Can you get the Citi/AADVANTAGE Executive World Elite Mastercard welcome bonus multiple times?
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Credit card welcome bonuses are one of the fastest ways to get valuable travel rewards. You can usually pick 100,000 points or more in a single bonus, which can be worth thousands of dollars in travel.
Currently, American Airlines’ top-tier cards are offering its best welcome bonus of all time, worth $1,650 (according to our May 2025 valuation). For a limited time, those applying for Citi®/Aadvantage® Execution World Elite MasterCard® (see Rates and Fees) can earn 100,000 bonuses after opening an account within three months after opening a $10,000 Aadvantage.
But what if you already have a card or have a card in the past? Can you get a welcome bonus again?
To answer this question, it is important to understand Citi’s application rules and determine the exact date of the last time you received the welcome bonus on this card. Let me take you through it.
Related: Is Citi/Aadvantage Execution of World Elite Mastercard worth it?
Understand Citi’s application rules
In most common cards, Citi limits welcome bonuses to once every 48 months. This rule applies to Citi/Aadvantage to execute the World Elite Mastercard.
So, for example, if you want to apply for this card and earn a welcome bonus in May 2025, you will only be eligible if you receive the last welcome bonus on the card before May 2021.
The best way to find out this date is to call Citi at 888-766-2484. In addition, you can also call Aadvantage at 800-882-8880. (You can only see your account activity through the Aadvantage online account for the past two years.)
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Related: Who is eligible for the 100k miles of Citi/Aadvantage Execution World Elite Mastercard Bonus?
Time matters
The 48-month period begins on the date of receipt of the previous bonus, rather than when the account is opened or closed.
This is important because months may have passed, when you get approval for the card and when you meet the minimum spending requirement, and you get a welcome bonus as a result.
Product changes
You can get a welcome bonus on each Citi’s Aadvantage card every 48 months – each product can be processed separately.
Over the past two years, I have applied for the following three Citi/Aadvantage cards and won welcome bonuses for each:
But, let’s say I get a bonus in the Platinum Selection and the product changes it (or upgrades) to the executives. In that case, I had to wait 48 months from when I received the Platinum Choice Welcome Bonus to get the executive welcome bonus.
Strategies to maximize bonus opportunities
Here are some of my main tips to quickly earn a large amount of Aadvantage miles by applying for a Coprand American Airlines credit card.
Develop your application strategy
If you are sure you received a welcome bonus on the execution card four years ago, and No You can apply for the card currently in use.
if you Do There is currently a card, first of all, you need to downgrade or cancel the card.
My advice is to downgrade it to an unfamiliar American Airlines Aadvantage® Mileup® card to make calls with a phone number stuck on the back of the card. However, please note that by downgrade you will not be eligible for the welcome bonus on this card. The benefit is that you will protect your credit score because your credit report will not change.
Information on the Aadvantage Mileup card has been collected independently by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
In addition, you can cancel the execution of the card. Although this may temporarily harm your credit score due to your increased credit utilization, you may be eligible for a welcome bonus if you choose to apply in the future.
After downgrading or canceling the card, please wait for about a week and then apply for the execution of the card again.
Track reward schedule
You may have recently received a welcome bonus on the execution card. In this case, find out the exact date you received the bonus. Then, use the reward tracking spreadsheet or set up reminders to notice when the criteria are met again.
I applied for this card in July 2023 (the first week after refreshing it). Based on my account activity in my online Aadvantage account, I received a welcome bonus in November 2023. So I wrote a note in my Google Calendar and I’m eligible to apply for this card again starting in December 2027.
Explore other Aadvantage cards
If you want to pick up more bonus Aadvantage miles, consider applying for one of the carrier’s other cards.
My best advice is to pick up the Aadvantage Pilot Red World Elite Mastercard. It’s the only Aadvantage card Barclays is still issuing, before Citigroup becomes the only credit card partner for carriers next year. Applications for the card can now be closed, almost certainly before the end of the year).
If you haven’t applied for it in the past six months, you are eligible to apply for it. Here is a link that can earn 10,000 miles on the card’s standard quote.
Information on Pilot Red World Elite Mastercard has been independently collected by Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you haven’t received bonuses in the other two personal cards or business versions of Citi in the past 48 months, they are also a great option.
Bottom line
Citi’s 48-month rule is crucial when applying for its Aadvantage credit card. By tracking the last time you received a welcome bonus and understanding how changes in your product affect eligibility, you can ensure you maximize your approval opportunities.
With the 100,000 miles of offer currently available on the execution card, it’s time to evaluate your schedule and get all Aadvantages if they meet the criteria.
To learn more about this card, read our full review of Citi/Aadvantage Execution World Elite Mastercard.
Apply here: Citi/AADVANTAGGH Executes World Elite Mastercard
