Jump to section Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Editor's Note This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Citi is a TPG advertising partner. When choosing a cobranded airline card, it's natural to focus on the airlines you fly most often. After all, benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding and a faster path to elite status are usually most valuable when you're loyal to that airline.
But, I often encourage people to think beyond a card's airline or hotel partner when deciding whether it makes sense for them.
Take the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® (see rates and fees ), for example. This card provides a complimentary Admirals Club membership to help cardholders justify its $695 annual fee . On the surface, it seems like that would only be useful for American Airlines' biggest fans.
But an Admirals Club membership offers something extra: complimentary access to Alaska Airlines lounges .
Here's how Alaska loyalists can maximize this card without ever setting foot on an American Airlines flight.
Through the Admirals Club membership you receive with your AAdvantage Executive , you'll enjoy complimentary access to Alaska lounges whenever you're flying on a same-day American, Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines flight. Note that this access isn't extended to authorized users , and you must have your physical card with you to enter.
A standard Alaska Airlines lounge membership costs $595 a year, $100 less than this card's annual fee of $695. For Alaska flyers who can use the Executive's additional benefits, the $100 difference may be worth paying.
Regardless of whether you're flying with American, Alaska or another Oneworld airline, you can also get into Admirals Club lounges for no added fee. If you wanted to do this with an Alaska lounge membership, you'd need to pay $795 for an Alaska+ lounge membership, $100 more than the Executive costs each year.
While an Alaska Lounge+ membership provides access to a few lounges that the AAdvantage Executive doesn't, such as three United Clubs , the majority of its partner lounges overlap with what you can access with this card.
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Both an Alaska Lounge+ membership and the AAdvantage Executive provide access to The Qantas Club and Admirals Club locations. I see no reason to pay $100 more each year for a sliver of extra lounges to access with an Alaska+ membership.
The AAdvantage Executive earns American Airlines miles. While that might initially seem useless to an Alaska loyalist, it's actually the opposite.
American Airlines miles can easily be used to book Alaska…