Last edit by: mia
This wiki is no longer being maintained/updated.
See the new thread & wiki at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/citi-...24-months.html.
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See the new thread & wiki at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/citi-...24-months.html.
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SEE NEW THREAD - 50K AA Cards
As of Sunday August 25, 2013:
Reports indicate personal cards can no longer be rapidly churned.
Reports indicate personal cards can no longer be rapidly churned.
Click HERE to review the previous thread on this topic.
Recommended Application Procedure:
Clear cache and cookies prior to applying or use an incognito or private browsing session to apply. Opening multiple different apps in different windows or tabs or failing to clear cookies/cache has resulted in people receiving a lesser offer.
For information on the Executive version of this card, with $450 annual fee, not waived, see: Up to 100k miles Citi Executive AAdvantage offers
MOST CURRENT 50K LINKS:
Citi Personal and Business:50K miles & two Admirals Club one-day passes after $3000 spend in 3 months, $95 fee waived first year.
Citi AA Platinum Personal Mastercard, 50,000 miles after $3k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year. Landing page available here. This is a CHIP and Signature card.
- Citi AA Platinum Personal Mastercard 50,000 miles. This is a CHIP and Signature card.
- Citi AA Business Mastercard 50,000 miles.
- Citi AA Platinum Personal Mastercard 50,000 miles. This is a CHIP and Signature card.
- Citi AA Business Mastercard 50,000 miles.
Landing page for 50K Business and Personal MC after $3K spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year. This page leads to the following application pages:
Landing page for 50K Business MC after $3K spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year. This page leads to this application page.
OTHER PERSONAL CARDS
Citi Platinum Select Mastercard. 30,000 miles after $1k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year. Up to $100 statement credit for AA purchases. Landing page available here.
Citi Platinum Select Mastercard. 30,000 miles after $1k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year.
Citi Gold Mastercard. 25,000 miles after $750 spend in 3 months. $50 annual fee, waived first year. Landing page available here
If you are already a Citigold customer, read this post from the Miles Professor about another 50K offer from your branch office for the American Airlines credit card.
OTHER BUSINESS CARDS
Citi Business MasterCard. 40,000 miles after $3k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year.
Citi Business Mastercard. 35,000 miles after $1.5k spend in 3 months.
Citi Business Mastercard. 30,000 miles after $1k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year. Landing page available here.
Citi Business Mastercard. 30,000 miles after $1k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year. Up to $100 statement credit for AA purchases. Landing page available here.
Citibank Contacts/Resources (Please add the others that you know)
- Application status: https://www.accountonline.com/cards/...?screenID=3187
- (800) 695-5171 Personal Application Status and Reconsideration Line with live rep
- (800) 763-9795 General Personal Application Inquiries with live rep
- (800) 645-7240 Business Application Status and Reconsideration Line, dial option 3 then option 1 for application status
- (800) 288-4653 Business Application Status and Reconsideration Line, dial option 3 then option 1 for application status
- (866) 606-2787 General Application and Account Questions with live rep
- (888) 201-4523 Application status
- (866) 606-2961 Reconsideration Line.
- Twitter : @AskCiti. Very powerful tool.
- Executive Office - useful for getting a more empowered agent for reconsideration purposes: CitiBank Executive Review Department, P.O. Box 6000, Sioux Falls, SD 57117
FAQ
- Are these AA cards churnable?
- What are the most current time-restriction rules in applying for all Citi cards?
- Do I need to close existing cards before applying?
- When should I close existing Citi accounts?
- Can I apply for a business card if I dont have a business?
- Can I buy Visa gift cards to meet my minimum spend?
- Do I get 10% back when redeeming miles for awards?
- Do I have to use my own AAdvantage number on applications?
- There is nothing on the application page stating the bonus miles. How do I know what I will be getting?
- When will my bonus miles post?
- I met the minimum spend. Why does my statement say "Miles Reported to AA: 0"?
- Can I cancel a card using secure messaging?
- I activated the card online and got a message about this card replacing an old card. What does that mean?
- Which credit bureau does Citi pull and can I force them to use a different one?
1. Are these AA cards churnable?
Yes and No. The general rules are:
- Personal AA cards: As of August 25, 2013 all linked personal AA cards in this thread can be churned only after Citi decides that you are no longer an existing cardmember. This usually occurs between 12 and 26 months after your last successful AA personal card approval of any type including AA Executive card(s). If you want both a Platinum card and an Executive AA card and are eligible under the 12-26 month rule, get the Platinum card first or the Executive card will restart the clock. Although it is not a hard-and-fast rule, 18 months after previous approval is the most common. YMMV. You do not need to cancel old personal cards.
