Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
vs. AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® are both excellent choices for American Airlines travelers, offering similar perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. However, the Aviator Red World Elite is the better option due to its generous sign-up bonus and travel insurance.

While the Citi AA Platinum Select offers higher rewards on American Airlines purchases, the Aviator Red World Elite's lower credit score requirement and additional travel protections make it more appealing.

The Citi AA Platinum Select is likely to be better for frequent American Airlines travelers who want to maximize their miles and enjoy standard airline perks. It offers 3X miles on AA purchases and 2X on hotels and car rentals. However, it may not be suitable for those who can't meet the $20,000 annual spending requirement to earn the companion certificates.

The Aviator Red World Elite is a good choice for frequent American Airlines travelers who value travel insurance and a straightforward sign-up bonus. A lower credit score requirement makes it more accessible to a wide range of users. However, it may not be the best fit for those who want to earn bonus miles on non-airline purchases.

A point-by-point comparison helps you evaluate specific features like APRs, fees and rewards. For instance, if you're focused on earning miles, the Citi AA Platinum Select offers 3X miles on AA purchases, compared to 2X with the Aviator Red World Elite. This makes the Citi card more rewarding for frequent AA flyers.

Both the Citi AA Platinum Select and Aviator Red World Elite cards offer rewards through the American AAdvantage program, earning miles valued at approximately 1.6 cents each. The Citi AA Platinum Select card provides more diverse earning opportunities with 2X miles on dining and gas and 3X on American Airlines purchases, while the Aviator Red World Elite focuses on 2X miles for American Airlines purchases.

Both are great reward cards and allow you to redeem miles through the American AAdvantage program, primarily for flights. The Citi AA Platinum Select offers flexibility with over 1,000 destinations, while the Aviator Red Elite includes partner airlines, albeit with potential complications. Miles expire after 18 months of inactivity, so regular use is essential.

The Aviator Red World Elite offers superior perks, notably travel insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver, which are absent in the Citi AA Platinum Select. Both cards provide a free checked bag and preferred boarding, but the Citi AA Platinum Select extends these benefits to more companions. The Global Entry Fee Credit with the Citi AA Platinum Select is a unique perk for frequent international travelers.

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 inflight food and beverage purchases

The Aviator Red World Elite card offers a range of perks for frequent travelers and those seeking added travel protection.

Travel Perks

• Free checked first bags for you and up to four companions on domestic American Airlines itineraries
• Priority boarding for you and up to four companions on American Airlines flights

Status

• Earn one Loyalty Point for every mile earned, contributing to higher loyalty status.
• Companion Certificate for one guest at $99 (plus taxes and fees) after spending $20,000 annually

Insurance & Protections

• Comprehensive travel insurance, including travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption coverage and baggage delay insurance
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver offering primary coverage for theft and collision damage on rental cars

Credits & Discounts

• Up to $25 back as statement credits on inflight Wi-Fi purchases annually
• 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases as statement credits

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.