The news: Citi will refresh its AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard in January 2027. 

Changes include:

• A $150 annual fee—a $51 increase
• A $100 statement credit for in-flight purchases (Replacing 25% off in-flight purchases)
• Credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• A free Walmart+ membership and half-off a Fox One subscription
• And added travel protections

Why this matters: Issuers spent the last year refreshing their premium cards to capture affluent spenders.

However, many aspiring young professionals can’t swing upward of $900 annual fees. By strengthening mid-tier credit cards, issuers can attract consumers who want robust benefits with a more affordable annual fee. This gets younger consumers within the funnel for future cross-selling opportunities and upgrades as they progress in their careers.

Recommendations for issuers: Mid-tier credit cards have hollowed out over the years, leaving potential cardholders open to getting poached by fintech competitors.

To snag young, aspiring affluent cardholders, issuers should build in the following features to their mid-tier products:

• Rewards that support affordability. Cash-back, subscriptions, or statement credits for essential categories like groceries, gas, and public transportation can support young professionals facing rising household budget costs. 
• Payment flexibility. Twenty-two percent of respondents to our Cash-Back Credit Card Features called the ability to change a payment’s due date in the app “extremely valuable,” and 20% said the same for offering installments.

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