- Note: You cannot circumvent this rule by applying for a card type different from your previous Citi AA card. If your last personal AA card was a Visa, the waiting period for your next personal AA card will be the same regardless of whether you apply for a Visa, MC, or Amex.
- Business AA cards: have been churnable repeatedly by some people without restriction other than the general Citi application rules. Apply once every 91-95 days. For unknown reasons, some other people have been unable to churn business cards at all. Also, some (but not all) people need to completely cancel their previous business card (ie, cancel both the card account and the associated master account) before they can apply for another business card.
Note: If you encounter difficulty in obtaining a Citi AA business card after holding one before, it may because of the unusual way Citi sets up business accounts. The business account per se has its own master number; like a standard MC/Visa, this master account number is 16 digits. In addition, each card on the account has its own 16-digit card number. Each of these numbers, including the number for the primary cardholder, is different from the master account number.
Sometimes, when you call to close your card account, all the card numbers are canceled but the master account remains open. When this happens, subsequent applications for a business card may encounter difficulty. Online, there should be a dropdown of accounts under your business login; the number that match your card number is your card account, the number that does not match your card number is your master account. When cancelling, ask to cancel both accounts, giving the last 4 digts of each (as shown in that dropdown).
2. What are the most current time-restriction rules in applying for all Citi cards?
- Only 1 Citi application of any kind per week (8 days to be safe).
- No more than 2 Citi applications of any kind in 60 days (65 days to be safe).
- No more than 1 Citi business application in 90 days (95 to be safe). This does not override the rules above.
While the day limits are a little flexible by a few days either way and YMMV, the rules themselves are not flexible. Note: In applying the rules above, count all Citi applications, including denials and/or applications for non-AA cards.
Mixed type Example:
Day 1 60K HHonors Visa
Day 9 or later 50K Personal Platinum Visa
Day 66 or later 50K Business #1
Day 74 or later 60K Executive
Day 161 or later 50K Business #2
18 Months, 74 days or later 50K Personal Platinum Visa
Not sure what day you applied? The date is written year, month, day in the application number: 201402280000 means you applied on Feb 28, 2014
3. Do I need to close existing cards before applying?
No. There is no requirement that you close previous personal accounts. People have reported having 4 or more of the exact same card. However, many people have reported problems getting AA Business cards if they have an open Business account.
4. When should I close existing Citi accounts?
This is a matter of personal preference. Citi cards can be closed immediately after receiving a bonus and paying off the balance. There are no verifiable reports of Citi clawing back miles (exception - miles were clawed back for returned merchandise around November 2011).
Reasons to keep accounts open:
- Having large credit lines improves your utilization percentage.
- Maintaining old cards improves average age of cards.
- Credit lines can be moved from old cards to new cards.
- Anecdotal evidence suggests that Citi counts the credit lines of recently-closed accounts for 3-6 months against your total available credit.
- You can receive retention offers once every 6 months per card. See this thread for details on the latest retention offers.
Reasons to close accounts:
- Having a large amount of available credit with Citi will eventually reduce your chances of instant approval. Your application will automatically be reviewed if your CL's total 75K or more. This may also result in a large disparity between existing account CL's and new CL's, such as 20K, 20K and 1K for a new card, as an example.
- There is little incentive to pay an annual fee if it is not waived.
- The annual fee on Business cards is rarely waived.
- Having a large number of open Citi cards will show up on your credit report and may affect non-Citi applications as well as the overall age of your accounts.
5. Can I apply for a business card if I dont have a business?
Anyone can apply for a business card. You do not need a registered business with an EIN. If you do not have a business with an EIN or with bills/accounts in the business name, you can apply using your name as the business. The three possibilities are that: 1. You could be approved unconditionally, 2. You could be asked to fax a couple of bills or accounts (water, electricity, gas, cable, or phone bills, bank accounts, etc.) in the name of the business to Citi, or 3. You could be required to fill out and send a 4506-T tax form. Whatever you do do not make up income etc. about the business. Plenty of people have been issued cards for businesses with $0 annual revenue, 1-5 employees, and 0 years in business.
6. Can I buy Visa gift cards to meet my minimum spend?
Purchases from banks are almost always coded as a cash advance regardless of what they are for. Purchases from stores, e.g. CVS, are almost always coded as a purchase.
