Approved for Multiple US Airways Mastercards!

File this one under – I learn something new every day!

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http://www.digdang.com/image/fry_mastercard/10525)

With the much anticipated US Airways – American Air merger announcement, many of us have been pondering how to top off the miles and bonuses we have in each of these airlines.  After all, at some point in the merger, the miles will be combined, and instead of owning, let’s say 100K miles in each, you will have 200K miles in the new merged airline.  Plus, there is often a new, or many new, credit cards issued for the new merged airline.  If history is correct, a recent application for a credit card with the previously separate airline will not be considered an impediment to applying for the new credit card for the newly merged airline.

Wings of US Airways and American Airways planes – except there’s a new AA design!

I’m far from an expert, so I asked some bloggers with more experience than me, what they recommended.  All of the experts felt that the offers will not go away tomorrow, but will remain for some undetermined time even after the proposed merger is announced.

I presently have an AAdvantage Amex Card, issued by Citibank (I’ve had this a number of years), and a US Air Mastercard, issued by Barclay’s Bank (I got this last June). 

Gary Leff, from View from the Wing, suggested that I get the business version of the AAdvantage Amex Card (50K AA miles), something that I already had planned to do.  I submitted the application on line this weekend, and do not know the result yet, because Citibank’s department that handles this is closed weekends.[UPDATE: Monday Morning – Citibank called me – app approved]

Gary also suggested that I cancel the US Airways Mastercard, and reapply for the same card (essentially 40K US Air miles). With most credit cards, if you recently owned and then canceled the card, you will have to wait a certain minimum time, such as six months, or a year, before you can apply for that card again.  However, apparently Barclay’s (unlike Amex, Chase and Citibank), does not require much of a waiting period between card cancellations and new applications, and has even been known to approve  multiple US Airways Mastercards, each with a sign on bonus.

After researching the matter (meaning: reading lots of blogs and posts on Flyertalk and Milepoint), I decided to submit an application for the US Airways Mastercard without canceling the existing card and see what happens.  I had my excuse ready in case Barclay’s asked why I was applying for a card I already had.  I would say, in my best innocent voice, that the promotion terms on the card now were different than when I got the card, so I imagined I could get both.  Then I’d put a lollipop in my mouth and skip down the street.

A few hours after submitting my application, I got a phone call from Barclay’s Bank.  (As I’ve mentioned previously I have a security block, and banks must actually speak to me and ask me a bunch of questions before they are allowed to approve an app).  So, the representative (who was as nice as can be) asked me all of the necessary questions, and then told me that my application was approved.  The email confirmation followed.  It is identical to the email confirmation I received last June with my first application.  

So now I will get a second US Airways Mastercard!  PRICELESS!  

By the way, if you are interested in applying for the US Airways Mastercard, there are many offers out there, but this one is generally considered to be the BEST OFFER.  The offer says it is an “exclusive offer for Chairman’s Preferred Members only,” but many people have been approved using this link.  I do not earn a commission or referral fee.  

(Please note: just as the liquor companies advertise to drink responsibly – so too when it comes to applying for credit cards – do so responsibly)

I’m on twitter if you’d like to follow me there.  @Katruns26point2. 

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