Question
Has anyone gottent a retention bonus for keeping their Citibank AA World Mastercard? Mine is up for renewal.
It really bothers me that they call themselves "World" Mastercard, but still charge 3% on foreign transactions!! The only thing keeping me faithful is the reduced mileage awards which has YUL for 20K.
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A name is just a name... Citi is infamous for charging extra int'l fees.
I never got a retention bonus from Citi this year...thinking of staying though, because their overall service isn't too bad...
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My Gold Aadvantage card is up for renewal, and I decided to call yesterday to cancel. I was immediately switched to the Marketing Dept., where the CSR offered me 4,000 miles to re-up. I took it (it was only costing me 1.25c per mile after all), and they promised to mail me the World MC information packet in the next few days.
"Might as well face it, I'm addicted to miles..." http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif
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I got an offer to switch to World MasterCard from my Citibank Gold AAdvantage card. The only differences in the two seem to be no limit on spending (wouldn't use that); access to their concierge service (wouldn't use that); and $1,000,000 travel accident protection (my husband and I travel together, have no children--so this is not a benefit to make me change cards).
IF they want me to change cards, they'd better offer me some decent incentives.
[This message has been edited by Nanook (edited 01-10-2002).]
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Originally posted by TribeFlyer:
My Gold Aadvantage card is up for renewal, and I decided to call yesterday to cancel. I was immediately switched to the Marketing Dept., where the CSR offered me 4,000 miles to re-up. I took it (it was only costing me 1.25c per mile after all), and they promised to mail me the World MC information packet in the next few days.
"Might as well face it, I'm addicted to miles..." http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif
Hmmm.. I guess I should have called. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
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I just got my statement with the renewal fee and called. Let me warn you that you better be a good poker player or they will call your bluff. After transferring my call to a specialist, I was offered two bonuses, 3000 bonus miles or a AA companion cert. I took the bonus miles. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif
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Well done.
I am no poker player http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
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Has anyone gotten anything recently? My Citibank AAdvantage card is up for renewal.
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Middle_Seat
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Originally posted by Middle_Seat:
Has anyone gotten anything recently? My Citibank AAdvantage card is up for renewal.
They gave me a $25 certificate to be used on my bill. Not a huge re-up bonus but better than nothing, I guess.
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I just got a 3000 mile bonus last month when threatening to cancel cardtried for 5000 miles but no dice.
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I went ahead and cancelled my Citibank AAdvantage Mastercard. The best offer I got was 3000 miles or a "completely-free cashback card." I countered with 10,000 miles, but the rep would not go for it.
Actually, the card was put into a "hold status for a year," which means that it can be re-opened with some small effort.
From past experience, I anticipate that I will receive some sort of offer from Citibank in the next couple of weeks...unfortunately, it almost surely won't be my hoped-for 10,000 miles http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
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Middle_Seat
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Originally posted by Middle_Seat:
I went ahead and cancelled my Citibank AAdvantage Mastercard. The best offer I got was 3000 miles or a "completely-free cashback card." I countered with 10,000 miles, but the rep would not go for it.
Actually, the card was put into a "hold status for a year," which means that it can be re-opened with some small effort.
From past experience, I anticipate that I will receive some sort of offer from Citibank in the next couple of weeks...unfortunately, it almost surely won't be my hoped-for 10,000 miles http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
My card comes up for renewal in February, so I'm going to try "Citibank Poker" in January, to see what I can get. I'll be happy with a 5,000 mile retention bonus, but will still be happy if they only give me 3,000. I hope they don't look at my credit card transactions over the past year, and then decide to call my bluff. My major transactions were $20,000 in U.S. Savings bonds, plus some C2IT shenanigans. But still, they've made loads of money on me, so I think I deserve an extra retention bonus.
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Can you explain more about the $20,000 in savings bonds, was that a cash transaction or treated as a purchase???
Did you buy the bonds just to get miles, if so, what is the tricks to know to avoid finance charges if any.
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The savings bond purchases are treated as purchases. Go to http://www.ussavingsbonds.gov/ols/olshome.htm
Maximum $30,000 per year per SSN. The trick is to hold for six months, cash in at your bank with 3 month interest loss and repeat the purchase cycle. Some have had luck with Skymiles AMEX for double mile purchases. The interest rates are updated every April 1 and November 1. They have steadily dropped so it's not as good a deal as it was, but a painless way to earn miles if you can spare some dollars for 6 months.
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Can you explain the c2it shenangans?
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Originally posted by outoftown:
...The interest rates are updated every April 1 and November 1. They have steadily dropped so it's not as good a deal as it was, but a painless way to earn miles if you can spare some dollars for 6 months.
You can also look upon the low interest paid by savings bonds as a good thing...your loss of 3 months interest when you sell early translates to very few dollars lost.
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Middle_Seat
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Originally posted by outoftown:
The savings bond purchases are treated as purchases. Go to http://www.ussavingsbonds.gov/ols/olshome.htm
Maximum $30,000 per year per SSN. The trick is to hold for six months, cash in at your bank with 3 month interest loss and repeat the purchase cycle. Some have had luck with Skymiles AMEX for double mile purchases. The interest rates are updated every April 1 and November 1. They have steadily dropped so it's not as good a deal as it was, but a painless way to earn miles if you can spare some dollars for 6 months.
$45k per SSN, not $30k http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
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"Q:Is this considered a merchandise purchase or a cash advance?
A: Your savings bond purchase is treated as a merchandise purchase. It is not a cash advance. "
http://www.ussavingsbonds.gov/sav/sbdfaq.htm
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My $50 annual fee posted at the end of December so I decided to call a couple days ago to see what I could get for threatening to walk (even though I never would). The marketing dept. offered me one of three things to stay onboard: 1) 3000 AA bonus miles immediately, 2) a "domestic companion certificate" (mentioned above), or 3) a $25 credit against the $50 annual fee. I decided to take the miles. Even at a cost basis of $0.01/mile the 3000 miles would equate to $30, which is a better deal than the $25 credit they were offering. Hope this info helps someone else!