Citi upgrade offer to AA Exec World Elite Mastercard

[merlinflex]

So just got back from business trip last night and home for about 2 weeks before taking off to Vegas for Blackhat/Defcon and this morning get this email offer for below.  Read through it and other than the term "credit worthiness" I don't see anywhere where it says this requires a HP, seems to me it is a pre-approval to upgrade from my current AA Platinum Select MC.   I haven't had any HP's in 13 months and by the end of this year, have 5 that will drop off. Trying to clear out all HPs by next summer.  Logged into my Citibank account and see their FICO score for me as 831, but that's a 900 scale not a 850 scale, and tells me it's one of Equifax's many varities of score models, etc etc.

Wouldn't mind this card as I am traveling a lot recently and have been using AA or United.  The $450 AF while not great, is something I can handle easily. I just don't want the HP.  Thoughts? Guess I can always try online or call in, but wondering if others are getting these offers too!  TIA!

" Congrats we're grateful for your loyalty, now you're invited to upgrade your card!

Enhance your getaways with a new standard of luxury designed for you and your travels. You’re invited to upgrade to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® and a wealth of travel privileges, including membership to the Admirals Club® lounges – a value of up to $550.1 All for an annual fee of $450.**

Terms and Conditions
* To remain eligible for this upgrade you must continue to meet our account change criteria, including creditworthiness, and your account must be open and current under the terms of the Card Agreement.

[Anonymous]

merlinflex for what it is worth, I have had offers for upgrades on "other" cards and they were free of HPs. Now to qualify this, seems everything these days is YMMV so I offer it only as my singular experience with Citi on three different experiences. Two were upgrades to the Citi World Elite MasterCards (from regular MasterCards) and one was from a Visa to a Visa Signature.

[Anonymous]

@merlinflex

It definitely wouldnt be a HP to upgrade.  They hand out these upgrade offers all the time to Platinum card holders because they want the $450 AF.  It’s nothing special.  I have had the AA Executive for several years and like the card especially because it gives you access to Admiral Clubs which I have used a lot.  Having said that, I wouldn’t upgrade but apply outright for the card.  Not sure if you are outside the 24 month window for new AA products but it’s definitely worth waiting if you have to and getting whatever miles bonus they are offering at the time you apply.  Right now it’s 50k miles for $5k spend but there have been higher offers in the past.  Also keep in mind that upgrading will reset the 24 month clock before you can get another AA bonus.  It’s just worth upgrading without a significant bonus attached and Citi typically has not done that with this card.  It’s far better getting the card outright and either keep the Platinum AA card or get then to transfer the limit to the Executive if you’re approved.

[merlinflex]

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@Anonymous wrote:

@merlinflex

It definitely wouldnt be a HP to upgrade.  They hand out these upgrade offers all the time to Platinum card holders because they want the $450 AF.  It’s nothing special.  I have had the AA Executive for several years and like the card especially because it gives you access to Admiral Clubs which I have used a lot.  Having said that, I wouldn’t upgrade but apply outright for the card.  Not sure if you are outside the 24 month window for new AA products but it’s definitely worth waiting if you have to and getting whatever miles bonus they are offering at the time you apply.  Right now it’s 50k miles for $5k spend but there have been higher offers in the past.  Also keep in mind that upgrading will reset the 24 month clock before you can get another AA bonus.  It’s just worth upgrading without a significant bonus attached and Citi typically has not done that with this card.  It’s far better getting the card outright and either keep the Platinum AA card or get then to transfer the limit to the Executive if you’re approved.

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I see what you are saying. This card, shows opened on or about 4/1/2017.  Checked my AA activity and I got 60K for the spend promo at the time.  So basically you are saying to wait until past May 2018 next year and apply for whatever promo they have then, grab the bonus miles and then see about having them roll the CL from my current card over into the new card, correct?  My current CL is $28K with $1.7K balance on it now.  This in fact was my last HP I believe by looking at all 3 CRs.

