Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^® Review [2025]: An Affordable Sweet Spot for AA Flyers

Card basics

Who should get the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®?

Before the launch of the AAdvantage Globe card, American Airlines loyalists who wanted to earn miles on their credit card spending had to make a decision: fork over the $595 annual fee for all the premium perks and earn rates that come with the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Executive World Elite Mastercard^® or forego benefits like lounge access and a TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit to save on the annual fee with a lower-tier card.

This card splits that difference. If you fly American Airlines with regularity but aren't jetting back and forth across the country every couple of weeks, the AAdvantage Globe gets you just a little more luxury and earning potential with an annual fee that won't break the bank.

Who should skip it?

Even though the card's $350 annual fee can be handily outweighed by taking advantage of the statement credits and earning opportunities that come with it, there's simply little point in holding the card if American isn't your primary choice of airlines.

If you want to test the AAdvantage waters without having to justify an annual fee, you could opt for the American Airlines AAdvantage^® MileUp^® Card, which offers in-flight savings and the ability to earn toward AAdvantage elite status.

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^® benefits

Strong welcome offer

The AAdvantage Globe delivers a fair deal of value with its welcome offer: For a limited time, earn 90,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

That spend requirement should be easy enough to meet if you use the AAdvantage Globe as your primary card during the offer period.

Earn toward elite status with Flight Streak™

In addition to earning one Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage elite status for every eligible AAdvantage mile earned from purchases, cardholders can get a 5,000-Loyalty Point Flight Streak™ bonus after taking four qualifying American Airlines flights.

That bonus can be earned up to three times per qualification year for a total of up to 15,000 additional Loyalty Points. It takes 40,000 Loyalty Points to reach AAdvantage Gold, the program's first elite tier.

Annual Admirals Club® Globe™ passes

While it's not the full Admirals Club membership that comes with the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Executive World Elite Mastercard^®, AAdvantage Globe cardholders do get four Admirals Club® Globe™ passes every calendar year.

If you're flying solo, that means four visits for you, but the passes can also be used by the primary cardholder and up to three accompanying adults to access nearly 50 Admirals Club locations.

If you're traveling with children, you can bring up to three kids under 18 on each adult pass, so there's even more value for families who travel together. Unused passes get forfeited at the end of the calendar year, so be sure to take advantage of the airport oasis this benefit offers.

Preferred boarding and free checked bags

Cardholders get one free checked bag on every domestic American Airlines flight reserved with the card. The benefit extends to up to eight traveling companions on the same reservation.

Cardholders and up to eight companions also get preferred boarding on American Airlines flights booked with the AAdvantage Globe.

Up to $100 statement credit for in-flight purchases

It's nice to spruce up your time in the sky by treating yourself to a premium snack or beverage while you fly. If you use your AAdvantage Globe card, you can get credited for up to $100 per calendar year on in-flight purchases with American.

Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck® credit

If you travel with any regularity, it pays to have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. The time and headache it saves you at security is worth far more than the application fee. Especially if you can get that application fee covered by the credit card you use to pay it.

Like any good travel card with an annual fee these days, the AAdvantage Globe offers a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $120 every four years. Both memberships have a duration of five years, so you can use that credit to cover your initial application and any subsequent renewals before your term expires each go-around.

Personally, I recommend using the credit for Global Entry membership over TSA PreCheck as the former includes the latter, but not the other way around. Learn more in our TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry comparison.

$100 annual Splurge Credit℠

This perk sounds great, but it may prove a little more difficult to use than others. Cardholders can receive up to $100 every calendar year in statement credits toward spending with up to two eligible brands of their choosing.

The brands on offer are 1st Dibs (an online high-end home goods store), Future Personal Training, eligible AAdvantage Hotels, and Live Nation (exclusions apply). You must activate your chosen brands through your Citi account before you can start earning statement credit.

If you're not averse to booking hotels through the airline's portal or if you attend a couple of Live Nation events per year, this could be a perk that adds value.

After all, concert tickets aren't getting any cheaper, so you could probably use up that credit on a pair of tickets for you and a friend. Just note that you must purchase your tickets through livenation.com or ticketmaster.com for it to qualify.

Earning and redeeming AAdvantage miles

Potential earnings in years one and two

Here's a look at how your AAdvantage miles can add up with the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®. To calculate these values, we used a mile valuation of 0.0143 cents per mile.

Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.

Year one earnings: $1,602

Year two earnings: $315

These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which takes a look at points earned via spending, the welcome bonus, and the annual fee.

