Originally Posted by ILUVCITIBANK
Separately - Got notice this week that AA/Citibank is doing a 1% cash back for 3mo starting Aug 1st (yes, got my postcard on/about 8/8 - thanks Citibank for the 8-days "tardy" advance notice) on targeted expenses (drugstores, gas, you know that drill) ON TOP OF the aadvantage miles one already earns. This is novel and a first-time I've ever seen Citibank do ANY SORT OF PROMO on the charging-side w/ their Aadvantage card...which indirectly tells me their AAdvantage program is probably on the decline. AA's milesaaver initiative has sure zapped the life out of their AAdvantage/Citibank card for me. Went from strong seven figures a year...to under five figures a year...and I believe the numbers scale downward nationwide for other Citibank/AAdvantage members if they studied the dysfunctional AAdvantage program like I finally [woke up and] did. Airline-pure cards are dead these days. I get a cynical kick out of Delta and US Air doing all their [desperate] promos...after all, who wants Delta or US Air miles ? Starwood's card gives us the ultimate flexibility to avoid having to accumulate airline-pure miles. But I digress.
P.S. gleff and/or mileking...can either of you comment on the rumors in the Hilton thread that Hilton was awarding Diamond for "x"-level charging on the AMEX/HHonors card ? Just got a promo in to apply for this card (20K HHonors points bonus) and would otherwise not engage in HHonors after 2004's massive dilution - but to get to HHonors Diamond level....sure is tempting. Have either of you been awarded HHonors diamond due purely to AMEX/HHonors charging ?
I just received and started using the AA Mastercard because of the 15K bonus miles and no annual fee for first year. Have not seen the 1% cash back offer you mention, but 1% + AA miles still does not come close to 5% cash back on the grocery, drugstore, and gas purchases from the Citi Dividend Platinum card. We only use the AA Mastercard when AMEX is not an option. I know you continue to report problems with AA MileSaaver, but AA availability still looks very good to me, especially in comparison to most other airlines.
No idea on the HHonors AMEX Diamond offer. I've been Diamond for 10 years by doing the stays.
I agree that airline cards may be starting to lose their steam. With the in-roads of the cash back cards and the Capital One campaign, coupled with rising mileage costs for awards, perceived (and I believe real) reduction in award availability, and draconian fees on redeeming & changing award travel, it is no wonder people are moving their spending elsewhere. They have simply had it.