Citi and American just bumped the annual fee on the AAdvantage Platinum Select and its Business sibling from $99 to $150, effective January 24, 2027. Existing cardholders get the upgraded benefits on that date too, with the higher fee hitting at their next renewal after. It's the latest mid-tier airline card to join the $150 club, following the industry trend of squeezing more revenue while tossing in credits that sound better in a press release than on your statement.

The math flipped overnight. That extra $51 used to feel like the cost of preferred boarding and a free checked bag. Now you need the new perks to offset it, or you're better off letting the card lapse before renewal and grabbing a different AA play.

New Perks: Credits, Categories, and the Usual Fine Print

Both cards add a $100 annual statement credit for inflight purchases — food, drinks, and Wi-Fi. It replaces the old 25% discount, which was cute but capped by how much you drink at 35,000 feet. This one is easier to max if you fly AA regularly; just don't expect it to cover Admirals Club bar tabs.

There's also up to $120 every four years toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Useful if your last credit is expiring, less so if you've already milked Chase, Amex, and Capital One versions. The $150 American Airlines flight discount (up from $125) triggers after $20,000 in spend during the cardmember year and renewal. That's a nice bump for heavy hitters, turning into real value on a transcon or international ticket.

The personal Platinum Select throws in a complimentary annual Walmart+ membership, valued at $98. Free delivery, fuel discounts, and a streaming add-on (Paramount+ or Peacock). If your household already orders from Walmart, this alone nearly covers the fee increase. Add a 50% off FOX One subscription through 2029 and new travel protections like trip delay, cancellation, and rental car coverage. Not groundbreaking, but better than nothing when your suitcase vanishes in DFW.

Earning gets a refresh: 3x on bookings through aadvantagehotels.com and aadvantagecars.com. 2x now covers gas and EV chargers, select streaming, and "Rides and Rails" (think Uber, trains, tolls). Restaurants and AA purchases stay at 2x. Solid for everyday spend if your habits align, but it's no 3x everywhere dining card.

The Business Card Angle

The Citi AAdvantage Business card follows the same fee trajectory and gets most of the same credits. It keeps its $99 companion certificate after $30k spend (still one of the better mid-tier AA perks) and adds a self-select 2x category for shipping, office supplies, or advertising. Plus 25% off a Melio subscription. The dual elite-qualifying spend feature for primary and authorized users remains through 2028 — genuinely useful for couples or teams chasing status without doubling plastic.

These changes position the cards as competent mid-tier options rather than must-haves. Compare to the recently refreshed AAdvantage Executive, which picked up a $200 inKind dining credit and Turo perks without a fee hike. The Executive's Admirals Club access and higher annual credits make it the clear premium choice for heavy AA loyalists. This $150 duo is for those who want AA perks without the $695 commitment.

Real talk: airline cards have always been about manufactured loyalty. The inflight credit and Walmart+ feel like Citi looked at what competitors were doing and copied the homework. The flight discount increase helps if you clear $20k anyway. But if your AA flying is occasional or your spend is parked elsewhere for better transfer partners, this refresh doesn't move the needle enough to justify another annual fee.

Cardholders should run the numbers now. Check your renewal date, estimate realistic usage of the new credits, and decide whether to keep, product change, or close before the fee posts. Many will find the updated card still works as a status and bag-fee tool. Others will realize $150 buys more flexibility on a different issuer's card.

Action item: Log into your Citi account today, note your renewal month, tally how you'd use the $100 inflight credit and Walmart+ over the next year, and decide by December whether this card earns its seat on your wallet. If the perks don't cover the delta, thank it for the miles and move on — there are always new offers.