Sep 24, 2014, 4:20 pm
Last edit by: DenverBrian
The thread was split on September 24, 2014. To review the original thread, click HERE.
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For questions NOT related to the application process - such as experiences using benefits - refer to the AA forum thread on this card: AA Citibank Executive / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard (Master Thread)
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 some Citi cards. We do not know, and Citi has not indicated, how long these offers will last. Citi has left other offers alive for over a year beyond the 'apply by' date in the past. These links could be here all year or gone tomorrow. If the application loads, it is good, based on past Citi applications that survived past the landing page expiration, regardless of any posted or advertised 'apply by' date.
MOST CURRENT LINKS:
CURRENT PUBLIC OFFER: 50k
"American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have had a Citi Executive® / AAdvantage® World EliteTM MasterCard® opened or closed in the past 18 months"
Link A50
Link B50
Link C50
Link D50
Link E50
Link F50
Link G50
PREVIOUS OFFERS
Previous 75k links (NOT WORKING 11/18)
Link A75, Link B75, Link C75, Link D75, Link E75, Link F75, Link G75, Link H75, Link I75, Link J75, Link K75
Landing Page Application Page (Both pages include the 18 month language).
http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/ea...-executive.jsp
Option 1: Zombie Link with no Landing Page, Several FTers have been using this link with Success. Application Link 50k with 5k spending
Option 2: [note: may be dead or dying as of 3/16/15- check most recent posts in thread] Current Zombie link Application Link 50K for 5K spending, no statement credit.
Option 3: This Link was obtained off of aa.com at one point Bonus is unknown Application Link.
Option 4: Citi Website Offer; Application has the following warning
"American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have had a Citi Executive® / AAdvantage® World EliteTM MasterCard® opened or closed in the past 18 months" There are indeed several reports of people who have already had an EXEC card not receiving any signup bonus miles. And no reports of anyone who has had an EXEC before actually getting any signup bonus at all. Do NOT use this link if you have ever had an EXEC card.
Landing page for New 50K for $5K spending, no statement credit and Application Link
The following are identical to Option 4, but the landing pages were working at the time they were entered into this wiki. All landing pages and application pages have the same content but (slightly) different URLs:
Option 4a: Landing page and Application page
Option 4b:Landing page and Application page
Option 4c: Landing page and Application page
Option 5: Does not have the 18-month language of Option 4, and the application form has the older format (like Option 2 and unlike Option 4).
Landing page for 50K for $5K spending, no statement credit and Application Link
Option 6: Artificially generated links; all lead to old-format application pages just like Options 1/2/5, without the "18 months" language found in Option 4 application pages. No landing page ever existed.
There are reports in the thread that applications using 6a/6d were approved but the UPS letter did not mention a bonus, and Citi telephone agents said there would be no bonus. Other reports say that the bonus was stated in the letter.
6a: Application page
6b: Application page
6c: Application page
6d: Application page
Option 7:The following link is very similar to Options 1/2/5 and has been found to work without an 18-month restriction. Since it does not originate from a landing page, there is no web page showing the bonus offer. However, the UPS letter confirms a 50K-mile bonus after $5K spend, and many people have reported that the bonuses have appeared in their AAdvantage accounts.Application Link Link to application page began dying on 6/1/2015. Now completely dead.
EXPEDITED SHIPPING
While reconsideration/application reps do not seem to be aware of this, these cards are expedited and usually arrive 1-2 days after approval.The CSR will not take a request to expedite the card.
Who is eligible for this card? Anyone as long as you can be approved for the minimum $5K credit line, subject to the standard Citi rules of 1 Citi app or card of any kind per 8 days and 2 Citi cards or apps of any kind per 65 days. It is always advisable to wait 65 days from any type of Citi denial before applying for another Citi card. Many have reported getting approved for this card in spite of having several open AA cards over the past year as well as having previously had this card.
Not sure about the 8 and 65 day rules? If your most recent application for any Citi card is less than click here - 8 days ago, you need to wait. Also, if your previous (second-to-last) Citi application is less than click here - 65 days ago, you need to wait. These are not rules published or known by Citi CSRs but rather based on thousands of Citi card applications and datapoints across several threads.
