American Airlines and Citi Extend and Expand Co-Branded Card Partnership, Paving the Way for More Customer Benefits
American Airlines and Citi have announced a 10-year extension of their co-branded partnership, with Citi becoming the exclusive issuer of AAdvantage® co-branded cards in the U.S. in 2026. The agreement includes Citi's acquisition of the Barclays American Airlines Co-branded Card portfolio, with cardmember transition beginning in 2026.
The partnership aims to create enhanced value through an innovative alignment between Citi ThankYou and AAdvantage® programs, expanding loyalty and rewards offerings for both AAdvantage® members and Citi-branded cardmembers. As exclusive issuer, Citi will manage all American Airlines acquisition channels, including inflight and airport locations.
American Airlines e Citi hanno annunciato un'estensione della loro partnership co-branded per 10 anni, con Citi che diventerà l'emittente esclusivo delle carte co-branded AAdvantage® negli Stati Uniti nel 2026. L'accordo include l'acquisizione da parte di Citi del portafoglio di carte co-branded di Barclays American Airlines, con il passaggio dei membri delle carte che inizierà nel 2026.
La partnership mira a creare un valore migliorato attraverso un allineamento innovativo tra i programmi Citi ThankYou e AAdvantage®, espandendo le offerte di fedeltà e premi sia per i membri AAdvantage® che per i titolari di carte Citi. In qualità di emittente esclusivo, Citi gestirà tutti i canali di acquisizione di American Airlines, inclusi i voli e le località degli aeroporti.
American Airlines y Citi han anunciado una extensión de 10 años de su asociación co-branded, con Citi convirtiéndose en el emisor exclusivo de las tarjetas co-branded AAdvantage® en EE. UU. en 2026. El acuerdo incluye la adquisición por parte de Citi de la cartera de tarjetas co-branded de Barclays American Airlines, comenzando la transición de los miembros de la tarjeta en 2026.
La asociación tiene como objetivo crear un valor mejorado a través de una alineación innovadora entre los programas Citi ThankYou y AAdvantage®, ampliando las ofertas de lealtad y recompensas tanto para los miembros de AAdvantage® como para los titulares de tarjetas de Citi. Como emisor exclusivo, Citi gestionará todos los canales de adquisición de American Airlines, incluyendo ubicaciones a bordo y en los aeropuertos.
아메리칸 항공과 씨티가 10년간의 공동 브랜드 파트너십 연장을 발표했습니다. 씨티는 2026년에 미국에서 AAdvantage® 공동 브랜드 카드의 독점 발급사가 됩니다. 이 협약에는 씨티가 바클레이의 아메리칸 항공 공동 브랜드 카드 포트폴리오를 인수하는 내용이 포함되어 있으며, 카드회원 전환은 2026년에 시작됩니다.
이번 파트너십은 씨티 땡큐(Citi ThankYou) 프로그램과 AAdvantage® 프로그램 간의 혁신적인 정렬을 통해 가치를 향상시키는 것을 목표로 하며, AAdvantage® 회원 및 씨티 브랜드 카드 회원 모두의 충성도 및 보상 혜택을 확장합니다. 독점 발급사로서 씨티는 비행 중 및 공항 위치를 포함하여 모든 아메리칸 항공 인수 채널을 관리하게 됩니다.
American Airlines et Citi ont annoncé une extension de 10 ans de leur partenariat co-brandé, avec Citi devenant l'émetteur exclusif des cartes co-brandées AAdvantage® aux États-Unis en 2026. L'accord inclut l'acquisition par Citi du portefeuille de cartes co-brandées de Barclays American Airlines, avec le passage des membres de carte commençant en 2026.
Le partenariat vise à créer une valeur améliorée grâce à un alignement innovant entre les programmes Citi ThankYou et AAdvantage®, élargissant les offres de fidélité et de récompenses pour les membres AAdvantage® et les détenteurs de cartes Citi. En tant qu'émetteur exclusif, Citi gérera tous les canaux d'acquisition d'American Airlines, y compris les emplacements à bord et dans les aéroports.
American Airlines und Citi haben eine 10-jährige Verlängerung ihrer Co-Branding-Partnerschaft angekündigt, wobei Citi im Jahr 2026 der exklusive Herausgeber von AAdvantage® Co-Branding-Karten in den USA wird. Vereinbarung umfasst den Erwerb des Co-Branding-Kartenportfolios von Barclays American Airlines durch Citi, wobei der Übergang der Kartenmitglieder im Jahr 2026 beginnt.
