Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™

For the right American flyer, this card can justify itself without asking much from the rewards side. The strongest value comes from practical travel benefits: free checked bags for you and up to 8 companions on eligible domestic itineraries, up to $100 back on inflight purchases each year, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, and a companion certificate beginning in year two. If you also use the Turo credit and some of the annual Splurge Credit, the annual fee can be covered fairly quickly.

The tradeoff is straightforward: this is not a rewards card for everyday purchases. With no bonus category rewards and no meaningful base earning structure, most cardholders will want a different card for daily spending. This one makes sense if your travel is centered on American Airlines and you will actually use the airline-specific perks and Loyalty Point features. If you want broad travel value or strong earning on purchases, look elsewhere.