Upgraded: Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage card – Free Checked Bag, Priority Boarding, Mileage Bonus
Just a quick post to let you know about some new benefits for Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage card holders including free first checked bags, priority boarding, 10 percent miles back on American Airlines AAdvantage miles redeemed.
From the press release:
The ability to earn more AAdvantage miles faster.
• Ten percent miles back on AAdvantage miles redeemed by cardmembers, up to 10,000 miles per calendar year. For example, if the cardmember uses AAdvantage miles to book a 50,000 mile roundtrip flight, they will receive 5,000 AAdvantage miles back in their AAdvantage account approximately 6-8 weeks after booking.
• Double miles on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• No annual limit or cap on how many AAdvantage miles cardmembers can earn with card purchases.
More ways to save time and money when booking, boarding and beyond.
• First checked bag free for cardmembers and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation for travel booked and ticketed on or after April 2, 2012. For example, a family traveling in the main cabin from JFK to LAX roundtrip with four checked bags could save $200.
• Priority boarding for cardmembers and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation for travel booked and ticketed on or after April 2, 2012.
• Cardmembers earn a $100 American Airlines Flight Discount that can be used to book any available qualifying flight on AA.com for each year following which they spend $30,000 in purchases and renew their Citi Platinum Select / AAdvantage card.
• 25 percent savings on in-flight purchases of food, beverages and headsets when purchases are made with the Citi Platinum Select / AAdvantage card or any other Citi / AAdvantage card.
The card comes with a $95 annual fee, which isn’t much when you consider the money you can save on bag fees.
Full details at www.aa.com/citi.
This is fantastic but the question is – How does teh 10% back work and how long has it been in place?
I booked a 150k award ticket back in December and I’ve been holding the platinum select card for years… Who do I ask about the 10%? AA? Citi?
@ Maxwell and Tom, I sent a note to the AAdvantage team and asked those questions, here’s their answers:
Current cardmembers can begin enjoying the card’s new benefits immediately. Specifically, existing cardmembers across the following consumer card products will receive the enhanced benefits:
· Citi Platinum Select / AAdvantage Visa Signature
· Citi Platinum Select / AAdvantage World MasterCard
· Citi Platinum Select / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard
· Citi Select / AAdvantage American Express
Cardmembers will only receive 10% back on miles redeemed after this morning’s announcement.
Great question. I booked an award last week. Can I get 10% back?
Does the free checked bag include travel on award tickets?
Can I assume this includes the quarterly 17,500 reduced mileage awards, making them 15,750 after 10% back?
@ Ron B – They don’t even mention reduced mileage awards as a benefit of this card, I suspect that the mileage rebate is not offered in its place.
This seems like the counterpart to the Delta Gold AmEx card.
If you are flying internationally, where you already get one bag checked free, can you now check a second bag free?
@ mhenner – I read that the free checked back only applies on “select domestic destinations”.
It’s also a counterpart to the Chase United Explorer card, which also provides the first free bag and priority boarding. However, it does not offer a 10% back on redemptions offer but does offer two United Club passes which the Citi card does not.
@ Arlington Travler – I’m not familiar with the Chase United card, thanks for making the comparison.
The new Citi AA card perks are very nice. The problem that I have with it is the sub par sign up bonus. 30K is really nothing to go crazy over. If you already received a nice bonus then this is a score, for new customers they are losing out in the beginning.
Wonder if you can cancel an award ticket and then rebook now to get the 10% bonus miles?
Do you know if the card helps reduce/remove ticketing or redeposit fees? I need to reticket an AAdvantage award ticket, which is going to cost me $150, and I’m trying to find a way to avoid the fee. All suggestions are welcome!
regarding redeposits ,
if you need to put back the miles into your account advantage will charge $150. you can try first doing just a change of flight on other oneword flight , in this case the fee is waived .after tthat ticket is issued go back and change it again ,
i booked my domestic tickets in March (before April 2, 2012). Can I still get the first checked baggage free? Would be nice, since i am traveling with young kids.
@ Jets – I took a look at the fine print that comes with the offer, and unfortunately it looks like you won’t get the free checked bag:
I hope you and the kids have a great trip!
May seem like a silly question, but To get the priority boarding, do you have to actually charge the ticket to the Advantage Card?
Hi Lonestarlady – That’s a great question. Priority Boarding privileges are associated with cardholder’s AAdvantage account. It doesn’t matter how you pay for the ticket, as long as you have the card, any reservation with your AAdvantage number will allow you, and up to three others traveling on the same reservation, to board early.
