Last night I wrote about an offer for 50,000 American Airlines miles after $750 in purchases on a new credit card within 4 months and an additional 50,000 miles for spending $10,000 on the card within a year.
There’s also a nice 75,000 mile signup bonus offer for those who don’t think they can meet the $10,000 minimum spend requirement — this one requires just $1500 in spend on the card within 6 months.
All of these offers come with first year annual fee waived.
But they’re being sent out by email, and the links in the emails take you directly to an application. That’s leading to plenty of teeth gnashing on Flyertalk, and much speculation on blogs, that the offer is targeted and that folks using the links may not get the bonuses.
To me that makes little sense. Anything’s possible, I suppose, but the offer sent out by e-mail does not say that it is targeted. It appears that everyone getting the offer by email is getting the same link, or rather is being taken to the same page, it’s not as though it’s a personalized URL that’s filling in unique information.
The email could certainly say the offer is for the recipient only, that it is non-transferrable, but it does not. It would certainly seem legitimate to receive the email, forward it to a friend, and they’re excited to sign up and do.
And what seems to happen is that hte application link embeds an offer code that’s passed to Citibank, which then causes Citibank to know how many miles to award.
From the comments in yesterday’s post on the offer, Menashe wrote:
Signed up for and got approved for 100K Visa card. I called and the representative confirmed that the terms were 50K and $750 in spend and another 50K after $10,000 within a year.I had a Citi AAdvantage M/C, but canceled it 9 months ago.
A Flyertalk member took the same approach:
Me and GF applied were both instantly approved. Called up this morning spoke to them to ensure that this was indeed the fee-waived/75K mile offer that we had signed up for and was told yes is showing as so on both and will be credited the miles after meeting the spend.
And another Flyertalk member reported:
I just applied and was instantly approved! I called to make sure that I was in fact receiving the 75,000 miles, (making sure to not actually state how many miles I THOUGHT I was going to receive), and it was confirmed that if I spend $1,500 in the time period, I would receive the miles.
Now, I’m not making guarantees as to who will be able to get this bonus if they’ve had the card before, or that Citibank won’t screw this up somehow for any given individual, but the interesting thing here is that folks who signed up for the offer that did not receive the email got approved for the card and the correct offer has been applied to their account. Just as I’d have expected.
There’s no warranty of course with any of this, but it should all work and indications thus far are that it will. And of course what’s the worst case scenario here, after all…?
Here’s the links again…
- 75,000 miles after $1500 in purchases within 6 months, no fee the first year —
75,000 mile signup bonus: Visa
75,000 mile signup bonus: Visa Business
75,000 mile signup bonus: American Express (still issued by Citi, of course, not Amex) - 100,000 miles: 50,000 miles after $750 in purchases within 4 months, and another 50,000 miles after $10,000 in purchases within 12 months, no fee the first year —
100,000 mile signup bonus: Visa
100,000 mile signup bonus: Visa Business
100,000 mile signup bonus: American Express (still issued by Citi, of course, not Amex)
Personally, though the offers say that they’re valid through October 31, I wouldn’t wait that long. Something tells me that Citibank hasn’t envisioned the degree to which interested parties might take them up on this. So while it shouldn’t be necessary to jump on this instantly, personally I still would.
Still for first time cardholders though, right? I have no active Citi AA card but churned plenty of all 3 brands.
I am in the process of spending $750 on my new Business card to get 35K bonus. Can I call Citi and see if I can get the 100K deal????
@JohnnieD – some have tried that according to the FT thread. Citi is not budging from what I’ve read.
Applied! Thanks Gary. No instant approval though.
How do you know you are really signing up for this offer? It does not say anything about the amount of miles on the actual Citibank page.
I still don’t see the link for the 75,000 mile offer, although I viewed this page in three different browsers. Can someone post it?
Wife and I pulled the level. No instant approval, though. Fingers crossed!
Thanks to Gary and my travel buddy who send me email, I applied already.
Oh well. I tried. I got an email stating that they would not approve a new card for me since I had previously held a Citi AAdvantage card product. Good find for others that can take advantage of this.
I was told that no such offer was being given to anybody, and that this was an old deal. I even went up to a manager who said that if I could prove that anybody had gotten this offer, they would extend it to me as well. They actually turned me over to their Fraud Department thinking that this was somehow a fraudulent activity. I don’t know how to prove that anyone really got an e-mail with this offer. Any suggestions?
It’s not available in-branch. Just use one of the links in the post!
Gary, the miles deals are looking tremendously juicy this summer. I already signed up for the 30k with $1000 spend on the SPG Amex. Last week I got the Chase SWA Visa with free flight after purchase and the chance to get $500 in SWA gift cards. Now we have this great AA offer. Can this incredible credit card promo mile trend realistically continue?
No love…was advised that ONLY for first time applicants
Thanks for the info I hope this works, I got instant approval, however the confirmation page states $85.00 yearly fee, no info about the miles, or waiving the fee for the first year.
Anyone who banks with one of these Corporations deserves to get taken advantage of. You think they offer these things because they intend to honor their offer? Oh, a few token, high profile, members will get their offer. But for the rest of the schmucks, well, they better be prepared to do battle! Pay bad people to do bad things, expect bad things to happen. But as long as it doesn’t happen to me, I’m happy to advise other people to sign on! It increases the odds that I at least will get my payout.
Pulled the trigger…first time ever to do one of these miles card deals, but after passing up the BA deal twice and seeing those successfully go through for friends, I had to try it.
