Review: Is the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® best for you?
If you're a small business owner who wants to earn American Airlines miles, it's hard to argue against the
This card comes with a generous sign-up bonus that is relatively easy to earn. You can rack up 65,000 American AAdvantage miles when you spend just $4,000 on this card within the first four months of account opening, which can easily be enough for three round-trip domestic flights in economy or even a round-trip flight to Europe in economy during peak travel times.
There's no annual fee the first year, and you also get frequent flyer perks just for being a cardholder. These include preferred boarding that lets you get on the plane early, a free checked bag, 25% off eligible in-flight purchases, and the opportunity to earn a $99 domestic companion certificate.
As a side note, you should be aware that you do need to be a small business owner or self-employed person to qualify for this card. If you don't have an Employer Identification Number (EIN), however, you can apply as a sole proprietor using your Social Security number.
You should also know that, although Citi has some pretty strict rules that govern how often you can earn a sign-up bonus within one of their "families" of cards (including personal American Airlines credit cards), the rules are less stringent for their business cards.
With the
Bottom line: The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard® is a good option for small business owners or independent contractors who want to earn American Airlines miles on their everyday purchases. The sign-up bonus alone can get you one or more award flights, and you'll enjoy perks like a free checked bag when you fly American.
CitiBusiness AAdvantage card versus other American Airlines cards
| Personal or business card | Business | Personal | Business |
| Annual fee | $0 for the first year, then $99 | $0 for the first year, then $99 | $95 |
| Rewards rate | 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases 2x miles on eligible purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases 2x miles at eligible restaurants and gas stations 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 2x miles on American Airlines purchases 2x miles on purchases at office supply stores, telecom providers, and car rental merchants 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases |
| Welcome bonus | 65K miles after you spend $4K in the first 4 months | 65k miles after you spend $1K in the first 90 days, plus 10K miles when a purchase is made on an employee card | |
| Not available through Business Insider |
CitiBusiness AAdvantage card versus other travel business cards
| Annual fee | $0 for the first year, then $99 | $250 | $0 the first year, then $95 |
| Rewards rate | 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases 2x miles on eligible purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 3x miles on eligible purchases with Delta Air Lines and hotels 1.5x miles on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 2x miles on all purchases |
| Welcome bonus | 65K miles after you spend $4K in the first 4 months | ||
When it comes to finding a travel credit card for your business, you need to think long and hard about the type of rewards you want to earn. The
The
Maybe you're worried about being tied down to a specific airline loyalty program. In that case, it can make sense to sign up for a card like the
Using American Airlines miles
If you do decide to sign up for the
In terms of using your miles, the American AAdvantage program and oneworld partners let you fly to more than 1,000 destinations around the globe. Round-trip domestic MileSAAver awards start at just 25,000 miles, and you can fly round-trip to Hawaii in economy using a MileSAAver award for just 45,000 miles. American's award chart also allows for one-way flights from the United States to Europe in business class for as little as 57,500 miles, as well as one-way flights in business to the South Pacific starting at 80,000 miles.
In addition to redeeming miles for flights, the American Airlines program lets you cash in miles for an Admirals Club airport lounge membership, American Airlines vacations, and flight upgrades. You can also donate your miles to an array of important causes, and remember, your miles won't expire as long as you earn miles or redeem miles at least once every 18 months.
CitiBusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select card features
When it comes to the benefits this card offers, you'll notice that most are geared to frequent flyers. As a cardholder of the
Free checked bag
The free checked bag you get with this card applies to you, the cardholder, as well as up to four companions on your flight itinerary. This perk is good for domestic flights on American Airlines.
Preferred boarding
You'll also get preferred boarding when you fly with American Airlines. This means you get the chance to board the plane early and get settled in your seat before others do, and it means you can lock in carry-on baggage space before it's gone.
In-flight savings
You'll get 25% off in-flight purchases of food, drinks or wifi access when you pay with your credit card.
No foreign transaction fees
Use your card outside the United States with having to pay standard foreign transaction fees. This benefit can be immensely useful each time your business travel takes you abroad.
CitiBusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select card costs and fees
When you sign up for the
The interest rate on this card is currently set at a variable rate of
