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UPDATE: Status of this loophole as of March 2016
UPDATE: We were approved for a THIRD round of Citi AA Platinum 50,000 cards!
Citibank offers some great credit card bonuses! I have personally taken advantage of quite a few, including the Citi American Airlines Platinum World MasterCard with a bonus of 50,000 miles. Citi also has implemented a pretty rigid rule for when you can re-apply for the same personal product and earn the bonus again. The rule states that it must be 18 months from the date you open or close the card before you can earn the bonus again. However, a new loophole allows you to break this rule with the 50,000 AA mile bonus!
After applying back in February 2015, and earning the 50,000 mile bonuses, I was content to wait 18 months before re-applying. Then I found a Reddit post and a Flyertalk thread discussing a possible exception to this rule. I got very excited, and I decided to test this loophole. I am happy to confirm that IT WORKS!
Citi has been systematically upgrading cardholders from the standard Platinum World MasterCard to the Platinum Elite World MasterCard. Most people receive their upgraded card in the mail about 1-2 months after getting their initial card. I did not even notice this change when my second card came in the mail. To confirm that you have been upgraded, check the back of your card and look for the words “Elite World” above the MasterCard logo.
If you have been upgraded, Citi no longer sees your original card in the system. This allows you to apply for the original Platinum World MC and get the 50,000 bonus again!! There was some debate about whether the new card would qualify for the bonus, because Citi will approve applications even if you are not eligible for the bonus again. I guinea-pigged this one using a 50,000 mile bonus link from Flyertalk (public offer is only 30,000 miles), and I was approved immediately. I nervously awaited my welcome packet to check for the language indicating that I would receive the bonus. When it arrived, I ripped open the envelope to find this:
BAM! Looks like we’re adding another 100,000 (50k each) miles to our cache of American Airlines miles! Our timeline for these bonuses looks like this:
Three things to keep in mind with this:
- Loopholes are almost never permanent, and what works for one person, may not work for someone else. As we say in the points game: YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).
- You must still adhere to the standard Citi application timing rules, or your application WILL be declined! These rules are: only one Citi application per week (8 days to be safe), and no more than two applications per 60-day period (65 days to be safe).
- After you receive your card, make sure to ask Citi to match any higher offers available!
There you have it! Good luck with your applications. Cheers!
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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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