If you run a small business and travel frequently with American Airlines, the CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard just got a lot more interesting. Right now, you can grab 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first five months—and the $99 annual fee is waived for the first year. That's a solid deal for anyone looking to stockpile miles for a future trip.
What Makes This Card Stand Out?
This card is built for business owners who live and breathe American Airlines. The welcome bonus alone—75,000 miles—can get you a one-way business class ticket to Japan (just 60k miles each way). That's a steal.
Plus, you earn 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases, telecom services, cable, satellite, car rentals, and gas stations. Everything else gets you 1 mile per dollar. Not too shabby for daily business expenses.
- Free checked bag on domestic American flights for you and up to 4 companions
- Priority boarding so you never fight for overhead bin space
- 25% discount on in-flight Wi-Fi, food, and drinks when you pay with the card
- No foreign transaction fees—great for international business trips
How Much Are Those Miles Actually Worth?
AAdvantage miles typically get valued at about 1.4 cents each. So 75,000 miles is roughly $1,050 in travel value. But you can do better if you book premium cabins or use partners like Qatar Airways or Japan Airlines.
Just remember: miles expire after 18 months of inactivity. Keep earning or redeeming every now and then to keep your balance alive.
A Few Things to Watch For
The $99 annual fee kicks in after year one, but you can offset it with the free checked bag perk—two round trips with a colleague will save you at least that much.
The companion certificate is nice but requires $30,000 in annual spend and renewing the card. Taxes and fees on the companion ticket range from about $21 to $43, so it's not completely free.
Also, business cards from Citi usually don't count toward Chase's 5/24 rule, so this won't hurt your chances for other cards.
Bottom Line
- 75,000 bonus miles after $5k spend in 5 months is a strong offer
- No annual fee first year, so you can test it risk-free
- Free checked bags and priority boarding add real value
- Great for earning AA miles on everyday business spending
Common Questions
Can I get this card if I already have a personal AAdvantage card?
Yes, Citi business cards are separate from personal ones, so you can hold both.
How do I avoid the annual fee after year one?
You can't avoid it permanently, but the $99 fee is waived the first year. After that, you can decide if the perks justify the cost.
Do employee cards earn miles too?
Yes, you can get employee cards at no extra cost, and they earn miles on their purchases.
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