Does the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card offer lounge access?

The American Airlines credit card that gives free Admirals Club access is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. More specifically, this card gives primary cardholders access to nearly 50 Admirals Club airport lounges and over 60 partner lounges worldwide – a value of up to $650 per year. Authorized users also get free access to Admirals Club lounges, but not to partner lounges.… read full answer

More info about the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card benefits:

That’s quite a perk, especially when you consider that Admirals Club lounges are full of free food, drinks, and magazines, saving cardholders money at the airport. However, the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card isn’t exactly free. It has an annual fee of $450, so it’s definitely a card for American Airlines loyalists who spend a lot of time in airports.

American Airlines Admirals Club access isn’t the only benefit that comes with the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card. If you spend $5,500 within 3 months of account opening, you’ll get a bonus of 80,000 miles. There are also a handful of valuable travel perks, such as a free checked bag for yourself and up to 8 companions, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, priority boarding, and a 25% discount on in-flight food and drinks.

The only American Airlines credit card with lounge access is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. This card comes with an Admirals Club membership, which allows the primary cardholder and up to 2 guests free entry to nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges and more than 60 partner lounges at airports worldwide.

What you should know about the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card lounge access benefit:… read full answer

• Lounge access perks: Amenities vary by location and may include complimentary food and drinks, free Wi-Fi, business centers, and free digital newspapers and magazines.
• How to use the benefit: Primary cardholders and authorized users will need to present their Citi AAdvantage Executive Card, a government-issued ID such as a driver’s license, and a same-day boarding pass on an eligible flight to access Admirals Club lounges.
  
  Eligible flights are any departing or arriving flight operated by American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or any oneworld partner airline.
• Eligibility restrictions: Authorized users who are at least 18 years old may access Admirals Club lounges without the primary cardholder present. However, full Admirals Club membership does not apply to authorized users.
  
  That means they have no free access privileges at partner lounges, unless they’re a guest of either the primary cardholder or another member.

Although the Citi AAdvantage Executive Card is expensive to own, Admirals Club membership costs alone can cover the card’s steep $450 annual fee.

One of the best credit cards with lounge access is Chase Sapphire Reserve®, giving you a Priority Pass Select lounge membership ($429 annual value) that gets you into 1,300+ lounges worldwide. Depending on the lounge, you may be able to bring in guests for free, too. And Sapphire Reserve also gives you a $300 annual travel credit, plus an initial bonus worth $900 toward travel through Chase.… read full answer

Amex Platinum is another good airport lounge card, giving you access to 6 airport lounge networks and providing up to $200 in credits each year for incidental charges on a pre-selected airline. If you’re interested in a card tied to a specific airline, check out the Delta Reserve American Express card or the Citi Executive/AAdvantage World Elite Mastercard. Each gives access to its airline’s lounges.

Best Credit Cards with Lounge Access

Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Free membership to Priority Pass lounges, over 1,300 worldwide. $429 annual value. $32 per guest visit. $550 annual fee. Excellent credit needed.

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Free membership to the following lounge networks: Priority Pass (one-time enrollment required), Delta Sky Club, Centurion, International American Express, Airspace and Escape. Well over 1,300 total locations. Most places allow at least one guest for free. $695 annual fee. Good credit needed.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Free membership to Delta Sky Club lounges. More than 200 locations worldwide. $545+ value per year. $550 annual fee. Good credit needed.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: Free Admirals’ Club lounge membership. Nearly 50 lounges worldwide. 550+ annual value. $450 annual fee. Good credit needed.

United Club Infinite Credit Card: Free United Club membership. 45 locations worldwide. $650+ annual value. $525 annual fee. Good credit needed.

As you’ve probably noticed, credit cards with lounge access tend to have very high annual fees. But lounge access itself can be worth several hundred dollars per year, if you actually use it. So combined with your card’s other benefits, you can still get a good deal.