[Anonymous]

Basically everything Irish said. Question though; did you purposely leave the "t" on Christopher and remove the "opher" so that it would like like "Christ?" Just curious.

[Anonymous]

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@merlinflex wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

@merlinflex

It definitely wouldnt be a HP to upgrade.  They hand out these upgrade offers all the time to Platinum card holders because they want the $450 AF.  It’s nothing special.  I have had the AA Executive for several years and like the card especially because it gives you access to Admiral Clubs which I have used a lot.  Having said that, I wouldn’t upgrade but apply outright for the card.  Not sure if you are outside the 24 month window for new AA products but it’s definitely worth waiting if you have to and getting whatever miles bonus they are offering at the time you apply.  Right now it’s 50k miles for $5k spend but there have been higher offers in the past.  Also keep in mind that upgrading will reset the 24 month clock before you can get another AA bonus.  It’s just worth upgrading without a significant bonus attached and Citi typically has not done that with this card.  It’s far better getting the card outright and either keep the Platinum AA card or get then to transfer the limit to the Executive if you’re approved.

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I see what you are saying. This card, shows opened on or about 4/1/2017.  Checked my AA activity and I got 60K for the spend promo at the time.  So basically you are saying to wait until past May 2018 next year and apply for whatever promo they have then, grab the bonus miles and then see about having them roll the CL from my current card over into the new card, correct?  My current CL is $28K with $1.7K balance on it now.  This in fact was my last HP I believe by looking at all 3 CRs.

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Yes, that’s correct.

[FinStar]

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@merlinflex wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

@merlinflex

It definitely wouldnt be a HP to upgrade.  They hand out these upgrade offers all the time to Platinum card holders because they want the $450 AF.  It’s nothing special.  I have had the AA Executive for several years and like the card especially because it gives you access to Admiral Clubs which I have used a lot.  Having said that, I wouldn’t upgrade but apply outright for the card.  Not sure if you are outside the 24 month window for new AA products but it’s definitely worth waiting if you have to and getting whatever miles bonus they are offering at the time you apply.  Right now it’s 50k miles for $5k spend but there have been higher offers in the past.  Also keep in mind that upgrading will reset the 24 month clock before you can get another AA bonus.  It’s just worth upgrading without a significant bonus attached and Citi typically has not done that with this card.  It’s far better getting the card outright and either keep the Platinum AA card or get then to transfer the limit to the Executive if you’re approved.

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I see what you are saying. This card, shows opened on or about 4/1/2017.  Checked my AA activity and I got 60K for the spend promo at the time.  So basically you are saying to wait until past May 2018 next year and apply for whatever promo they have then, grab the bonus miles and then see about having them roll the CL from my current card over into the new card, correct?  My current CL is $28K with $1.7K balance on it now.  This in fact was my last HP I believe by looking at all 3 CRs.

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May 2019 to be eligible for the SUB again.  Promos range from 40K to 75K AA miles depending on the available offers at that point.  I agree with @Anonymous in applying for the Executive as oposed to the upgrade.

An item to keep in mind, though, Citi doesn't "roll" over CLs per se.  CLs *may* be combined by way of reducing the CL on the donor CC and a CLI on the CC you want to keep.  This is their way of "reallocation/consolidating".  As such, it'll be a HP (regardless) and you'll lose part of the CL on the donor CC (~$2K) as it will be closed.  Just something to consider if you decide to pursue that option. 

[Anonymous]

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@FinStar wrote:

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@merlinflex wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

@merlinflex

It definitely wouldnt be a HP to upgrade.  They hand out these upgrade offers all the time to Platinum card holders because they want the $450 AF.  It’s nothing special.  I have had the AA Executive for several years and like the card especially because it gives you access to Admiral Clubs which I have used a lot.  Having said that, I wouldn’t upgrade but apply outright for the card.  Not sure if you are outside the 24 month window for new AA products but it’s definitely worth waiting if you have to and getting whatever miles bonus they are offering at the time you apply.  Right now it’s 50k miles for $5k spend but there have been higher offers in the past.  Also keep in mind that upgrading will reset the 24 month clock before you can get another AA bonus.  It’s just worth upgrading without a significant bonus attached and Citi typically has not done that with this card.  It’s far better getting the card outright and either keep the Platinum AA card or get then to transfer the limit to the Executive if you’re approved.

