Sep 11, 2013, 7:42 am
Last edit by: SpammersAreScum
Prestige cardholders: the current value of points is $0.016 if redeemed for flights on American Airlines, or $0.0133 on other airlines.
The redemption value on all airlines changes to $0.0125, on July 23, 2017. This is the same value as Citi Premier and Chase Sapphire Preferred. Discussion is in this thread:
Citi Prestige benefit and reward changes
If the TYP portal is not showing the lowest fares you've identified on Google, an OTA, or the airline directly -- call Citi TYP and then ask to get Connexions on the line. Doesn't cost extra to do book that way....but will take longer and manual bookings will NOT show up in your TYP MyTrips tab.
TYP portal pricing should be verified for every flight, it cannot be trusted to show the lowest fare. Also scroll over all the way, since some carriers are not on the main screen, and may have lower fares/points than their preferred carriers.
The redemption value on all airlines changes to $0.0125, on July 23, 2017. This is the same value as Citi Premier and Chase Sapphire Preferred. Discussion is in this thread:
Citi Prestige benefit and reward changes
If the TYP portal is not showing the lowest fares you've identified on Google, an OTA, or the airline directly -- call Citi TYP and then ask to get Connexions on the line. Doesn't cost extra to do book that way....but will take longer and manual bookings will NOT show up in your TYP MyTrips tab.
TYP portal pricing should be verified for every flight, it cannot be trusted to show the lowest fare. Also scroll over all the way, since some carriers are not on the main screen, and may have lower fares/points than their preferred carriers.
TYP flight redemption: Prestige $0.0133 - $0.016/pt until 7/2017, Premier $0.0125/pt.
Mar 6, 2015, 12:08 pm
#316
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,489
Here's another example, this time with a Delta flight LGA-MSP I am planning on booking (with cash):
Delta.com: 422.20
Thank you portal: $431.70 or 32,458 TY points
Redemption value of 1.3 cents/point
Delta.com: 422.20
Thank you portal: $431.70 or 32,458 TY points
Redemption value of 1.3 cents/point
Mar 6, 2015, 6:14 pm
#317
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,529
Mar 6, 2015, 8:14 pm
#318
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Globalist, M life Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 918
Does Citi Thankyou charge a fee for booking your rewards tix over the phone, like American Express Travel does?
Mar 6, 2015, 9:12 pm
#319
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,489
But the redemption rate for other airlines is supposed to be 1.33 cents/point, which is not the case here because of the $9 and change mark-up.... Resulting in only a redemption rate of 1.3 cents/point
Mar 20, 2015, 5:58 pm
#320
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NYC, Wash DC
Programs: BA Gold, UA Plat (1mm),Marriott LT Plat, Avis PC, National Exec Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 394
Citi Presige "60% More Value on AA" is a scam
Citi Prestige advertises 60% "more value" when redeeming Thank You points for travel on American Airlines. Well, I just tried to use my Thank You points to redeem on American Airlines and it's a BIG SCAM!! 60% more value compared to what? The "base price" price that they use isn't the same price you would pay if you just bought a ticket directly. Example: First class ticket on American Airlines from LAX to IAD. Price on American Airlines web site: $484.46 Price through Citibank Thank You rewards: $1,255.46 S
o, mark up the ticket 250% and then give you a 60% "more value" discount. Citibank's explanation: Their prices ARE higher than the prices you would pay if you bought directly from the airlines, but they have NO FEES!! I spent 30 minutes on the phone with the travel agency and we were not able to find a single ticket with the same price that you would pay if you just bought it directly from AA or Expedia or any other "non scam" travel agent.
o, mark up the ticket 250% and then give you a 60% "more value" discount. Citibank's explanation: Their prices ARE higher than the prices you would pay if you bought directly from the airlines, but they have NO FEES!! I spent 30 minutes on the phone with the travel agency and we were not able to find a single ticket with the same price that you would pay if you just bought it directly from AA or Expedia or any other "non scam" travel agent.
