Documented rule history
Active — last confirmed April 11, 2023Is the Citi 48-month rule still active? On our documented record it is active, last confirmed April 11, 2023: ThankYou family moved to a per-card 48-month clock. We have 7 dated, sourced changes on record since 2016. Statuses reflect documented confirmations, not live issuer policy.
Every documented change — newest first
April 11, 2023
ThankYou family moved to a per-card 48-month clock
Citi family cards gained a 48-month clock like the American Airlines cards; each ThankYou, AA, and Custom Cash card runs on its own, and only receiving a bonus—not closing—resets the clock.
November 29, 2022
24-month language removed from the Rewards+ card
Date approximate. The Rewards+ application no longer showed the 24-month limit, while the Premier still did and still counted Rewards+ as part of its family.
July 8, 2021
Custom Cash launched with 48-month language
Doctor of Credit noted the new Citi Custom Cash card also carried the 48-month wording.
July 4, 2019
AAdvantage cards extended from 24 to 48 months, per card, with closure clause dropped
All Citi AA links showed 48-month language by July 4, 2019; the new wording tracked each card individually and dropped the clause under which closing a card reset the clock.
February 8, 2019
Terms reworded to key off receiving a bonus rather than account opening
The ThankYou terms shifted from cards "opened or closed" to having received a new cardmember bonus or closed a card, implying product changes into a family no longer reset the clock.
August 29, 2016
Business cards confirmed outside the per-brand rule
The American Airlines wording excluded the CitiBusiness/AAdvantage card from the brand look-back, and Doctor of Credit's strategy post treated the closure-resets-clock provision as the rule's harshest feature.
August 12, 2016
Per-card 24-month rule expanded to a per-brand 24-month opened-or-closed rule
Date approximate; terms took effect August 28, 2016. Previously the restriction applied only to the specific card opened or closed within 24 months; the new terms barred a bonus if any card in the same brand (American Airlines, Expedia, Hilton, ThankYou) had been opened or closed in that window. Doctor of Credit advised applying before August 28 under the old terms.
Questions
Yes — active on our documented record, as last confirmed April 11, 2023: ThankYou family moved to a per-card 48-month clock. Always verify before applying — issuers change unwritten rules without notice.
August 12, 2016: Per-card 24-month rule expanded to a per-brand 24-month opened-or-closed rule. Since then we have documented 7 changes, each dated and sourced on this page.
April 11, 2023 — ThankYou family moved to a per-card 48-month clock. Citi family cards gained a 48-month clock like the American Airlines cards; each ThankYou, AA, and Custom Cash card runs on its own, and only receiving a bonus—not closing—resets the clock.
Application rules are unwritten issuer policy; they change and get enforced without notice, and exceptions exist. Statuses reflect our last documented confirmation, not live issuer policy. Not financial or legal advice.
Bonus Eagle. “Citi 48-month rule — The Application Rules Record.” bonuseagle.com. https://www.bonuseagle.com/rules/citi/48-month-rule
All Citi rules: the full issuer page.
