Airlines

American Airlines and Citi enhance the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard with more benefits

American Airlines and Citi announced additional perks for the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard, enhancing value for premium cardholders with a higher-end travel experience.

American Airlines Unveils Next-Gen Admirals Club Design With New DC Airport Lounge(Opens in a new browser tab)

Cardholders will continue to enjoy access to American’s Admirals Club lounges and opportunities to accrue more AAdvantage® miles and Loyalty Points. The new card benefits launch July 23, and improvements to Admirals Club lounges will be rolling out in the coming months.

The changes to the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard represent the latest evolution in Citi and American’s 36-year partnership. The new benefits include:

Credits for everyday spending and travel
- Up to $120 back on eligible Avis® or Budget car rentals every calendar year.
- Up to $120 back on eligible Grubhub purchases (up to $10 statement credit on each monthly billing statement).
- Up to $120 in Lyft credits ($10 credit each month after taking three eligible rides).
Greater earn on miles
- 4X AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases. After spending $150,000 in a calendar year, cardmembers can earn a total of 5X AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases for the remainder of the calendar year.
- 10X AAdvantage miles on eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars and eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels.

The new Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard will have an annual cost of $595 for primary users, $175 for the first three authorized users, and $175 for each additional authorised user, starting on July 23.2 Customers can also get 100,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after making a $10,000 purchase within the first three months of starting their account from July 23 to September 6 if they apply and are approved for the card.

American Airlines Announces Big Changes for AAdvantage Program(Opens in a new browser tab)

In addition to the new benefits, Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard cardmembers will continue to have access to benefits including:

Admirals Club membership.
Up to $100 credit on a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee (now every four years).
First checked bag free for the primary cardmember and up to eight companions on the same reservation on American Airlines domestic flights.
25% savings on eligible American Airlines inflight food and beverage purchases when using the card.
Enhanced airport experience offering priority boarding, priority check-in and priority screening on American Airlines flights for the primary cardmember and up to eight companions on the same reservation.

American will debut brand-new, renovated lounges at Denver International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport in the upcoming months. The prices for Admirals Club yearly memberships and One Day Passes have been updated by American as part of its ongoing commitment to improving the customer experience. New Admirals Club annual memberships will cost $850 or 85,000 miles starting on July 23, and a one-day pass will cost $79 or 7,900 miles. Visit citicards.com for additional details on the Citi/AAdvantage credit cards.

Airlines

German Carrier Lufthansa Plans for 20% Job Cuts in Administration

Lufthansa Airlines is reportedly planning significant job cuts in its administrative workforce. According to Manager Magazin, the German carrier intends to reduce administrative positions by 20% as part of its cost-cutting measures amidst an anticipated decline in earnings.

This reduction could impact approximately 400 jobs, the report revealed. While Lufthansa has not directly commented on the layoffs, the airline confirmed its goal of cutting administrative costs by 20% by 2028.

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The strategy involves leveraging digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and automation. “A hiring freeze is currently in place for administrative roles at Lufthansa Airlines,” said a company spokesperson.

The staff reduction is expected to occur through natural attrition and age-related turnover, rather than forced layoffs. The internal projection cited by the magazine warns that Lufthansa could face an operating loss of €800 million ($843.92 million) by 2026 if no corrective measures are taken.

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The report highlights the challenges companies face in aligning workforce requirements with current and future demands. Failure to adapt could necessitate drastic actions, such as restructuring and layoffs, which carry significant repercussions for both the organization and its employees.

As Lufthansa navigates these challenges, the airline appears committed to balancing cost efficiency with digital transformation to maintain its competitiveness in a rapidly evolving industry.