If you’ve recently signed up for a Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard for the 50,000 mile bonus (or even if you haven’t yet) you may have access to a churning loophole you don’t even know about!
Citi has been selectively upgrading current Platinum Select cardholders to “World Elite” Platinum Select cardholders. What this does is allows you to reapply for the Platinum Select card and 50,000 point bonus, even if the language stipulates you can’t get the bonus if you’ve had the card in the last 18 months. It appears that Citi’s system erases or forgets the fact you previously had the card. The World Elite card is a different product entirely, and thus you’re again eligible to apply for the Platinum Select.
I applied for the card in September, was upgraded in October, reapplied for the 50,000 bonus offer on the standard Platinum Select card, and just received my second full 50,000 mile bonus!
Waiting to see if this new card will again be upgraded but according to numerous users on Reddit and Flyertalk it’s definitely possible.
In the meantime I’m not complaining about 100,000 AA miles in less than 4 months!
UPDATE: Second card was upgraded on January 23rd! Time to apply for number 3 taking the total potential miles to 150,000 (or more than enough for 3 roundtrip tickets to Europe in economy).
UPDATE: Third card was upgraded on May 11th! Rumor has it that the loophole has tightened significantly, and Citi has added 24-month language to many of their offers so YMMV when it comes to this loophole…
| # | Date | Activity |
| 1 | 9/2/15 | Applied for Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard online (50,000-mile bonus offer, targeted via mail; approved). |
| 2 | 11/5/15 | Spent $3,000 and received 50,000 bonus miles (card delayed and arrived during trip to Iran/Turkey; paid rent via Radpad – 2.5% fee to use CC). |
| 3 | 11/11/15 | Received Citi AAdvantage World Elite Platinum Select Mastercard in an unmarked letter in the mail (same card number as my World card). |
| 4 | 11/11/15 | Trashed my original Platinum Select World Mastercard as there’s no reason to have two cards with the same number. |
| 5 | 12/6/15 | Reapplied for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum World Select Mastercard via Citi’s website (approved). |
| 6 | 12/23/15 | Spent $3,000 to hit minimum spend on 2nd Platinum Select World MC. |
| 7 | 12/23/15 | Received second 50,000-mile bonus on AA account. |
| 8 | 1/23/15 | Second World Select Mastercard is upgraded to World Elite! |
