Citi AAdvantage Executive Card Refresh Adds Perks, Hikes Fee to $695

Citi’s AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard gets a major refresh: the annual fee rises from $595 to $695 (effective Aug 23, 2026), while benefits are expanded. Cardmembers can earn up to 40,000 Loyalty Points per year (with new thresholds at 50k/90k/165k/240k), plus up to $100/year in inflight/Admirals Club credits, up to $500/year in American Airlines Vacations credits (semiannual, for multi-component bookings), up to $180/year in Lyft credits, and 12x AAdvantage miles on AA Hotels and Cars. Other improvements include Omni Hotels & Resorts Champion status, Avis President’s Club status, and upgraded World Legend Mastercard benefits. Existing members will see the higher fee at their anniversary (timing depends on tenure); applying before Aug 23 could lock in current pricing. The core value—Admirals Club access—remains strong, but the higher fee requires weighing how much you’ll value the new credits and enhanced earning potential.