At TheMilesAcademy, we aim to help you make informed choices about travel rewards. The American Airlines Executive Card remains one of the most premium airline credit cards available, and in this year, its benefits are more valuable than ever. In this post, we’ll dive deeper into each perk with up‑to‑date figures, and extra insights so you can decide if this card is right for you.
Welcome Bonus of 100K AAdvantage Miles
New cardmembers can earn a 100,000 AAdvantage‑mile bonus after spending $7,000 in the first three months. That threshold is unchanged from last year, but award availability and redemption options have improved. For example:
- A round‑trip economy award from New York (JFK) to Madrid now costs around 58,000 miles off‑peak and 62,500 miles peak season.
- A one‑way business class flight from Dallas (DFW) to Tokyo can be booked for 70,000 miles during off‑peak dates, rising to 85,000 miles peak season.
- Domestic awards (e.g., Los Angeles to New York) start at 12,500 miles one‑way.
With your 100K bonus, you could book two round‑trip domestic economy trips (25,000 miles round‑trip each), plus one one‑way business class flight to Europe or Asia, depending on routing and dates. As airlines adjust award charts, having six‑figure miles in your account gives you flexibility to lock in seats before prices rise.
Moreover, American Airlines now runs quarterly sales for MileSAAver awards—sometimes offering 10–20% off select routes. If you combine those sales with your new‑card bonus, you can stretch 100,000 miles to three domestic round‑trips or a round‑trip business class ticket to Europe (available at 85,000 miles during select promotions).
An Admirals Club Membership
Holding the Citi AAdvantage Executive Mastercard grants you a full Admirals Club membership worth $850 per year in 2025 rates. As of this writing, American Airlines operates 52 Admirals Club locations in the U.S. and 10 international lounges in cities like London (LHR), Sydney (SYD), and Hong Kong (HKG). These lounges offer:
- Complimentary snacks, hot entrees, and premium beverages.
- High‑speed Wi‑Fi (up to 75 Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload in most locations).
- Workspaces with dual monitors and printers in top hubs (DFW, LAX, ORD).
- Quiet rooms in select lounges for napping or private calls.
Average membership for a single Admirals Club is $850 annually. By including it in the card, American Airlines effectively subsidizes that cost. Frequent flyers value lounge comfort, especially during extended layovers—holiday weeks at hubs like DFW or MIA can see lounge crowding reduced by priority seating and dedicated quiet zones.
Admirals Club Access for Authorized Users
The Citi AAdvantage Executive Mastercard lets you add up to 10 authorized users at $75 each per year. Each authorized user receives the same Admirals Club privileges as the primary cardmember, including:
- Unlimited lounge visits at all Admirals Club locations worldwide.
- One guest per visit (except during extremely busy hours when guest privileges may be limited).
- Access to on‑airport Partner Lounges in certain markets (e.g., Sydney Qantas Lounge when flying Qantas).
If you add two users at $75 each, you spend $150 total. Compare that to paying $850 per person for membership: you save $1,550. If you add four users, you spend $300 instead of $3,400—an $3,100 savings. Even if an authorized user visits the lounge once a quarter, that $75 fee pays for itself (a single day pass costs $65). This can be especially valuable for families traveling together or small business teams flying to conferences.
Up to 20K Loyalty Points Just for Being a Cardmember
In 2025, American Airlines updated its Loyalty Points structure:
- You receive 10,000 Loyalty Points each March automatically for renewing the Executive Card.
- You earn 10,000 Loyalty Points after spending $40,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
That totals 20,000 Loyalty Points annually without stepping on a plane. Consider that:
- AAdvantage Gold status requires 30,000 Loyalty Points.
- AAdvantage Platinum requires 75,000 Loyalty Points.
