Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select: Which Is Better In 2025?

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we think the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a solid choice for many American Airlines flyers.

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• You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases, at restaurants, and at gas stations, with 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
• Cardholders and up to four companions on the same reservation receive their first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries.
• The free checked bag benefit can offset the card's $99 annual fee (waived the first year) if you take just two round-trip domestic flights with a checked bag each year (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• No foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the U.S.
• Spending on the card earns Loyalty Points, which count toward qualifying for AAdvantage elite status.
• You receive a discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases when flying with American Airlines.

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Cons

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• The card's earning rates are not as competitive as other travel cards, and some benefits require a high spending threshold to unlock.
• Lacks key travel protections and does not provide airport lounge access.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® vs Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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Categories

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When deciding which is better, Chase Sapphire Reserve or Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, it's important to understand that each card is designed for a different type of traveler and spending style.

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• Chase Sapphire Reserve® - This card is best suited for frequent travelers who can take full advantage of its premium travel benefits, extensive protections, and flexible rewards that can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® - This card is ideal for casual American Airlines flyers who want to earn miles and enjoy airline-specific perks like a free checked bag without the commitment of a high-end travel card.

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Redemption

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Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Points earned with this card offer significant flexibility, as they can be redeemed for travel through the issuer's portal or transferred to a wide array of airline and hotel loyalty programs. Cardholders also have options to redeem for cash back or statement credits.

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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Rewards are earned as AAdvantage® miles, which are primarily redeemed for flights on American Airlines and its partner airlines. These miles can also be used for upgrades and other travel-related redemptions within the American Airlines program.

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Travel Perks

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• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: This card offers a comprehensive travel ecosystem designed for frequent travelers. Key features include access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal where points can be worth more, a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership for airport lounge access, and an annual travel credit. Points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit. The card also provides a statement credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee and has no foreign transaction fees.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: This card's ecosystem is centered entirely around the American Airlines travel experience. It does not offer a flexible travel portal or complimentary lounge access. Instead, its main perks are airline-specific, such as a first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the cardmember and companions, preferred boarding, and in-flight savings. Like the Reserve card, it also has no foreign transaction fees.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision, you can use a financial companion like Kudos, which helps you compare thousands of credit cards based on your personal spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: See personalized earnings projections based on your actual spending history—with no applications or hard credit pulls required.
• Approval odds analysis: Understand your chances of being approved for different cards with a detailed analysis based on your credit report.
• Personalized recommendations: Get matched with new cards that will earn you the most rewards based on your transaction history.
• Bonus and rewards tracking: Monitor your progress toward earning sign-up bonuses and other rewards in one convenient platform.
• Kudos Boost rewards: Earn extra rewards when shopping at partner stores that can be stacked on top of your existing credit card rewards.

Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Reserve®?

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is designed for frequent travelers and high-spenders on dining who can fully leverage its premium benefits to justify the $795 annual fee. Ideal cardholders are those who will utilize the $300 annual travel credit, appreciate the 3x points on dining and travel, and seek comprehensive travel protections and airport lounge access. As detailed in a comprehensive Chase Sapphire Reserve® review, points are not earned on travel until after the first $300 is spent annually, as that spending goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.

Who Should Choose the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®?

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The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is an excellent choice for casual American Airlines flyers who want to earn miles and enjoy some elite-like benefits without the cost of a premium card. Cardholders can take advantage of perks like a free checked bag on domestic flights and discounts on inflight purchases, making it particularly valuable for those who don't already hold AAdvantage elite status. It's also a solid option for individuals aiming to earn Loyalty Points toward elite status through spending or for non-AA flyers looking to diversify their rewards portfolio, as detailed in a comprehensive review.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, our Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® comparison didn't seal the deal for you? Not a problem—let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that might be a better fit for your wallet.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most premium cards require a good to excellent credit score for approval.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spending requirement for the welcome offer.
• Review application rules - Be aware of issuer-specific restrictions that might affect your eligibility for a welcome offer.

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Application Strategy

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• Find the best offer - Be patient and persistent to find the best available welcome offer.
• Know the issuer rules - Be mindful of issuer-specific rules, such as how often you can receive a welcome offer.
• Time your application - Time your application before a large planned purchase to more easily meet the spending requirement.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card is better for frequent American Airlines flyers?

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The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card is designed for American Airlines loyalists, offering perks like a free checked bag and preferred boarding on domestic AA flights. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card provides broad travel benefits but lacks airline-specific advantages for American Airlines.

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Which card offers more flexible rewards?

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card typically provides more flexible rewards through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program, allowing point transfers to various airline and hotel partners. In contrast, the miles earned with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card are primarily for use within the American Airlines AAdvantage® program.

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Is the high annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card worth it?

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Whether the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card's annual fee is worthwhile depends on how much you use its premium travel benefits, like the annual travel credit and airport lounge access. Keep in mind that points are not earned on travel until after the first $300 is spent annually, as this spending goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.

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