When fascinated about cobranded airline playing cards, it is simple to solely take into consideration the playing cards from airways you steadily fly with. In spite of everything, a few of the key advantages of airline playing cards embrace precedence boarding, free checked baggage and a quicker path to elite standing with the affiliated airline.
I usually encourage individuals 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 like that might solely be helpful for American Airways’ greatest followers.
However an Admirals Membership membership presents one thing additional: 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 the Admirals Membership membership you obtain together with your AAdvantage Executive, you will take pleasure in complimentary entry to Alaska lounges everytime you’re flying on a same-day American, Alaska or Hawaiian Airways flight. Word that this entry is not prolonged to authorized users, and you need to have your bodily card with you to enter.
A normal Alaska Airways lounge membership prices $595 a 12 months, the identical as this card’s annual price. By placing that cash towards the AAdvantage Govt as an alternative of a lounge membership, you will 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 must pay $795 annually for the Alaska Lounge+ membership, $200 greater than what the AAdvantage Govt fees.
Whereas an Alaska Lounge+ membership gives entry to some lounges that the AAdvantage Govt would not, reminiscent of three United Clubs, the vast majority of its companion lounges overlap with what you’ll be able to entry with this card.
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Each an Alaska Lounge+ membership and the AAdvantage Govt present entry to The Qantas Membership and Admirals Membership areas. I see no motive to pay $200 extra annually for a sliver of additional lounges to entry.
You possibly can guide Alaska Airways flights with American Airways miles
The AAdvantage Executive earns American Airways miles. Whereas that may initially appear ineffective to an Alaska loyalist, it is really the other.
American Airways miles can simply be used to book Alaska Airlines flights, which means you could by no means even must step on American Airways steel to get extra worth out of this card past lounge entry. That stated, there are some nice itineraries that mix Alaska and American Airways flights.
For instance, you would guide 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 charges. If you happen to had been to guide this itinerary with money, you’d pay $3,483. That is a price of 6 cents per level.
If you happen to usually fly domestically, there’s loads of availability there, too. You could possibly guide a nonstop financial 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 charges.
If you happen to had been to guide with money, this flight would value $304, netting you 2.4 cents per level in worth. That is nice for a home financial system flight.
To study extra about what American Airways miles are value, take a look at our full guide to the AAdvantage program.
Tips on how to 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 Govt. That is a ton of miles to make use of towards Alaska flights, and even an American flight or two should you discover a terrific deal.
Except for its welcome bonus, this card presents easy incomes charges that will help you rack up extra American miles. You will earn 10 miles per greenback spent on inns booked by way of aadvantagehotels.com and automobile leases booked by way 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.
If you happen to spend $150,000 a 12 months or extra on this card, you will earn 5 miles per greenback spent on American Airways purchases as an alternative of 4 by way of the top of the calendar 12 months.
Whereas I typically do not suggest utilizing this card for non-American Airways purchases, if incomes miles towards award flights on Alaska is on the prime of your precedence checklist, it could make sense to drag this card out for sure purchases. That is very true should you’re making a purchase order that does not fall below a bonus class coated 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 further advantages you need to use with out reserving a flight.
If you happen to usually lease vehicles in your holidays, you will take pleasure in this card’s rental automobile assertion credit score. You possibly can earn as much as $120 again yearly on eligible pay as you go leases from Avis or Budget. Simply needless to say you will must guide your rental on-line to obtain the credit score.
If renting a automobile is not one thing you normally do, this card can nonetheless assist offset your transportation prices. You possibly can obtain as much as $120 again annually for Lyft rides. It’s a must to take three rides to obtain your $10 month-to-month credit score, so this profit is greatest for many who naturally use Lyft a number of instances 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 now and again. To make your credit score stretch additional, order pickup as an alternative of supply.
Whereas these credit are lifestyle-dependent, they’ll nonetheless present outsize worth for anybody who can simply reap the benefits 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 World Entry, you need to use your AAdvantage Govt to pay for someone else’s application.
Lastly, this card presents a variety 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 you can depend on.
Backside line
To get Alaska lounge entry with a typical membership, you’d must pay $595 a 12 months. For a similar value, you will 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 think about making use of for the AAdvantage Govt. 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, should you’re ever interested by making an attempt American Airways, this card is prepared in your pockets that will help 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