If you are concerned about it, its recommended to send a secure message Citi and have them set your Cash Advance limit to zero. Phone CSRs often say they can not do this.
7. Do I get 10% back when redeeming miles for awards?
It depends. First, the rebate program (which began in April 2012) applies only to holders of these cards:
- Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage Visa Signature
- Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage World MasterCard
- Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard
- Citi Select AAdvantage American Express
Also, the maximum rebate for any cardholder in a single calendar year is 10,000 miles. Having more than one qualifying Citi AA card will not allow you to receive a larger rebate; the restriction applies per AAdvantage account.
For more on the 10% rebate benefit, see Citi 10% miles back / rebate for reward redemption.
8. Do I have to use my own AAdvantage number on applications?
Yes. The name on the card application must match the name on the AAdvantage account. You cannot apply for multiple cards for different people and use the same AAdvantage account number. AA does not care or even know how many Citi accounts you have so there is no harm in having your AAdvantage account number associated with multiple cards in your name. If you forget to add your AAdvantage account number to your application, an AAdvantage account in your name will be created and can later be merged with your existing account by calling AA.
9. There is nothing on the application page stating the bonus miles. How do I know what I will be getting?
You need to have faith in the people here if you want to maximize your miles. The people on this board constantly apply for these cards and report back what they are told are the benefits and what they actually receive. The way Citi works is that if you are approved for a card, you will get the bonus associated with the link you applied under as long as you make the minimum spend. It does not matter if you already had the card or anything else. If you are approved - then you get the bonus. The two exceptions to this are: 1. If you fail to clear your cache and accidentally load a cached application, you get the miles associated with that application and 2. Some people have recently succeeded in 'bumping the bonus' by contacting Citi and requesting a match to a 50K offer after applying for a 40K card. If you don't feel like trusting in the experiences of others, then apply for an offer with a landing page.
10. When will my bonus miles post?
Two working days after the date of the statement containing the charge that takes you across the spend threshold. It posts overnight, it'll be there when you check your AAdvantage account in the morning.
11. I met the minimum spend. Why does my statement say "Miles Reported to AA: 0"?
No one knows exactly why this is happening to some people (Citi blames AA, AA blames Citi, and both blame the merger). It supposedly has something to do with the time it takes them to properly link your AAdvantage number to your card. There are two ways to deal with this:
- Wait 1-2 statement periods, and see if the points post on their own. Per Citi, it can take this long for the accounts to link.
- Call AA (1-800-882-8880) and open a case about it. Most people have had their miles post within 2 weeks of doing this.
For ongoing discussion, see Some AA Citi Card miles not transferred to AAdvantage accounts [Q3 2013 - Q1 2014]
12. Can I cancel a card using secure messaging?
Yes, assuming you have set up the credit card in your Citi account. Quick and easy.
13. I activated the card online and got a message about this card replacing an old card. What does that mean?
When activating cards online, Citi normally displays the text:
"This account replaces your old account, which is now closed. Statements for your old account will be available for up to 6 months. Your current account summary and unbilled transactions are now listed under your new account number."
14. Which credit bureau does Citi pull and can I force them to use a different one?
Citi appears to use Experian most frequently, followed by Equifax. For some people they pull both. It depends on where you are located. You can check the Credit Boards database to see where card issuers have pulled recently.
For the most part, freezing Experian, or another bureau, will not cause Citi to pull a different bureau. They will almost certainly require you to unfreeze the bureau they wish to pull or deny your application. Some people have been successful providing the PIN but others have not. Mostly, freezing a credit bureau in an attempt to force Citi to pull a different one seems to waste time, money, and effort for little result. But YMMV.
For one person's experiences with various card issuers, check here.
For rules and info on any offers that include Admirals club passes or statement credits, see here.
Citi AA credit cards, except Executive. (2013-2014)
#1186
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 64
If you want to be sure, you could check your credit report . If its an internal rule decline , they don't pull credit .They just stop the application. If its an outside factor from your CR then they (obviously) did pull credit.
Thanks for keeping us updated on the changing Citi AA rules
#1187
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,607
Hello xxxxxx,
AAdvantageŽ Number: xxxxxxx
Change the way you travel with the
CitiŽ Platinum SelectŽ / AAdvantageŽ Visa SignatureŽ card!*
Apply now, get the card and earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantageŽ bonus miles after making $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership1.