Credit inquiry history
Some have reported more approval success with no more than 5 or 6 Experian inquiries within the last 6 months. And Citi credit reviewers have told some applicants that too many inquiries is a problem, even with an excellent credit score. Multiple inquiries from other banks seem to be especially problematic, because Citi can't see their current balances as easily. Other applicants have been approved with more inquiries, especially with a long term Citi tenure and a favorable income to debt ratio.
This card can be churned. Recent datapoints concerning multiple Executive cards include posts 917, 1059 and starting at 1365. For in-depth datapoints and advice on churning Citi cards, read and study the extensive wiki posts in the HH thread and the AA Plat/gold thread. Click the plus on the right hand side of the wiki if you do not see the wiki text. Datapoints for bonus points posting on multiple cards include post 2579.
Getting around the $450 annual fee: Many people have been able to meet the spending requirement before the first statement posts and then cancel and have the fee refunded after the miles post. Details and datapoints include starting at post 74. T&C state that the card must be cancelled within 30 days of the fee posting to get it refunded; in practice you have 37 days. Potential problems with this plans include a very short (1 week or less) first "month" as well as delays in miles posting which have been reported by several FTers.
Once you cancel the card (within the 37 day window of AF posting) the refund will post on the account between 1-3 business days. Leave a $450 balance and it will be zeroed out.
Retention Bonus Offers: User have been offered the following retention bonus offers when calling to cancel the card:
- 5,000 points + $100 credit with $1,500 spend per month for 3 months 5333
- 2 additional club member passes 6862
- 1,000 bonus miles each month for 16 month, min $1k spend/month 6862
- [3/15] 15,000 bonus miles for spending $5k
- $450 Credit for spending $5k for next three statements
Already a member? If you already purchased an AC membership (for example, using the credit from Amex Plat) and apply and are approved for this card, AA will refund you the pro-rated AF from any time left on your membership.
When do miles post? Usually two days after your statement closing date. In some cases your statement will show the correct miles earned but will show 0 miles reported to AA. In this case see this thread.
Helpful points from post #3794 and others, especially for those new to Citi:
1) Citi CSRs are clueless, so disregard everything they say that seems to contradict anything you have read on F/T. And take everything else with a big grain of salt. I was told 3 times VERY CLEARLY "You will not got your annual fee refunded" while I was cancelling, but I did get it.
2a)With Citi, if you are approved for a card, and meet the minimum spend requirement, you will get the bonus listed for the offer you applied for. Every time ! Unlike Chase or AMEX, who will send you a card, wait for you to pay the fee and spend, and then say "sorry, you don't qualify for a bonus". If Citi doesn't intend to give you the bonus, they will just deny your app. They won't even do a pull, they will just instantly deny your app. If they send you the card, and you meet the spend on time, you will get the bonus. My attorney insists I add "that could change tomorrow", but from the Big Bang thru today, that has always been true.Recently, Citi has been approving Exec cards but not giving the bonus, e.g. when there has been less than 18 months from the previous application. Therefore, (a) use an application link that does not list the 18-month wait requirement; (b) check the letter you get via UPS to see if it explicitly promises the bonus; if it's in the letter, it will be honored (c) if in doubt, call and ask.
2b) Another helpful post discussing timeframe for meeting min spend: 6279
3) Any expectation that Citi will do things that make sense is just plain silly. They won't.
Admiral Club Access: You do not need to be flying AA that particular day of travel. (Ex: you're flying DL on the day of travel...you could still enter the AC lounge, even though you're not on an AA flight that day.) Beware, though, that individual lounges have individual rules (see the link below). Alternate rules usually come w/ Qantas lounges, not AA lounges. Furthermore, AC access "comes with" US Air access (19 locations). As of December 2015, authorized users have AC access (but not partner lounge access) even if they are not with the primary card holder.
For reference, an AC lounge list: http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInforma...#admirals-club
For questions and discussions on lounge access: Help Desk: Lounge Access and Lounge Access Rules
Information on new authorized user AC lounge access: Citi Authorized User Admirals Club Benefit Terms
Also, please note that these cards do not include the 10% miles rebate offered by some other Citi AA products.
What about the EQM? AA tracks your miles earned on Executive card(s) and adds 10K Elite Qualifying Miles to your EQM balance once you earn 40,000 miles during a calendar year on Executive card(s). Any number of Executive cards can add up to the 40K, and you cannot earn more than 10K EQM each year. No redeemable miles are added, and this is of no consequence or value unless you will also earn at least 15K additional EQM in a given year by flying and 10K will bump you up to the next status level.
