I have had both the Citi and free AX for many years, have not hear a thing so I called yesterday. AX offered to upgrade my free card if I spend $2k in 3 months plus give me 75k points, I could keep the same number and AF will be due in June. He also said I would automatically receive another Card replacing the Citi Reserve so just call and cancel it when it arrives.
My wife and I will lose our 15 year Diamond in March (around 100 short of Lifetime and now retired) so thinking I will take my mulligan year this year then decide in March of ‘19 if we want to upgrade to the Diamond Card. We still have around 1m points to burn and always use them in properties that have lounges so the Aspire might be cheap insurance.