The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
How the Citi/AAdvantage Globe Mastercard benefits can easily save you thousands on your next trip
Ben Smithson is a senior writer for TPG and is based in London. Originally from Australia and a qualified lawyer with a financial services background, he has almost a decade of experience writing about a broad range of travel and loyalty topics.
December 4, 2025 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: Citi is a TPG advertising partner.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
A travel rewards card offers significant value for occasional flyers, especially on American Airlines trips.
Perks include preferred boarding, free checked bags for up to eight companions, lounge access passes and credits for inflight purchases.
Cardholders can save on Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application costs and receive an annual credit usable with select merchants, including concert ticket providers.
Redeeming loyalty miles for flights and hotels can yield substantial savings, with improved redemption rates for cardholders.
What to consider
Benefits such as free checked bags, lounge passes and inflight credits apply only to American Airlines flights and may have exclusions.
The annual credit for select merchants requires choosing a preferred partner and direct purchases through eligible channels.
Redemption rates for hotel stays are more favorable for cardholders, but resort fees are not covered and must be paid separately.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of how each benefit can combine to maximize savings on a single trip, including sample itineraries and redemption strategies.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (see rates and fees) is a great product for occasional American Airlines travelers to have in their wallet. With an annual fee of $350, new applicants can earn 60,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening.
While you may wonder if this card is truly worth its fee, especially if you don't fly regularly, I've crunched the numbers to show just how much money you could save using this card on one single trip.
So, aside from the generous welcome bonus, here's how the Globe Mastercard's perks can benefit you on your next getaway.
Once you've met the spending requirement and earned your welcome bonus of 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles, you can redeem your miles for flights. You could book a round-trip economy AA flights from Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) to Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) from as little as 39,000 AAdvantage miles plus only $22.40 in taxes and fees.
AADVANTAGE
By redeeming your AAdvantage miles, you'll save almost $1,000 on the same Main Cabin flights.
You can save time passing through security at both PIT and LAS by signing up for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, for which the Globe card offers a credit of up to $120 every four years.
I've recently signed up for this, and it has been such a time-saver when passing through airport security.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Checked baggage, lounge access, preferred boarding and inflight purchases
The Globe card comes with numerous benefits when flying with American Airlines, which can both save you money and make travel more comfortable, even if you are not a frequent flyer.
On this trip to Las Vegas, you could enjoy:
Preferred boarding (cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation).
One free checked bag per person on domestic itineraries (cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation).
Four Admirals Club lounge passes each year. One pass is required per adult (18 years or older), and up to three children under 18 can accompany an adult on the same pass. Passes can be used at multiple lounges within 24 hours when flying American Airlines or any Oneworld partner.
Up to $100 in statement credits every calendar year on inflight purchases when using your card on American Airlines flights (this benefit applies to domestic flights and is not available on codeshare flights operated by another airline).
Checked bags typically cost $45 per person each way, meaning two people flying round-trip for the Vegas concert could save $180 in baggage fees with this card.
Since the above sample itinerary involves connecting flights through Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), these 24-hour Admirals Club passes will be particularly useful as they can be used to enjoy the Admirals Club at both PIT and CLT on the outbound flights, as well as at CLT again on the return flights (there is unfortunately no Admirals Club in LAS). Admirals Lounge passes usually cost $79 each, so if you were to use the included passes to access three lounges for two people, you could save $474.
The inflight purchases credit can save you money on your flights to and from Las Vegas, whether you wish to stay connected with inflight Wi-Fi, purchase additional snacks, or perhaps start celebrating the weekend before you even land with some beers, wine or spirits.
Did you know you can redeem your AAdvantage miles for a hotel stay, which can save even more money on your next vacation? While this isn't usually a great value deal, if you are an AAdvantage cardholder, the redemption rate improves dramatically.
Remember, if you spent 39,000 miles of your 60,000-mile welcome bonus on the round-trip flights to Las Vegas, you would have 21,000 miles left that you could use to save money on accommodation.
The Flamingo Las Vegas is in the heart of the Vegas Strip and just a short walk from the Dolby Live venue. The cash rate for a Deluxe City View Room for three nights would be $488.06, plus resort fees of $149.85.
*Prices accurate at the time of publishing.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
Anyone redeeming AAdvantage miles for the same room on the same dates without a cobranded credit card or elite status could redeem 64,600 AAdvantage miles to save the $488.06 (the resort fees would still have to be paid).
AADVANTAGE HOTELS
However, Globe cardholders can redeem just 48,400 AAdvantage miles for the same room on the same dates, saving $448.06 for three-night accommodation, and a redemption rate of around one cent per AAdvantage mile. Therefore, in this instance, redeeming your miles can save you hundreds of dollars.
AADVANTAGE HOTELS
Splurge credit for concert tickets
The card also offers an annual "Splurge Credit" of up to $100, with the option to choose from two merchants: 1stDibs, AAdvantage Hotels, Future Personal Training or Live Nation (exclusions apply).
You could use the card to purchase your New Kids on the Block concert tickets through Live Nation, saving you up to $100. Please ensure that you select Live Nation as your preferred merchant and buy directly through Live Nation, rather than a reseller.
If you wanted to visit Vegas but not attend a Live Nation event, you could consider extending your stay (or staying in a more expensive room category or hotel) by redeeming your Splurge Credit through AAdvantage Hotels.
