If you’ve read any of my previous articles on airline credit cards, you’re already aware that I am not a huge fan. However, with the summer travel season upon us, I thought I would take a moment to review the Citi AAdvantage World MasterCard as anyone who flies on American Airlines will likely be exposed to this card in one way or another.
As airline cards go, the AAdvantage MasterCard is decent, though unspectacular. Unlike the Continental OnePass and Delta Skymiles credit cards that offer free checked baggage, this card does not. Instead, it offers the typical features of an airline credit card, albeit with a slightly lower annual fee of $50.
The Deal: The Cit AAdvantage credit card offers 30,000 bonus miles if you spend $750 during the first four months of cardmembership. However, if you’re thinking of spending $750 the day you get the card and booking a flight with your miles the next day, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise: you must wait 8 to 10 weeks to get your bonus miles.
Using Miles: When your bonus miles finally clear, you can get a roundtrip continental US flight for as little as 25,000 miles with a MileSAAver award ticket. This, unfortunately, depends on availability. In a recent study conducted by IdeaWorks, the company was able to successfully book award travel on American Airlines 58% of the time. This was middle of the pack, below United, Continental, Southwest and some more internationally focused airlines, but well above Delta and US Airways (see chart for full airline comparison.)
Who Benefits from This Card: Essentially, if you don’t live near an American Airlines hub and tend to fly on different airlines, getting a credit card tied to a specific airline is a waste of money. You are likely much better off with a cash back credit card or an airline card that is not tied to a specific airline and carries no annual fee, such as the Capital One Venture credit card. However, if you do fly on American Airlines frequently and know how to work their frequent flyer system, this isn’t a bad card. It just isn’t a great one either.
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