I saw that the first year was waived in the Terms and Conditions. Nothing about the miles, but I’ll call in a week and check my account to see…if so, going to sign up my husband, too!
and I also received instant approval. A bit of a shocker…makes me wonder if they actually checked my credit, but I guess they must have if some people aren’t getting instant approval?
Any thoughts on if these miles can be combined w/ the BA promotion earlier this year as both BA & AA are part of the OneWorld alliance
i went to the sides,no one mention the miles 75000 or 100000,they have offer for 30000 miles.annual fee 0.after $750 spend
I’ve had just a Citi AAdvantage Mastercard product in the past, but I read that each of these products (Citi Visa, Citi Mastercard, Citi Amex, and Citi Business) count as different products. Anyone with any experience with this?
I’m wondering too if I had Citi AA MC earlier, do I still qualify for the Citi AA Visa?
My confirmation on signup says the annual fee is $85 and does not mention that it is waived. Guess I’ll have to wait for my actual card and number to arrive and then call in to find out. But instant approval. Here’s to hoping the 75k miles are part of it…
Got approved, called today and was told indeed 75,000 miles are $1500 spend in 6 months.
perhaps a dumb question from a newbie…if my wife and i both apply for a card…can we use one AAdvantage Miles #, or do we need to use different numbers?
I applied for the biz card (already have the 2 personal cards) – was approved via the 100k link and asked over the phone what the promo was I was getting and the lady read me the exact 100k promo posted here. Wahhooo!
I got approved today for the 100,000 mile card and the first year fee waived. Unbelieveable!
On 6-Aug I applied for the 100,000 mile Visa online using the link above. I got a confirmation screen advising me to call a toll-free number to get an immediate decision. When I called, I first asked the agent to verify what promotion I would receive; it was indeed 100,000 miles. She then processed my app and told me I was approved. And 40,000 points just posted to my Starwood account for their Amex promo. What a great bonus month!!!
Phil, How did you get the 40k Starwood points for this promo?
I applied for 2 Citi AA card with the 35,000 points after spending $750. I only got approved for 1 card and I was denied for the 2nd card and told it is for first time members only. Now I just noticed this 75K thing and I wanted to know if I can apply for this card or not? Since its for first time and I already own 1… ?
Apologies for the confusion. I applied for two separate promos – the Starwood Amex 30K mile promotion (which actually posted as 40K miles), and this American Visa 100K mile promotion. (I stopped chasing promos a few years ago cuz of the impact on my credit score, but these are too good to pass up. 🙂
8/10/2010 – signed up for the 100K using the above link. Worked like a charm. I did call in and verify the promo after I applied.
Can anyone tell me the advantage of getting the Citi Visa over the Citi Amex (or vice versa)? I’m confused about which one to choose.
FYI, I already have a regular green card Amex.
@Fitz:
The personal Visa has higher qualification standards than the AmEx as it’s minimum credit line is higher.
AmEx is not as easily used. Example- many people like to do their spend by paying utilities ahead. Utilities don’t usually take AmEx. Neither does State Farm insurance. Costco does take AmEx tho, has gift cards, and often refunds AmEx purchases in cash.
The green card you have is a real AmEx-issued card. The one here is a Citibank card with an AmEx logo.
@Rob/heh, I’m a former AA MasterCard holder, too… applied for/received this AA Visa via 75k promotion link… called to confirm promotion upon receipt of the card and was told I’m on my way to 75k after $1500 spend. Will see when the miles post!
Aug 15th 2010 – just signed up, but I’m on the west coast and the office is closed! Will check in the morning to see if I get the 100k!!! Fingers crossed 🙂 Thanks for the link Gary.
Used the link for the 100K Amex and got approved. As others mentioned before when you fill out the app it does not state the mileage offer, so I called in right after and the rep confirmed the following:
• 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $750 in purchases within the first 4 months of cardmembership
• 50,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after you make $10,000 in purchases during your first 12 months of card membership
Fee waived for the first year.
So the link definitely does work. I already have an AA MC, but still got confirmed! Thanks for the link!
100K miles approved! woohoo!!!!
Woohoo indeed! 100K for me too. US Mint, here I come. That makes something like 350K miles for CC apps this year. Thanks, Gary!
Andyandy
I signed up yesterday, and called today, approved for $15,000 visa and $85 fee waived for first year. Keep those specials coming!
I just got approved for the Visa, can I apply for the AmEx or are they considered the same AA offer? Wait 30 days?
Well, I spent my $750. Will wait to see the first 50K miles post before going for the rest. I’ll post a comment if and when it hits.
It seems like the links doesnt work anymore, I clicked on the 75k miles Visa link as well as the 50k one and neither of those show how many miles you would get when u signed up
Am I late to the game? =/
I just applied for the 75K and got approved after long 47second of waiting! I am co-borrower on my wifes Mastercard (we got 35 for that one).
Love it! Thank you!
It works. I was VERY leary to complete an applicaton without the cover page. I called first and go nowhere. But I took a risk and completed the app online. The final summary indicated an $85 fee. After submitting app, I called the number provided and was told the 85 is waived the first year, and that the deal is correct: 50,000 miles after spending $750, and the additional 50,000 after spending 10,000 during the next 12 months.
Got my 75,000 miles today. Statement closed yesterday, miles posted overnight. $1500 was reached in first month.
I was not targeted and thru blind faith, signed up via link in Gary’s post.
I am very leary of submitting an application with no landing page. Has anyone applied for the card, been approved and NOT received the bonus miles?
My wife applied for the 100k bonus last night and was instantly approved. I called customer service this morning and they confirmed that the 50k miles will be added once we spend $750 within 4 months and an additional 50k miles for spending $10k in 12 months.
Yahoo!!