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

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

Top 10 Best Airlines in the World by AirHelp Survey

These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.