Originally Posted by
Antarius
Contemplating the Citi Business AA card and wanted opinions. I have never carried an AA card, only now that they have changed the AA business program and the Hotels multiplier etc. it might make sense to get one.
I currently carry a CSR, Amex Plat, Ink Business, Chase Hyatt. Don't value the Admirals Club and pay enough in annual fees that the Exec card isn't being considered.
Thoughts on the Citi Business vs Barclays Red vs standing pat?
I don't have a CitiBusiness card, but I do have a Citi Executive Platinum Card that I acquired after the July 2023 refurb. While it is serving the purposes for which I signed up -- club access and LP bonuses -- I have otherwise come to loathe the card, and am looking forward to terminating my relationship with Citi at the earliest practical opportunity. As noted
here, I really dislike the lack of transparency when it comes to accounting for rewards earnings. The Citi statements and web interface are amateurish compared to Chase and Amex. The straightfoward, non-bonused spend posts predictably, it's the bonus spend earnings that I've found impossible to track and match up to what posts on AA.com. E.g., I had two AA Hotel stays in November but no bonus points for those stays posted to AA.com. This is likely related to same behind-the-scenes debiting due to previously canceled AAHotel stays, but that's not self-evident from the prior charges and there is nowhere they show their math. Perhaps this is an AA problem as much as a Citi problem, I don't know. But I have two other co-branded airline cards through Chase, and one hotel-branded card through Amex, and none of them are this complicated. Citi's method of posting monthly credits and "merchant offer" credits is also maddening, although perhaps those credits are not relevant to the Business card, I don't know.
Perhaps like me, the specific benefits you are seeking from the card will make it worthwhile to you not withstanding such issues. For me, my aversion to Citi has become strong enough that if my work travel continues to be AA-focused, I'm considering the idea of obtaining a Barlclay's card that I would use for any spend I intend to put on an AA card, and treat the Citi Exec card simply like a discounted Admiral's Club membership that provides some LP bonuses. But I'll need to make sure the grass is actually greener on the other side of the fence. Anyway, that's just my personal word of warning, others here may be more satisified with their cards. Good luck deciding!