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Bank card welcome bonuses are one of many quickest methods to earn priceless journey rewards. You may typically choose up 100,000 factors or extra in a single bonus, which could be price 1000’s of {dollars} in journey.
Proper now, American Airways’ top-tier card is providing its best-ever welcome bonus, price $1,650 (based on our Could 2025 valuations). For a restricted time, those that apply for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and charges) can earn 100,000 bonus AAdvantage miles after spending $10,000 in three months of account opening.
However what if you have already got the cardboard or have held it up to now? Are you able to earn the welcome bonus on it once more?
To reply this query, it is necessary to grasp Citi’s utility guidelines and establish the precise date if you final earned the welcome bonus on this card. Let me stroll you thru it.
Associated: Is the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard price it?
Understanding Citi’s utility guidelines
On most of its cobranded playing cards, Citi restricts incomes the welcome bonus to as soon as each 48 months. This rule applies to the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard.
So, for instance, in case you wished to use for this card in Could 2025 and earn the welcome bonus, you’d solely be eligible in case you acquired your final welcome bonus on the cardboard earlier than Could 2021.
One of the simplest ways to seek out out this date is to name Citi at 888-766-2484. Alternatively, you possibly can additionally name AAdvantage at 800-882-8880. (You may solely see your account exercise by way of your AAdvantage on-line account for the previous two years.)
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Associated: Who’s eligible for the 100K-mile Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard bonus?
Timing is necessary
The 48-month interval begins from the date the earlier bonus was acquired, not when the account was opened or closed.
That is necessary as a result of a couple of months will in all probability have handed between if you have been accredited for the cardboard and if you met the minimal spending requirement and, thus, acquired the welcome bonus.
Product adjustments
You may earn the welcome bonus on every of Citi’s AAdvantage playing cards as soon as each 48 months — every product is handled individually.
Up to now two years, I’ve utilized for the next three Citi / AAdvantage playing cards and earned the welcome bonus on every:
Nonetheless, suppose I had earned the bonus on my Platinum Choose after which the product modified (or upgraded) it to the Govt. In that case, I would wish to attend 48 months from after I acquired the Platinum Choose welcome bonus to earn the welcome bonus on the Govt.
Methods to maximise bonus alternatives
Listed below are a few of my high tricks to shortly earn plenty of AAdvantage miles by making use of for cobranded American Airways bank cards.
Work out your utility technique
If you’re assured that you just acquired the welcome bonus in your Govt card greater than 4 years in the past and do not presently maintain the cardboard, you are good to apply for it once more.
For those who do presently have the cardboard, first, you will wish to downgrade or cancel your card.
My advice could be to downgrade it to the no-annual-fee American Airways AAdvantage® MileUp® card by calling Citi on the quantity on the again of your card. Nonetheless, notice that by downgrading, you’ll not be eligible for the welcome bonus on this card. The upside is that you’ll defend your credit score rating as there shall be no change to your credit score report.
The data for the AAdvantage MileUp card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to cancel your Govt card. Whereas this will likely quickly harm your credit score rating because of a rise in your credit score utilization ratio, you might be eligible to earn the welcome bonus on the MileUp do you have to select to use for it sooner or later.
After downgrading or canceling your card, wait per week or so after which apply for the Govt card once more.
Observe bonus timelines
You might have acquired your welcome bonus in your Govt card extra lately. In that case, discover out the precise date you acquired your bonus. Then, use a bonus monitoring spreadsheet or set a reminder to notice when you’ll be eligible once more.
I utilized for this card in July 2023, within the first week after the cardboard was refreshed. In response to my account exercise in my on-line AAdvantage account, I acquired the welcome bonus in November 2023. So, I’ve put a notice in my Google Calendar that I am eligible to use for this card once more from December 2027.
Discover different AAdvantage playing cards
If you wish to choose up extra bonus AAdvantage miles, take into account making use of for one of many service’s different playing cards.
My high suggestion could be to select up the AAdvantage Aviator Purple World Elite Mastercard. It is the one AAdvantage card that Barclays continues to be issuing, forward of Citi changing into the service’s sole bank card companion subsequent 12 months. Functions for this card might shut any day now (and virtually positively earlier than the tip of the 12 months).
You might be eligible to use for it if you have not had it up to now six months. Here’s a hyperlink to earn 10,000 further miles on high of the cardboard’s customary provide.
The data for the Aviator Purple World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
If you have not earned the bonus on considered one of Citi’s different two private playing cards or the enterprise model up to now 48 months, then they’re good choices too.
Backside line
Citi’s 48-month rule makes timing crucial when making use of for its AAdvantage bank cards. By monitoring if you final earned a welcome bonus and understanding how product adjustments have an effect on eligibility, you’ll be able to make sure you maximize your approval possibilities.
With the 100,000-bonus-mile provide presently out there on the Govt card, now’s the time to judge your timeline and take full AAdvantage in case you’re eligible.
To be taught extra in regards to the card, learn our full evaluation of the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard.
Apply right here: Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard
