If you have a credit card, the main cardholder gets all the benefits of the purchases. The Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard is a bit different, and the promotion is even more fascinating for those seeking to fly up the AAdvantage ladder.

Here's how the card rewards, what the promotion entails, and some nuances to be aware of before relying on the promotion.

How This Card Is Different

The Citi AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard is an exception in two ways.

The first is that American Airlines AAdvantage miles aren’t automatically credited to the primary cardholder. When you use authorized user cards, you'll accrue AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points, with the miles being credited to what amounts to a central bank. The primary cardholder then can distribute them to those who need them. That's a flexible set up for a business owner who has staff or family members with cards, as the miles could be sent wherever they are needed the most.

Secondly, Loyalty Points that are redeemed resulting from purchases made on an authorized user card are credited to the AAdvantage account of the authorized user and not the primary cardholder's account. That is, the individual who swipes the card receives points towards status. Typically, that's how it goes, and that's where the promotion fits in.

The Promotion

With a targeted offer, the user and the primary cardholder receive Loyalty Point rewards twice. The authorized user receives a corresponding amount of the same, rather than all of them.

Update: This promotion was to expire December 31, 2026, but has been extended to December 31, 2028. Hat tip to Slammer.

The deal in short:

• Primary cardholders of the Citi AAdvantage Business card will also accrue Loyalty Points for spending on authorized user cards.
• A direct link to the offer can be found on the American Airlines website (exploreamerican.com, in the promotion AAdvantage Business Loyalty Points).

Here the word “targeted” is important. Not all cardholders will be eligible to see the offer; it's worth making sure you check the link to see if you can register. Registering is free and only takes a few minutes and is required if you have an eligible card.

Key Terms

• Please read these in detail as they determine your eligibility and when you receive your points.
• It is available to some Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard accounts (or other Citi / AAdvantage small business credit cards), and cannot be transferred.
• In addition, the primary cardmember will be awarded 1 Loyalty Point for each Loyalty Point earned by any authorized users for eligible purchases.
• The purchases must be in the name of the Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard or the Citi / AAdvantage small business credit cards that the authorized user is named on and posted to the authorized user's AAdvantage account from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2028.
• Your credit card may not be accepted if you have had your credit card account closed or if you switch to another small business credit card product from Citi / AAdvantage or to a different Citi / AAdvantage card with the same account any time during the promotion period.
• Loyalty Points that the authorized user earns and credits to their individual AAdvantage account prior to January 1, 2025 will not count.
• Wait 8-10 weeks after the Loyalty Points post to the authorized user's AAdvantage account to get the extra Loyalty Points on your account.

Of these two, two should be given special consideration. The first is that it can be revoked if the account is cancelled or the card product is changed during the promotion. Consider changing your product before considering this offer. Secondly, the bonus Loyalty Points will not be refunded immediately, since it takes between 8 and 10 weeks. If you are approaching a qualification status at the end of a qualification year, make space for it in your plans.

In a way, this is a big deal

This could be a very great earning opportunity for you, if you are the main cardholder and you've been targeted. This is most important if you have a lot of spending by the authorized user on your card account. Otherwise, two people would be able to get American Airlines status for the price of one.

The authorized user would normally receive all the Loyalty Points for their own purchases, and the main cardholder would receive nothing from that. This promotion doubles your spend in one's AAdvantage accounts. If a single person in a household or small business is responsible for most of the credit card spending, that may come into play when it comes to getting to elite status quickly.

An Open Question

There is one thing that's not clear. What if the primary cardholder also adds themselves onto the card, for budgeting purposes? Can that count for two AAdvantage points?

One might expect that you wouldn't, on the other hand. But this is Citi, so it's difficult to tell. No one has substantiated it so consider it a 'curiosity' and do not make a strategy out of it until a report of real results has been made.

Is the Offer New?

One Mile at a Time reported that this offer has been in place since the beginning of the year but that it has been extended for a year. It is not known if it is a second round of cardholders being targeted. Anyone who has tried in the past and wasn't eligible should consider the same, as it is a sign of uncertainty. In any case, if you have a qualifying card, you should try to register.

The Bottom Line

This promotion can help primary cardholders gain two streams of Loyalty Points from just one stream of spending for cardholders who have authorized users. The extension lasts until December 31, 2028, so there's plenty of time to take advantage of it.

Please review the terms, register via the register link if you meet the criteria, and be aware of a posting delay of 8 to 10 weeks. Don't close the account or switch products during the promotional period, as you may lose your eligibility. If an offer appears to you, then it is one of the easier ways to make it two people's status out of one pool of spending.