Greatest card for Admirals Membership entry: Citi / AAdvantage Government

Metro Loud
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For a lot of vacationers, airport lounge entry is essential. It not solely offers an area to chill out earlier than a journey however may also function an excellent place to be productive and get work executed.

That is the place American Admirals Membership lounges are available. There are greater than 50 of them worldwide, and you may get entry by buying a day cross for a price, utilizing American Airways AAdvantage miles or being a cardholder of the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see charges and charges), as the cardboard comes with 4 Admirals Membership passes per calendar yr.

Nevertheless, one of the simplest ways to entry Admirals Golf equipment is thru one particular bank card: the Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and charges), which is the one card that may get you into Admirals Golf equipment. Whereas it does include a $595 annual price, the unique lounge entry would possibly make it value including to your pockets.

Why this card is a winner

If you cannot get entry to an Admirals Membership from elite standing or the category of service you are flying, one choice is to buy a membership. Right here is the annual pricing damaged down by AAdvantage standing stage:

AMERICAN AIRLINES

Cheaper than paying for an Admirals Membership membership

When you might pay for Admirals Membership membership, one of the simplest ways to ensure entry into Admirals Golf equipment is to have the Citi / AAdvantage Government card. You’d truly get monetary savings by having the cardboard versus paying for any of the membership choices, plus you’d earn a profitable welcome bonus when you’re eligible.

As an illustration, say you had been contemplating buying an Admirals Membership membership as a basic AAdvantage member (with no elite standing). As a substitute of paying $850 for entry in your first yr (and $800 to resume), you would be higher off making use of for the Citi Government card and paying the $595 annual price per yr, which might additionally offer you extra perks as a cardholder.

Admirals Club DCA
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

The cardboard presently presents 70,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $7,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening, value $1,085 based mostly on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.

Associated: Is the Citi / AAdvantage Government World Elite Mastercard value it?

Licensed consumer entry

The Citi / AAdvantage Government card lets you add as much as three approved customers for $175, then $175 for every extra approved consumer. Licensed customers may also entry Admirals Golf equipment.

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This is applicable whether or not the first cardholder is flying with that particular person or not, a improbable perk that differs notably from comparable premium playing cards supplied by different U.S. carriers.

Be aware that whereas main cardholders have entry to all Admirals Golf equipment (over 50 worldwide) and accomplice lounges (about 60 worldwide, together with Alaska Airways lounges), approved customers solely get entry to Admirals Golf equipment. Nevertheless, each the first cardholder and every approved consumer can carry instant members of the family or as much as two touring company into the lounge.

Different Citi Government card perks

With this Citi card, you may additionally earn 10 miles per greenback spent on eligible lodges and automobile leases booked by the AAdvantage lodge and automobile rental portals.

Moreover, cardholders earn 4 miles per greenback spent on eligible American Airways purchases.

Additionally they obtain as much as $120 in assertion credit for eligible Grubhub purchases (as much as $10 per thirty days) and as much as $120 in assertion credit on pay as you go Avis or Funds automobile leases every calendar yr.

The cardboard comes with Group 4 precedence boarding and your first checked bag free on home American Airways itineraries for you and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation.

Admirals Club bar
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Plus, like many different premium playing cards, this one additionally presents a International Entry or TSA PreCheck utility price credit score. You may rise up to a $120 assertion credit score as soon as each 4 years to reimburse your utility price.

Admirals Membership restrictions

Entry into an Admirals Membership is easy.

Entrance to Admirals Club
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

To enter, you want a Citi / AAdvantage Government card, an Admirals Membership membership or an Admirals Membership cross as a Citi Strata Elite Card holder and a same-day boarding cross for American or one in every of its companions to entry an Admirals Membership earlier than or after a flight.

Associated: Greatest bank cards for airport lounge entry

Backside line

As a frequent American Airways or Oneworld alliance flyer, the Citi / AAdvantage Government card is the most effective card for Admirals Membership entry, along with many different perks corresponding to assertion credit, Loyalty Level bonuses and first rate incomes charges.

It additionally stands out as a result of it permits you to share lounge entry with family and friends. By including approved customers for an affordable price, you’ll be able to prolong the cardboard’s advantages in a manner that an Admirals Membership membership alone does not enable.

To be taught extra, learn our full evaluate of the Citi / AAdvantage Government World Elite Mastercard.


Apply right here: Citi / AAdvantage Government World Elite Mastercard


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