Originally Posted by sdsearch

Here's the problem with "trying": The 18 months is since the last account open or close, not since the last open on which you go a bonus. So if it's been a while since you did that conversion, and you're partway into your 18 months, be aware that "trying" for the 75k will reset your 18 months, whether you get the bonus or not.

These days, Citi will approve you for a new card whether or not they're going to give you a bonus. It's not like in the past where you could count on getting denied for the card itself if they weren't going to give you the bonus. So now, every attempt to get a bonus restarts the 18 month clock, but may not actually you get you a bonus.