Programs: CX DM, LH SEN, AA PLT, Starwood PLT, Marriott PLT, Hyatt DIAM, Amex Centurion
Posts: 1,879
seems the benefits of the card are quite different across markets. the Taiwan one does not seem to give Priority Pass or Plaza Premium lounge access ? while it gives 20 days of free parking at the airport (Tapei?), and more welcome bonus miles and 20% bonus miles for all spending in a year when your spending exceed NT$400k a year etc...
Not too sure if they are going to offer it to the right of the countries.
Note you don't get double miles for overseas spending for this version of CX AMEX. Clearly, there are some disparities across different markets for the CX AMEX and Citi PremierMiles card. The best one though, IMO, is still the Citi PremierMiles card (and its former CX Citi Gold) in Taiwan given their very frequent double, triple, sometimes 5X times promo in the last 2 years or so,definitely better than any HK version of the CX cards. You could rack up some pretty serious miles very quickly with no cap.
Just got my new card from DHL this afternoon! Just in time for my up coming MNL and LAS trip, will take advantage of the double-mile offer by ticketing via cx's web site.
Just got my new card from DHL this afternoon! Just in time for my up coming MNL and LAS trip, will take advantage of the double-mile offer by ticketing via cx's web site.
Damn, that was quick.
BTW any mention of free Priority Pass with the pack?
Is the Citi Premier Card for long term (not Amex promotional period included) the best card for conversion rates?
After the promotional period the Citi Premier Miles and the Amex CX card have the same rates as far as I can see (1AM for HK$8 local, 1AM/HK$4 non-local). The only difference seems to be on RMB expenditure: I think Citi defines that as local, Amex as non-local.
Programs: CX DM, LH SEN, AA PLT, Starwood PLT, Marriott PLT, Hyatt DIAM, Amex Centurion
Posts: 1,879
I have also received my card as well, but not via DHL, just normal mail. (it might have arrived a day or two ago already - but I'm just back home today and checked my mails).
It doesn't come with the Priority Pass card automatically - there's a form for you to fill in to apply; free for the Basic Cardholder and US$249 for Supplementary Cardholder.
Not sure about "maximum" credit limit...but for me it's just a bit more than my monthly base salary. Don't quite remember how this compares to my credit limit on the AmEx Plat credit card...
Note you don't get double miles for overseas spending for this version of CX AMEX. Clearly, there are some disparities across different markets for the CX AMEX and Citi PremierMiles card. The best one though, IMO, is still the Citi PremierMiles card (and its former CX Citi Gold) in Taiwan given their very frequent double, triple, sometimes 5X times promo in the last 2 years or so,definitely better than any HK version of the CX cards. You could rack up some pretty serious miles very quickly with no cap.
Hi Guava, do you know any information (fees, benefits, criteria, etc) for Citi PremierMiles Visa in Taiwan? Is it offered in Taiwan at all?
I know Citi is issuing a "replacement" for its CX Visa, but they haven't advertised anything on their website (Chinese version), and it's not disclosed whether the applications will be accepted to new holders (people who didn't have CX Visa before, like me)
Also how did people get 2x miles for overseas spending with the old Citi CX Gold? Was it an "unpublished" benefit? My dad had received an invitation to sign up for one but even that letter didn't state the 2x miles benefit.
Hi Guava, do you know any information (fees, benefits, criteria, etc) for Citi PremierMiles Visa in Taiwan? Is it offered in Taiwan at all?
I know Citi is issuing a "replacement" for its CX Visa, but they haven't advertised anything on their website (Chinese version), and it's not disclosed whether the applications will be accepted to new holders (people who didn't have CX Visa before, like me)
Also how did people get 2x miles for overseas spending with the old Citi CX Gold? Was it an "unpublished" benefit? My dad had received an invitation to sign up for one but even that letter didn't state the 2x miles benefit.
Any info is appreciated. Cheers
Some of my information is 2nd hand since all I do is transfer money from US to pay the monthly bill. Here is what I know as information is scarce as you have probably noticed by now.
The new card is a carbon copy of the old Citi Gold Card (TW) as far as benefits are concerned excpet no CX brand beneifts (such as discount on duty free and complimentary Marco Polo Club membership). Although it's not on the web, it actually has the strictest income requirement of all Citi cards, pegged at $1 million NTS / year, minimum. Not sure why they ask for so much money given all other Platinum level cards ask for less and they don't even publish it on their website, so you could only tell from the application form. The annual fee is about $100 USD / year, fairly reasonable vs. the HK version of the cards. The insurance package is great though, the usual flight delay, luggage delay, emergency medical and etc. are covered - I'd say on par with a typical AMEX Platinum Charge card in the U.S. in terms of payout and conditions. I took advantage of the insurances a few times, really no hassle to deal with and they pay quickly. For example, luggage delay over 24 hours pay about $1,000 USD per card member where supplementary cardholders are treated as a separate member provided he/she uses his/her own card to pay for the trip.
