Citi AAdvantage Business
The welcome offer, the bag and boarding benefits, what it earns toward AAdvantage status, the companion certificate, and whether the $99 fee pays for itself.
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Business airline cards · Citi
Welcome offer
65,000 miles
Annual fee
$0 the first year, then $99
65,000 bonus miles for the business after $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. Not available to anyone who received a new account bonus on a Citi / AAdvantage Business account (or a CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select account) in the past 48 months.
Employee cards: No feeForeign transaction fees: NoneNetwork: World Elite MastercardRewards: American AAdvantage miles
The Atelier Take
A sensible card for a small team that flies American domestically, kept mainly for the free bags and the Loyalty Points.
Who it suits
Small businesses whose owner and staff fly American domestically and check bags. Every cardholder earns Loyalty Points toward status on their own spending, while the miles pool in the company account.
Who should skip it
Businesses that rarely fly American, or fly it mostly internationally, since the bag benefit is domestic only. Also anyone who wants lounge access: there is none.
Every credit, and the catch
There are no statement credits for travel or business spending. The recurring benefits are a companion certificate tied to $30,000 of spending and 25% back on inflight purchases.
American Airlines Companion Certificate
Companion fare for $99 plus taxes
Earned only after $30,000 of purchases in a cardmembership year and renewal of the card. One domestic Main Cabin round trip within the 48 contiguous states, booked through American Airlines Meeting Services.
Inflight savings
25% back
Food and drinks on domestic American flights, and inflight Wi-Fi on American flights; credits post 8 to 10 weeks later.
What it earns
Rewards: American Airlines AAdvantage miles, which post to the company’s AAdvantage Business account, while each cardholder earns Loyalty Points toward status in their own AAdvantage account.
2x
Eligible American Airlines purchases
Billed by American Airlines; car rentals, hotels, status boosts and AA Cargo excluded
2x
Car rental merchants and gas stations
Not through travel agencies or online travel sites; gas at warehouse clubs and discount stores may not count
2x
Telecommunications merchants and cable and satellite providers
Cable and satellite providers include internet service on subscription
1x
Everything else
TPG values AAdvantage miles at 1.45¢ each, so 2x returns about 2.9¢ per dollar. Miles go to the company’s AAdvantage Business account, which can pass them to registered travelers; each cardholder also earns 1 Loyalty Point per $1 toward AAdvantage status. AAdvantage miles do not transfer to other programs.
American Airlines benefits
Free first checked bag
On domestic American Airlines itineraries, for the primary cardholder and up to 4 companions on the same reservation. Employee cardholders get it only as companions on the primary cardholder’s reservation.
Preferred boarding
Group 5, for the primary cardholder and up to 4 companions on the same reservation.
Loyalty Points for every cardholder
1 Loyalty Point per $1 spent, posted to each cardholder’s own AAdvantage account, toward American status.
Companion certificate
After $30,000 of purchases in a cardmembership year and renewal: one domestic Main Cabin companion ticket for $99 plus taxes and fees.
25% off in flight
On food and drinks on domestic American flights, and on inflight Wi-Fi, as a statement credit.
AAdvantage Business program
Booking, reporting and travel-management tools; the business also earns miles on business travel booked at aa.com.
Will the $99 fee pay off?
Enter what would go on this card. The result values points at TPG’s valuation, adds the credits that would actually be used and, in year one, the welcome offer, then sets the total against a no-fee card that pays 2% back on everything.
1 · Spending on this card
Example figures are filled in; replace them with real ones.
Advertising
1x
Shipping
1x
Internet, cable and phoneTelecom merchants and cable and satellite providers
2x
Office supplies
1x
Software and cloud services
1x
American Airlines purchasesCard miles only; miles earned as an AAdvantage member on the ticket are not counted
2x
Other flights
1x
Hotels
1x
Car rentals
2x
Dining
1x
Gas stations
2x
Everything else
1x
2 · Assumptions
The result
The fee is $0 in year one and $99 after. Not counted: the free first checked bag, preferred boarding, the companion certificate, 25% inflight savings and the Loyalty Points toward status.
Insurance and protections
Citi does not publish this card’s protection limits publicly.
Travel and purchase protection
Citi does not list travel or purchase protections for this card on its public card page or in the card’s Additional Information. Check the Guide to Benefits that comes with the card, or ask Citi, before relying on any cover.
Mastercard ID Theft Protection
Listed by Citi: free identity monitoring once enrolled.
Pros and cons
Pros
- First checked bag free for the cardholder and up to 4 companions on domestic American trips
- Every cardholder earns Loyalty Points toward status
- No fee in the first year, and no fee for employee cards
- 2x on telecom, cable and satellite, car rentals and gas, as well as American purchases
Cons
- Bag and boarding benefits apply only on the primary cardholder’s reservation
- No lounge access
- Miles go to the company account, not the individual
- Citi does not publish protection limits publicly
Card terms change often and some offers are personalized; the issuer’s page is the final word.