Amex Gold vs Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select: Which Is Better?

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Breakdown

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "572", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "American Airlines Flyers", "headerHint": "Free First Checked Bag"} ]]

‍

Why We Like It

‍

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card has a $99 annual fee, waived for the first year. It earns 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases, at restaurants (including takeout) and at gas stations, and 1 mile per $1 on everything else.

You also earn 1 Loyalty Point for every eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases, which counts toward AAdvantage® status.

‍

Pros

‍

• First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions on the same reservation.
• Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights for you and up to four companions on the same reservation.
• No foreign transaction fees and 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases.

‍

Cons

‍

• Earning rates outside the 2x categories are modest compared with many travel cards.
• There is no airport lounge access.
• The American Airlines flight discount requires meeting a spending threshold, so check Citi's terms for the current requirement.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® vs American Express® Gold Card

‍

Categories

‍

These cards serve different people. One rewards everyday dining and groceries with flexible points, and the other rewards loyalty to one airline.

• American Express® Gold Card: A premium rewards card for people who spend heavily on dining and groceries and want points that transfer to several airlines and hotels.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: A mid-tier airline card for people who fly American Airlines a few times a year and want bag and boarding perks.

‍

Redemption

‍

American Express® Gold Card: Membership Rewards® points can be transferred to 20 airline and hotel partners listed by American Express, which helps travelers who are not loyal to one brand. Terms Apply.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: AAdvantage® miles book flights on American Airlines and partner airlines with no blackout dates, and can also go toward upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays and vacation packages.

‍

Travel Perks

‍

• American Express® Gold Card: Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com for a $100 credit toward eligible charges, plus $10 a month in Uber Cash and no foreign transaction fees. It does not include airport lounge access. Terms Apply.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Free first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries and preferred boarding for you and up to four companions, plus no foreign transaction fees.

‍

Compare Cards With Kudos

To make the decision easier, Kudos compares nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best fit for your wallet.

• Test Drive: Test Drive simulates what a card would earn from your real transaction history, including net value after the annual fee, with no hard credit pull.
• Approval odds: See a detailed analysis of your chances of approval based on your credit report.
• Best card at checkout: The Kudos browser extension autofills the card in your wallet that earns the most on each online purchase.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your card rewards when you shop at participating stores.

Cards with several monthly and annual credits only pay off if you use them. The Benefits Tracker in Kudos Premium shows the credits and perks across all your cards, with progress bars for what you've used and what's left, plus an annual fee vs. value comparison so you know whether each card is earning its keep.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?

‍

The American Express® Gold Card is for people who spend a lot at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. It works best if you will use the dining, Uber Cash, Resy and Dunkin' credits, since they help offset the card's annual fee. See the card details above for the current amount. Terms Apply.

Who Should Choose the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select®?

‍

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card is a good fit for casual American Airlines flyers who do not have elite status. Free checked bags for a group of up to five on domestic itineraries can cover the $99 annual fee quickly, and purchases earn Loyalty Points toward status.

Alternatives to Consider

‍

If neither card fits, consider a mid-tier flexible points card or a premium travel card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee and earns transferable points. The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium card that adds the American Express Global Lounge Collection® and up to $600 per year in hotel credits on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings. See the card details below for current fees. Terms Apply.

‍

[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["509", "106"], "bestCategoryIds": ["17", "18"], "bestForTexts": ["Flexible Travel Rewards", "Premium Travel Perks"]} ]]

‍

^{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

‍

Before You Apply

‍

• Check your credit: Most rewards cards require good to excellent credit, though requirements vary by issuer.
• Review eligibility rules: Citi says the AAdvantage® Platinum Select® new cardmember bonus is not available if you received a new account bonus for that card in the past 48 months, and American Express has its own welcome offer eligibility rules.
• Plan to meet the spend requirement: Make sure you can reach any welcome offer threshold with your normal expenses.

‍

Application Strategy

‍

• Compare offers: Welcome offers change, so check the current offer before you apply.
• Enroll in benefits: Several American Express® Gold Card credits require enrollment after approval.
• Track your credits: Use the Benefits Tracker in Kudos Premium to keep an eye on monthly credits so they do not go unused.

Our Methodology

‍

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

Our editorial team checks card terms against issuer sources. You can also explore the full dataset yourself in our card explorer, which includes thousands of cards, more than 95% of which do not pay us commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

‍

Which Card Is Better for American Airlines Flyers?

‍

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is designed for American Airlines flyers, with a free first checked bag on domestic itineraries and preferred boarding. The American Express® Gold Card does not include American Airlines perks.

‍

Which Card Earns More on Dining and Groceries?

‍

The American Express® Gold Card earns 4X at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1X) and 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1X). The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® earns 2 miles per $1 at restaurants and does not have a grocery bonus. Terms Apply.

‍

Can I Use Amex Gold Points for American Airlines Flights?

‍

Membership Rewards® points transfer to the airline and hotel partners American Express lists, and that list can change. Check the current partner list on americanexpress.com before you transfer. If you mainly want AAdvantage® miles, a card that earns them directly, like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select®, is the simpler path.