Best ways to earn

Maximizing your redemptions

When it comes to redeeming your miles, you have quite a few options.

• You can book American Airlines award flights or flights with airline partners.
• You can redeem miles for upgrades on American Airlines, Quantas, British Airways, and Iberia.
• You can book rental cars through American.
• You can book hotels through American.

Pretty much across the board, you're going to get the most value from your AAdvantage miles if you use them to book flights, whether with American or an eligible transfer partner.

American Airlines transfer partners

American Airlines is part of the oneworld Alliance, so AAdvantage Globe cardholders can redeem their AAdvantage miles with the alliance's dozen-plus airlines.

oneworld Alliance partners

American Airlines also has several non-alliance partners that are eligible for redemptions.

FAQs

Other cards to consider

American Airlines AAdvantage^® MileUp^® Card

As we'd mentioned above, the American Airlines AAdvantage^® MileUp^® Card(Rates and fees) is a good choice for casual travelers who may want to gradually earn their way toward AAdvantage elite status while shaving a little off the cost of their American Airlines flights every now and then.

It's got a $0 annual fee, which means you don't have to worry about whether you're optimizing your use of the card's earning potential and benefits. Plus, the one Loyalty Point earned for each eligible mile earned from purchases means that you'll be working your way toward a higher status with every swipe.

Apply now | Learn more in our American Airlines AAdvantage^® MileUp^® Card review

Earn American Airlines AAdvantage® miles

American Airlines AAdvantage^® MileUp^® Card

4.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

American Airlines AAdvantage^® MileUp^® Card

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services; 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases; and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• $0 annual fee
• Earns Loyalty Points for American Airlines elite status
• 25% back on in-flight food and beverage purchases

Drawbacks

• No travel or purchase protection
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• No checked bag benefit

Card Details

• Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from date of account opening for balance transfers only. After that the variable APR will be 19.99% - 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
• Balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each credit card balance transfer, whichever is greater. Balance Transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
• No Annual Fee
• Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
• Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
• Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights

Citi Strata Premier^® Card

If you're not 100% sold on American Airlines but want the option to redeem rewards points with the carrier when it's convenient, consider one of Citi's travel cards, like the Citi Strata Premier^® Card(Rates and fees). The Strata Premier earns ThankYou points, which can be transferred to American along with more than a dozen other Citi transfer partners.

The Strata Premier's annual fee is $95, which can be easily justified by its earning structure and perks.

Apply now | Learn more in our Citi Strata Premier^® Card review

Earn Valuable Travel Points Even Faster

Citi Strata Premier^® Card

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Citi Strata Premier^® Card

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.

Annual Fee

$95

Rewards Rate

10X Points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X Points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations; and 1X Points on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Strong earn rate on travel booked through Citi Travel
• Offers opportunities to transfer points to travel partners at a 1:1 ratio
• Elevated rewards on everyday spending, like supermarkets and restaurants

Drawbacks

• Requires good-to-excellent credit to qualify
• You get the most rewards only by booking travel through Citi’s portal

Card Details

• Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
• Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Bottom line

As the first new Citi AAdvantage card in a while, the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®(Rates and fees) fills a gap in the co-branded card line. Competing carrier loyalty programs (like Delta SkyMiles, for example) offer similar mid-tier cards that couple elevated earn rates with a peppering of perks that appeal to flyers who want a little more out of their cardholder experience.

The AAdvantage Globe's annual fee is easy to justify even if you don't take advantage of its full suite of benefits. But if you're not going to be flying American Airlines several times a year, you're probably better off with one of the best general travel cards, which offer more redemption flexibility.

Earn extra on American Airlines

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®

4.6

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®

Apply Now

Rates and fees

Current Offer

For a limited time, earn 90,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening

Annual Fee

$350

Rewards Rate

3 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• 3X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
• Four annual Admirals Club® Globe™ Passes
• Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit of up to $120 every 4 years

Drawbacks

• Low earn rate on non-American Airlines spending
• $350 annual fee

Card Details

• For a limited time, earn 90,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
• American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have received AAdvantage® bonus miles for a new AAdvantage® Globe™ account in the past 48 months or if you converted another Citi credit card account on which you earned a new account bonus in the last 48 months into a AAdvantage® Globe™ account.
• Every calendar year, receive four Admirals Club® Globe™ Passes.
• Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit of up to $120 every 4 years.
• Earn 3 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.