Updated: October 20, 2024
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The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card are both tailored for frequent flyers, offering airline-specific perks. The AA Executive World Elite is the better choice for American Airlines loyalists due to its Admirals Club membership and higher rewards rate on AA purchases.
However, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum is worth considering for its valuable companion certificate and lower annual fee.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is likely better for frequent American Airlines travelers who prioritize comfort and convenience during their travels and can take advantage of the Admirals Club membership, priority boarding and 4X miles on AA purchases. However, the high annual fee and spending requirement for the intro offer may not suit those who don't fly with American Airlines regularly.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is suitable for frequent Delta flyers who can take advantage of its Companion Certificate. With a lower annual fee than some premium cards, it has a balance of rewards and benefits, including 3X miles on Delta purchases and hotel bookings. However, it may not suit those who require lounge access, as this card does not include it.
While overall scores are useful, detailed comparisons reveal which card suits your needs. For instance, if you frequently fly with Delta, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum offers 3X miles on Delta purchases; however, you won't find the AA Executive World Elite's 4X miles on American Airlines purchases as appealing.
Regular APR: Delta SkyMiles Platinum
Delta SkyMiles Platinum has a better regular APR at a slightly lower range of 20.49%–29.49%; AA Executive World Elite's is at 20.74%–29.74%.
Annual Fee: Delta SkyMiles Platinum
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum has lower annual fees at $350 than the AA Executive World Elite's $595. The Citi AA card also charges $175 for up to three authorized users.
Introductory 0% APRs: Tie
Neither the AA Executive World Elite nor the Delta SkyMiles Platinum has an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers.
Rewards: Delta SkyMiles Platinum
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum offers 3X miles on Delta and hotel purchases and 2X at restaurants and groceries. The AA Executive World Elite provides 4X miles on American Airlines purchases and 1X on others.
Welcome Offers: Delta SkyMiles Platinum
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum welcome offer is 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in six months, compared to the AA Executive World Elite's 70,000 miles for $7,000 in three months.
Recommended Credit Score: Tie
Both AA Executive World Elite and Delta SkyMiles Platinum require a credit score of 670–850, making them equally accessible.
Penalties and Fees: Tie
The AA Executive World Elite charges a late fee of up to $41, while the Delta SkyMiles Platinum charges up to $40. Both cards have a penalty APR of 29.99%.
Issuer Satisfaction: Delta SkyMiles Platinum
Customers are reportedly more satisfied with American Exchange, the issuer of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card, which boasts a higher rating than Citi, the issuer of the AA Executive World Elite card.
Card Benefits: AA Executive World Elite
The AA Executive World Elite offers benefits like the Admirals Club membership, valued at $474. In comparison, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum provides a Companion Certificate valued at $368.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum offers slightly better overall value due to its higher earning rates on dining and groceries. However, the AA Executive World Elite provides more value for American Airlines purchases.
The AA Executive World Elite earns AAdvantage miles, valued at approximately 1.6 cents, while the Delta SkyMiles Platinum earns SkyMiles, valued at approximately 1.4 cents.
The following table outlines the rewards categories for each card, allowing you to see the potential earnings at a glance.
Category | AA Executive World Elite | Delta SkyMiles Platinum |
|---|---|---|
American Airlines Purchases | 4X miles | 1X miles |
Delta Purchases | 1X miles | 3X miles |
Dining | 1X miles | 2X miles |
Groceries | 1X miles | 2X miles |
Hotels | 1X/3.25X if booked through the AAdvantage Hotels portal | 3X miles |
Car Rentals | 1X/3.25X if booked through the American Airlines portal | 1X miles |
All Other Purchases | 1X miles | 1X miles |
The AA Executive World Elite offers miles that must be earned or redeemed every 18 months to avoid expiration, but redemption is mostly limited to American Airlines and partners. Delta SkyMiles Platinum provides more flexibility, allowing redemptions for airfare, upgrades and more.
The AA Executive World Elite card offers superior perks with its Admirals Club membership, which comes with extensive lounge access. Meanwhile, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card stands out with its Annual Companion Certificate. Both cards offer free checked bags, with the Citi card covering more companions and the Delta card's rideshare credit helping offset travel costs for frequent travelers.
The AA Executive World Elite offers a range of perks for frequent travelers and those seeking to enhance their travel experience.
Travel Perks
Status
Insurance & Protections
Credits & Discounts
All Other Perks
Delta SkyMiles Platinum's perks cater to frequent travelers and those seeking to enhance their travel experience.
Travel Perks
Status
Insurance & Protections
Credits & Discounts
All other perks
The AA Executive World Elite card has an annual fee of $595, while the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card has a fee of $350.
The AA Executive World Elite offers 4X miles on American Airlines purchases, while the Delta SkyMiles Platinum provides 3X miles on Delta purchases.
The AA Executive World Elite includes an Admirals Club membership with lounge access, while the Delta SkyMiles Platinum does not.
The AA Executive World Elite offers 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 in the first three months. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum provides 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first six months.
Neither card charges foreign transaction fees.
MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the 'Airline' category. Several factors determine this score:
For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
