topic Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card in Credit Cards

Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

Anonymous — Sun, 27 May 2018 17:35:55 GMT

So far it seems like an option (even though I've heard otherwise due to changes with AAdvantage Platinum). I want to pool together some ideas from members of the community.

My AT&T card will be turning a year old on 6/2 and since Citi's Expedia cards aren't useful to most people, and since I'm working on removing myself from the TY points program for a number of reasons, including what will be a conversion of an old TY points card to the Double Cash... So now I've decided to look at the AAdvantage cards to replace the AT&T card with.

I currently own a Delta Gold card. As most people know, Delta's miles aren't worth as much as AAdvantage miles in most cases, but I also find AAdvantage miles to be less flexible in terms of saaver redemptions and departure times (I only had one flight option when I flew out a couple of months ago on AA).

Basically I want to redeem mostly domestic flights (including Hawaii) and Carribean first class or business seats, even if it means my spending habits will only net me a one way trip (with the other way being a bought ticket). I plan to fly 1-2 times a year at the most... Maybe 3 if I really stretch it.

Which AAdvantage card should I get? I'm open to looking at all three (consumer, not business) cards.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

Anonymous — Sun, 27 May 2018 17:51:00 GMT

I'm gonna start off with the obvious and point out the AA SUBs - you're PCing to an AA card? Do you care about the 60k SUB for the AA Plat with no fee in year 1? Cuz you know if you PC another card to an AA card you'll be ineligible for the AA SUBs for 24 months...

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

Anonymous — Sun, 27 May 2018 17:55:14 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I'm gonna start off with the obvious and point out the AA SUBs - you're PCing to an AA card? Do you care about the 60k SUB for the AA Plat with no fee in year 1? Cuz you know if you PC another card to an AA card you'll be ineligible for the AA SUBs for 24 months...

My exposure with Citi is pretty high. I churned an AAdvantage card less than two years ago.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

Anonymous — Sun, 27 May 2018 18:43:28 GMT

Well, first thing I'd consider is that for the 2x category spending on the Platinum card, youre probably better off just using your limitless card, so really you're looking at these cards for the perks. The gold doesn't really seem to offer much at all. To me, priority boarding and free checked bag aren't worth much, I can pack for a 5 day trip in my personal item, and since I fly out of DFW and have an Amex Platinum, I can take advantage of the centurion lounge which devalues the 25% food discount and the enhanced lounge benefits of the AA Executive card. So in my case, I don't think any of these cards are really worth the annual fee. Plug in your own factors to see if the perks of any of those cards makes sense. If you always fly with 3 other people and everyone checks a bag, the $95 fee of the Platinum is easily worth it for just a single annual round trip.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

redpat — Sun, 27 May 2018 20:15:58 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Well, first thing I'd consider is that for the 2x category spending on the Platinum card, youre probably better off just using your limitless card, so really you're looking at these cards for the perks. The gold doesn't really seem to offer much at all. To me, priority boarding and free checked bag aren't worth much, I can pack for a 5 day trip in my personal item, and since I fly out of DFW and have an Amex Platinum, I can take advantage of the centurion lounge which devalues the 25% food discount and the enhanced lounge benefits of the AA Executive card. So in my case, I don't think any of these cards are really worth the annual fee. Plug in your own factors to see if the perks of any of those cards makes sense. If you always fly with 3 other people and everyone checks a bag, the $95 fee of the Platinum is easily worth it for just a single annual round trip.

You are forgetting that you can have up to 10 AUs w/ AA Exec. In addition having AA lounge access it comes in pretty handy when trying to rearrange flights not having to wait in long lines. Last month I missed my connector at CLT and had some weather delays, once I landed made a beeline to AA lounge w/ only four people in front of me and had me rebooked w/ a better flight than they originally changed me to in a matter of minutes, I walked by the huge lines.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

wasCB14 — Sun, 27 May 2018 20:40:00 GMT

@redpat wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Well, first thing I'd consider is that for the 2x category spending on the Platinum card, youre probably better off just using your limitless card, so really you're looking at these cards for the perks. The gold doesn't really seem to offer much at all. To me, priority boarding and free checked bag aren't worth much, I can pack for a 5 day trip in my personal item, and since I fly out of DFW and have an Amex Platinum, I can take advantage of the centurion lounge which devalues the 25% food discount and the enhanced lounge benefits of the AA Executive card. So in my case, I don't think any of these cards are really worth the annual fee. Plug in your own factors to see if the perks of any of those cards makes sense. If you always fly with 3 other people and everyone checks a bag, the $95 fee of the Platinum is easily worth it for just a single annual round trip.
You are forgetting that you can have up to 10 AUs w/ AA Exec. In addition having AA lounge access it comes in pretty handy when trying to rearrange flights not having to wait in long lines. Last month I missed my connector at CLT and had some weather delays, once I landed made a beeline to AA lounge w/ only four people in front of me and had me rebooked w/ a better flight than they originally changed me to in a matter of minutes, I walked by the huge lines.