Die Partnerschaft zielt darauf ab, durch eine innovative Ausrichtung zwischen den Programmen Citi ThankYou und AAdvantage® einen verbesserten Wert zu schaffen und die Loyalitäts- und Belohnungsangebote sowohl für AAdvantage®-Mitglieder als auch für Citi-Kartenmitglieder zu erweitern. Als exklusiver Herausgeber wird Citi alle Akquisekanäle von American Airlines verwalten, einschließlich der Bereiche während des Flugs und an Flughäfen.
- Exclusive 10-year partnership agreement strengthens American Airlines' credit card business
- Portfolio consolidation under Citi expected to drive incremental value
- Expanded customer acquisition channels through inflight and airport locations
- Integration of Citi ThankYou and AAdvantage programs creates new revenue opportunities
- None.
Insights
- Citi to become the exclusive issuer of the AAdvantage® co-branded card portfolio in the U.S.
- 10-year agreement expected to expand loyalty and rewards offering for AAdvantage® members and Citi-branded cardmembers in the future
- Combined Citi®/AAdvantage® card portfolio projected to drive incremental value for both companies
FORT WORTH, Texas and NEW YORK, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Airlines and Citi today announced the extension of their more than 37-year co-branded partnership for the next decade, taking the relationship to new heights, with Citi becoming the exclusive issuer of the AAdvantage® co-branded card portfolio in the U.S. in 2026. Working more closely together, Citi and American can create significant value for both AAdvantage® co-branded and Citi-branded cardmembers.
“American is proud to have launched the first airline loyalty program, and with Citi, the travel industry’s first co-branded credit card,” said Robert Isom, American Airlines CEO. “The strength of our relationship with Citi has enabled us to deliver first-class products and customer service to millions of AAdvantage cardmembers. This expanded partnership will unlock even more value and exciting new benefits for all of our customers in the future.”
Citi reached an agreement to acquire the Barclays American Airlines Co-branded Card portfolio and will begin transitioning cardmembers to the Citi portfolio in 2026. Barclays cardmembers will continue to experience the same benefits they do today. More information about the transition will be made available in the coming months. The attractive cardmember base, size and strength of the combined portfolio are poised to help accelerate growth for Citi’s Branded Cards business and overarching U.S. Personal Banking business.
In addition, the agreement creates an innovative alignment between the Citi ThankYou and AAdvantage® card programs and is designed to drive incremental value for both companies and produce a significantly expanded loyalty and rewards offering for AAdvantage® members and Citi-branded cardmembers. As exclusive issuer, Citi will take on all American Airlines acquisition channels, including inflight and at airports.
“American Airlines and Citi have built something truly special together — a partnership rooted in delivering excellence to our customers,” said Jane Fraser, Citi CEO. “We’re now excited to take this relationship to greater heights through an expanded customer base and a series of new loyalty and reward offerings. Together, we’re creating more opportunities to welcome new cardmembers, deepen our connection with our existing ones and make our co-branded card the clear favorite in everyone’s wallets.”
The Citi®/AAdvantage® card portfolio currently offers products within the no-annual fee, mid-fee and high-fee space, including: the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card, the Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. The Citi®/AAdvantage® portfolio also offers the Citi®/AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® for business owners.
For more information about the Citi®/AAdvantage® card portfolio, visit: creditcards.aa.com.
About American Airlines Group
As a leading global airline, American Airlines offers thousands of flights per day to more than 350 destinations in more than 60 countries. The airline is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, whose members serve more than 900 destinations around the globe. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. Learn more about what's happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. To Care for People on Life's Journey®.
About Citi
Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in more than 180 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.
Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | X: @Citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi
Forward-looking statements
Certain statements in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on each management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. Actual results and other financial condition may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors. These factors include, among others: risk associated with co-branded partnership arrangements, including customer retention and onboarding of new customers, increasing competition among other credit card partnerships and issuers and carriers, unemployment levels, the interest rate environment, changes in consumer sentiment, spending and payment patterns and credit card usage behaviors; the impact of various geopolitical, macroeconomic and regulatory challenges and uncertainties, including those related to economic conditions in the U.S. and globally and potential policy and other changes resulting from the incoming U.S. administration and Congress; and the precautionary statements included in this release. These factors also consist of those contained in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings of: (i) American Airlines Group Inc. (AAG) and American Airlines, Inc. (American) and (ii) Citigroup Inc. (Citigroup), including without limitation the respective “Risk Factors” sections of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 of AAG and American and the 2023 Form 10-K of Citigroup. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of each company speak only as to the date they are made, and such company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made.
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FAQ
When will Citi become the exclusive issuer of American Airlines (AAL) credit cards?
What happens to Barclays American Airlines cardmembers after the AAL-Citi deal?
How long is the new American Airlines (AAL) and Citi credit card partnership?
