The problems are these:

(1) Extremely short initial cycle -- one week.

(2) Inflexibility of Citi to change the closing date.

(3) Needed the points to reserve a couple of rooms. The delay makes it harder to use the points and delays their use. Forty days vs. 30 days doesn't sound like much unless your needed use of the points is in 35 days.

I gave myself an adequate buffer. Applied for the card on the 20th, assumed a 2 week cycle, charged the required amount in 10 days, would have been perfect. Didn't plan on a 7-day first billing cycle.