Thanks for the question!
Thanks for the reply! Do they already have the accounts linked in the system? Or would I need to make sure I tell them I have The Card when I book the reservation? I am a long time card holder and AAdvantage member…
Hi Lonestarlady – You’re fine, no need to let them know: they’ve updated their system and your cardholder status is already linked to your AAdvantage number.
Thanks for reading!
Yes sir, yes sir, FREE bags full! Do you have to pay for your flight with your citi AAdvantage credit card? I paid for mine using my debit card, but am a current card holder. How do I get my bag checked for free when I check in?
oops, sorry, I see my question was already answered. I have another question though. We traveled earlier in the year and were charged for checking a bag. Yes, we were Citibank AAdvantage members. How long has this offer been in effect? If it was in effect when we paid for the bag, how do we get a refund?
Hi Paula – Then new benefit kicked in April 1. In their announcement they mentioned that it wasn’t retroactive for travel before April 1.
Thanks for reading!
I learned that, about the April 1 date, so all is good there. However, I just got a reply from Citibank regarding the payment of the flight for this new offer. They said, and I quote: “We apologize, but to obtain the first checked bag free offer, the purchase has to be billed to your American Airlines credit card. This benefit is valid for travel booked and ticketed on or after April 2, 2012.”
So, please tell me where you are getting the information to the contrary, because I REALLY want to believe that yours is correct and that the service agent who replied to my email is not aware of how this works! Thanks so much for your help with this!
Hi Paula – An American Airlines representative left this comment in the FlyerTalk forums:
I interpret that to mean that it’s linked to your AA number. You should call them again and maybe escalate your question to a supervisor. Let me know how goes.
Exactly! That is what the offer says, absolutely nothing about paying for the booking with the card. I did ask them to refer to a supervisor, and the latest correspondence says they did so. I will post when I get an answer. Interestingly, the cust serv rep also told me that my account type isn’t eligible for the offer, when we all know that it has been extended to Citibank Aadvantage World (my acct type), among others. After all, the csr’s are just people too, and I’m hoping I got a rookie who doesn’t know the details.
This is their response. Can you give me a name to contact at Citibank, the person who says otherwise? I would like to get these people to talk, and come up with the answer I want! 🙂 ”
Citi clients within the benefits population were sent a Change In Terms introducing the new benefits and the new Annual Membership Fee change from $85.00 to $95.00.
Existing cardmembers who have the Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® Visa Signature Card, Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® World MasterCard, Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® World Elite MasterCard and Citi® Select® / AAdvantage® American Express Card can enjoy the new benefits right away. Benefits such as the Priority Check in and Free Baggage Fee apply for tickets purchased after 4/2/2012.
We apologize, but to obtain the first checked bag free offer, the purchase has to be billed to your American Airlines credit card. This benefit is valid for travel booked and ticketed on or after April 2, 2012.
We hope this helps clarify for you.”
Well, I have now gotten the same answer for my husband’s citibank card as I got for mine. You do not get the benefits unless you pay for the flight with their citibank Aadvantage card. It does not say that in any of their terms and conditions, but 3 different CSR’s and one supervisor insist that is the case. 🙁 I went over to the forum with the link you provided and got chastised by someone for even asking about this!
Hi Paula – That’s a pretty tough forum, sorry to hear they gave you such a hard time. They have a few really rude members.
I guess I was wrong and that I misinterpreted the AA reps comments. And you’re right, it doesn’t mention that you have to charge your tickets to your Citicard in the terms and conditions. Sorry it turns out not to be the case.
Thanks for sharing the info and your comments!
If I am taking an international flight which already gives me the first bag free, do I get the second bag free since I have an AA citi card? I see that I get my first bag free normally, but can’t find anything about flights that already give you the first bag free on whether it then covers the next bag? If so, would it cover the next bag for up to 4 people since their first are all free?
I’m kinda new to this… I see many references to the perks of this card but I don’t exactly know what it means. If you have a moment, can you explain what exactly is priority boarding? Also, does priority boarding mean that somehow you can skip the security line? If so, at what point do you do it?
Hi jp! Thanks for reading. The Citi AAdvatnage card comes with priority boarding, which means you’ll board in Group 1 boarding. Here’s a link to AA’s website that details the boarding process. This is good for up to four people traveling together. Hope that helps!