Direct phone number to Citi Fraud Prevention department: +18664705331
Concierge service enrollment (allows for electronic requests). Concierge number is +18778812668
Here are the minimum credit limit required amounts in order to keep an account open (for purposes of new card applications and reconsiderations)
Citi Amex 1k (likely citi gold as well)
Citi Visa signature/world MasterCard 3k (as low as 1k on some accounts YYMV)
Citi World elite Mastercards (including exec) 5k
Advice to those new to citi American Airlines cards,
If you are just starting out please apply and use the lower level citi AA card for a while before moving on to this thread and card. This will help you in the long run in more ways than one. Most of us here have opened and used lower level AA cards before moving on to this thread and card
Also,
Check out this thread
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/citi-...-benefits.html
------------------------
For questions NOT related to the application process - such as experiences using benefits - refer to the AA forum thread on this card: AA Citibank Executive / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard (Master Thread)
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 some Citi cards. We do not know, and Citi has not indicated, how long these offers will last. Citi has left other offers alive for over a year beyond the 'apply by' date in the past. These links could be here all year or gone tomorrow. If the application loads, it is good, based on past Citi applications that survived past the landing page expiration, regardless of any posted or advertised 'apply by' date.
MOST CURRENT LINKS:
CURRENT PUBLIC OFFER: 50k
"American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have had a Citi Executive® / AAdvantage® World EliteTM MasterCard® opened or closed in the past 18 months"
Link A50
Link B50
Link C50
Link D50
Link E50
Link F50
Link G50
PREVIOUS OFFERS
Previous 75k links (NOT WORKING 11/18)
Landing Page Application Page (Both pages include the 18 month language).
http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/ea...-executive.jsp
Option 4: Citi Website Offer; Application has the following warning
"American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have had a Citi Executive® / AAdvantage® World EliteTM MasterCard® opened or closed in the past 18 months" There are indeed several reports of people who have already had an EXEC card not receiving any signup bonus miles. And no reports of anyone who has had an EXEC before actually getting any signup bonus at all. Do NOT use this link if you have ever had an EXEC card.
The following are identical to Option 4, but the landing pages were working at the time they were entered into this wiki. All landing pages and application pages have the same content but (slightly) different URLs:
Option 4a: Landing page and Application page
Option 4b:
Option 4c: Landing page and Application page
Landing page for 50K for $5K spending, no statement credit and Application Link
Option 6: Artificially generated links; all lead to old-format application pages just like Options 1/2/5, without the "18 months" language found in Option 4 application pages. No landing page ever existed.
There are reports in the thread that applications using 6a/6d were approved but the UPS letter did not mention a bonus, and Citi telephone agents said there would be no bonus. Other reports say that the bonus was stated in the letter.
6a: Application page
6c: Application page
6d: Application page
Option 7:The following link is very similar to Options 1/2/5 and has been found to work without an 18-month restriction. Since it does not originate from a landing page, there is no web page showing the bonus offer. However, the UPS letter confirms a 50K-mile bonus after $5K spend, and many people have reported that the bonuses have appeared in their AAdvantage accounts.
EXPEDITED SHIPPING
While reconsideration/application reps do not seem to be aware of this, these cards are expedited and usually arrive 1-2 days after approval.The CSR will not take a request to expedite the card.
Who is eligible for this card? Anyone as long as you can be approved for the minimum $5K credit line, subject to the standard Citi rules of 1 Citi app or card of any kind per 8 days and 2 Citi cards or apps of any kind per 65 days. It is always advisable to wait 65 days from any type of Citi denial before applying for another Citi card. Many have reported getting approved for this card in spite of having several open AA cards over the past year as well as having previously had this card.
Not sure about the 8 and 65 day rules? If your most recent application for any Citi card is less than click here - 8 days ago, you need to wait. Also, if your previous (second-to-last) Citi application is less than click here - 65 days ago, you need to wait. These are not rules published or known by Citi CSRs but rather based on thousands of Citi card applications and datapoints across several threads.
Credit inquiry history
Some have reported more approval success with no more than 5 or 6 Experian inquiries within the last 6 months. And Citi credit reviewers have told some applicants that too many inquiries is a problem, even with an excellent credit score. Multiple inquiries from other banks seem to be especially problematic, because Citi can't see their current balances as easily. Other applicants have been approved with more inquiries, especially with a long term Citi tenure and a favorable income to debt ratio.
