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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.
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Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select vs. AAdvantage Aviator Red: Battle of the AA cards
TPG's director of travel content Eric Rosen has used points and miles to visit some of the world's most remote corners, including swimming with whale sharks off Western Australia's Ningaloo Coast, exploring the wilds of Botswana's Okavango Delta and tasting the high-altitude wines of Argentina's Mendoza region.
Benét, known as the Aviation Queen, is a former senior editor at TPG who is best known for being an aviation journalist for 25-plus years. Her love affair with travel and aviation began at age 6, when her Air Force family moved from California to a military base outside of London. The family flew from JFK to London on a pretty new Pan Am 747. She was amazed when, in 1992, she got her first aviation journalism job.
also contributed to this story
June 10, 2024 • 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 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.
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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.
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Quick summary
The article compares two mid-tier airline credit cards for American Airlines travelers, focusing on their benefits and rewards structures.
Both cards offer similar travel perks, including a free checked bag for the cardholder and companions, preferred boarding and inflight discounts.
One card provides a companion certificate after meeting a spending threshold, while the other offers a flight discount for similar spending.
The cards differ in bonus earning categories, with one offering additional rewards at restaurants and gas stations.
What to consider
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
Eligibility for certain benefits, such as the companion certificate or flight discount, requires $20,000 in annual spending and card renewal.
Both cards waive foreign transaction fees and provide World Elite Mastercard perks, including cellphone coverage and concierge services.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side comparison of benefits, earning structures and redemption strategies to help you decide which card best fits your travel habits.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Citi is a TPG advertising partner
American Airlines flyers have plenty of cobranded credit cards to choose from, from no-annual-fee offerings to some of the most premium cards on the market.
Two great cards in the middle of that spectrum are the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees), with a $99 annual fee (waived the first 12 months), and the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®, with a $99 annual fee.
The Aviator Red card includes interesting benefits such as an annual statement credit for inflight food and beverage purchases, as well as the possibility of earning a companion certificate through spending.
The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum card, meanwhile, allows cardholders to rack up miles faster on everyday purchases with non-airline bonus categories.
Today, we’ll put both cards head-to-head to see which is right for you.
The information for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select and AAdvantage Aviator Red cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
AAdvantage Platinum Select vs. AAdvantage Aviator Red comparison
Card
AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Annual fee
$99
$99 (waived the first 12 months)
Sign-up bonus
Earn 60,000 miles after a single purchase made in the first 90 days and payment of $99 for the annual fee.
For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases in the first four months from account opening.
Earning
2 miles per dollar on eligible AA purchases
1 mile per dollar on everything else
2 miles per dollar on eligible AA purchases, restaurants and gas stations
1 mile per dollar on everything else
Travel benefits
First checked bag free for up to five passengers
Preferred boarding
25% off inflight food and beverages
First checked bag free for up to five passengers
Preferred boarding
25% off inflight food and beverages
Spending benefit
Companion certificate for $99 (plus taxes and fees) after spending $20,000 in a year, renewing the card and keeping it open for at least 45 days after account anniversary
$125 flight discount after spending $20,000 or more in a card year and renewing the card
World Elite Mastercard perks; no foreign exchange fees
AAdvantage Platinum Select vs. AAdvantage Aviator Red welcome offer
For a limited time, the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select is currently offering 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases in the first four months from account opening. Based on our most recent valuations, this is worth $1,240.
The Aviator Red offers 60,000 bonus AAdvantage miles after making your first purchase in the first 90 days — no matter the cost — and paying the $99 annual fee. This bonus is worth around $1,020.
Winner: Aviator Red. Earning 60,000 miles for a single purchase and a $99 fee makes the Aviator Red a clear winner.
AAdvantage Platinum Select vs. AAdvantage Aviator Red benefits
The two cards offer similar slates of inflight benefits. Both include a first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the cardholder and up to four companions traveling with them on the same reservation.
If you spend $20,000 or more on purchases during a card membership year and renew your Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select, you can earn a $125 American Airlines flight discount. The discount is redeemable toward the base airfare and directly associated taxes, fees and charges on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines and its subsidiaries.
The Aviator Red rewards cardholders who spend $20,000 or more on purchases in a cardmember year and pay their annual fee with a companion certificate for $99 (plus taxes and fees). It’s good for a round-trip domestic economy ticket on American Airlines and its subsidiaries within the 48 contiguous United States. Residents of Alaska and Hawaii can travel to or from their states.
Although you can apply the Citi card’s $125 discount to more flights, since there’s no class or regional restriction to it, you can potentially reap much more value from the Aviator Red’s benefit by redeeming it for an expensive fare.
Both cards waive foreign transaction fees and offer a range of World Elite Mastercard benefits. Those include access to the World Elite Concierge, a $5 monthly Lyft credit if you take three or more rides, $1,000 in yearly cellphone coverage ($800 max per claim, two claims per year), global emergency services, a $5 reward for every $20 spent on Fandango movie tickets or at-home purchases. You'll also access golf offers and experiences with the PGA Tour with Priceless Golf and a free ShopRunner membership where you receive two-day shipping and free return shipping at over a hundred online retailers.
Winner: Tie. Both cards offer a long list of solid benefits.
Earning miles on the AAdvantage Platinum Select vs. AAdvantage Aviator Red
The cards have slightly different earning rates.
Both cards earn 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 mile on most other purchases.
PEKIC/GETTY IMAGES
The Citi Platinum Select also earns 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants and gas stations.
Winner: The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select wins out. It has two bonus spending categories where cardholders can rack up extra miles.
Redeeming and transferring miles on the AAdvantage Platinum Select vs. AAdvantage Aviator Red
The rewards on both cards can be used for valuable redemptions of AAdvantage miles on things like premium-cabin partner bookings.
For domestic flights, we'd recommend programs like Southwest and JetBlue before using American miles. It's generally better to save AA miles for business or first class on Qatar Airways, Etihad, Finnair, Iberia and partner carriers with highly regarded international long-haul service.
ROB LEWINE/GETTY IMAGES
TPG credit cards writer Danyal Ahmed redeems AA miles earned on his Platinum Select card for Qatar Airways Qsuite flights to the Middle East.
Winner: Tie. Both cards offer the same redemption and transfer options.
Should I get the AAdvantage Platinum Select or AAdvantage Aviator Red?
These cards offer similar perks. You should get the Platinum Select if you spend a lot on dining and gas, whereas the Aviator Red will give you a more valuable companion certificate if you redeem it on expensive flights. You should also consider which card is offering a larger sign-up bonus.
Bottom line
Both cards are excellent products that allow you to earn miles quickly with the AAdvantage program while enjoying elite-style perks when you travel — all for a reasonable $99 annual fee.
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.
