A reader recently messaged me to find out what the best credit card was for earning American AAdvantage miles. More specifically, he’s been deciding between the Citi AAdvantage Platinum and CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Card. Both cards offer generous sign-up bonuses and carry the same $99 annual fee, which is waived for the first 12 months.
You’d expect a business and personal version of the same card to be almost identical, right? The difference here is actually substantial when it comes to sign-up bonuses, spending requirements, category bonuses and travel perks.
Citi AAdvantage Platinum vs. CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum: Sign-up Bonuses
When it comes to publicly available sign-up bonuses, the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Card offers a bigger sign-up bonus. Cardholders earn 70,000 miles after $4,000 spent in 4 months. Meanwhile, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum *only* pays out 60,000 miles after $3,000 spent in 3 months.
My sister recently got offers in the mail for both the Citi AAdvantage Platinum and business cards that were slightly higher: 65,000 miles after $4,000 spent within 4 months for the personal card and 75,000 miles after $5,000 spent within 5 months for the business card.
You can probably get targeted for higher sign-up bonuses like this if you’re opted in to receive marketing materials from Citi and American Airlines.
Regardless of whether you sign up with a public or targeted offer, the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum card has a higher sign-up bonus and spending requirement. Of course, an extra $1,000 worth of spending shouldn’t scare you off, considering all the ways you can complete spending requirements without manufactured spending.
Citi AAdvantage Platinum vs. CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Card: Category Bonuses
Beyond the sign-up bonus, category bonuses are the most important features of a credit card. After all, once the thrill of a big balance hitting your account passes you’ll want to keep earning miles. Preferably at a rate higher than 1 mile per $1 spent.
In general, business cards tend to offer superior category bonuses. The CitiBusiness AAdvantage card is no exception. Cardholders earn 2x miles on gas, cable, satellite, telecommunications (i.e. cell phone bills), rental cars, and American Airlines purchases. That’s actually very practical, even for non-business use.
Meanwhile, the Citi AAdvanatage Platinum card earns 2x miles on dining, gas and American Airlines purchases. Totally solid, but not as useful at the bonuses offered by the CitiBusiness AAdvantage card.
Obviously, the business version of this card is superior because it covers more categories. For me personally, the CitiBusiness AAdvantage category bonuses don’t make a huge difference because I earn 5x points on cable and cell phone spending with my Chase Ink Plus.
Not everyone has this card, however, so if you’re looking for lots of category bonuses in the form of AAdvantage miles, you’ll want to go with the Citi Business AAdvantage Platinum Card.
Citi AAdvantage Platinum vs. CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum: Travel Benefits
Both cards offer preferred boarding on American Airlines flights, 25% off in-flight food and beverage purchases. Plus a free checked bag for up to four passengers. Considered a checked bag costs $30 on domestic flights, this benefit can save you up to $120 per segment.
The only differentiator for CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum cardholders is an added 25% off in-flight wifi on American Airlines flights. Considering in-flight wifi costs $12 – $20, this likely won’t add up much for average folks. Business travelers who get their travel expenses reimbursed will appreciate this.
Citi AAdvantage AAdvantage Companion Certificate vs. $125 Flight Discount
What really makes a credit card worth keeping long-term are the recurring benefits it offers. Since there is no sign-up bonus the following year, something has to make keeping this card worthwhile. Both cards offer pretty generous perks.
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum issues a $125 American Airlines flight discount every year you spend $20,000 on the card. That’s just 13 GiftCardMall Visa orders! You’ll not only earn 20,000 airline mile (almost enough for a roundtrip economy class anywhere in the U.S.) but you’ll get $125 any revenue flights you might need to book. Not bad!
How does the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum stack up? Cardholders who manage to spend $30,000 on the card in a year get a Companion Certificate. But don’t get too excited – this isn’t like the Southwest Companion Pass.
It basically allows you to book a ticket for a traveling companion for $99. With taxes and fees, it comes up to around $125, which is why this is going to be a bigger money saver than a $125 airfare discount.
That being said, the $125 American Airlines flight discount doesn’t require a travel companion. So if you’re a solo traveler, this will be more useful to you than the CitiBusiness card’s Companion Certificate.
Which Card Should You Get?
Considering the benefits of the two cards are the same, I think the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum is the best card for those who want to earn the most AAdvantage miles possible. The card offers a higher sign-up bonus then the Citi AAdvantage Platinum and has more/better category bonuses.
While they’re not useful for manufactured spending purposes, they can help you earn more AAdvantage miles on your everyday spending.
Which AAdvantage credit card would you opt for to earn the most miles possible?
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You do know tons of fraudulent activity are happening on GCM.com right now and funny enough Citi cards seem to be the ones getting hacked the most. Just an fyi.
Not surprised. I’ve had a recurring issue with my Citi cards getting hacked (even pre-GCM) – it just happened again yesterday. Someone tried to make a purchase on an Italian website using my card.
You can apply for Barclay’s Red Aviator Business or personal are good options too.
And I actually prefer those cards over Citi, since the sign-up bonuses are easier. This reader asked about these two Citi cards specifically.
Get the black executive card it includes access to any admirals club and up to 7 additional cards with the same advantages does cost $450 annually but worth every penny if you fly a lot.
I have a MS question not related to this post. I just read that many people who had their Bluebirds/Serve cards shut down in the past are able to get a new one. I applied just now and was approved. The last time I used these cards I would load gift cards on to the BB/Serve at the Kate machines at Walmart. Now that those machines seem to be gone do you know how else to load gift cards onto these cards at WM?
You can load them at the register as well. I stopped using Bluebird years ago, mainly because the shut-downs were becoming so rampant.
And rampant they are again….
Ariana Thank you for the review of these two cards.
Sure thing!