Citi<sup>®</sup> / AAdvantage<sup>®</sup> Globe™ Mastercard<sup>®</sup> Review: Solid Earnings, Lucrative Benefits, and a Big Annual Fee Citi<sup>®</sup> / AAdvantage<sup>®</sup> Globe™ Mastercard<sup>®</sup> Review: Solid Earnings, Lucrative Benefits, and a Big Annual Fee

Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® Review: Solid Earnings, Lucrative Benefits, and a Big Annual Fee

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So far, 2025 has been an exciting year in the credit card world. We saw several major cards get a refresh, and even more new cards were announced. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® is the latest new credit card to join the scene. This mid-tier card is an excellent choice for American Airlines loyalists, offering lucrative perks in exchange for a $350 annual fee. In this review, we'll cover everything you need to know about the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card.

Citi AAdvantage Globe Card Pros

  • Receive four Annual Admirals Club® Globe™ Passes annually.
  • A variety of statement credits to help offset the annual fee.
  • Offers an elite status boost after you take eligible flights.
  • Annual companion certificate.

Citi AAdvantage Globe Card Cons

  • $350 annual fee.
  • The companion fare is subject to a $99 fee, so it's not free to add.
  • Limited bonus earning categories.
American Airlines plane seen from the DFW airport train
Credit: Tyler Glatt / AwardWallet

Citi AAdvantage Globe Card Welcome Offer

The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card has the following 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.

Based on actual bookings from AwardWallet users, AAdvantage miles are worth 2.56¢ in value. At this rate, a 90,000-mile welcome offer is worth over $2,300. Suffice it to say, this can fund quite a bit of award travel.

Related: The Best Credit Card Offers This Month

Citi AAdvantage Globe Card Benefits

The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card comes packed with benefits. Here's a look at the most notable ones.

Annual Admirals Club® Globe™ Passes

Each calendar year, you'll receive four passes that grant access to nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges. If you frequently fly with American Airlines and you live near an airport with an Admirals Club location or transit some of them regulalrly, then it likely makes sense to splurge for the premium Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® to receive a full Admirals Club membership.

Admirals Club fireplace at DCA.
Credit: Tyler Glatt / AwardWallet

However, if you only fly American a few times per year, or your home airport doesn't have a lounge, the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card offers the best of both worlds. You can access a lounge four times per year when transiting through an airport with an Admirals Club without shelling out a high annual fee for the top-tier card.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Annual Fee$595
Welcome Offer Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
The AA Executive Card is by far the most cost effective way to gain access to American Airlines Admirals Club® lounges. Even better, you can extend the benefit to authorized users (for a fee), and this card offers a free checked bag, on domestic AA flights, priority checkin and boarding, and a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
  • Complimentary Admirals Club® membership for the primary cardholder
  • Admirals Club® membership for authorized user accounts
  • First checked bag free on domestic AA flights for you and up to 8 companions
  • Priority check-in, TSA screening lines, and boarding
  • 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees
  • Earn 10X miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked at aa.com/hotels and eligible rental cars booked through aa.com/cars
  • Earn 4X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases (increased to 5X miles through the end of the calendar year after you pass $150,000 in purchases annually)
  • Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases

Up to $100 Annual Splurge Credit℠

Similar to the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (Rates & Fees), cardholders of the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card will earn up to $100 in statement credits on a choice of up to two of the following brands:

Unfortunately, this list is smaller than the one offered for Citi Strata Elite cardholders, but it's still useful.

Up to $240 in Turo statement credits

Citi AAdvantage Globe Card cardholders can earn up to $30 in statement credits for each eligible Turo trip completed, up to $240 in credits each year. You'll need to link your card to your Turo account and use your card to pay for the trip. Turo is like Airbnb for cars — instead of renting a car from an agency like Hertz or Alamo, you rent someone's personal vehicle.

Cars parked outside an airport drop-off area.
Credit: Shawn/Unsplash

Up to $100 back on in-flight purchases

Each calendar year, you can earn up to $100 in statement credits for purchases made on American Airlines flights. Statement credits can make it easier to decide on a purchase of food or drink if you're hungry on board.

Annual companion certificate

As a cardholder, you will earn an annual American Airlines companion certificate starting in your second year as a cardholder. It is valid for a round-trip main cabin domestic flight. Redeeming the certificate costs $99, plus taxes and fees.

Keep in mind that this differs from the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, which offers a companion certificate for main cabin travel within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America. It also doesn't charge a fee to redeem the certificate — you only pay taxes and fees.

It'll take a bit more work to maximize the companion certificate offered by the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card, but it's still a nice perk.

American Airlines Boeing 787-9P economy cabin with amenities in front row
Photo by JT Genter / AwardWallet

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Companion Fares, Companion Passes, and Companion Tickets

Benefits while flying

When flying, your first checked bag is free for yourself and up to eight companions traveling with you on the same reservation. You'll also receive preferred boarding for yourself and up to eight companions. If anything happens during your travels, you're protected with trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, lost or damaged luggage coverage, MasterRental Coverage, and trip delay insurance.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card is joining the list of many credit cards that offer an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment. You're eligible to receive a statement credit of up to $120 every four years to cover the application fee. If you aren't already a Global Entry member, now is the time to apply.