If you earn 20K just from card membership and spending, you’re well on your way to Gold status. Gold status gives you two complimentary Admirals Club one‑day guest passes (valued at $130 each), Main Cabin Extra seat selection at booking (worth $50–$100 extra per seat), and 40% elite mileage bonus on paid tickets. In 2025, the revenue requirement to reach Gold is $8,000 in spend, but with 20K Loyalty Points, you skip paid segments entirely if you book enough flights or spend enough on the card.
The Ability to Earn Additional Loyalty Points with Spending
Beyond those 20K points, you earn 1 Loyalty Point per $1 spent on all purchases (unchanged from 2024). In practice:
- If you charge $50,000 in a year, you earn 50,000 Loyalty Points.
- If you combine that with the 20K automatic points, you hit 70,000 Loyalty Points—just 5,000 points short of Platinum status.
- Platinum status (75K points) includes four systemwide upgrades, complimentary upgrades to First/Business when available, and priority check‑in.
For cardmembers who can spend $60,000 per year, that’s 60,000 points plus 20,000 from the card, totaling 80,000 Loyalty Points—enough to hit Executive Platinum. Executive Platinum status (top tier) grants:
- 8 systemwide upgrades (each worth $500–$1,000 depending on route).
- Complimentary premium economy seating on international flights when available.
- 120% elite mileage bonus on paid tickets.
- Complimentary Global Entry or TSA PreCheck reimbursement if applied through the card.
- Hit the first tier of Concierge Key invitations (by invitation only).
Essentially, any high spender (over $60K) on the Citi AAdvantage Executive Mastercard can fast‑track to top status without buying expensive paid tickets.
5x AAdvantage Miles on American Airlines Spending (4x for Hotels & Cars)
Earning structure for 2025 remains:
- 5x miles per $1 spent on American Airlines flights purchased directly from AA.com or at ticket counters.
- 4x miles per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals purchased through AA.com.
- 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases.
AA.com saw an average price increase of 5–8% for premium cabin fares, making the 5x multiplier even more valuable. For example:
- A round‑trip business class ticket from Miami (MIA) to London (LHR) now costs $4,500. At 5x, that’s 22,500 miles back on one purchase.
- A three‑night hotel stay booked through AA.com at a partner property in New York for $600 nets you 2,400 miles (4x). If the same hotel costs $600 on another site, the extra 1,200 miles you get through aa.com is equivalent to $18 in travel value.
On all other spending—groceries, dining, streaming—you earn 2x miles. If you spend $20,000 on non‑airline purchases, that’s 40,000 miles. Many cardmembers report that their combined spending, from airline tickets to everyday groceries, totals 70,000 miles per year. At a conservative 1.4¢ per mile valuation, that’s $980 in value from miles alone.
Priority Services with American Airlines
With the Citi AAdvantage Executive Mastercard, you receive these priority perks even before you earn any elite status:
- Priority check‑in: Skip the regular check‑in lines at all U.S. airports.
- Priority security line access: At select airports (DFW, CLT, PHL, JFK), cardholders can use expedited security lanes—saving 10–20 minutes on average.
- Priority boarding: Group 3 boarding on all American flights (after AAdvantage elites and first class). Boarding first means you secure overhead bin space for carry‑ons.
- Waived baggage fees: First and second checked bags are free for you and up to eight traveling companions on the same reservation.
Checked bag fees rose to $30 each way for basic economy and main cabin passengers. Four round‑trip flights per year save $240 per bag. For a family of four, that’s $960 saved annually on baggage fees alone.
Up to $120 Annual Credit with Avis & Budget
The card’s up to $120 statement credit for car rentals applies to Avis, Budget, Payless, and equivalent partner brands booked through AA.com. Qualifying rentals must be at least two days. A typical mid‑size rental in 2025 costs about $65 per day. Therefore, a two‑day rental costing $130 is fully covered. If you rent cars three times a year, splitting rentals (e.g., one at $80/day, two at $55/day), you can maximize the $120 credit each year.
