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Amex Green vs Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The American Express® Green Card is ideal for earning rewards on a wide array of travel and dining expenses.
- The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a strong choice for earning American Airlines miles on airline purchases, as well as at restaurants and gas stations.
American Express® Green Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down the key reasons why the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) stands out in a crowded field of travel cards.
- It offers high rewards rates on a broad range of travel purchases and at restaurants worldwide.
- The card provides valuable flexibility by allowing you to transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners.
- Cardholders receive annual statement credits for popular travel services that can help offset the annual fee.
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.
Pros
- Earn bonus rewards on a wide variety of travel expenses—from airfare and hotels to rideshares and transit—plus at restaurants around the globe.
- Enjoy the flexibility of the Membership Rewards program, which includes the ability to transfer points to a large network of airline and hotel partners for potentially higher value.
- Benefit from travel-centric perks like annual statement credits for select services and no foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
Cons
- The annual fee is relatively high for a non-premium travel card.
- Travel credits are for specific services that may not be as useful as more common perks, and a key lounge access benefit is expiring.
- Maximizing the card’s value can be complex, and some redemption options offer poor value.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at the specific features and benefits that make the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® a compelling choice.
- Enjoy a free checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights for you and your travel companions, providing significant savings on travel.
- Earn AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, as well as at restaurants and gas stations, to redeem for future travel.
- Get closer to AAdvantage® elite status by earning Loyalty Points from your everyday card spending.
Pros
- Enjoy travel perks like a free checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights for you and up to four companions, plus savings on inflight food and drinks.
- Earn AAdvantage® miles on everyday spending and travel, along with Loyalty Points that help you qualify for AAdvantage® elite status.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when traveling abroad and have the annual fee waived for your first year of card membership.
Cons
- Earning rates are not as competitive as other travel cards, and the card lacks many common travel and purchase protections.
- Some key benefits, like the annual flight discount, require a high level of spending to unlock, and the card does not include airport lounge access.
- Several card perks overlap with benefits already offered to AAdvantage® elite status members, potentially diminishing its value for loyal American Airlines flyers.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® vs American Express® Green Card
Categories
When deciding which is better, Amex Green or Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, it's crucial to understand the type of traveler each card is designed for.
- American Express® Green Card: This card is a general travel and dining card, offering rewards on a wide range of travel purchases and at restaurants around the world.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: This card is an airline-specific credit card designed for those who frequently fly with American Airlines and want to earn miles and enjoy airline-specific perks.
Redemption
American Express® Green Card: Rewards are earned as flexible points that can be transferred to various airline and hotel loyalty programs or used to book travel directly through American Express.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: You earn AAdvantage® miles that are deposited into your American Airlines loyalty account, which are best used for booking flights with American and its Oneworld® alliance partners.
Travel Perks
- American Express® Green Card: Cardholders receive annual statement credits toward CLEAR Plus membership and for LoungeBuddy purchases to access airport lounges (Terms apply). The card also has no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid choice for trips abroad.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: The perks are focused on improving the American Airlines travel experience. You’ll get a first checked bag free on domestic itineraries for you and up to four companions on the same reservation, plus preferred boarding on American Airlines flights. Like the Amex Green card, this card also has no foreign transaction fees.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make an informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending habits.
- Test drive a credit card by simulating potential earnings based on your actual spending history—before you apply.
- Receive personalized recommendations by comparing nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best match for your wallet.
- View a detailed analysis of your approval odds for new cards based on your credit report.
- Get a welcome offer guarantee, which ensures that if you find a better public offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
- Stack rewards by earning extra through Kudos Boost on top of what your credit card already offers.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card is designed for the savvy traveler who wants to extract maximum value from their spending on travel and dining. This cardholder is someone willing to put in the effort to learn the ins and outs of transferring points to airline and hotel partners to score high-value redemptions. It's less suited for those seeking a simple, low-maintenance card and is instead a strong choice for the points-and-perks enthusiast who can fully leverage its travel credits.
Who Should Choose the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®?
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 a hefty annual fee. This card is particularly valuable for travelers who don't already have AAdvantage elite status but want benefits like a free checked bag and inflight discounts. With a reasonable annual fee that's waived for the first year and accelerated earning on everyday purchases at restaurants and gas stations, it provides a solid entry point into the AAdvantage program.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Amex Green vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select comparison has left you on the fence, don't worry. There are several other travel rewards cards that might be a better fit for your wallet, depending on your specific travel and spending patterns.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - Most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit profile.
- Review application rules - Issuers often have restrictions on earning a welcome offer if you've had the card before.
- Plan your spending - Make sure you can meet the minimum spend for the welcome offer without overspending.
Application Strategy
- Time your application strategically - Apply before a large purchase to help meet the spending requirement for the welcome offer.
- Look for the best offer - Some issuers let you see your welcome offer before committing, allowing you to decline without impacting your credit score.
- Know the issuer's rules - Be aware of restrictions, like Citi's 48-month rule or Amex's once-per-lifetime policy, which can affect your eligibility for a welcome offer.
Our Methodology
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.
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
What are the annual fees for the Amex Green card versus the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select?
The American Express® Green Card comes with a $150 annual fee. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has a $99 annual fee, which is waived for the first year of card membership.
Which card offers better rewards on everyday purchases?
For broad everyday spending, the American Express® Green Card is generally stronger, offering 3x points on travel, transit, and dining worldwide. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card's bonus categories are more focused, offering 2x AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, and at restaurants and gas stations.
Does either card offer a credit for TSA PreCheck® or CLEAR® Plus?
The American Express® Green Card offers an annual statement credit that covers the cost of either a CLEAR® Plus membership or a TSA PreCheck® application fee. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card does not include a similar benefit for airport security programs.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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