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We’ll be the first to admit, there are quite a few sets of rules to follow when you’re applying for the best travel credit cards. Policies like the Amex once per lifetime per card welcome bonus restriction, the Chase 5/24 rule, and the Citi 48-month American Airlines card rules can be confusing.
Sometimes, even when a rule seems clear cut, there are exceptions. Fortunately, Citi has simplified their application rules for American Airlines credit cards. Let’s tackle the Citi American Airlines 48-month rules to fully understand which cards are affected, what the terms are, and what you can do to set yourself up for long-term success.
Citi American Airlines personal and business card application rules
Citi’s American Airlines card application rules have changed. Once upon a time, you weren’t able to receive more than one personal credit card welcome bonus in a 24-month period. Here’s how it went:
- If you opened a Citi American Airlines personal card, you’d again become eligible for another personal card bonus after 24 months
- If you canceled a Citi American Airlines personal card, you’d have to wait another 24 months before becoming eligible once again
A little confusing, yeah? Now the rules are simpler: If you’ve received the welcome bonus on that card in the past 48 months, you’re not eligible for that bonus again. For example, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® currently comes with 50,000 miles after you spend $2,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. It has a $99 annual fee that’s waived for the first 12 months. The card’s terms say:
American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® account in the past 48 months.
In other words, you’re not eligible for another bonus on this card for 48 months — but you’re still eligible for the bonus on all other Citi cards, such as the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® or American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card in the same time frame.
Bottom line
Citi has established clear cut rules for applying and receiving bonuses on their American Airlines credit cards. To put it simply, you can qualify for a Citi American Airlines card bonus (personal or business) as long as you’ve not received a new account bonus for the same card in the past 48 months.
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I don’t have any Citi AA cards. Can I apply for Citi AAdvantage MileUp, Citi AAdvantage Platinum and the
Citi AAdvantage Executive and get the sign up bonus from each one? Asking for a friend. 🙂
If I apply for this card today could I charge something today?
It looks like they have tied the sign-on bonus to the card itself, rather than the “class” of card being personal or business. In the past, you could get a signup bonus on the Platnium OR the Executive card. You could also get the bonus on the Business Card as it is in a different “class” with respect to the sign-up bonus.
* This means that you can get a Platinum every 48 months.
* This also Means that you can get an Executive Card every 48 months.
* This also means that you can get a Business Card bonus every 48 months?
Is this correct?
What about retention bonus. Does the the rule apply to retention bonus, meaning do i need to wait for 48 month after sign up bonus or 48 month after last retention bonus to keep the card.
David
How about for a second corporation I own? Corporation #1 received the bonus in the last 24 months.
Corporation #2 never had any Citi Cards. It holds a different federal tax id, but I’m the principal on both corporations.
Chase allowed both corps to receive the bonuses because it treats each corp as separate entities, and they don’t tie business card to personal cards.
Citi tells me they do tie the cards to my SS# and my AA number, so corp #2 would not be allowed to earn the bonus.
Does anyone know if this really is correct (they seemed to be guessing) and if not, how/where do I verify this?
I did just that and haven’t received a SUB yet, after spending 4k of course :/ Seemed odd. I was told by an agent since both cards (really…corporations) were under my name I’m not eligible. I’ll wait a few until my next statement hits but right now nothing has posted.
Can you please update me?
And what is a “sub”?
Sorry, just saw your reply. And the 65k sign-up-bonus. My next statement hits in 2 weeks, but I’m not hopeful
What are the rules for the American Airlines cards from Barclays Bank?
They are a different bank so none of those times affect this. This rule ONLY affects Citi issued cards.