Story perspectives

Citi Raises Fees on American Airlines Cards to $150

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 6:06 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Citi raises annual fees on two American Airlines cards to $150.
Existing cardholders receive new benefits starting Jan. 24, 2027.
Both cards earn 3 AAdvantage miles per dollar on eligible hotel and car bookings.
The Platinum Select card earns 2 miles per dollar on gas, EV charging, streaming, rides and rail.
The Business card earns 2 miles per dollar in a self-selected category and offers a 25% discount on Melio subscriptions.

History

Historical Context

The 1978 Airline Deregulation Act spurred U.S. carriers to launch loyalty schemes, prompting American Airlines to debut AAdvantage on May 1 1981. Citi later became the primary issuer of AAdvantage co-branded cards, a market now serving over 115 million members. Rising annual fees on its co-branded cards reflect intensified competition among airline-card issuers.

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Story summary

Citi raises annual fees on two American Airlines cards to $150.
Existing cardholders receive new benefits starting Jan. 24, 2027.
Both cards earn 3 AAdvantage miles per dollar on eligible hotel and car bookings.
The Platinum Select card earns 2 miles per dollar on gas, EV charging, streaming, rides and rail.
The Business card earns 2 miles per dollar in a self-selected category and offers a 25% discount on Melio subscriptions.

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