This card can be churned. Recent datapoints concerning multiple Executive cards include posts 917, 1059 and starting at 1365. For in-depth datapoints and advice on churning Citi cards, read and study the extensive wiki posts in the HH thread and the AA Plat/gold thread. Click the plus on the right hand side of the wiki if you do not see the wiki text. Datapoints for bonus points posting on multiple cards include post 2579.
Getting around the $450 annual fee: Many people have been able to meet the spending requirement before the first statement posts and then cancel and have the fee refunded after the miles post. Details and datapoints include starting at post 74. T&C state that the card must be cancelled within 30 days of the fee posting to get it refunded; in practice you have 37 days. Potential problems with this plans include a very short (1 week or less) first "month" as well as delays in miles posting which have been reported by several FTers.
Once you cancel the card (within the 37 day window of AF posting) the refund will post on the account between 1-3 business days. Leave a $450 balance and it will be zeroed out.
Retention Bonus Offers: User have been offered the following retention bonus offers when calling to cancel the card:
- 5,000 points + $100 credit with $1,500 spend per month for 3 months 5333
- 2 additional club member passes 6862
- 1,000 bonus miles each month for 16 month, min $1k spend/month 6862
- [3/15] 15,000 bonus miles for spending $5k
- $450 Credit for spending $5k for next three statements
Already a member? If you already purchased an AC membership (for example, using the credit from Amex Plat) and apply and are approved for this card, AA will refund you the pro-rated AF from any time left on your membership.
When do miles post? Usually two days after your statement closing date. In some cases your statement will show the correct miles earned but will show 0 miles reported to AA. In this case see this thread.
Helpful points from post #3794 and others, especially for those new to Citi:
1) Citi CSRs are clueless, so disregard everything they say that seems to contradict anything you have read on F/T. And take everything else with a big grain of salt. I was told 3 times VERY CLEARLY "You will not got your annual fee refunded" while I was cancelling, but I did get it.
2a)
2b) Another helpful post discussing timeframe for meeting min spend: 6279
3) Any expectation that Citi will do things that make sense is just plain silly. They won't.
Citibank Contacts/Resources
- 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
- (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
For reference, an AC lounge list: http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInforma...#admirals-club
For questions and discussions on lounge access: Help Desk: Lounge Access and Lounge Access Rules
Information on new authorized user AC lounge access: Citi Authorized User Admirals Club Benefit Terms
Also, please note that these cards do not include the 10% miles rebate offered by some other Citi AA products.
What about the EQM? AA tracks your miles earned on Executive card(s) and adds 10K Elite Qualifying Miles to your EQM balance once you earn 40,000 miles during a calendar year on Executive card(s). Any number of Executive cards can add up to the 40K, and you cannot earn more than 10K EQM each year. No redeemable miles are added, and this is of no consequence or value unless you will also earn at least 15K additional EQM in a given year by flying and 10K will bump you up to the next status level.
Direct phone number to Citi Fraud Prevention department: +18664705331
Concierge service enrollment (allows for electronic requests). Concierge number is +18778812668
Here are the minimum credit limit required amounts in order to keep an account open (for purposes of new card applications and reconsiderations)
Citi Amex 1k (likely citi gold as well)
Citi Visa signature/world MasterCard 3k (as low as 1k on some accounts YYMV)
Citi World elite Mastercards (including exec) 5k
Advice to those new to citi American Airlines cards,
If you are just starting out please apply and use the lower level citi AA card for a while before moving on to this thread and card. This will help you in the long run in more ways than one. Most of us here have opened and used lower level AA cards before moving on to this thread and card
Also,
Check out this thread
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/citi-...-benefits.html
Citi AA Executive [Late 2014 - 2015]
May 7, 2015, 6:27 am
#3421
formerly htang333
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Wi-Fi
Programs: Virtuoso, Top Ranked: Four Seasons (Top 25 Advisor), AMAN (Top 50), Rosewood, Hyatt Prive, etc.
Posts: 1,455
I find the best course of action to combat the fees are to also run spend on a cashback card and use that to offset some of your fees.
For example, I churn the AA Exec's often for the air miles, and I have done Hilton, Marriott, and Club Carlson this year for myself, but I also put spend through on an Amex OBC and I did the WF 5% for 6 months deal. That spend helped offset the fuel charges I paid BA as well as the out of pocket nights that I had to pay for outside of my hotel points.