Do I have this right?

AA Exec: The primary gets a full AC membership (no need to fly AA, two guests). AUs are free and get access when flying AA, with 2 free guests.

Delta Reserve: The primary get SC access but not full membership. AUs are free but do not get SC access. Guests are discounted ($29 vs. $50) but not free.

I recall having an AA flight cancelled while waiting in AC and I was second in line to get on the next flight. I think it was in JFK T8-B.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

redpat — Sun, 27 May 2018 20:53:36 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
@redpat wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Well, first thing I'd consider is that for the 2x category spending on the Platinum card, youre probably better off just using your limitless card, so really you're looking at these cards for the perks. The gold doesn't really seem to offer much at all. To me, priority boarding and free checked bag aren't worth much, I can pack for a 5 day trip in my personal item, and since I fly out of DFW and have an Amex Platinum, I can take advantage of the centurion lounge which devalues the 25% food discount and the enhanced lounge benefits of the AA Executive card. So in my case, I don't think any of these cards are really worth the annual fee. Plug in your own factors to see if the perks of any of those cards makes sense. If you always fly with 3 other people and everyone checks a bag, the $95 fee of the Platinum is easily worth it for just a single annual round trip.
You are forgetting that you can have up to 10 AUs w/ AA Exec. In addition having AA lounge access it comes in pretty handy when trying to rearrange flights not having to wait in long lines. Last month I missed my connector at CLT and had some weather delays, once I landed made a beeline to AA lounge w/ only four people in front of me and had me rebooked w/ a better flight than they originally changed me to in a matter of minutes, I walked by the huge lines.
Do I have this right?

AA Exec: The primary gets a full AC membership (no need to fly AA, two guests). AUs are free and get access when flying AA, with 2 free guests.
Delta Reserve: The primary get SC access but not full membership. AUs are free but do not get SC access. Guests are discounted ($29 vs. $50) but not free.

I recall having an AA flight cancelled while waiting in AC and I was second in line to get on the next flight. I think it was in JFK T8-B.

AUs don’t have to fly AA to get access.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

Anonymous — Sun, 27 May 2018 21:14:44 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Well, first thing I'd consider is that for the 2x category spending on the Platinum card, youre probably better off just using your limitless card, so really you're looking at these cards for the perks.

It is true that I'm looking for some nice perks to make traveling cheaper, more fun, as well as the protections.

I might not have put this in the OP, but USAA probably is going away. I really don't appreciate them preventing me from transferring out to other accounts just because someone who sent me an ACH transfer didn't have enough money in their account and it "bounced." I mean I've been a member for 15 months and this is how they act? Now my money is stuck there... I can't even use Zelle to transfer funds.

The Double Cash will be replacing the Limitless as soon as early this week.

You also have to remember for 2x points on the AAdvantage card, that's 4% back if you can redeem your points for 2 cents each.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

Anonymous — Sun, 27 May 2018 21:34:46 GMT

Folks, the solution for the AA Executive card is easy...

Is Admirals Club access worth it for use 3-6 times a year (round trip) at $450?

If not, then that card is easily eliminated.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

redpat — Sun, 27 May 2018 21:41:02 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Folks, the solution for the AA Executive card is easy...

Is Admirals Club access worth it for use 3-6 times a year (round trip) at $450?

If not, then that card is easily eliminated.

MDV, don’t you have any close friends and family that travel that you can add them as an AU?.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

Anonymous — Sun, 27 May 2018 21:47:08 GMT

@redpat wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Folks, the solution for the AA Executive card is easy...

Is Admirals Club access worth it for use 3-6 times a year (round trip) at $450?

If not, then that card is easily eliminated.
MDV, don’t you have any close friends and family that travel that you can add them as an AU?.

Opening an AU card is something that's pretty easy, so if I'm in a relationship before the next time I travel, I'll just add an AU card and if we break up, cancel it. My other family members don't seem interested enough in using lounges or credit card perks.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

wasCB14 — Sun, 27 May 2018 22:12:19 GMT

@redpat wrote:
AUs don’t have to fly AA to get access.

Oh, okay. They just don't get full membership (meaning AUs miss, among other things, access to the partner lounges)?

