Update 10/20/19: Both TPG & OMaaT are now stating that this fee is not being added and it was a software error. It’s currently unclear if they are basing this off what Citi phone reps are stating (unreliable) or from a Citi media contact (reliable in my experience).
Flyertalk user javabytes tried to add a new authorized user to their Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard during this process they were told that a $175 annual fee would be charged (pro-rated based on your anniversary date). Adding authorized users for free on this card has been useful as they are able to enter American Airlines Admirals Club without the primary cardholder being with them (as well as their own guests). Flyertalk user javabytes already has one authorized user, so it’s possible that Citi is only adding this fee for those wanting to add more than one authorized user. In addition on the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard landing page I don’t see any mention of this new fee.
Do you think if the start charging for AU’s that the existing ones will just get their cards deactivated for AC access? or will they wait til the next renewal date?
Just want to add that my SO just received one of the Citi AA Exec card mailers and while the fees and T&Cs have not changed (no fee for AUs, and the T&Cs re AU access is still there in fine print), there is no reference to AU access anywhere in the glossy marketing brochure that was included (outside of the T&Cs fine print). So I still expect this change is coming sometime in the next few months.
Unless they start offer full membership to AUs, $175 is not even worth debating over
I added 9th AU on 10/17 and 10th on 10/18 and no extra fee was mentioned. Doesn’t mean I won’t be actually charged the $175 but no notice was provided. Hope this helps.
I got 5 AUs and will definitely be cancelling if they try to retroactively add a few.
I predict Citi just showed it’s hand earlier than planned.
Waybackmachine has the creditcards.aa.com landing page for the card captured as of October 2. On that date, it read “Admirals Club: Membership, a value of up to $650, includes access for authorized users”.
The language re AUs has been removed from the site. It now reads, “Admirals Club: Enhance your travels with Admirals Club membership (a value of up to $650).”
It’s definitely coming sometime in the near future.
Yup, this is my feeling as well
AC is too crowded and too many stories of people with the 10 AU’s. I figure it has to happen. I’m not overly fussed as we’re reducing our flight delAAys by shifting to other carirers.
While this may be the future it is definitely a mistake on the Citi website that current authorized users have any fee. There is no such fee today and I’ve confirmed that it is an error.
Shiti being shiti
Did you speak to the Citi media team or a phone rep?
This would be a very troubling development. Hopefully, it’s just a glitch. I was thinking of getting one of these cards, but I thought I read that if I had a DIFFERENT Citi AA card (I’ve applied within the past year for it), I couldn’t get this one. Is that true?
So if it is in fact a glitch (no surprise), can folks who have recently gotten the “regular” AA Citi card (which I assume is most people reading this blog) get the Executive card for the lounge access?
The schedule of fees doesn’t list a charge for AUs on the card application site. They also just sent me a targeted offer for this card highlighting how useful it was vs a family lounge membership!
Indeed, no language has been added to the T&Cs for new apps that indicates a charge for AUs… but I also noticed the landing page for the app no longer advertises (free) access for AUs anymore… we’ve definitely seen this time and time again for the Prestige Card… where Citi quietly stops advertising benefits before existing cardholders are notified that they are ending.