Rewarding benefits for rewarding journeys: •Your first checked bag free†
•Group 1 boarding2
•10% of your redeemed AAdvantageŽ miles back — up to 10,000 AAdvantageŽ miles each calendar year3
•Earn two AAdvantageŽ miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases4
What's more, the annual card fee of $95** is waived for the first year!
https://www.citicards.com/cards/acq/...&screenID=3001
#1188
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: HNL
Posts: 781
Here you go, let me know if you think it's churnable. The "landing page" was in the email body and stated
Hello xxxxxx,
AAdvantageŽ Number: xxxxxxx
Change the way you travel with the
CitiŽ Platinum SelectŽ / AAdvantageŽ Visa SignatureŽ card!*
Apply now, get the card and earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantageŽ bonus miles after making $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership1.
Rewarding benefits for rewarding journeys: Your first checked bag free
Group 1 boarding2
10% of your redeemed AAdvantageŽ miles back up to 10,000 AAdvantageŽ miles each calendar year3
Earn two AAdvantageŽ miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases4
What's more, the annual card fee of $95** is waived for the first year!
https://www.citicards.com/cards/acq/...&screenID=3001
Hello xxxxxx,
AAdvantageŽ Number: xxxxxxx
Change the way you travel with the
CitiŽ Platinum SelectŽ / AAdvantageŽ Visa SignatureŽ card!*
Apply now, get the card and earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantageŽ bonus miles after making $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership1.
Rewarding benefits for rewarding journeys: Your first checked bag free
Group 1 boarding2
10% of your redeemed AAdvantageŽ miles back up to 10,000 AAdvantageŽ miles each calendar year3
Earn two AAdvantageŽ miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases4
What's more, the annual card fee of $95** is waived for the first year!
https://www.citicards.com/cards/acq/...&screenID=3001
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20960919-post265.html
#1189
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Memphis
Posts: 10
Another data point
I have had multiple AA Citi cards, the most recent one in February.
Approved on 7/21 for the 50k personal visa
Approved on 7/29 for the 50k personal visa
I have had multiple AA Citi cards, the most recent one in February.
Approved on 7/21 for the 50k personal visa
Approved on 7/29 for the 50k personal visa
#1190
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: HNL
Posts: 781
My recent Data Points:
8/15/2012: Instant approval on 50k Visa and AMEX
7/11/2013: Approved via chat for 50k Visa
Mrs Saacman:
8/15/12: Instant approval on 50k Visa and AMEX
7/11/2013: Approved via chat for 50k Visa
7/28/2013: Approved via chat for 50k Visa
Planning on spacing mine approximately 1 every month as I'm meeting other spend requirements currently.
8/15/2012: Instant approval on 50k Visa and AMEX
7/11/2013: Approved via chat for 50k Visa
Mrs Saacman:
8/15/12: Instant approval on 50k Visa and AMEX
7/11/2013: Approved via chat for 50k Visa
7/28/2013: Approved via chat for 50k Visa
Planning on spacing mine approximately 1 every month as I'm meeting other spend requirements currently.
#1191
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
Citi's fraud detection is worthless. Out of 10 transactions the past 2 days they declined 5 of them and I had to call so they could release my account. One time I'd make a $40 purchase at Walmart, then go to Target next door and the $60 purchase is declined for fraud. Absolutely ridiculous. After I complete the minimum spend I'm never using this card again. You'd think they could copy over the spending habits from my other Citi AA or AA Biz cards.
So for whatever reason, Citi's linking of cards that you own is ultra-primiitive.
... Having said that, your experience with their fraud detection is untypical. Not only have I not had any experiences like that, nor have I seen much in the way of other posts in this thread detailing such problems. I don't know why they're picking on you, whether you're doing something different or not, but I've not had a single fraud detection in the last few years of Citi churning. But I don't have any Walmarts nearby, and rarely shop at Target, so I can't relate to that particular example. I do stuff like: Pay a cable bill, order something from Amazon, get my car serviced, buy something at a building supplies chain, get a haircut, etc (ie a mix of online and brick-and-mortar transacations, and a mix of products and services).
Last edited by sdsearch; Jul 30, 2013 at 12:59 pm
#1192
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 756
Hmm, I have an interesting question. If you met the $3k spend early within the 1st month, will they post the bonus miles within the 1st billing cycle statement?? or will they still wait until after the 3rd billing cycle to post bonus as offer was for spend in 3 months?
#1193
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 670
They usually post shortly after the closing of the statement in which you met the spend.