For an AA-loyal family, especially without Centurion access, I do think it's a great value.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

Anonymous — Sun, 27 May 2018 22:25:45 GMT

@redpat it's not a matter of having forgotten about AUs with the Exec card so much as it not benefitting me. Like I said, one would have to weigh the benefits with their own variables.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

Anonymous — Mon, 28 May 2018 11:38:33 GMT

After all of this, I'm still on the fence as to which one I should get.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

UpperNwGuy — Mon, 28 May 2018 12:45:03 GMT

When in doubt, go with the card that has the lower annual fee.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

Anonymous — Mon, 28 May 2018 13:01:21 GMT

@UpperNwGuy wrote:
When in doubt, go with the card that has the lower annual fee.

AAdvantage Gold has no perks... It just earns 1x per dollar. Unless you were talking about Platinum.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

redpat — Mon, 28 May 2018 13:04:47 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
After all of this, I'm still on the fence as to which one I should get.

You said you wanted some perks and have more fun traveling the basic AA or Delta cards don’t offer much. AA Exec also gives you priority check in at the so if you need to check a back or make changes before going going through security you don’t have to wait in the longer line. Also if your don’t have TSA Pre you can go through the priority line at security.

Travel perks and a better travel experiences aren’t free but if you can get the cost down and use many of the card benefits your travel will be more enjoyable. 2x AA don’t mean much for me since I get a ton of miles from their dining and shopping programs in addition to fights. All my personal and biz meals go on CSR 3x and all our gas goes on EDP 3x. It’s great going to one of the restaurants that are in the dining program getting 5x AA and 3x UR at the same time.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

Anonymous — Mon, 28 May 2018 13:13:33 GMT

@redpat wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
After all of this, I'm still on the fence as to which one I should get.
You said you wanted some perks and have more fun traveling the basic AA or Delta cards don’t offer much. AA Exec also gives you priority check in at the so if you need to check a back or make changes before going going through security you don’t have to wait in the longer line. Also if your don’t have TSA Pre you can go through the priority line at security.

Travel perks and a better travel experiences aren’t free but if you can get the cost down and use many of the card benefits your travel will be more enjoyable. 2x AA don’t mean much for me since I get a ton of miles from their dining and shopping programs in addition to fights. All my personal and biz meals go on CSR 3x and all our gas goes on EDP 3x. It’s great going to one of the restaurants that are in the dining program getting 5x AA and 3x UR at the same time.

I do usually check bags, and usually talk someone into checking a bag with me if I'm traveling with a companion. I think first class offers a free checked bag or two anyways.

At the same time, first class tickets offer priority check in too. I already have TSA Precheck, not due to expire for another four years.

I believe I've looked into AA's shopping portal (since I'm already an AA member with 10,000 miles currently), but none of the restaurants seemed interesting to me.

Gold would be the obvious choice for a first class structure, but now with 2x on gas and restaurant spend, I have to take a closer look. I spend roughly $30-$35 a week on gas, and roughly $200-$400 a month on restaurant purchases.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

redpat — Mon, 28 May 2018 13:26:56 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@redpat wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
After all of this, I'm still on the fence as to which one I should get.
You said you wanted some perks and have more fun traveling the basic AA or Delta cards don’t offer much. AA Exec also gives you priority check in at the so if you need to check a back or make changes before going going through security you don’t have to wait in the longer line. Also if your don’t have TSA Pre you can go through the priority line at security.

Travel perks and a better travel experiences aren’t free but if you can get the cost down and use many of the card benefits your travel will be more enjoyable. 2x AA don’t mean much for me since I get a ton of miles from their dining and shopping programs in addition to fights. All my personal and biz meals go on CSR 3x and all our gas goes on EDP 3x. It’s great going to one of the restaurants that are in the dining program getting 5x AA and 3x UR at the same time.

I do usually check bags, and usually talk someone into checking a bag with me if I'm traveling with a companion. I think first class offers a free checked bag or two anyways.

At the same time, first class tickets offer priority check in too. I already have TSA Precheck, not due to expire for another four years.

I believe I've looked into AA's shopping portal (since I'm already an AA member with 10,000 miles currently), but none of the restaurants seemed interesting to me.

Then your choice should be to wait and get a SUB if you only have 10k miles.

Re: Cit Conversion to AAdvantage Card

wasCB14 — Mon, 28 May 2018 19:00:46 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@UpperNwGuy wrote:
When in doubt, go with the card that has the lower annual fee.
AAdvantage Gold has no perks... It just earns 1x per dollar. Unless you were talking about Platinum.

I don't see much point in paying a $50 AF for an airline card that doesn't even give free checked bags.