Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard overview
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and costs) is finest for American Airways flyers who worth lounge entry. It supplies a complimentary Admirals Membership membership, in addition to a number of different advantages that make flying American Airways extra gratifying. Card Score*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card ranking is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Whereas many bank cards supply airport lounge entry, the kinds of lounges every card will get you into can differ tremendously. There’s just one cobranded bank card that features complimentary, limitless entry to American Airways Admirals Membership lounges, and that is the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard.
The cardboard’s annual price is $595, which could appear steep, however that is nonetheless a lot cheaper than an Admirals Membership membership (costing from $700).
To be authorised for the cardboard, a credit score rating of 670 or larger is really useful.
Let’s evaluate all the advantages of this American Airways cobranded card that can assist you determine whether or not to hold — or preserve — it in your pockets.
Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite professionals and cons
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Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite welcome supply
For a restricted time, new Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard cardholders can earn 100,000 miles after spending $10,000 inside the first three months of account opening.
Based on TPG’s January 2026 valuations, the welcome bonus is value $1,550. This supply matches one of the best bonus we have seen within the card’s historical past, so should you’ve been contemplating the cardboard, now is a wonderful time to use.
Notice that you simply aren’t eligible to earn the bonus on this card should you’ve acquired a welcome bonus from this card (or one other Citi card that you’ve got transformed to this product) prior to now 48 months.
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Associated: Who’s eligible for the Citi / AAdvantage Govt’s bonus?
Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite advantages
What units the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard other than the competitors is that it supplies complimentary Admirals Membership entry.
The first cardholder receives a full Admirals Membership membership, which permits them and their speedy household or two company entry to the membership after they have a same-day boarding move for American or one among its companion airways. This bank card is tied to a cardholder’s AAdvantage account quantity, so there’s no want to hold the bodily card to get membership entry.
A person Admirals Membership membership ordinarily prices $700 to $850, relying in your standing stage with American and whether or not it is a new membership or a renewal. Meaning the annual price covers the lounge entry, even earlier than factoring within the card’s different advantages.
An extra $175 annual price is charged for the primary three approved customers and $175 for every approved person thereafter. Licensed customers obtain Admirals Membership entry for themselves and as much as two touring companions. Simply bear in mind that approved customers solely get Admirals Membership entry, versus a full Admirals Membership membership.
There are three assertion credit out there:
- As much as $120 again on eligible pay as you go Avis or Finances automobile leases each calendar yr
- As much as $120 again on eligible Grubhub purchases each 12 billing statements (as much as a $10 assertion credit score on every month-to-month billing assertion)
- As much as $120 in Lyft credit yearly ($10 Lyft credit score every month), however it’s a must to take three eligible rides every month first to obtain this credit score
Listed below are another worthwhile perks the cardboard gives:
- Enhanced airport expertise: You and as much as eight vacationers on the identical reservation will get precedence check-in (the place out there), airport screening (the place out there) and precedence boarding privileges. You possibly can even examine in at any business-class check-in place (or first-class check-in when enterprise class shouldn’t be out there), no matter which class you are touring in.
- First checked bag free on home itineraries: On home itineraries flown by American Airways or any regional subsidiary, the primary checked bag for you and as much as eight touring companions on the identical reservation is free.
- Inflight low cost: 25% off inflight meals and drinks if you pay together with your card (excludes inflight Wi-Fi)
- International Entry/TSA PreCheck price assertion credit score: Get an up-to-$120 assertion credit score when paying your International Entry or TSA PreCheck software price with this card. You’ll obtain the credit score as soon as each 4 years. Since you additionally obtain TSA PreCheck when enrolling for International Entry, we at all times advocate choosing International Entry.
This card additionally gives the next insurance coverage for:
- Automotive leases
- Misplaced baggage
- Journey cancellation
- Journey delay
- Journey interruption
Lastly, there are not any overseas transaction charges, making this card a good selection when touring overseas.
Associated: All the pieces it is advisable find out about overseas transaction charges
Incomes miles on the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite
With the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard, you’ll earn 4 miles per greenback on eligible American Airways purchases. Then, should you spend $150,000 on purchases in a calendar yr, you’ll earn a boosted charge of 5 miles per greenback spent on American purchases for the rest of the calendar yr.
You’ll additionally earn 10 miles per greenback spent on eligible automobile leases and inns booked by American’s automobile rental and resort reserving websites, respectively.
Lastly, you’ll earn 1 mile per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases.
Cardholders earn a bonus of 10,000 Loyalty Factors after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Factors in a standing qualification yr. They obtain one other bonus of 10,000 Loyalty Factors after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Factors in the identical standing qualification yr.
You’ll obtain the bonuses no matter the way you earn the Loyalty Factors. For instance, you possibly can earn 50,000 Loyalty Factors by shopping for American Airways tickets and procuring by the AAdvantage portal and get the ten,000 bonus factors simply by holding the cardboard.
Associated: 8 strategies that earned American AAdvantage Govt Platinum
Redeeming miles on the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite
The bottom round-trip tickets within the U.S. have a tendency to begin at 7,500 miles one-way for flights of lower than 500 miles.
Net specials beforehand provided embrace home cross-country flights for five,000 miles every approach in economic system or 15,000 miles every approach in top notch, flights to Europe from 9,000 miles every approach and flights to South America from 15,000 miles every approach.
Alternatively, you possibly can get a ton of worth by redeeming your AAdvantage miles for premium-cabin awards on companion airways, together with Cathay Pacific, Etihad and Qatar Airways.
TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt’s favourite approach of redeeming AAdvantage miles is to guide business-class flights on Etihad or Qatar Airways to the Center East and past to Asia and Africa.
The miles you’ll be able to earn with this card may show you how to make the holiday of your goals come true if you understand how to redeem them for top worth.
Associated: Finest makes use of of American Airways AAdvantage miles
Which playing cards compete with the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite?
The largest opponents to this card are principally different cobranded American Airways playing cards. That mentioned, you can even get tons of worth from a extra basic premium card.
The data for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Choose has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
For added choices, take a look at our full record of one of the best journey playing cards.
Associated: Selecting one of the best bank card for American Airways flyers
Backside line
Since an Admirals Membership membership begins at $700 annually, the $595-per-year Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard ought to catch the attention of any frequent American Airways flyer.
In order for you Admirals Membership entry and to spice up your AAdvantage mileage steadiness with a welcome bonus (whereas additionally easing elite standing necessities), this card supplies ongoing worth.
Nonetheless, you would possibly need to look elsewhere should you’re on the lookout for a card that provides you with a greater return in your spending.
Apply right here: Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard
