Citi AAdvantage Govt Card provides annual payment for licensed customers

There are various causes so as to add licensed customers to your favourite journey bank cards. And sadly, one of the well-liked ones for extra cardholders — the Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® — seems to be launching a notably detrimental change alongside these traces.

In keeping with Citi.com, this card now imposes a $175 payment for including as much as three licensed customers. Each consumer past that’s one other $175 apiece. This coverage is listed in Citi’s on-line platform while you go so as to add a further cardholder.

The cardboard has at all times carried a $450 annual payment for the first cardholder, however beforehand, you possibly can add as much as 10 licensed customers for no extra cost. These people would then take pleasure in complimentary entry to the Admirals Membership when touring on American or companion flights — together with as much as two company (or your partner and youngsters below the age of 18). Now, these lounge privileges will come at a hefty extra value.

If this seems like a well-recognized payment construction, you are proper. It is the very same strategy as The Platinum Card® from American Categorical, which imposes a $175 annual payment for the primary three licensed customers after which $175 apiece after that (see charges and costs).

Nevertheless, extra Platinum cardholders can entry all kinds of lounges through Amex’s World Lounge Assortment — together with the issuer’s personal Centurion Lounges, Precedence Move, Plaza Premium and Delta Sky Golf equipment (when touring on Delta). In addition they take pleasure in many different Platinum perks, like complimentary Gold standing with each Marriott and Hilton.

Learn extra: Why you must add licensed customers in your Amex Platinum Card

However, licensed customers on the Citi AA Govt Card can solely get into the roughly 50 Admirals Golf equipment worldwide. Different perks on the cardboard — like precedence boarding and a free checked bag on home itineraries — do not apply. In consequence, imposing the identical payment because the Amex Platinum appears steep.

That mentioned, this new payment construction is definitely barely higher than the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card, which imposes a $175 payment (see charges and costs) for each licensed consumer and does not embody visitor privileges. (The United Membership Infinite Card does not cost for licensed customers, however they do not get United Membership entry until they’re touring with the first cardholder.)

We have lined lounge overcrowding extensively right here at TPG, and these tales will possible proceed because the busy summer time journey season ramps up. This new coverage is nearly definitely an tried answer to those issues — although anecdotally, Admirals Golf equipment appear to be affected much less incessantly than Delta Sky Golf equipment and United Golf equipment.

There are a number of excellent questions on this new coverage. Most significantly, when will this payment kick in for present cardholders? The Credit score Card Accountability Duty and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD Act) requires not less than 45 days advance written discover for any vital change to a time period or cardholder settlement — “together with a rise in any payment.” I regarded by way of all of my 2023 statements and have not seen any discover addressing this potential change.

Backside line

Based mostly on a brand new coverage posted on Citi.com, it seems that the Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® is now imposing annual charges for licensed customers — particularly $175 for the primary three after which $175 every past that. Nevertheless, it is nonetheless unclear how this may have an effect on present prospects who have already got free extra cardholders on their accounts. As well as, it is nonetheless not listed on the applying web page for brand new cardholders on the time of writing.