fellowtraveller

I've been using my new PremierPass Elite card for several months now, after using quite a few different reward cards over the years. I think this is the best rewards program out there, bar none.

First, a couple of negatives. The annual fee is $75. My first year's fee was waived, but I don't know if that's still part of the deal. However, the 15,000 point bonus after a first purchase takes care of the first few years of fees. Also, while the points can be used for tickets on any airline with no blackout dates, the points cannot be used to upgrade tickets. That didn't bother me, but you have to decide if that's important to you.

Now, some of the many positives. When you purchase air tickets with the card for anyone, you receive a point for every actual mile flown by the ticket user, in addition to the point/dollar for the cost of the ticket. That's over and above the FF miles you'll receive on your own flights in your airline's FF program. Also, double points for grocery, gas and pharmacy purchases. Also, an unlimited free companion ticket program for domestic flights. The paid ticket has to be $379 or more (a bit less in the "off" season). I've used this feature for two non-stop AA ORD/New Orleans tickets for a total cost of $400, much less than the lowest fare available otherwise. Purchasing the tickets was easy, and the selling agent was very helpful and friendly. That, too, justifies the annual card cost.

Customer service is great. I've called a few times to clarify program rules, and once to question a charge. Each time, the customer service agent was very helpful and friendly. I'm told Citibank will soon be offering a Chairman version of the card by invitation only for its most creditworthy customers. It will cost $400, but will expand the free companion ticket program to international flights, and will have a concierge service that, among other things, promises to obtain hard to get restaurant reservations. It sounds like it's meant to compete with Amex's Centurion card, at a much cheaper price.

I recently saw the Elite card reviewed on a website that rates credit cards. They raved about it, and said they couldn't understand how Citibank could offer so many features on a single rewards card and still make money. I just know that, in my opinion, this card blows all the others away.

esherman

Thank you for the advice fellowtraveler.

I'm pretty inexperienced with the traveler credit card programs and I'm trying to do some research. The PremierPlus card looked like one of the better ones.

However I do a lot of international traveling, especially on Cathay Pacific. I am trying to get the Citibank Cathay Card, but I'm thinking it is only for HK residents.

I know that you can get AA points over to CX points through Asia Miles, but it looks like you take a lot of damage in the transfer (having to trade AA for CX). Do you think this card is worth it if I plan to transfer them over to CX?

fellowtraveller

Because your question is specific to Cathay, an airline I've never flown, I'm not really comfortable answering your question. My guess is that the doubling up of actual miles flown by using the PremierPass Elite card, into both your Cathay FF program and PremierPass's Thank You points program, makes the answer yes, "this card is worth it." In any case, the customer service number for PremierPass Elite is 800-967-9800. I would think posing your questions to them would help guide you.

jmorgans

I would add to the negatives that business and first class travel costs many more points than from a frequent flyer program.

fellowtraveller

Fair enough. A domestic first class ticket with 14 day advance and a Saturday night stay is 60,000 Thank You points. On the other hand, the opportunities for collecting points so much faster are there. I can't think of another rewards program that awards points for actual miles flown, regardless of who is doing the flying. Absolutely any tickets purchased with this card, whether for family, friends, or whoever, earn the cardholder points for the actual miles flown by the ticketholder. That's pretty unique. I would agree, though, that the card is especially attractive for those planning on using the Thank You points for coach tickets, which are the usual 25,000 points.

QuietLion

What are the details of the companion ticket benefit? Can it be any airline? Do both passengers get miles? What if you want to change the ticket?

QL

fellowtraveller

[QUOTE=QuietLion]What are the detail of the companion ticket benefit? Can it be any airline? Do both passengers get miles? What if you want to change the ticket?

Good questions. I can only relate my own experience, as outlined in my original post above. I had asked the agent at the number PremierPass gives out for this type of booking for either AA or UA, and he gave me a great non-stop AA flight. I don't know the policy on changing tickets, and I'd be quite surprised if the free companion ticket can earn miles or be upgraded. Best to call PremierPass customer service at the number I listed in my first response above.

Ken in Phx

I am aware of the Premiere Pass and the Diamond Reward that both offer Thank You points. Does anyone know if they cap their point earning limit ?

I read somewhere that you are capped at 75k a year. ( counting bonus points earned). If there is a card w/o limit to earning potential, a link would be appreciated.

Ken in Phx

fellowtraveller

PremierPass Elite is 200,000 pts/yr

IK in Seattle

If anyone finds out the answers to these questions, please post.

boxweaver

I've had this card for a few months and this has been my experience:

Companion ticket is pretty worthless if you are traveling from a major market. For me, I go in and out from LAX where the best available fare is almost always below $379. You can't use a higher fare class to get a companion ticket either. Tried this twice and I was denied, although they then try to sell you a ticket at the best available price plus a small markup.

When I signed up for the card, I cared more about this benefit:
"Redeem for flights on any airline with no blackout dates."

In my experience, this claim is borderline fraud and at the very least should be extensively clarified by Citi. I recently tried to redeem points for a trip to Europe all the way out in August. To their credit they did have availability, but only on AA. When I inquired about NWA, they said only AA was available on these dates. This is not a special weekend and the flights are definitely not sold out. I felt cheated as I wanted to earn EQMs, and use NWA miles for a companion. Instead I'll use all NWA miles for my trip.

Still not a bad card if you view it as the 2% Thank You Gift Certificate card. Travel is probably OK, if you don't care what airline you fly and aren't particular about times.

Has anyone had better experiences redeeming ThankYou points for Air travel?

fellowtraveller

Interesting observations. As I wrote in a prior post, my experience with the free companion ticket was great. And, of course, the issue isn't whether tickets are available at major hubs for less than $379, the issue is whether you can get tickets for half that amount, since the companion is free.

I agree with you about the "any airline" language. I haven't redeemed points for free tickets yet, but I certainly would have interpreted that language as meaning any airline of my choosing. I guess they mean any airline, depending on what's available.

My experience has been that no single rewards program is perfect. But this one has the totally unique feature of earning the cardholder actual miles flown by anyone at all flying on a ticket purchased with the card, along with the double points for gas, groceries and pharmacies. There's also the 15,000 bonus points after any first purchase, and I think they're still waiving the first year's $75 fee. That's a whole lot of bonus earning potential. Until someone convinces me otherwise, I still think this is the best rewards credit card out there.

yyyccclll

How can you waive??




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First, a couple of negatives. The annual fee is $75. My first year's fee was waived, but I don't know if that's still part of the deal.

fellowtraveller

tom_irvine

Fellowtraveller, thanks for the recommendation, I am pretty interested in this card. But I have two questions:

1.Do we have to purchase the tickets from them? Otherwise, how can they know the departure/destination city? I usually buy international tickets from my agent and am wondering if we need to fax copy of the ticket to claim the bonus points.

2. Can we consolidate points from different citi cards?

Any answer is appreciated.

Tom