Where have all the 50,000 AAdvantage offers gone?

Posted by Noob Master on Jun 11, 2013 in AAdvantage, American Airlines, Citi Bank, Uncategorized | 4 comments

A few days ago, a reader let me know that all the 50,000 Citi AAdvantage offers have stopped working. Sadness.

There have been some dark days this year concerning the Citi AAdvantage cards. We’ve seen the death of the double browser trick, the Citi Business card has been harder to get, and the sign-up bonuses have changed.

But just as the 50,000 offers stopped working (they were all technically expired links anyway), Citi raised the public sign-up bonus on the Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® World MasterCard® from 30,000 to 40,000 AAdvantage miles.

I signed up for the Citi Visa card last November, but have never applied for the Mastercard version. Some have reported being able to get the Mastercard after already having the Visa and Amex, but I can’t confirm it – it’s a true YMMV. Remember, you can’t do two Citi credit card applications on the same date, and no more than two Citi apps in 65 days. Stay up to date on other data points in these Flyertalk thread. 

Here are the terms and conditions for the Citi Platinum Select Mastercard:

• For a limited time, Earn 40,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership*
• Your first eligible checked bag is free*
• Priority Boarding with Group 1 privileges*
• and 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases*
• Earn a $100 American Airlines Flight Discount every cardmembership year with qualifying purchases and cardmembership renewal*
• Double AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases*
• Earn 10% of your redeemed AAdvantage® miles back – up to 10,000 AAdvantage(R) miles each calendar year*

I love the 10% back you get on redeemed AAdvantage miles (up to 10,000)! It’s a 10% yearly savings for us, because we always burn 100k AA miles a year. It’s an addiction.

You also receive your first eligible checked bag free and priority boarding, which are both nice perks. The annual fee is waived for the first year.

Here are the other top Citi AAdvantage offers if you already have the Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® World MasterCard®:

Citi Platinum Select Visa – 40,000 miles after spending $3,000 in 3 months. You receive the same perks as the Citi Platinum World Mastercard.

Citi Business Mastercard - 40,000 miles after spending $3,000 in 3 months.

Recap

It appears that Citi is getting pretty strict with keeping expired links live, which makes sense because typically the expired links have always had a higher sign-up bonus than the public offers. However, 40,000 AAdvantage miles still isn’t a bad sign-up bonus – it is what it is. If you already have the Visa and Amex Citi cards and you want to top off your account, the Mastercard or business cards are your best options, but it’s not guaranteed you will be approved.

If you don’t already hold an AA card, then the Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® World MasterCard® is your best bet for now, and it’s nice to have the peace of mind that it’s a valid offer and not one of the expired offers you would have to apply for in the past. You shouldn’t have any issue getting approved if your credit score is in good condition.

Remember, if you’re applying for two personal Citi AA cards, you’ll need to spread the applications out at least a day. And if you want to throw in the business card, wait 65 days from the second application. Best of luck! As one reader told me yesterday, “Citi has become squirrelly.”

— Noob Master

American Airlines Free Admirals Club One-Day Passes via Klout

Posted by Noob Master on May 7, 2013 in AAdvantage, American Airlines, Klout, Uncategorized | 3 comments

It’s a dream come true- we can use Facebook/Twitter to win free stuff and get discounts. By joining with social media firm Klout, American Airlines is giving away free prizes to users with high enough Klout scores, including one-day free passes to the Admiral Club and a free one-year Admirals Club membership.

Klout determines a person’s “influence” on the web. So, basically, it looks at how often you’re tweeting, who responds to your witty Facebook posts, and how many views your cat has on YouTube, to determine your score of 1-100. The higher the score, the higher your status as a web influencer.

My current score stands at a measly 45 (I wish I was better at social media, it honestly intimidates me. Don’t even get me started on Google +), but I received a $50 discount off the yearly membership to the Admirals Club lounge. I already get Admiral access through my Platinum card, so I won’t be needing the code, but I bet you could use it. Comment on this post below and I’ll forward it to one lucky reader. Who knew tweeting could get you free stuff? I promise to do it more now. Maybe.

To enter the giveaway yourself, you can enter twice at https://secure.fly.aa.com/klout. It’ll ask for your Facebook and Twitter info, then you’ll need to allow Klout to access your profiles. From there you should get a score, and be able to fill out the rest of the entry form. But it doesn’t end there. You can enter again for better chances at freebies, by emailing klout@themarketingarm.com with your full name, phone number, home address and email address in the body with the subject line “The Klout to Win Sweepstakes.” This also doubles your entry to win the grand prize.

If you’re like me and only get on Facebook to remember birthdays, you’ll probably fall into the 0-54 range, which gets you the $50 discount off a new annual Admirals club membership. The membership has to be purchased online by July 31, 2013.

For those of you who can’t get off Twitter to save your life, you’ll probably be the lucky ones who score 55 or higher and win a free One-Day Pass to the Admirals Club along with $50 off a new annual Admirals Club membership if you purchase it within 30 days of your visit.

And some lucky grand prize winner drawn from all the entries will win a free One-Year Admirals Club Membership (valued at $450, pretty sweet).

It’s a pretty easy way to win some freebies or discounts. And, if you aren’t social media savvy or just want to make it even easier, don’t forget to comment below for a chance to get my code for a $50 discount off the yearly membership to the Admirals Club lounge.

— Noob Master

Delta, American Airlines Match United, US Airways Change Fee Increase

Posted by Noob Master on May 7, 2013 in American Airlines, Delta SkyMiles, U.S. Airways, Uncategorized, United Airlines | 0 comments

Delta and American Airlines have now raised their change fees for domestic flights from $150 to $200, matching the increase United and US Airways made last month. The four legacy airlines increased their fees to compensate the loss that occurs when customers choose not to fly in a reserved seat, according to United Airlines, who initially began the change-fee increase.

American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller told the AP that American Airlines sells “Choice Essential” and “Choice Plus” fares that allow customers to change reservations for no extra costs. However, these tickets cost more than base economy tickets. But, you get a 50% mileage bonus with Choice Plus fares.

Delta spokesman Anthony Black noted in the AP on Thursday that Delta “monitors competitive conditions” and increased its change fees “to remain competitive in the marketplace.”

As much as these change fees annoy us, airline fees are bound to happen, and they’re only going to keep rising. Airlines have quickly realized that they can keep raising change fees, baggage fees, and any other amenities without losing customers- the $200 fee may have created a stir, but flyers aren’t particularly surprised.

Nothing is more frustrating than tossing a ticket that would cost more to change than the actual ticket is worth, but this a reality of the industry. The competition that arose when United Airlines raised their change fee is the reason everyone else raised- to stay competitive, and to make the most money.

Change fees are practically unavoidable. Top-tier elite status with some airlines could wiggle you out of those fees, but even those benefits are changing. To completely avoid change fees, you can fly Southwest. Southwest doesn’t charge baggage or change fees, but they don’t accept no-shows- you won’t be able to apply credit from your missed flight to a later trip.

Your best option, as always, is to educate yourself and do the research. Figure out what airlines charge which fees, and know what you’re getting into before you commit to fly. Your loyalties to airlines may change are prices rise and fall, and that’s okay, but make sure you’re still traveling in a way that avoids as many fees as possible- baggage, window seats, traveling with pets, etc. Other than that, change fees are here to stay, and they’ll keep rising.

— Noob Master