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American Airlines is one of the world’s largest airlines, and its loyalty program, American Airlines AAdvantage, offers a suite of cobranded credit cards with Citi.
These credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses that come with thousands of valuable AAdvantage miles, but timing your application matters.
Welcome bonuses fluctuate frequently, and our historical data can help you identify when offers peak.
We’ve compiled the offer history for the most popular Citi / AAdvantage cards so you can decide when to apply.
(Note: We will only discuss publicly available welcome offers. However, you might receive targeted offers with more bonus miles or cash back. Keep in mind that offers may change at any time, and some of the offers mentioned below may not be available at this time.)
Best Citi / AAdvantage credit card welcome bonuses
| Card | Best welcome offer we’ve seen | When to apply |
|---|---|---|
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. | When the bonus offer is for 75,000 miles or more | |
Earn 90,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. | When the bonus offer is for 90,000 miles or more | |
Earn 125,000 bonus miles after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first five months from account opening. | When the bonus offer is for 100,000 miles or more | |
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first five months of account opening. | When the bonus offer is for 75,000 miles or more |
The information for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Best welcome offers of the month
Citi / AA Platinum Select
The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select’s perks include access to preferred boarding, no foreign transaction fees and a free checked bag on domestic flights, making it an excellent choice for anyone who flies American Airlines regularly.
Plus, you can earn a $125 flight discount after spending $20,000 or more per year on the card. The card has no introductory annual fee during the first year; the annual fee is $99 thereafter.
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Here are the offers we’ve seen on the Citi / AA Platinum Select:
Welcome offer history
| Approximate date | Offer | Value* |
|---|---|---|
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $725 | |
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. | $1,160 | |
September 2025 to January 2026 | Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $725 |
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. | $1,160 | |
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $725 | |
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. | $1,088 | |
October 2024 to February 2025 | Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $725 |
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. | $1,088 | |
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $725 | |
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. | $1,088 | |
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $870 | |
May 2023 to February 2024 | Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $725 |
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s September 2026 valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
Highest welcome offer
The highest offer we’ve seen offered new cardholders 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases within the first four months of account opening.
When to apply
If the offer is for 75,000 miles or more, it’s a good time to apply.
To learn more, read our full review of the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard.
Related: 6 reasons to get the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard
Citi / AA Globe
The Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard is a mid-tier card option for American Airlines flyers. It offers perks frequently associated with a cobranded airline card, like a free checked bag and priority boarding, but it also offers more elevated perks, such as four annual Admirals Club passes, a statement credit for inflight purchases and a companion certificate.
Here are the offers we’ve seen on the Citi / AA Globe:
Welcome offer history
| Approximate date | Offer | Value* |
|---|---|---|
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | $870 | |
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first four months from account opening. | $1,305 | |
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $870 | |
October 2025 to March 2026 | Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first four months from account opening. | $1,305 |
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
Highest welcome offer
The highest welcome offer we’ve seen on the Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard gave new cardholders the opportunity to earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first four months of account opening.
When to apply
If the offer is for 90,000 miles or more, it’s an ideal time to apply.
Learn more: Citi / AAdvantage Globe Mastercard
Citi / AA Executive
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive is the premium card in the AAdvantage lineup.
Cardholders enjoy a complimentary Admirals Club membership — a value that alone more than makes up for the card’s $695 annual fee. It also offers up to $180 in annual statement credits for Lyft (allotted up to $15 monthly; you must take three eligible rides each month to receive the credit) and eligible Grubhub purchases (up to $120 annually, allotted up to $10 monthly; only available for cardholders who applied prior to Aug. 23 until Aug. 31, 2027).
Here are the offers we’ve seen on the Citi / AA Executive:
Welcome offer history
| Approximate date | Offer | Value* |
|---|---|---|
For a limited time, earn 125,000 bonus miles after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first five months of account opening. | $1,813 | |
Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $1,015 | |
Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $1,450 | |
July 2025 to January 2026 | Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $1,015 |
Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $1,450 | |
Earn 70,000 miles after spending $7,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $1,015 | |
Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $1,450 | |
September 2023 to June 2024 | Earn 70,000 miles after spending $7,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $1,015 |
Earn 100,000 miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | $1,450 |
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
Highest welcome offer
The highest welcome offer we’ve seen on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard gives new cardholders a chance to earn 125,000 bonus miles after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first five months of account opening. This is the current offer.
When to apply
If the offer is for 100,000 miles or more, it’s an excellent time to apply.
Learn more: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard
Citi / AA Business
The Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard is excellent for businesses with employees who frequently fly American Airlines. Its perks include a free checked bag on domestic flights, preferred boarding and the potential to earn a companion certificate. The card has no introductory annual fee during the first year; the annual fee is $99 thereafter.
Here are the offers we’ve seen on the Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard:
Welcome offer history
| Approximate date | Offer | Value* |
|---|---|---|
Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months from account opening. | $943 | |
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first five months from account opening. | $1,088 | |
December 2025 to March 2026 | Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months from account opening. | $943 |
September to December 2025 | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first five months of account opening. | $1,088 |
Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. | $943 | |
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first five months of account opening. | $1,088 | |
Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. | $943 | |
October 2024 to January 2025 | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first five months of account opening. | $1,088 |
Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. | $943 | |
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first five months of account opening. | $1,088 | |
August 2020 to April 2024 | Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months of account opening. | $943 |
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
Highest welcome offer
The highest welcome offer we’ve seen for the Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard was when it gave new cardholders the opportunity to earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first five months of account opening.
When to apply
If the offer is for 75,000 miles or more, you should consider applying.
Learn more: Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard
Application restrictions
Citi has some strict application restrictions. Citi doesn’t limit the number of cards you can have, but it will limit your overall credit.
Citi is also sensitive to recent inquiries, so for the best results, wait a few months from your last card application before applying for a Citi card.
Additionally, Citi has the 8/65 rule, which means:
- You can apply for only one card (personal or business) every eight days and no more than two cards in a 65-day window.
- You can only apply for one business card every 90 days.
There are exceptions to this rule, but this is general guidance for optimal results.
You’ll generally want a good credit score of at least 670 before applying for either card.
Additionally, if you have previously earned a welcome bonus on a Citi / AAdvantage card, it’s possible to earn another.
According to the Citi / AA Executive’s terms, “New account bonus is not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive account in the past 48 months or if you converted another Citi credit card account on which you earned a new account bonus in the last 48 months into a Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive account.”
These terms apply only to individual cards, not to the whole family of cards. You can also hold multiple Citi / AA cards at the same time. You can even earn multiple welcome bonuses as long as they are different card products and it’s outside the 48-month window.
It’s important to note that the 48-month period starts when you receive the welcome bonus, not when you’re approved for the card. For example, if you switch to the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard after earning the welcome bonus on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, you’d still have to wait 48 months from when you earned your welcome bonus on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive to earn another Citi / AAdvantage Executive welcome bonus.
Related: What you need to know about earning another American Airlines card welcome bonus
Bottom line
Before applying for a Citi / AAdvantage credit card, make sure you’re getting the best possible welcome bonus.
Our historical data on welcome offers can serve as a reference point for determining the best time to apply for Citi / AA cards, based on year-over-year trends.
Be sure to check our other offer history guides for reference when you’re looking to apply for your next credit card:
