: Which is the perfect?
Admirals Membership restrictions
This new rule was instituted no matter the way you earned entry — whether or not by means of a bank card or paid outright for an annual membership. Which means you are not deprived with this Citi AAdvantage Govt card over different membership members.
Associated studying: AA, Delta and United lounges have restricted entry to clients flying with them: This is what to do
Backside line
The Citi AAdvantage Govt card is exclusive in that you would be able to unfold the good thing about the annual payment with family and friends in a approach that you would be able to’t do with simply an Admirals Membership membership by including licensed customers and paying a reasonable payment.
As a frequent AA or Oneworld alliance flyer, that is the perfect card for Admirals Membership entry along with many different perks reminiscent of assertion credit, Loyalty Level bonuses, and respectable incomes charges.
Apply right here: Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard