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 Platinum Select
Both are travel travel cards. The Bank of America Travel Rewards comes from Bank of America at $0/yr; the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select from Citi at $99/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 Platinum Select is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($590 more in estimated value) than the Bank of America Travel Rewards's. Get the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select first; revisit the Bank of America Travel Rewards after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Bank of America Travel Rewards | Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $99 |
| Sign-up bonus | 25,000 points | 60,000 miles |
| Bonus value (est.) | $250 | $840 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,000 in 3 mo | $3,500 in 4 mo |
| Issuer | Bank of America | Citi |
| Card category | travel | travel |
| 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 Platinum Select
$99/yr · 60,000 miles
Editorial take: Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select
The free checked bag covers the fee on just one round-trip with a partner. Good if you fly AA more than twice a year, otherwise AAdvantage is worth collecting through other means.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Bank of America Travel Rewards or Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select?
- The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select has the bigger bonus, 60,000 miles, worth roughly $840, 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 Platinum Select?
- The Bank of America Travel Rewards has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select's $99 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select's benefits to clear $99 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 Platinum Select?
- 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 Platinum Select 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 Platinum Select: $3,500 in 4 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.