Citi American Airlines Mailers Can Now Only Be Used Once

Citi frequently sends out targeted offers for American Airlines cards out via snail mail. These mailers are useful as they do not contain the restrictive 24 month language. Previously it was possible for mailers with a 9 digit customized code to be used more than once. Based on data points collected by joeyp907 on /r/churning these codes are now single use and will result in one of the following error messages when somebody tries to use the code again:

  • The information entered does not match our records. Please be sure to enter it exactly as shown on your invitation letter. If you prefer, you can mail in the form attached to your invitation letter.
  • For your protection, the number of attempts is limited. Please mail in your application.

RIP.

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Alli
Alli (@guest_754883)
May 2, 2019 00:53

I just tried my first 9 digit code for someone who has the same last name. I got this message, “Unfortunately, we were not able to approve your application.

You will receive written notification with details regarding our decision in approximately 7-10 days.”
What gives?

chinagel
chinagel (@guest_668801)
November 6, 2018 23:33

just a DP, i did a 2bm for 2 people with one mailer, 2nd app declined since “u previously responded to this offer”.

Erika Hamilton
Erika Hamilton (@guest_660432)
October 19, 2018 19:25

Is this true for business mailers?

Tim W.
Tim W. (@guest_660428)
October 19, 2018 19:07

RIP. Pouring one out for this good friend.

PoorChurner
PoorChurner (@guest_660219)
October 19, 2018 10:57

I even got a AA Gold card mailer and that card doesn’t exist! Anyway I got one for the MileUp card, 20k miles for $500 in spend + $100 statement credit. Worth it?

Phil
Phil (@guest_660281)
October 19, 2018 12:53

I got the same mailer but was under the assumption it existed.. lol. I see it on AA’s website but it looks like you can’t apply for it anymore.

Kaung
Kaung (@guest_660203)
October 19, 2018 10:31

Pour gravy to pay respects.

Jeff
Jeff (@guest_660143)
October 19, 2018 06:21

Good. Maybe I can actually find award availability again.

NinjaX
NinjaX (@guest_660136)
October 19, 2018 03:57

very interesting development. anyone with half a brain can see that this is a nod from citi. nobody is stupid enough to think citi doesnt know. yet they only limit the code from multi-use? its clear this is to control the throttle. if citi really wanted to copy US Bank, everyone on reddit would be banned.

Jason
Jason (@guest_660157)
October 19, 2018 08:29

And what has US Stank … err … Bank done?

I still MS the crap out of the Club Carlson card.

NinjaX
NinjaX (@guest_660353)
October 19, 2018 15:28

Jason, assume u just started the game this year if u dont know but at least u know its a shitty bank. and u still call it Club Carlson so you at least have some history and ur prob loving the 5x. either way, you do high vol? like 50k or 100k+ monthly? doesnt really matter, USB is all over GC purchases no matter how small and shut down accounts ASAP. the fact that keith hasnt called you yet only means 2 things:

1) USB doesnt give a shit about cobrand points anymore since its cheap
2) You are just lucky they havent seen ur account yet. probably way too many CFPB to deal with after they shut down everybodys account over the prior years

Jason
Jason (@guest_660400)
October 19, 2018 17:08

Thanks for the heads up. I normally keep it under 10K spend/mo; not a heavy hitter like some others.

Did they shut you down with no warning? Did they close ALL USB cards at once, if so, or only the ones you were MSing with?

Thanks Ninja

NinjaX
NinjaX (@guest_660517)
October 20, 2018 00:35

10k/mo is still a very respectable amount. very surprised you have been DL with USB. well then, dont mind me, keep going but im glad I could give you the early warning signal (EWS).

they didnt shut me down because I stopped ASAP as soon as the carnage started with the USB AR. anything that has to do with bank points like the AR and FlexP, even the ClubCarl got the ban hammer. all it took was one GC from Simon or CVS or WG or WM or whatever. all accounts shutdown. just like chase. and its all accounts. all points lost except for hotel pts which go straight to the hotel. this is why everybody knows Keith. USB is apparently such a small bank that they have a very small staff for the “Adverse Action” dept.

just to start you off with some DP:
https://milestomemories.boardingarea.com/u-s-bank-altitude-reserve-shutdown-letter
https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/79qj4f/my_us_bank_altitude_reserve_shutdown_notice_came

now you can search deeper on ur own and enjoy.