For example, I churn the AA Exec's often for the air miles, and I have done Hilton, Marriott, and Club Carlson this year for myself, but I also put spend through on an Amex OBC and I did the WF 5% for 6 months deal. That spend helped offset the fuel charges I paid BA as well as the out of pocket nights that I had to pay for outside of my hotel points.
Thanks so much!
May 7, 2015, 7:25 am
#3422
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,269
We have 4 nights at the Radisson Blu in Nice this July . . . Since we usually spend a month in Europe each summer . . . Add in gourmet restaurants, (which are a major part of the experience for us), rail passes, etc. . . . we have become accustomed to living well beyond our means. 
I'm glad my wife doesn't read Flyertalk. She would see this post and tell me to get my act in gear so we can enjoy that kind of lifestyle.
May 7, 2015, 7:50 am
#3423
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
May 7, 2015, 9:03 am
#3424
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: NYC
Posts: 365
Some data points
Applied 4/24 w/#7, statement w/AF and 55K points posted on 05/06 statement (not in AA yet)
Very surprising, usually it gives me an extra month, so IMO the statement days are random, but AF posts on first close statement if you have (big) spend?
Applied for global entry on 05/02
True, GLOBAL ENTRY/TSA STATEMENT CREDIT posts on the statement day
Applied 4/24 w/#7, statement w/AF and 55K points posted on 05/06 statement (not in AA yet)
Very surprising, usually it gives me an extra month, so IMO the statement days are random, but AF posts on first close statement if you have (big) spend?
Applied for global entry on 05/02
True, GLOBAL ENTRY/TSA STATEMENT CREDIT posts on the statement day
May 7, 2015, 9:15 am
#3425
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Hilton - Diamond, IHG - Spire Amb
Posts: 901
It's not sustainable for me. We had 3 RBs, and a possible 4th a few weeks away. So we were doing $15K a month for free, with a Target less than a mile from home. Doing the same amount with VGs would cost @$2K a year in fees. That's a deal breaker for me.
Yes, I can meet min spnd that way, an EXEC would end up costing $50 or $60. 50K miles is well worth that. But doing enough MS for a "free" high category Hilton would be as expensive as just paying for the room.
Yes, I can meet min spnd that way, an EXEC would end up costing $50 or $60. 50K miles is well worth that. But doing enough MS for a "free" high category Hilton would be as expensive as just paying for the room.
May 7, 2015, 9:26 am
#3426
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Hilton - Diamond, IHG - Spire Amb
Posts: 901
Some data points
Applied 4/24 w/#7, statement w/AF and 55K points posted on 05/06 statement (not in AA yet)
Very surprising, usually it gives me an extra month, so IMO the statement days are random, but AF posts on first close statement if you have (big) spend?
Applied for global entry on 05/02
True, GLOBAL ENTRY/TSA STATEMENT CREDIT posts on the statement day
Applied 4/24 w/#7, statement w/AF and 55K points posted on 05/06 statement (not in AA yet)
Very surprising, usually it gives me an extra month, so IMO the statement days are random, but AF posts on first close statement if you have (big) spend?
Applied for global entry on 05/02
True, GLOBAL ENTRY/TSA STATEMENT CREDIT posts on the statement day
both my wife and I charged the global entry on the first day we go the card, met min spend earlier this week (last day of cinco de mayo redbird apocalypse) and our closing date is next week. I've been fretting whether it will post or not.
May 7, 2015, 9:30 am
#3427
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
I agree that once you are accustomed to a certain level of living, it's tough to go back. I've always mentally told myself that this is all just a lucky bonus, that at any day the jig could be up, and that I'll just be thankful for the opportunities I'd had so far that I never could have otherwise experienced. A lot easier to tell myself, though, than to live it. If that day comes, it will be very hard to go back to the days of coach flying and hotels.com
May 7, 2015, 10:07 am
#3428
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
I live on the West Coast, and am probably quite a bit older than you, so 12 hour overnight flights in coach, that were rough when I did them years ago, just seem out of the question for us now. We'd cut back to every other year in a fully flat Bus class before we'd fly Economy. Obviously really, really hoping we don't have to do that.
