Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard vs United Explorer Card
Fees, rewards and real yearly value, side by side. Updated October 29, 2026.
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Estimated value every year on typical spending
$396/ year
Every year, after the annual fee. No welcome bonus.
United Explorer Card
Estimated value every year on typical spending
$276/ year
Every year, after the annual fee. Year one adds a $660 welcome bonus: $936
The short answer
- On typical spending, the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard comes out ahead: about $396 a year after its fee, against $276 for the Chase United Explorer Card.
- In the first year the welcome bonus flips it: the Chase United Explorer Card is worth about $936 in year one.
- The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard costs $150 less a year to hold.
Side by side
| Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard | United Explorer Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $150 |
| Rewards | 2 AAdvantage® miles for every dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants and on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases | 9x total miles on eligible United flights; 3x miles on all other eligible United purchases |
| Welcome bonus | Not specified | Earn up to 60,000 bonus miles after qualifying activities. |
| Credits counted | $0/yr | $30/yr |
| Intro APR | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Regular APR | Not listed | 19.99% to 28.49% variable |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Credit needed | Not specified | Good/Excellent |
Yearly rewards by category
| Category (monthly spend) | Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard | United Explorer Card |
|---|---|---|
| groceries ($500) | $66 | $66 |
| dining ($400) | $106 | $106 |
| gas ($200) | $26 | $26 |
| travel ($300) | $40 | $40 |
| everything else ($1,200) | $158 | $158 |
Yearly value is rewards plus credits you'd realistically use, minus the annual fee, on $2,600/month: $500 groceries, $400 dining, $200 gas, $300 travel, $1,200 everything else. Points use conservative cash values; store-only rewards count at half. How we rank · Use your own spending
Questions people ask
Which is better, the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard or the Chase United Explorer Card?
On typical spending the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is worth more: about $396 a year after its fee, against $276 for the Chase United Explorer Card. Which is better for you depends on where you spend most; see the category answers below.
Which has the lower annual fee?
The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard ($0 a year, against $150).
Put any two cards head to head.
Pick any cards, including ones you already hold, and compare them on your own spending.
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Card details are collected from issuer websites and were last refreshed October 29, 2026. Terms change often; confirm them with the issuer before you apply.