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I see what you are saying. This card, shows opened on or about 4/1/2017.  Checked my AA activity and I got 60K for the spend promo at the time.  So basically you are saying to wait until past May 2018 next year and apply for whatever promo they have then, grab the bonus miles and then see about having them roll the CL from my current card over into the new card, correct?  My current CL is $28K with $1.7K balance on it now.  This in fact was my last HP I believe by looking at all 3 CRs.

---

May 2019 to be eligible for the SUB again .  Promos range from 40K to 75K AA miles depending on the available offers at that point.

An item to keep in mind, though, Citi doesn't "roll" over CLs per se.  CLs *may* be combined by way of reducing the CL on the donor CC and a CLI on the CC you want to keep.  This is their way of "reallocation/consolidating".  As such, it'll be a HP (regardless) and you'll lose part of the CL on the donor CC (~$2K) as it will be closed.  Just something to consider if you decide to pursue that option. 

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I generally agree but I have been successful twice when approved for a new card with Citi to be able to move limits from an existing card (still keeping the donor card) to the new card to increase the approved new limit.  This was done with no other HP besides the one(s) for the new card application

[FinStar]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@FinStar wrote:

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@merlinflex wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

@merlinflex

It definitely wouldnt be a HP to upgrade.  They hand out these upgrade offers all the time to Platinum card holders because they want the $450 AF.  It’s nothing special.  I have had the AA Executive for several years and like the card especially because it gives you access to Admiral Clubs which I have used a lot.  Having said that, I wouldn’t upgrade but apply outright for the card.  Not sure if you are outside the 24 month window for new AA products but it’s definitely worth waiting if you have to and getting whatever miles bonus they are offering at the time you apply.  Right now it’s 50k miles for $5k spend but there have been higher offers in the past.  Also keep in mind that upgrading will reset the 24 month clock before you can get another AA bonus.  It’s just worth upgrading without a significant bonus attached and Citi typically has not done that with this card.  It’s far better getting the card outright and either keep the Platinum AA card or get then to transfer the limit to the Executive if you’re approved.

---

I see what you are saying. This card, shows opened on or about 4/1/2017.  Checked my AA activity and I got 60K for the spend promo at the time.  So basically you are saying to wait until past May 2018 next year and apply for whatever promo they have then, grab the bonus miles and then see about having them roll the CL from my current card over into the new card, correct?  My current CL is $28K with $1.7K balance on it now.  This in fact was my last HP I believe by looking at all 3 CRs.

---

May 2019 to be eligible for the SUB again .  Promos range from 40K to 75K AA miles depending on the available offers at that point.

An item to keep in mind, though, Citi doesn't "roll" over CLs per se.  CLs *may* be combined by way of reducing the CL on the donor CC and a CLI on the CC you want to keep.  This is their way of "reallocation/consolidating".  As such, it'll be a HP (regardless) and you'll lose part of the CL on the donor CC (~$2K) as it will be closed.  Just something to consider if you decide to pursue that option. 

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I generally agree but I have been successful twice when approved for a new card with Citi to be able to move limits from an existing card (still keeping the donor card) to the new card to increase the approved new limit.  This was done with no other HP besides the one(s) for the new card application

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I agree, the same has occured IME.  And, since Citi is known to be quirky for a variety of other folks when consolidating CCs, I wanted to put it out there "just in case".

[merlinflex]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Basically everything Irish said. Question though; did you purposely leave the "t" on Christopher and remove the "opher" so that it would like like "Christ?" Just curious.

"Christian" maybe? 

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