United Club 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 recommend the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®.

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• Cardholders receive valuable perks when flying American Airlines, including a free checked bag on domestic flights and inflight discounts.
• While the card has an annual fee, it's waived for the first year, and there are no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
• Based on TPG's valuations, the card's welcome offer is worth enough to cover the annual fee for several years (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• The annual fee is waived for the first year.
• Cardholders receive valuable travel perks, including a free checked bag on domestic flights and no foreign transaction fees.
• Spending on the card earns AAdvantage® miles and helps you qualify for AAdvantage® elite status through Loyalty Points.

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Cons

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• The card's earning rates are less competitive than what you might find with other travel cards.
• It lacks many common travel protections and does not offer airport lounge access.
• Some benefits require a high spending threshold to unlock, and other perks may be redundant for existing AAdvantage® elite members.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® vs United Club

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Club or Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, depends entirely on your travel habits and airline loyalty. Each card caters to a different type of flyer, offering distinct benefits tailored to their respective airline's ecosystem.

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• The United Club℠ Card is designed for frequent United Airlines flyers who prioritize premium travel perks. It's ideal for those who value benefits like lounge access and priority services at the airport.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is best suited for casual American Airlines travelers. It allows flyers to earn miles and enjoy some airline perks without the commitment of a premium travel card.

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Redemption

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United Club℠ Card: Rewards are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, primarily for flights with United and its Star Alliance partners. Points can also be used for travel upgrades, hotel stays, and other experiences.

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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Miles earned with this card are part of the American Airlines AAdvantage® program, which can be redeemed for flights on American and its oneworld alliance partners. Redemptions also extend to seat upgrades, car rentals, and hotel bookings.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The United Club℠ Card is the clear winner here, providing a full United Club membership for access to its lounges and participating Star Alliance partner lounges. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Card does not include lounge access.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are well-suited for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
• Checked Baggage: The United Club℠ Card offers a generous allowance with the first and second checked bags free for the cardholder and one companion. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Card provides the first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for the cardholder and up to four companions on the same reservation.
• Priority Services: For a smoother airport experience, the United Club℠ Card provides Premier Access, which includes priority check-in, security, boarding, and baggage handling. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Card offers preferred boarding on American Airlines flights.
• Airline Ecosystem: Your choice heavily depends on your preferred airline alliance. The United Club℠ Card is your gateway to the United MileagePlus and Star Alliance network, while the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Card integrates with the American Airlines AAdvantage® and oneworld alliance program.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To find the best card for your wallet, a tool like Kudos can help by comparing nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the one that maximizes your rewards based on your actual spending habits.

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• Test drive a credit card. Before you apply, this feature uses your real spending data to project your potential earnings with a new card—all without a hard credit pull or commitment.
• Welcome offer guarantee. If you find a better welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through Kudos, they will match it.
• Personalized approval odds. Get a detailed analysis of your approval chances based on your credit report to help you apply with more confidence.
• Kudos Boost rewards. Earn additional rewards on top of your credit card rewards when you shop at your favorite stores through the platform.
• Automatic card selection. At checkout, Kudos can automatically fill in the best card from your wallet to use for that specific purchase, ensuring you maximize every transaction.

Who Should Choose the United Club?

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The United Club℠ Card is primarily designed for frequent United Airlines flyers, such as business travelers or those who often fly internationally. These cardholders will extract the most value from the complimentary United Club membership, which provides a comfortable oasis in airports worldwide. In essence, if your travel life revolves around United and you prioritize premium perks like lounge access and priority services, this card is built for you.

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 perks without committing to a premium card. Cardholders benefit from a free checked bag on domestic flights, a 25% discount on inflight purchases, and accelerated mileage earning at restaurants and gas stations. It's also a solid option for those looking to accumulate Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage status or for international travelers, thanks to its lack of foreign transaction fees, as detailed in a full review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our United Club vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select comparison didn't point you to a clear winner, that's perfectly fine. There are plenty of other travel rewards cards on the market that might be a better fit for your wallet and travel style.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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 history for approval.
• Review issuer rules - Many banks have restrictions on earning welcome offers if you've had the card before.
• Have a spending plan - Make sure you can meet the minimum spending requirement for the welcome offer organically.

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Application Strategy

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• Choose a card that fits your loyalty - Select a card that rewards your most frequent airline or hotel partners.
• Time your application strategically - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.
• Evaluate the card's long-term value - Look beyond the welcome offer to see if the ongoing benefits justify the card.

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 international travel?

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The best card for international travel depends on which airline's network you fly most frequently. Both cards offer no foreign transaction fees, but their primary benefits are tied to their respective airlines, United and American.

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Which card offers better lounge access?

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The United Club card is specifically designed to provide access to United Club lounges and participating Star Alliance lounges. The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card does not include Admirals Club lounge access as a standard benefit.

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Do the miles earned with these cards expire?

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United MileagePlus miles do not expire. American Airlines AAdvantage miles will expire if you don't have any qualifying activity on your account for 24 months, but using your card is considered qualifying activity that prevents expiration.

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