Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
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For American Airlines flyers, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is one of the best card options out there. It provides benefits that can make traveling with American Airlines better — even if you’re flying in basic economy. It’s also a useful credit card for travelers that don’t fly on American much, since it has lots of valuable airline partners you can redeem miles with. There are plenty of reasons to add this card to your wallet, including the card’s current sign-up bonus of 60,000 American AAdvantage miles after spending $2,500 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Aside from the sign-up bonus and benefits directly related to flying on American Airlines, the card features some perks that aren’t as widely advertised. Citi recently removed travel and shopping protections on most credit cards, though the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card retains a few important benefits. Here are five lesser-known benefits of the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card.
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In This Post
1. Damage & Theft Purchase Protection
If you make a purchase with your Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, it’s covered against damage and theft within 90 days of purchase or delivery, whichever comes first. Citi will repair the item or reimburse the cost. The card covers up to $10,000 per incident and up to $50,000 per year, per card account.
You must have purchased the item at least in part with your AAdvantage Platinum Select Card in order for it to be eligible for the card’s coverage. If you didn’t pay for the item completely with your Citi Card, the card’s protection will only cover up to the cost that was charged to the card.
This coverage is secondary, meaning if you have other coverage, you’ll need to file a claim with your insurance first. Coverage doesn’t apply if the item wasn’t reasonably cared for to prevent the damage or theft; the item is used in a way that goes against the manufacturer’s instructions or warnings, or is altered from its designed purpose; the item is damaged because of a product defect or experiences normal wear and tear where no failure has occurred; the item is damaged because of an act of God; or the item was under the care and control of a third-party.
Purchases that aren’t eligible for this coverage include but are not limited to boats, cars, aircraft or any other motorized land, air or water vehicles and their original equipment; products that can spoil or be consumed; currency, cash, gift cards or traveler’s checks; tickets of any kind; items purchased for resale, professional or commercial use; advice or services for a purchased item; watches or jewelry; and fire arms or ammunition.
To file a claim, call 1-866-918-4670 or visit www.cardbenefits.citi.com as soon as possible after the incident. You’ll need to return all requested documents within 180 days of the date of the incident. You may be asked to provide the damaged item for inspection. For stolen items, you’ll need to provide a police report.
2. ShopRunner
Photo by filadendron/Getty Images
If you shop anywhere outside of Amazon, you know how tough it can be to find free two-day shipping. Unless you’re spending at least $50, you’ll most likely be on the hook for shipping fees. With ShopRunner membership courtesy of your Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, you’ll receive free two-day shipping and returns at over 100 retailers.
Normally, ShopRunner membership will set you back $79 per year. Membership is free for those with an American Express credit card, PayPal or Yahoo account. Or you login to your Citi account, head to the card benefits section and claim your free ShopRunner account.
Related Reading: The Beginners Guide to Airline Shopping Portals
3. Offers For You
As a Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard accountholder, you qualify for a suite of personalized from Citi. Under the Offers section in your account, you’ll periodically find things like introductory purchase APR offers, travel deals, bonus points for opening qualifying checking accounts and spending in certain categories.
4. Citi Entertainment
The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard gets you access to Citi Entertainment, where you can book presale and preferred tickets to your favorite concerts, sporting events, theatre shows and dining experiences. Examples of recent offers include preferred tickets to Brad Paisley concerts, presale tickets to Lady Gaga’s Chromatic Ball, a Jerry Seinfeld show and more.
Citi is even offering discounts on dining experiences. Every Wednesday, cardholders who use Apple Pay receive 20% off at Urban Space 570 Lex in New York. There are also other discounts and freebies at various other merchants, not to mention Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard earns 2X miles at restaurants.
Be sure to login to your Citi account to find out how Citi Entertainment can help you save on your next dining or entertainment experience.
Related Reading: The Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Spending
5. Extended Warranty
The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard‘s warranty coverage will extend the manufacturer’s warranty on an item for an additional 24 months. If an eligible item breaks, Citi will repair, replace or reimburse you up to the amount charged on your card. The maximum coverage per item is $10,000.
Keep in mind that total coverage won’t exceed seven years from the purchase date. Also note that Citi will only extend the warranty on an item paid at least in part with your Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard. If you only pay for part of the item with your card, Citi will only reimburse you for up to the amount charged.
Coverage doesn’t apply to some items, including boats, cars, aircraft or any other motorized land, air or water vehicles and their original equipment; tires; services unless covered under the manufacturer’s warranty; used, antique or pre-owned items; items purchased for resale, professional or commercial use; land or buildings; housing properties; plants and live animals; and items that don’t come with a manufacturer’s warranty.
Additionally, damage that occurs under some circumstances isn’t covered. These circumstances include but aren’t limited to when you fail to care for or service the item appropriately as required by the manufacturer; the item has a product defect, recall or experiences normal wear and tear where no failure has occurred; or the item is damaged because of an act of God, such as a flood, hurricane, lightning, wind or earthquake.
To file a claim, call 1-866-918-4670 as soon as possible after the incident and return all requested documents within 180 days of the incident.
Bottom Line
As shown in this article, the benefits of the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard aren’t limited to travel on American Airlines. Indeed, the card continues to offer valuable purchase and shopping benefits, despite the recent cut-back. The ShopRunner benefit alone can take a substantial chunk out of the card’s $99 annual fee.
Additional reporting by Ariana Arghandewal
Featured photo by The Points Guy