Flight Streak™ bonus

After every four qualifying American Airlines flights, you will earn a 5,000 Loyalty Point bonus, up to 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points each year. This unique perk can quickly fast-track you to elite status if you are a frequent flyer.

Citi AAdvantage Globe Card Mastercard® Earning Rates

Cardholders of the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card can take advantage of a tiered earning structure. You will earn:

  • 6X miles per $1 spent on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings
  • 3X miles per $1 spent on American Airlines purchases
  • 2X miles per $1 spent at restaurants and eligible transit purchases, including taxis, rideshares, and public transit
  • 1X mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Although the earning potential isn't extremely impressive, it's better than that of other AAdvantage credit cards. For instance, the cardholders of the AA Executive Card can only earn bonus points on American Airlines purchases and hotels and car rentals booked through AAdvantage. The addition of restaurants and transit for Citi AAdvantage Globe Card holders is useful, even if it only earns 2X miles.

American Airlines 787-9P Flagship Suite
Credit: Tyler Glatt / AwardWallet

Plus, you'll earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage Mile earned from purchases. As a reminder, you'll need to earn 40,000 Loyalty Points to reach the first tier of American elite status, AAdvantage Gold. While you likely won't be able to reach elite status from card spend alone, it's nice to have the opportunity to earn Loyalty Points on purchases other than American Airlines flights.

Related: The Complete Guide to Earning American Airlines Miles and Loyalty Points

Redeeming AAdvantage Miles

The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card earns AAdvantage miles, so you are somewhat limited on your redemption opportunities. That said, American has some excellent sweet spots that you can take advantage of to stretch your miles farther.

You can often find some fantastic deals on domestic routes for as little as 5,000 points each way in economy.

A screenshot of two flight options from ILM to LGA
Credit: American Airlines

On the opposite end of the spectrum, you can book a business class flight from New York (JFK) to Tokyo (HND) with a layover in Dallas (DFW) for just 92,500 miles. This same flight would cost $3,639, giving you a valuation of almost 4¢ per mile.

A screenshot of a flight from JFK to HND
Credit: American Airlines

That said, you can do even better if you happen to spot partner award availability on this route. For example, Japan Airlines also flies from New York (and other U.S. gateways) to Tokyo, and you can book business class for 60,000 AAdvantage miles. The catch is that availability isn't as prevalent as flights operated by AA.

Application Restrictions and Strategy

It's important to understand the Citi application rules so you know you can earn a welcome bonus on the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card. The following rules apply to a welcome offer:

“New account bonus is not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® 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 Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® account. The card offer referenced in this communication is only available to individuals who reside in the United States and its territories, excluding Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.”

Citi also has some strict rules regarding application frequency — you’re limited to one personal card application every eight days and no more than two personal cards in a 65-day period.

Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions

Cards That Compete With the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card

If you are unsure if the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card is right for you, don't worry. There are several other options worth considering:

  • If you want unlimited Admirals Club access, consider the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. If you are a frequent flyer and need access to the lounge, the AA Executive Card has you covered. Plus, you'll receive elite-like treatment at the airport, earn more on American flights, and receive a variety of car rental, ride share, and food delivery statement credits. Learn more in our AA Executive Card full review.
  • If you want an American Airlines card with a lower annual fee, consider the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. Its annual fee is $99, waived for first 12 months. You get some pared-down benefits, like a first checked bag free on domestic flights, preferred boarding, and a $125 American Airlines flight discount after spending $20,000 on your card in a calendar year. It's not the most lucrative card, but it gives you the option to earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points without breaking the bank. Learn more in our AA Platinum Select full review.
  • If you want to earn a transferable point currency that converts to AA miles, consider the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card. Although the Citi Strata Elite has a higher annual fee at $595, it also comes with four annual Admirals Club Passes, and offers the opportunity to transfer rewards to American Airlines at a 1:1 ratio. Plus, you get a higher Annual Splurge Credit, an annual hotel benefit, and several other statement credits and perks that are easy to maximize.  Learn more in our Citi Strata Elite full review.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Welcome Offer Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual Fee$595
Credit ScoreExcellent, Good
  • Earn 10X miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked at aa.com/hotels and eligible rental cars booked through aa.com/cars
  • Earn 4X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases (increased to 5X miles through the end of the calendar year after you pass $150,000 in purchases annually)
  • Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual Fee$99, waived for first 12 months
Credit ScoreExcellent, Good
  • Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at restaurants
  • Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at gas stations
  • Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
  • Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
Welcome Bonus For a limited time, earn 100,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual Fee$595Rates & Fees
  • 12X – Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com.
  • 6X – Earn 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com.
  • 6X – Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time.
  • 1.5X – Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases.

Related: American Airlines Transfer Partners: Here’s Which Points You Can Convert to AAdvantage Miles

Final Thoughts

The Citi AAdvantage Globe Card is a welcome addition to American's credit card lineup. With unique and lucrative perks, a solid earning potential, and a justifiable annual fee, it's a no-brainer for frequent American Airlines flyers. However, if you don't fly with the airline often enough to apply for a co-branded credit card, consider a card that earns a transferable point currency. Or if you want unlimited Admirals Club access, opt for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (Rates & Fees)

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