Citi is out with a new mid-tier card called the AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® with a $350 annual fee. We expected a lot from this card, but found it ultimately disappointing.
AA’s disappointing $350 Globe card
Watch here:
Or listen here (or click “Follow” on the player below to select your preferred podcast app instead):
(00:39) – Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® basics
(01:53) – Perks, coupons, and elite boost
(04:33) – Is this the replacement for Barclays $195 Aviator Silver card?
(06:20) – Hear our discussion about the Barclays Aviator Silver card here
(14:04) – Which card is better? (Or which card is for which kind of motivation?)
(17:55) – There are folks earning status through AA hotels – could the Globe card be exciting for those people?
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Do you consider the Delta Amex Platinum disappointing? The FM page on that card seems positive.
I think the main factor with the Globe card is whether you’re an AA flyer, and the main factor with Delta Platinum is whether you’re a DL flyer. Except for bonus, I’d probably not get either unless I were a somewhat low to regular flyer of that airline.
Compare their benefits for the same annual fee.
Up to 15k LP versus $2500 MQD
$100 Splurge credit vs $150 Delta Stays credit
4 x $30 Turo vs 12 x $10 Rideshare
On AA:
-4 AAdmirals Club passes
-$99 companion certificate
vs on Delta:
-12 x $10 Resy
-Uber One
-15% award discount
Aren’t they equally disappointing unless you’re a somewhat low to medium regular flyer of either?
To me the main difference is the award discount. Too bad AA no longer offers 10% back on 100,000 miles. I thought we might see it on AA again after the Rewards+ dropped the rebate.
This card is not right for everyone but for a large number of people this makes a lot of sense. For example, a couple takes one trip a year:
Figure $300 of savings from the Companion ticket
$100 from the hotel stay
That makes it a moneymaker
Free luggage- as much as $140 more profit and at least $70
Lounge visit- $25 each savings in airport food and drink- and that might be low-$50
Inflight credit- let’s say they spend just $20 each- another $40
That is definitely a good deal of profit.
Take a family of four with luggage and that is an additional $230 in profit.
Take a second or more trip and the free luggage keeps adding up.
Obviously, at some number of flights, other cards can offer more value but not everyone flies 40 times a year. In fact, a very small number do.
As I said, this card is not right for everyone and no card is.
But there is a very real and respectable number of people this is an excellent choice for their needs.
It’s still a net $550 in value at break-even for a year (fine a 1/24 slot, 1 hard pull, minimal opportunity cost, if Citi will approve you). My simple math is $900 SUB (90K points) and $350 AF. Sure, I preferred churning the Barclays cards ($1 spend, $99 AF, for +60K points), but they’re toast. Folks in this community should embrace new products, not scoff at them.
if youre only getting $900 from 90k AA miles you may as well stick to cash back lol
As a counterpoint though – how many cash back cards give you a $900 SUB? If you’re churning and need to spread apps around first year could still work. Not a big fan of this card long term but for just the points it’s less AF than the Executive card.
“at break-even” (my friend, I strive for at least 3-5x value when I use ’em, record was +10x value on transcon JFK-SFO in Flagship First for 39.5K/way).
Yes, the new Globe card is disappointing. However, I’m considering a different angle for next year.
I just recently finished the spend requirement for the AAdvantage® Platinum Select card ($99 AF) that I got for simplymiles offers, better AAdvantage hotels multiplier, etc. If I replace it with the Globe card, I’ll effectively pay $251 AF by canceling the $99 AA card. Considering the new benefits (club passes, loyalty points opportunities, more bonus categories, etc.) I think the Globe card is not as bad, with this plan.
There’s no requirement (that I could find) for the tickets to be paid with card in order to get the Flight Streak bonus loyalty points. I may end up taking more AA flights because of the new card.
The point about AA Hotels is really important–they’re an essential part of my status journey each year, and I am constantly debating the Executive card in order to earn the 10x multiplier. I probably won’t get this card because the math isn’t there, but it is a consideration.
For another couple hundred bucks in annual fee, the Executive seems to be the better choice. But, if If you ever come to a point where tier status isn’t worth it (and don’t need lounge access), consider the Citi Strata Premier. Better overall multipliers and points transfer to AA.
Without a doubt, AA Exec is the keeper card if you care about status (20K bonus LPs at 50K and 90K), or if you partake in AA lounges more than just a few times a year.
I’d add that the Citi Strata Premier’s value is set to increase as the CSR’s generous 3x travel category is ending soon (October 26, 2025), so some will migrate to Strata Premier for that purpose; or, if your ‘travel’ spend is ‘international,’ perhaps, onto that new Alaska Atmos (3x all foreign transactions… wonder how long that’ll last…)