As far as the double miles for overseas spending, it's no secret really. It was published on Asiamiles' website for everyone to see when you scroll to the credit card pages. It explicitly stated X2 for overseas spending, same as HK version of the CX cards, but only better because their base of calculating one mile is $25 NTS, which is roughly 6.4 HKD whereas in HKG, they pay 1 AM per 8 HKD. So you essentially earn 2.5~2.75 miles per USD spent with the TWN version of the card and when the promo doubles or triple, it adds up very quickly with no cap.
However, here is potentially a bad news you don't want to hear. It would appear the X2 miles benefits is only being grandfathered to existing members of Citi Gold card only. The printed copy of the membership guide made of point of stating that so I guess anyone who was not an existing customer of Citi Gold is unfortunately out of luck. No harm in trying to ask, but this is explicitly written on the PremierMiles membership guide. The service of Citi is very good. They will call you in the U.S. or overseas, wherever you are if you give them your number. They follow up on things, very polite, knowledgeable (unlike in the U.S.), try very hard to take care of big spenders. They will fedex things for you by overnight delivery and go above and beyond to be nice to customers they obviously value. It's a very Asian way of thinking I guess since credit cards are usually making money from people with big balance and who don't pay on time - thus lots of interest to charge as opposed to people who buy a lot but always pay their balance in full. But it's Asia, the thinking is definitely reversed. If you buy a lot and pay in full every month, you are treated like a VIP.
After the promotional period the Citi Premier Miles and the Amex CX card have the same rates as far as I can see (1AM for HK$8 local, 1AM/HK$4 non-local). The only difference seems to be on RMB expenditure: I think Citi defines that as local, Amex as non-local.
Thanks christep. Seems like with the Citi card I have option of Asia Miles and KrisFlyer. Amex only has Asia Miles so better go with Citi.
All this time I've been using Citibank Ultima and HSBC Platinum. Both at 1AM/HK$12! So stupid!!!
Some of my information is 2nd hand since all I do is transfer money from US to pay the monthly bill. Here is what I know as information is scarce as you have probably noticed by now.
The new card is a carbon copy of the old Citi Gold Card (TW) as far as benefits are concerned excpet no CX brand beneifts (such as discount on duty free and complimentary Marco Polo Club membership). Although it's not on the web, it actually has the strictest income requirement of all Citi cards, pegged at $1 million NTS / year, minimum. Not sure why they ask for so much money given all other Platinum level cards ask for less and they don't even publish it on their website, so you could only tell from the application form. The annual fee is about $100 USD / year, fairly reasonable vs. the HK version of the cards. The insurance package is great though, the usual flight delay, luggage delay, emergency medical and etc. are covered - I'd say on par with a typical AMEX Platinum Charge card in the U.S. in terms of payout and conditions. I took advantage of the insurances a few times, really no hassle to deal with and they pay quickly. For example, luggage delay over 24 hours pay about $1,000 USD per card member where supplementary cardholders are treated as a separate member provided he/she uses his/her own card to pay for the trip.
As far as the double miles for overseas spending, it's no secret really. It was published on Asiamiles' website for everyone to see when you scroll to the credit card pages. It explicitly stated X2 for overseas spending, same as HK version of the CX cards, but only better because their base of calculating one mile is $25 NTS, which is roughly 6.4 HKD whereas in HKG, they pay 1 AM per 8 HKD. So you essentially earn 2.5~2.75 miles per USD spent with the TWN version of the card and when the promo doubles or triple, it adds up very quickly with no cap.
However, here is potentially a bad news you don't want to hear. It would appear the X2 miles benefits is only being grandfathered to existing members of Citi Gold card only. The printed copy of the membership guide made of point of stating that so I guess anyone who was not an existing customer of Citi Gold is unfortunately out of luck. No harm in trying to ask, but this is explicitly written on the PremierMiles membership guide. The service of Citi is very good. They will call you in the U.S. or overseas, wherever you are if you give them your number. They follow up on things, very polite, knowledgeable (unlike in the U.S.), try very hard to take care of big spenders. They will fedex things for you by overnight delivery and go above and beyond to be nice to customers they obviously value. It's a very Asian way of thinking I guess since credit cards are usually making money from people with big balance and who don't pay on time - thus lots of interest to charge as opposed to people who buy a lot but always pay their balance in full. But it's Asia, the thinking is definitely reversed. If you buy a lot and pay in full every month, you are treated like a VIP.
Thanks Guava for the great info. Do you know if the new Amex CX card in TW offers double miles for overseas spending? The Amex and Asiamiles website have nothing about overseas spending
Our experience with Citi in Taiwan was terrible. My dad was a CitiGold client and he hated that he had to manage his transactions thru the appointed banker, not anyone else. The credit card department wasn't much better either, very unresponsive. We took business to HSBC and other banks.
Just in time for my up coming MNL and LAS trip, will take advantage of the double-mile offer by ticketing via cx's web site.