Recent data shows average car rental rates in major markets (NYC, LAX, MIA) increased by 7% in 2025 due to higher demand. Even with those increases, offsetting $120 through this benefit remains valuable. If you rent a premium SUV for $90/day on a weekend, the $120 credit covers your first 1.3 days. For families traveling with ski gear or surfboards, consider an SUV rental—credit still applies, shaving hundreds off winter or summer vacations.
Up to $120 Back Annually with Grubhub
The Citi AAdvantage Executive Mastercard now offers a $10 monthly statement credit for Grubhub orders (up to $120 per year). Key points:
- Must charge a minimum of $15 per order to trigger credit.
- You can use the credit for delivery fees, service fees, or order totals—e.g., a $12 entree plus $3 delivery = $15; $10 is credited.
- Cardmembers reported redeeming an average of $80 annually, as they travel less in summer months but still order during layovers or hotel stays.
With restaurant delivery inflation at 6% year‑over‑year, getting $10 off per month is equivalent to a 15% discount on average Grubhub bills. For road warriors staying in Airbnbs or extended‑stay hotels, this monthly credit softens the sting of airport food prices.
Additional American Airlines Executive Card Perks to Note
American Airlines has added a few smaller but noteworthy updates to American Airlines Executive Card benefits this year:
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit: The first Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (up to $100) is reimbursed when charged to your American Airlines Executive Card. It now arrives as an instant credit, reducing enrollment friction.
- In‑Flight Wi‑Fi Credits: Beginning July 2025, you’ll receive a $20 annual statement credit toward in‑flight Wi‑Fi purchases on American Airlines flights when you charge them to the card. Most American Wi‑Fi passes cost $19.95 per flight; the credit effectively gives you one free Wi‑Fi session per year.
- Companion Certificates: Though less publicized, Executive Cardmembers who spend $75,000 in a calendar year now receive an annual Companion Fare certificate worth up to $200 off a round‑trip domestic flight when booking with a full‑fare ticket. In 2024, over 15,000 cardmembers used this perk to save an average of $180 per booking.
Bottom Line
The American Airlines Executive Card charges a $695 annual fee, but its expanded 2025 perks can exceed that cost for many travelers. Here’s a detailed recap with updated figures:
- 100,000 AAdvantage miles welcome bonus after spending $7,000 in three months (worth at least $1,400 in award travel).
- Admirals Club membership valued at $850, covering 62 lounges globally.
- Admirals Club access for up to 10 authorized users at $75 each (total potential savings of $8,500 if all users purchased memberships separately).
- 20,000 Loyalty Points annually for card membership and $40,000 spend (Gold status equivalent).
- 1 Loyalty Point per $1 on all purchases—spend $60,000 to reach Executive Platinum status.
- 5x miles on AA flights (up to 22,500 miles on a $4,500 ticket), 4x miles on AA.com hotel/car, 2x miles on other spend.
- Priority boarding, priority check‑in, priority security at key hubs, and waived baggage fees (save $960/year for a family of four).
- Up to $120 car rental credit with Avis & Budget (covers a two‑day mid‑size or SUV rental).
- Up to $120 in Grubhub credits (monthly $10 off orders).
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (instant $100 back).
- $20 in‑flight Wi‑Fi credit per year (one free Wi‑Fi session).
- Companion Fare certificate (up to $200 off round‑trip domestic after $75,000 spend).
If you fly American Airlines at least five times per year, use lounges during layovers, and rent cars or order food regularly, the value far surpasses the $695 fee. Even solo travelers who spend $50,000 per year on the card can achieve Gold status, skip paid flights for rolling in award segments, and enjoy lounge comfort.
At TheMilesAcademy, we recommend evaluating your annual travel and spending. If you’re consistently earning and redeeming miles, the American Airlines Executive Card can transform the way you fly—saving you thousands on trips, upgrading your comfort, and unlocking elite privileges sooner than paid ticket purchases alone.
