Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
vs. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card is the better choice for frequent Alaska Airlines travelers due to its higher rewards rate and more accessible credit requirements. It offers 3X miles on Alaska Airlines purchases and a companion fare annually.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is still worth considering for American Airlines loyalists. It offers 3X miles on AA purchases and two companion certificates after meeting a spending threshold.

Both cards waive foreign transaction fees, but the Alaska Airlines card is more accessible as it has a lower credit requirement.

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card is likely to be better for frequent Alaska Airlines travelers who want to maximize their rewards on purchases. This card offers 3X miles on Alaska Airlines purchases and includes a companion fare annually without a spending requirement. However, it may not suit those who do not frequently fly with Alaska Airlines.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a good choice for frequent American Airlines travelers who can take advantage of the 3X miles on American Airlines purchases and additional bonus miles on hotels and car rentals. They should also be able to meet the $20,000 annual spending requirement to earn two companion certificates. If you don't frequently fly with American Airlines or can't meet the spending threshold, this card may not be the best fit.

A point-by-point comparison helps you evaluate specific features like APRs, fees and rewards to clarify differences beyond overall scores. For instance, if you're focused on earning miles but have an airline preference, the Citi AA Platinum Select offers 3X miles on American Airlines purchases, while the Alaska Airlines card provides 3X miles on Alaska Airlines purchases.

Both cards are part of their respective airline loyalty programs. The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles are valued at approximately 1.4 cents, while American AAdvantage miles are valued at approximately 1.6 cents.

In terms of rewards value, the Citi AA Platinum Select offers a slightly higher value per mile, making it more appealing for those focused on maximizing rewards. The Alaska Airlines card, however, provides a broader range of bonus categories, which may benefit cardholders with diverse spending habits.

The following table provides a detailed comparison of the rewards categories for each card.

The Alaska Airlines card allows you to redeem miles for flights on Alaska Airlines and its partners without expiration. However, redemption options are limited compared to the Citi card. The Citi AA Platinum Select offers broader redemption through the AAdvantage program, but miles expire if inactive for 18 months.

The Alaska Airlines Signature's perks, including an annual companion fare and free checked bags for up to six guests, have a higher overall value. The Citi AA Platinum Select offers loyalty points and a flight discount for frequent American Airlines flyers.

The Alaska Airlines Signature offers a range of perks for frequent flyers and loyal Alaska Airlines customers.

Travel Perks

• Free checked bag for you and up to six companions on the same booking
• Priority boarding

Credits & Discounts

• Buy one, get one flight offer with 50,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
• Alaska's Famous Companion Fare annually after meeting spending requirements
• 20% back on all Alaska Airlines in-flight purchases
• $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership

The Citi AA Platinum Select card offers a range of travel perks and discounts for frequent flyers and those looking to enhance their travel experience.

Travel Perks

• Free checked first bags for you and up to eight companions on domestic American Airlines flights
• Preferred boarding for you and up to eight companions on American Airlines flights

Status

• Earn one Loyalty Point for every eligible mile earned from purchases

Credits & Discounts

• $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after spending $20,000 annually
• 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases

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:

• Expected value for travelers: Measures the monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for frequent travelers.
• Airline scope: Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which helps inform the breadth of travel options for the airline program.
• Introductory offer ROI value: Assesses the return on investment (ROI) from the card's sign-up bonus.
• Airline rewards rate for travelers: Evaluates the rewards earned on airline expenditures for frequent travelers.
• Issuer satisfaction: Based on customer satisfaction ratings from studies like J.D. Power.
• Foreign transaction fees: Rates the card's fees for international transactions.
• Recommended credit: Indicates the credit score range required for approval.

For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.