When excited about cobranded airline playing cards, it is easy to solely take into consideration the playing cards from airways you regularly fly with. In any case, a number of the key advantages of airline playing cards embrace precedence boarding, free checked luggage and a quicker path to elite standing with the affiliated airline.
I typically encourage folks to assume past a card’s airline or resort companion when deciding whether or not it is sensible for them.
Take the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees), for instance. This card gives a complimentary Admirals Membership membership to assist cardholders justify its $595 annual fee. On the floor, it looks as if that might solely be helpful for American Airways’ largest followers.
However an Admirals Membership membership affords one thing further: complimentary entry to Alaska Airlines lounges. Here is how Alaska loyalists can maximize this card with out ever setting foot on an American Airways flight.
Alaska Airways lounge entry
By way of the Admirals Membership membership you obtain along with your AAdvantage Executive, you may take pleasure in complimentary entry to Alaska lounges everytime you’re flying on a same-day American, Alaska or Hawaiian Airways flight. Be aware that this entry is not prolonged to authorized users, and it’s essential to have your bodily card with you to enter.
A normal Alaska Airways lounge membership prices $595 a yr, the identical as this card’s annual price. By placing that cash towards the AAdvantage Government as a substitute of a lounge membership, you may take pleasure in Alaska lounge entry plus all of this card’s different advantages.
No matter whether or not you are flying with American, Alaska or a Oneworld airline, you may also get into Admirals Club lounges for no added price.
To entry companion lounges with simply an Alaska Airways lounge membership, you’d need to pay $795 every year for the Alaska Lounge+ membership, $200 greater than what the AAdvantage Government fees.
Whereas an Alaska Lounge+ membership gives entry to a couple lounges that the AAdvantage Government does not, resembling three United Clubs, the vast majority of its companion lounges overlap with what you’ll be able to entry with this card.
Each day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Each an Alaska Lounge+ membership and the AAdvantage Government present entry to The Qantas Membership and Admirals Membership areas. I see no purpose to pay $200 extra every year for a sliver of additional lounges to entry.
You’ll be able to ebook Alaska Airways flights with American Airways miles
The AAdvantage Executive earns American Airways miles. Whereas which may initially appear ineffective to an Alaska loyalist, it is truly the alternative.
American Airways miles can simply be used to book Alaska Airlines flights, which means it’s possible you’ll by no means even need to step on American Airways metallic to get extra worth out of this card past lounge entry. That mentioned, there are some nice itineraries that mix Alaska and American Airways flights.
For instance, you would ebook a one-way business-class ticket from Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) to Heathrow Airport (LHR) for 57,500 miles plus $5.60 in taxes and costs. In case you had been to ebook this itinerary with money, you’d pay $3,483. That is a price of 6 cents per level.
In case you typically fly domestically, there’s loads of availability there, too. You may ebook a nonstop economic system flight on Alaska by way of American from Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS) to San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) for 12,500 miles plus $5.60 in taxes and costs.
In case you had been to ebook with money, this flight would price $304, netting you 2.4 cents per level in worth. That is nice for a home economic system flight.
To study extra about what American Airways miles are value, take a look at our full guide to the AAdvantage program.
earn American Airways miles
For a restricted time, you’ll be able to earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first three months from account opening with the AAdvantage Government. That is a ton of miles to make use of towards Alaska flights, and even an American flight or two in case you discover an excellent deal.
Except for its welcome bonus, this card affords easy incomes charges that can assist you rack up extra American miles. You will earn 10 miles per greenback spent on lodges booked by means of aadvantagehotels.com and automobile leases booked by means of aadvantagecars.com. Plus, you’ll be able to earn 4 miles per greenback spent on different American Airways purchases and 1 mile per greenback spent on everything else.
In case you spend $150,000 a yr or extra on this card, you may earn 5 miles per greenback spent on American Airways purchases as a substitute of 4 by means of the tip of the calendar yr.
Whereas I typically do not advocate utilizing this card for non-American Airways purchases, if incomes miles towards award flights on Alaska is on the prime of your precedence listing, it might make sense to tug this card out for sure purchases. That is very true in case you’re making a purchase order that does not fall below a bonus class lined by one of your other cards.
Associated: How I use Seats.aero every day to find the best airline award availability in seconds
Different helpful advantages
Regardless of being an American Airways-branded card, the AAdvantage Executive has extra advantages you need to use with out reserving a flight.
In case you typically hire automobiles in your holidays, you may take pleasure in this card’s rental automobile assertion credit score. You’ll be able to earn as much as $120 again yearly on eligible pay as you go leases from Avis or Budget. Simply remember the fact that you may need to ebook your rental on-line to obtain the credit score.
If renting a automobile is not one thing you often do, this card can nonetheless assist offset your transportation prices. You’ll be able to obtain as much as $120 again every year for Lyft rides. You need to take three rides to obtain your $10 month-to-month credit score, so this profit is greatest for individuals who naturally use Lyft a number of occasions a month.
Lastly, you’ll be able to obtain as much as $10 every billing assertion for Grubhub purchases. That is nice for anybody who likes to order takeout, even simply on occasion. To make your credit score stretch additional, order pickup as a substitute of supply.
Whereas these credit are lifestyle-dependent, they’ll nonetheless present outsize worth for anybody who can simply make the most of them.
A simple credit score for any traveler to make use of is that this card’s TSA PreCheck/Global Entry utility price credit score. Even when you have already got TSA PreCheck or International Entry, you need to use your AAdvantage Government to pay for someone else’s application.
Lastly, this card affords a spread of important travel protections. You do not have to fly with American Airways to make use of these protections, to allow them to assist safeguard your subsequent flight with Alaska. Journey cancellation and interruption safety, misplaced baggage insurance coverage, and journey delay safety are just a few essential advantages which you could depend on.
Backside line
To get Alaska lounge entry with a typical membership, you’d need to pay $595 a yr. For a similar worth, you may get Alaska, Admirals Membership and Qantas lounge entry; American Airways miles to make use of for Alaska flights; assertion credit; and journey protections with the AAdvantage Executive.
It is a no-brainer for any Alaska loyalist to significantly contemplate making use of for the AAdvantage Government. It is an effective way to supercharge your subsequent Alaska flight, particularly because it’s at the moment providing an elevated 100,000-mile welcome bonus. Plus, in case you’re ever interested in making an attempt American Airways, this card is prepared in your pockets that can assist you out.
To study extra, take a look at our full review of the Citi / AAdvantage Executive.
Apply right here: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Trending Merchandise
