With the recent changes to the American Express Platinum Card, many American Airlines loyalists have been looking for alternative ways to get complimentary Admirals Club access. One way is to get the Citi Executive® / AAdvantage® World Elite^TM MasterCard® ($450 annual fee), which offers Admirals Club and US Airways Club access for both the cardmember and up to two guests. Now, there’s another alternative.

Effective March 27, 2014, the Citi Prestige® Card–also with a $450 annual fee–will also offer complimentary access to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges when you present your Citi Prestige Card and boarding pass. Unlike the Citi Executive® / AAdvantage® World Elite^TM MasterCard®, however, the Citi Prestige® Card does not provide access privileges to US Airways Clubs.

In order to take advantage of this new Admirals Club benefit, the primary cardmember must present their valid Citi Prestige Card, government-issued ID and stand-by ticket or boarding pass. The primary cardmember may bring as guests either immediate family or up to two traveling guests. To locate a lounge, visit aa.com/admiralsclub.

In addition to Admirals Club access, another benefit that the Citi Prestige Card just added is a better redemption rate towards American Airlines and US Airways flights. Citi Prestige cardmembers can now redeem points towards American Airlines or US Airways flights at a rate of 1.6 cents/point (compared to 1.33 cents/point on other airlines). For instance, cardmembers can redeem 20,000 ThankYou points for a $200 hotel stay, a $320 flight on American Airlines or US Airways, or a $266 flight on any other airline.

For more info on the Citi Prestige card, see this link.