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Old Dec 15, 08, 5:24 pm   #1
 
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT, SPG GLD
Posts: 651
Citi AAdvantage retention bonuses these days

In the past 2 months I've gone to cancel 2 different citi AAdvantage cards, and been presented with the identical retention offers, a choice of one of the 3 below:

1) 5 AAdvantage miles on each purchase made at gas stations, grocery stores and drug stores (instead of 1) for the next 12 months, max 5000 miles then back to regular earning rate.

2) 2 AAdvantage miles on all purchases (instead of 1), for the next 6 months, max 10,000 miles then back to regular earning rate.

3) A domestic round trip companion ticket for any fare over $299. Yeah I know, it probably has a bunch of ridiculous restrictions that may make this virtually useless, or almost the same cost as buying 2 flights instead of the 'advertised' 2 for 1 benefit of it.

If I were closer to my annual fee date I assume there might be a statement credit offer, but, these cards were typically a part of my churn.

Has anyone recently (as in past 2 months) gotten anything else?

For the record, since I actually do need to slow down my churning just a little bit for the next while to get my FICO score back into the high 700's again, I've accepted the #1 and the #3 offer. I was inclined to use #2 instead of #3, but, I wouldn't get much use out of the extra AAdvantage mile for a mere 6 months. Besides which, I could always get the companion ticket anyway and then cancel the card after that.

I went for #1 only because I don't have any 5% EDP card any more since Chase reduced theirs from 5% down to 3% -- so it does feel nice to be getting something resembling a 5% reward on my gas/drug/grocery purchases again -- even if it is only short lived.

I have noticed that there is not much in the way of up front bonus mile retention offers any more. I guess too many people were taking the quick miles and then ultimately canceling the card anyway after the miles were delivered (not much of a retention).

For the record, I'm only talking about the personal Citi AAdvantage cards. The Business AAdvantage Mastercard offered a nice 5000 bonus just to keep the card 1 additional month.
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Old Dec 15, 08, 9:43 pm   #2
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Posts: 9
Thanks for the info.

When you called in did you ask about retention bonuses, or did they just bring it up?

Thanks!
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Old Dec 15, 08, 10:51 pm   #3
 
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT, SPG GLD
Posts: 651
Quote:
Originally Posted by OneFlyGuy View Post
Thanks for the info.

When you called in did you ask about retention bonuses, or did they just bring it up?

Thanks!
I always ask for the 'cancellation department'. They always patch me through to the 'retention department'.
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Old Dec 18, 08, 5:37 pm   #4
ned
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Programs: MTD pass holder
Posts: 777
Yesterday I was offered 3000 miles or a $50 statement credit.
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Old Dec 18, 08, 9:02 pm   #5
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: OKA
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 144
I was offered an $85 statement credit (early November) to keep my AA MC account open...no strings attached. I'm still considering closing before the annual fees come due in Jan.
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Old Dec 19, 08, 2:11 am   #6
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,540
I was offered and took a 5K miles bonus not to cancel three times on an AA Citi biz card. Took about three months.

When I called to cancel 4th time, they wouldn't give me the bonus! Can you believe it?

If I had only used the card a little more ...
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Old Dec 19, 08, 8:45 pm   #7
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CMH
Posts: 497
Quote:
Originally Posted by ned View Post
Yesterday I was offered 3000 miles or a $50 statement credit.
I got the same offer about a month and a half ago. I took the 3000 miles and kept the card open for about a month. Then, I cancelled it for real a couple days ago.
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Old Dec 21, 08, 6:22 pm   #8
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 107
how do you end up at a retention specialist and what do you say? id like to cancel? and then they automatically offer you a special retention deal?
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Old Dec 21, 08, 8:16 pm   #9
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SF Eastbay,CA,USA
Programs: AA GLD 1MM,HH Gld, SPG Gld
Posts: 416
Quote:
Originally Posted by magicspot View Post
how do you end up at a retention specialist and what do you say? id like to cancel? and then they automatically offer you a special retention deal?
Pretty much.......that's how it works.
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Old Dec 21, 08, 9:36 pm   #10
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 4,674
With the new Schwab 2% cash back on all purchases VISA card (and no annual fee), the Citibank AAdvantage card is gone when it comes up for renewal next Spring. The only way I'll keep the card is if they waive the $85 annual fee or offer 10K+ miles.
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Old Dec 22, 08, 8:03 pm   #11
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 107
hmmm im going to give this a try thanks!
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Old Dec 22, 08, 8:29 pm   #12
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 5,832
Yeah, really annoying to cancel a card at Citi these days. It took more than 10 minutes to shoo away the retention offers.

Unless they're going to give me the card for free and AT LEAST 10,000 miles, why would I want to retain these? It seems always better to just start again.
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Old Dec 22, 08, 10:04 pm   #13
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CA
Posts: 1,216
Quote:
Originally Posted by iahphx View Post
Yeah, really annoying to cancel a card at Citi these days. It took more than 10 minutes to shoo away the retention offers.

Unless they're going to give me the card for free and AT LEAST 10,000 miles, why would I want to retain these? It seems always better to just start again.
Why not just cancel online? Don't have to hassle with the retention dept. and it only takes a minute.
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Old Dec 23, 08, 4:52 pm   #14
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toronto & New York
Programs: DL Silver, AA Gold, UA Premier
Posts: 37
hmm, the only thing I have ever gotten was a waiver of my annual fee!
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Old Dec 23, 08, 11:16 pm   #15
ned
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Programs: MTD pass holder
Posts: 777
Last week I cancelled one of my wife's AA/MC and was offered 3000 miles or a $50 staatement credit. Today I cancelled one of my AA/MC and was offered nothing, nada, zero! The CSR mentioned he saw I had another AA/MC. Oh well, I did call to cancel.
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