#1194
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,055
Here you go, let me know if you think it's churnable. The "landing page" was in the email body and stated
<SNIP>
https://www.citicards.com/cards/acq/...&screenID=3001
<SNIP>
https://www.citicards.com/cards/acq/...&screenID=3001
&sc=4XKIWRA3&m=7QAED11111W
&sc=4XKIWQX3&m=6QAEF11111W
I look at the T&C on the application page in the scrolling box. Both say:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OFFER
This offer is only valid for new accounts. You must be at least 18 years of age. If you are married, you may apply for a separate account. Citibank, N.A. ("we" or "us") is the issuer of your account.Citibank, N.A. is located in Sioux Falls, SD.Emphasis added. So it looks churnable to me.
Ike
#1196
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 756
Here you go, let me know if you think it's churnable. The "landing page" was in the email body and stated
Hello xxxxxx,
AAdvantageŽ Number: xxxxxxx
Change the way you travel with the
CitiŽ Platinum SelectŽ / AAdvantageŽ Visa SignatureŽ card!*
Apply now, get the card and earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantageŽ bonus miles after making $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership1.
Rewarding benefits for rewarding journeys: Your first checked bag free
Group 1 boarding2
10% of your redeemed AAdvantageŽ miles back up to 10,000 AAdvantageŽ miles each calendar year3
Earn two AAdvantageŽ miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases4
What's more, the annual card fee of $95** is waived for the first year!
https://www.citicards.com/cards/acq/...&screenID=3001
Hello xxxxxx,
AAdvantageŽ Number: xxxxxxx
Change the way you travel with the
CitiŽ Platinum SelectŽ / AAdvantageŽ Visa SignatureŽ card!*
Apply now, get the card and earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantageŽ bonus miles after making $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership1.
Rewarding benefits for rewarding journeys: Your first checked bag free
Group 1 boarding2
10% of your redeemed AAdvantageŽ miles back up to 10,000 AAdvantageŽ miles each calendar year3
Earn two AAdvantageŽ miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases4
What's more, the annual card fee of $95** is waived for the first year!
https://www.citicards.com/cards/acq/...&screenID=3001
#1197
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 60
My recent Data Points:
8/15/2012: Instant approval on 50k Visa and AMEX
7/11/2013: Approved via chat for 50k Visa
Mrs Saacman:
8/15/12: Instant approval on 50k Visa and AMEX
7/11/2013: Approved via chat for 50k Visa
7/28/2013: Approved via chat for 50k Visa
Planning on spacing mine approximately 1 every month as I'm meeting other spend requirements currently.
8/15/2012: Instant approval on 50k Visa and AMEX
7/11/2013: Approved via chat for 50k Visa
Mrs Saacman:
8/15/12: Instant approval on 50k Visa and AMEX
7/11/2013: Approved via chat for 50k Visa
7/28/2013: Approved via chat for 50k Visa
Planning on spacing mine approximately 1 every month as I'm meeting other spend requirements currently.
#1198
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,607
The link appears to be almost identical to the 50K one in the Wiki. Everything is the same except:
&sc=4XKIWRA3&m=7QAED11111W
&sc=4XKIWQX3&m=6QAEF11111W
I look at the T&C on the application page in the scrolling box. Both say:
Emphasis added. So it looks churnable to me.
Ike
&sc=4XKIWRA3&m=7QAED11111W
&sc=4XKIWQX3&m=6QAEF11111W
I look at the T&C on the application page in the scrolling box. Both say:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OFFER
• This offer is only valid for new accounts. You must be at least 18 years of age. If you are married, you may apply for a separate account. Citibank, N.A. ("we" or "us") is the issuer of your account.Citibank, N.A. is located in Sioux Falls, SD.Emphasis added. So it looks churnable to me.
Ike
Are there any churnable AA card with a lower spend ( and lower miles) as I am in the middle of a couple other spends right now and don't want to miss the AA churn again. Thanks
"This CitiŽ / AAdvantageŽ card offer is only valid for new applicants for a CitiŽ / AAdvantageŽ account applied for by September 30, 2013 pursuant to this offer and is not available to EXISTING cardmembers or RECENT applicants for a CitiŽ / AAdvantageŽ credit card"
Last edited by flyer4512; Jul 30, 2013 at 4:02 pm
#1199
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: HNL
Posts: 781
Not doing anything intentionally to get to chat. Always apply through firefox, and typically middle of the day Hawaii time. I haven't really picked up a pattern from others' experience here, might just be a YMMV thing.
#1200
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 64
No they cant . The points only generate once the statement closes and then it takes 2-3 days to transfer into your AAdvantage account.