What better place to open up an airport lounge than … in the middle of a train station?
That logic made sense to Citigroup Inc., which this week is publicizing its pricey new American Airlines credit card by setting up a fake airport lounge in the middle of New York’s Grand Central Terminal.
The bank even threw a party in the station on Monday night, trying to recreate the relative glamour of first-class airline travel amid all the commuters rushing to catch trains to Connecticut or suburban New York.
The bank launched its “Citi Executive AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard” in July but wanted to get some additional buzz now that most summer vacations are over, a spokesperson said.
The New York-based issuer said July 18 that it will include EMV technology, typically considered more secure than a standard magnetic stripe card, in future versions of the travel rewards card (
Most of the guests at the party glossed over what The New York Times called “a particularly unwieldy name, even by travel rewards credit card standards” and focused on the party’s perks: free shoeshines, chair massages, hair blowouts and the chance to visit with American Airlines’ resident “wine consultant.”
Citigroup’s Grand Central lounge will be open to the public through Sept. 28.
