Editorial take: Bank of America Travel Rewards
The no-fee version of Premium Rewards. Only shines with BoA's Preferred Rewards boost, otherwise the Capital One VentureOne or Wells Fargo Autograph beat it.
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Side-by-side
Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Bank of America Travel Rewards comes from Bank of America at $0/yr; the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard from Citi at $595/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($730 more in estimated value) than the Bank of America Travel Rewards's. Get the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard first; revisit the Bank of America Travel Rewards after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Bank of America Travel Rewards | Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $595 |
| Sign-up bonus | 25,000 points | 70,000 miles |
| Bonus value (est.) | $250 | $980 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,000 in 3 mo | $7,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Bank of America | Citi |
| Card category | travel | airline |
| Best earning category (All_purchases) | 1.5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Bank of America Travel Rewards
$0/yr · 25,000 points
Read the full review
Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
$595/yr · 70,000 miles
Editorial take: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Pure Admirals Club access card. If you spend more than ~$850/year on lounge passes or visit AA hubs frequently, the $595 fee is a layup. The 2024 refresh added ~$360/year in Lyft/Grubhub/Avis credits that often go unclaimed, plus the free checked bag for 9 travelers is undersold for family travelers.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Bank of America Travel Rewards or Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard?
- The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard has the bigger bonus, 70,000 miles, worth roughly $980, versus 25,000 points (~$250) on the Bank of America Travel Rewards.
- Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard?
- The Bank of America Travel Rewards has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard's $595 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard's benefits to clear $595 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Bank of America Travel Rewards.
- Can I have both the Bank of America Travel Rewards and Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bank of America and Citi) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Bank of America Travel Rewards or the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bank of America Travel Rewards: $1,000 spend in 3 months. Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard: $7,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.