I booked my flight using Citi AAdvantage Platnum card but will need to check a second bag on the return flight. What will the charge be for the second bag?
@ jkjsdj – That’s a great question. AA charge $25 for the first bag and $40 for the second.
When I read your question my first thought was that the first bag after your free allowance is $25. So first bag = free + second bag = $25.
Then I started thinking…..maybe they mean first bag free + second bag = $40.
So that answer is, I’m not sure. I sent a note to a contact on the AAdvantage team. As soon as I receive an answer, I’ll let you know.
Thanks for asking the question.
Thanks – I look forward to your answer.
I love the 10% back up to 10K
Hi – can you clarify if the free checked bags and Group 1 Boarding apply if you book using your Reward Miles?
Our round trip flight was covered by miles but I paid the $10 fee per person with my AAdvantage Citi card.
Will that still allow us to get the bag/boarding benefits? Or will they not apply since the flight was free due to miles?
I may come off as a complete fool, but I have not been able to find this elsewhere… I have the Citi Platinum Advantage card… how do I get the free checked bag with it? Ask for it and present the card when checking the bag?
Thanks…
@ matt – Sorry for the late reply, I was traveling and missed your question. You Citi Platinum cardholder status is linked to your AAdvantage account, so when you use the card to charge your tickets the AA system will recognize your benefits and waive the baggage fee.
Called to apply for the Citi Executive AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard. Wanted it for the priority booking, priority screening benefits. Was told on the phone that the only benefit like this I would receive was Group 1 boarding. That’s not what the fine print says on this page: http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/earnMiles/beyondTravel/creditDebit/citi-executive.jsp?anchorLocation=BP-Exec1&title=citiexecutive. So, which is it? Do I get priority access and priority screening, or do I just get the priority access group one boarding?
@ Linda – The fine print reads:
By “priority boarding” they mean “Group 1”, which isn’t the same thing as Priority AAccess even though the language is similar.
Back when the card first came out there was an issue with the computer system and card holders were incorrectly receiving Priority AAccess and that has caused some confusion. American sent out an email to cardholders clarifying the benefit, it is indeed Group 1 rather that Priority AAccess.
So would I also get the priority screening and priority check in? They told me on the phone no, all I would get is priority boarding w/ group 1.
@ Linda – They were wrong. According to the website:
With the Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® World MasterCard, will I be able to check in at business class check in position even if not flying business??
@ aow – Sorry, but that card doesn’t come with Business Class check-in privelages. You’ll get Group 1 boarding (which boards after First Class, Executive Platinum, and Platinum members). If you want access to expedited check-in you then should consider the Citi Executive / AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard. It features an “Enhanced Airport Experience” which includes Admirals Club membership and Business Class check-in.
Do you get the first bag free on a an award ticket?
@ Rick – Yes, as long as the cardholder is traveling on the award ticket itinerary and the award is on American operated aircraft (free checked bag doesn’t apply with AAdvantage awards on partner airlines).
Thanks for reading!
Can a holder of Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® Visa Signature Card apply for Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® World MasterCard too after he has earned 58,000 miles so far.
We have purchased a ticket for our son to fly. What documentation does he need at the gate to get the Group 1 boarding? (He does not have a plate of the credit card.)
Hello,
I have a question about second checked bag. I have citiadvantage platinum world elite and was told that I could have a second checked bag for free- that using a premium card gives that benefit. I got a second bag from free on two occasions to Paris from Boston. I then booked a ticket through AA on BA to London and was told that i could have a second checked bag and fee waived for seat reservations. when i got to the airport in London they made me pay for the second bag-108 dollars. They told me that the agent on the phone incorrectly put my status in a emerald which would have given me a free bag. HAve you ever heard of a second checked bag for free fro this card? Anything i can do to get them to refund the charge?
Thanks!
I have reward points on BA which is an AA partner. If I use BA points but fly on AA and charge the small fee required on my AA card will I get free baggage. Thanks
DO I GET TO KEEP MY CURRENT CITI AADVANTAGE CARD NUMBER?
iF I KEEP MY NUMBER WHY DOES AA NEED SS#, SALARY $, CREDIT CHECK, ETC?
On an international flight is first bag free if I paid for the flight with my AA Platinum Select world elite card
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Can I get a corporate credit card for my company with the benefits described in the AA Citibank rewards card? I’m referring to a corporate card similar to the AMEX corporate card where you can earn miles on Delta, but I want to earn reward miles on American Airlines.