NinjaX
NinjaX (@guest_660669)
October 20, 2018 16:54

Jason. ive sent a reply but it looks like its still awaiting moderation. not sure whats up, but 10k MS/mo is still a solid number. USB doesnt give out warnings. it shuts u down ASAP like chase. but no reinstatement unlike chase. its not just one card. its the entire relationship. I was lucky and didnt get banned because i stopped ASAP when the news broke. but people still wanted to be a cowboy. so consider this an early warning and be careful out there with ur ClubC. this all started with the USB AR. google “USB shut down” and you will see many links. that should start you off with your research.

EDIT: looks like my comment posted. thanks Doc.

Jason
Jason (@guest_660693)
October 20, 2018 19:09

Thanks; I am going to cool it for a while. Back to more Citi grAAvy trAAin!

MM
MM (@guest_660182)
October 19, 2018 09:40

Yeah, this was kinda my take too. Until we see changes limiting mailer usage to only the named recipient, I’m not convinced Citi/AA really care about the multiple cards. I mean, for Pete’s sake, there are people calling in after going pending with 10+ AA cards in the last year and still getting manually approved. Like you said, if they cared, they’d cut it off.

Sara Logan
Sara Logan (@guest_660225)
October 19, 2018 11:10
  MM

i think they get a ridiculous discounted rate on AA miles. AA doesnt mind because they literally have delays and cancellations non stop, especially out of DFW. If they cared they wouldnt also match to 75k every single time.

Justin
Justin (@guest_660241)
October 19, 2018 11:21
  MM

I doubt they would ever match the name. If someone gets married for instance and has a maiden name on the mailer but wants a credit card in their new name, it would be a legitimate lost opportunity for Citi.

The real ban hammer will be when they start denying apps when the AA account associated with the targeted mailer doesn’t match. That’s the pretty obvious catch/check, that seems like eventually will happen.

MM
MM (@guest_660245)
October 19, 2018 11:26

Ah, good point on the acct # – much easier lever to pull there. I imagine it happens eventually too, but certainly hope it doesn’t. AA is one of the biggest airlines out of my airport so we’ve gotten a lot of mileage (horrific pun) outta these cards.

yatzas
yatzas (@guest_660095)
October 18, 2018 23:52

William, I opened a Citi checking account to earn 30,000 American miles and nowhere did they asked me in the application for my advantage number how are they going to know where to put the 30,000 aadvantage miles once I earn them?

Joe
Joe (@guest_660336)
October 19, 2018 15:02

Exactly. Don’t do that offer, you will have to fight them for months and still may not get the points.

Dan
Dan (@guest_660813)
October 21, 2018 07:48

I opened a checking account with them last week and asked about this and they said it’s linked to either yout SSN or a credit card you had/have with them.

Alan Lai
Alan Lai (@guest_660049)
October 18, 2018 22:14

I made an account half a year ago, but I have not gotten any physical mailers… I get email mailers tho, which has 24-months language…

“Card offer: American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have had any Citi® / AAdvantage® card (other than an AAdvantage MileUpSM or CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® card) opened or closed in the past 24 months. “

Jim
Jim (@guest_660417)
October 19, 2018 18:24

Time to make more AA accounts. Do it for your pets. If you don’t have pets, name random pieces of furniture in your house and create AA accounts for them.

Also wouldn’t hurt for you to put some activity on those accounts.

T
T (@guest_661197)
October 22, 2018 09:17

Was thinking about this and I guess dot trick for email is fine? Any reason you may need to go back into the account later for stuff? I’m thinking going down the alphabet. Male then female… maybe throw in some gender neutral names too