Originally Posted by
charlesonmission
AA currently has 4 Citi Cards, 1 Citi Checking (sometimes) and 2 Barclays Cards (1 is on hold for now while Barclays review the Barclays Business cards). I don't think AA needs to say they are fine with it, they have partnered with Citi and Barclays and agreed to some sort of terms. No one is doubting that Citi wasn't managing the mailers correctly. Citi is now enforcing the 48 month rule and there is no workaround.
Airlines absolutely do want people to get multiple cards and transfer miles to them. Air France has said as much that they want to be top of mind for USA travelers and have people transfer miles to them. Air France (i.e. FlyingBlue program) and the various banks have agreed to the price. FF programs in the US are a profit center, not a cost center for airlines.
Amex allows people to hold up to 10 charge cards. One is allowed to transfer all of those signup bonus miles to any of their airline partners. I don't think there is a limit.
Most people aren't going to get 7 AA Accounts in 1 year, or 5 Chase Cards and transfer all to United, or 10 Amex cards and transfer all to Air France, but it is allowed and the airlines would love to get paid for those miles.
That is a bit of a limit. Max of 6 cards. Approaching it logically...
If one has more than 6, it is likely they are up to something questionable.
If one opens more than X in a short period of time, it is questionable. (Who realistically needs X new
AA CC in Y months? I would think AA would say churners.)
If Z new cards are opened at one address in Y months, I would think it is questionable (from AAs POV).
I would think AA has some great number crunchers using the vast data they have on accounts over the years and can, with some precision and accuracy, predict/spot churn accounts.
(I do similar things for companies.)