The era of the standard $99 airline credit card may be fading as American Airlines becomes the latest major carrier to adjust its price tag.Beginning Jan.24, 2027, the annual fee for both the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard and the Citi/AAdvantage Business Mastercard will jump from $99 to $150, according to a company press release.The adjustment marks the first price hike for the popular Platinum Select consumer card since 2018, signaling a shift in the travel rewards landscape.MAJOR AIRLINE DITCHES SNACKS DURING SHORT FLIGHTS AS ‘ZERO SERVICE’ SPARKS DEBATETo soften the blow of a nearly 52% fee increase, American Airlines, Citi and Mastercard are adding several new travel and lifestyle perks.Whether those additions make up for the $51 increase will depend largely on how travelers use the card, Nick Ewen, editor-in-chief of The Points Guy, told Fox News Digital. "You have to look at the real dollar value based on your own travel habits," said Ewen, who is based in Florida. American Airlines customers with select Citi/AAdvantage credit cards will see their annual fees rise from $99 to $150 beginning Jan.
24, 2027.(Kevin Carter/Getty Images)Cardholders will gain additional ways to earn AAdvantage miles on everyday spending, along with up to $120 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years, American Airlines confirmed.Additionally, a new $100 annual statement credit for in-flight purchases will replace the previous 25% food and beverage discount. This makes the card significantly more rewarding for travelers, as the credit can be applied toward broad in-flight expenses, including Wi-Fi, which was explicitly excluded under the old discount system."You may not be able to stomach that additional increased annual fee."For someone who regularly spends money aboard American flights or already pays for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, Ewen said the new credits could help offset the higher annual fee."If the answer is yes, you're defi...