Hopefully we do not have to resort to this any time in the near future. I have trips booked for the next year and points stockpiled for at least another year's big trips assuming no major devaluations. I know you have a bigger point stash than I do
so I think you're probably set too. Between now and then there are always new tricks to learn. As you alluded to earlier, I'm finding the hotel side to be more difficult as of late. Easy to get a couple nights here and there but tough to pull together the big numbers needed to bankroll long trips. Cash + points rates help, but they are often quite rare.
May 7, 2015, 10:38 am
#3429
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: UES/MWC
Programs: Braniff, TWA, Eastern, Midwest, AA Exec, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 270
My most recent was opened on 4/10, with a first statement closing date of 4/15. All spending was completed by 4/12, and much of it paid off by 4/15. It's still open and the AF hasn't hit yet - no doubt it will be on my next statement, after the current "next statement closing date" of 5/15.
May 7, 2015, 10:46 am
#3430
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: NYC
Posts: 365
My most recent was opened on 4/10, with a first statement closing date of 4/15. All spending was completed by 4/12, and much of it paid off by 4/15. It's still open and the AF hasn't hit yet - no doubt it will be on my next statement, after the current "next statement closing date" of 5/15.
when you say "much of it paid off by 4/15", it's how much? Mine was paid ~1000 out of ~5000 and made my statement ~4450. If you've paid most of it may be that's the key: to have low balance..
May 7, 2015, 12:22 pm
#3431
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: UES/MWC
Programs: Braniff, TWA, Eastern, Midwest, AA Exec, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 270
My balance on the 15th was about $4k. Yes, I got the miles in my AA account a day or two later.
May 7, 2015, 1:07 pm
#3432
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: MDW
Programs: WN (CP 6x, A+ 2x), Marriott (LT Titanium), Hyatt Explorer, Hertz PC, UA/*A Silver
Posts: 425
Not so sure about that. My stmt closed about 4/19 with all spend pif at least a week prior. AF posted w/stmt. Miles posted to AA a day or two after the stmt. Applied 3/27 or so.
May 7, 2015, 1:23 pm
#3433
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Hilton - Diamond, IHG - Spire Amb
Posts: 901
I do not think that has anything to do with it. We have met spend and paid in full 1 week prior to closing and AF posted.
May 7, 2015, 1:56 pm
#3434
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
Definitely agree. While I am fairly young, I am also tall and so long-haul economy is not my best friend...
Hopefully we do not have to resort to this any time in the near future. I have trips booked for the next year and points stockpiled for at least another year's big trips assuming no major devaluations. I know you have a bigger point stash than I do so I think you're probably set too. Between now and then there are always new tricks to learn.
As you alluded to earlier, I'm finding the hotel side to be more difficult as of late. Easy to get a couple nights here and there but tough to pull together the big numbers needed to bankroll long trips. Cash + points rates help, but they are often quite rare.
Hopefully we do not have to resort to this any time in the near future. I have trips booked for the next year and points stockpiled for at least another year's big trips assuming no major devaluations. I know you have a bigger point stash than I do
so I think you're probably set too. Between now and then there are always new tricks to learn. As you alluded to earlier, I'm finding the hotel side to be more difficult as of late. Easy to get a couple nights here and there but tough to pull together the big numbers needed to bankroll long trips. Cash + points rates help, but they are often quite rare.
Nearly all hotels booked with points, with only $300 out of pocket, and free breakfast 80% of the time. Following that, we are almost totally out of hotel points, other than the 2 wonderful IHG certs we will be getting again next fall. And the huge devastation to the Club Carlson program was a nasty surprise. I hate to be putting off EXEC apps in favor of HH cards with a mere 50K points bonus, but we may be forced to do that soon.
Do we have a lot of AA miles? I really don't know. We've got @1.4 Million miles between us, which sounds like so darn many. If we can book Saver FC flights on AA, that's nearly enough miles for 3 R/Ts for both of us. But those Saver flights are harder to find now than the Loch Ness monster.
Booked at the upper end of FC Anytime, it's only enough miles for 1.5 RTs.
May 7, 2015, 2:00 pm
#3435
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 174
As a note Brugge, a room at the GW Waldorf Astoria on Maui is $800, costs 80,000 hilton points and can be MS with Hilton Amex Surpass at grocery stores for 6x points for $156. Thus you can buy a night for $156 instead of $800. Not free, but a way to get a few more nights to supplement some citi hilton churning etc.
Nice property, spent 6 nights there as part of our honeymoon some years back. Since then my wife has moved on the the Four Seasons for some reason.