Programs: AA EXP, Hilton DIAMOND, SPG PLT, Marriott GLD
Posts: 75
CitiBusiness MC *change*
A quick search yielded no results on this change coming 3/31/09.. Apologies in advance if it is a repost..
Per my (first) AAdvantage CitiBusiness MC Statement..
" As of 3/31/09 you'll no longer earn 2 American Airlines AAdvantage(R) miles per $1 spent when using your card for American Airlines purchases. You will earn 1 AAdvantage(R) mile for each $1 in purchases everywhere the card is accepted, including American Airlines."
A huge bummer for me as I just signed up for this card last month to take advantage of this benefit primarily (otherwise I would have gone the SPG AMEX route instead). Yes, I know I got the 25k bonus + the reduced mileage award, but still.. I was excited to have this double miles feature when purchasing flights on AA...
Last edited by dstan; Mar 13, 09 at 9:25 am.
Reason: updated thread title
A quick search yielded no results on this change coming 3/31/09.. Apologies in advance if it is a repost..
Per my (first) AAdvantage CitiBusiness MC Statement..
" As of 3/31/09 you'll no longer earn 2 American Airlines AAdvantage(R) miles per $1 spent when using your card for American Airlines purchases. You will earn 1 AAdvantage(R) mile for each $1 in purchases everywhere the card is accepted, including American Airlines."
A huge bummer for me as I just signed up for this card last month to take advantage of this benefit primarily (otherwise I would have gone the SPG AMEX route instead). Yes, I know I got the 25k bonus + the reduced mileage award, but still.. I was excited to have this double miles feature when purchasing flights on AA...
Looks like it is time to churn this card...
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Made it to 2mm - Double Miles Here I Come - 2,012,287 What's next? 3,000,000?
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 1,751
That is definitely not good news.
The only remaining benefit I see on the CitiBusiness card, other than 1x miles, is primary insurance coverage on car rentals. Or did they change that, too, when I wasn't looking?
I called to cancel my CitiBusiness Visa today and I was assured that the 2 miles/$ spent on AA purchases was not ending for my card. I opened this particular account in Dec 2007, so I was considering canceling to get the $75 annual fee credited, but if new cards only offer 1 mile/$ on AA, then I may keep this card for a while.
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 1,751
Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiBeach
I called to cancel my CitiBusiness Visa today and I was assured that the 2 miles/$ spent on AA purchases was not ending for my card.
That's interesting.
I just called and spoke to a regular account rep, not retention, and he had not heard anything about a change. He checked with his manager who also knew nothing about a change (even though the one mile per dollar on AA purchases is on their website.)
I would bet that if you call to cancel that they would give you the 2 points per dollar spent back, or an even better retention bonus.
On the personal cards, citi just gives 2 points per dollar spent on ALL purchases (at least up to $10K in spending) just to make sure you don't close an account. I'm sure they'd renew that if you hit your cap and threatened to cancel again..
Nonetheless, what's it matter when every month I threaten to cancel the Citibusiness AAdvantage Visa, and they offer me 5K AAdvantage miles each time just to hold on to the card 1 more month. I prefer that bonus I've been getting monthly for the past 4 months in contrast to an extra point on the AA purchases (granted, if you're spending more than $5K monthly, then that's something else).
Yes, as a documented bonus, losing the 2 points per 1$ on AA is a bummer, but, Citi is notorious for giving 'freebies' in order to convince you to keep your card. Call them.
Programs: AA - EXP 1.8MM, HH Diamond, MR Plat (for now), recovering UA Premier
Posts: 117
Quote:
Originally Posted by thehawk75
Yes, as a documented bonus, losing the 2 points per 1$ on AA is a bummer, but, Citi is notorious for giving 'freebies' in order to convince you to keep your card. Call them.
I have yet to see this in action. At one point, I had all six Cit/AA cards (Plat & Gold MC, Select & regular AX, and business VS & MC). The annual fees are all coming due, and I have been calling to discuss the annual fee. I have canceled three cards so far, and I have yet to even be connected to a retention desk. Guess my travel spend in the coming year is going through some other bank...
I have yet to see this in action. At one point, I had all six Cit/AA cards (Plat & Gold MC, Select & regular AX, and business VS & MC). The annual fees are all coming due, and I have been calling to discuss the annual fee. I have canceled three cards so far, and I have yet to even be connected to a retention desk. Guess my travel spend in the coming year is going through some other bank...
What can I say? Perhaps it's in the language used?
If I really want to cancel the card I ask the agent to 'cancel it'. If in fact I'm fishing for retention offers, then I ask the agent to patch me through to the 'cancellation department' (which is ultimately retentions).
Although I am a churner, I do like to hear the offers. The 5K AAdvantage miles, NSA other than keeping the card till the end of the statement is a nice one for me, especially when they keep giving it to me (4 months in a row now). Since you can keep applying for citi cards while you have others (even the same cards) and collect the sign on bonuses, might as well earn more bonuses off of the cards that you've already collected the sign on bonus from.
At any rate, I don't want to send the thread on a tangent about various retention offers and strategies. Nonetheless, if you are an actual user of the card and this change is now going to make you stop using it, might as well see what Citi will offer you if you threaten to cancel.