Mar 20, 2015, 9:27 pm
#321
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,489
I suspect there may be a bug in the portal right now. I was able to pull up a fare listing of $484 for that route, but the portal does in fact try to charge a points equivalent of $1200+
Mar 25, 2015, 11:01 am
#322
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Citi Prestige advertises 60% "more value" when redeeming Thank You points for travel on American Airlines. Well, I just tried to use my Thank You points to redeem on American Airlines and it's a BIG SCAM!! 60% more value compared to what? The "base price" price that they use isn't the same price you would pay if you just bought a ticket directly. Example: First class ticket on American Airlines from LAX to IAD. Price on American Airlines web site: $484.46 Price through Citibank Thank You rewards: $1,255.46 So, mark up the ticket 250% and then give you a 60% "more value" discount. Citibank's explanation: Their prices ARE higher than the prices you would pay if you bought directly from the airlines, but they have NO FEES!! I spent 30 minutes on the phone with the travel agency and we were not able to find a single ticket with the same price that you would pay if you just bought it directly from AA or Expedia or any other "non scam" travel agent.
o, mark up the ticket 250% and then give you a 60% "more value" discount. Citibank's explanation: Their prices ARE higher than the prices you would pay if you bought directly from the airlines, but they have NO FEES!! I spent 30 minutes on the phone with the travel agency and we were not able to find a single ticket with the same price that you would pay if you just bought it directly from AA or Expedia or any other "non scam" travel agent.
Mar 29, 2015, 3:35 pm
#323
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NYC, Wash DC
Programs: BA Gold, UA Plat (1mm),Marriott LT Plat, Avis PC, National Exec Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 394
So I called the designated travel agency for Thank Your Point redemptions and they read me the schedule we are all familiar with: 1.6 cents per point for AA, 1.33 for other airlines. But when we actually priced tickets they were either slightly or egregiously inaccurate. Next, I called Citicards customer service and got a complete run around from the supervisor.
I supposed we should all call Sen. Warrens office. She seems somewhat concerned about shenanigans by the banks.
I supposed we should all call Sen. Warrens office. She seems somewhat concerned about shenanigans by the banks.
Apr 15, 2015, 10:05 pm
#324
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: Delta Silver, Marriott Gold, HH Diamond, Ex-UA Gold, Ex-AA Gold , Ex-SPG Gold, Peon everywhere else
Posts: 616
So I called the designated travel agency for Thank Your Point redemptions and they read me the schedule we are all familiar with: 1.6 cents per point for AA, 1.33 for other airlines. But when we actually priced tickets they were either slightly or egregiously inaccurate. Next, I called Citicards customer service and got a complete run around from the supervisor.
I supposed we should all call Sen. Warrens office. She seems somewhat concerned about shenanigans by the banks.
I supposed we should all call Sen. Warrens office. She seems somewhat concerned about shenanigans by the banks.
May 5, 2015, 6:52 am
#326
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Platinum, Air Berlin Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, SPG Platinum
Posts: 53
May 5, 2015, 12:25 pm
#327
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,575
Is it possible that those $729 Kauai and $484 Dulles fares weren't actually coded as J/F fares? Maybe some sort of Q-UP or similar? Although I'd expect a decent travel portal to be able to handle -UP fares, the TYP site has a rather primitive look and feel to it. 
I doubt it's a big conspiracy...since it's just a straight revenue-based program, it seems like they'd be equally happy to sell you a $729 Y ticket as a $729 J ticket. (Admittedly, frustrating that a phone agent can't quickly sort it out and book the right fare.)
I doubt it's a big conspiracy...since it's just a straight revenue-based program, it seems like they'd be equally happy to sell you a $729 Y ticket as a $729 J ticket. (Admittedly, frustrating that a phone agent can't quickly sort it out and book the right fare.)
May 10, 2015, 1:42 pm
#328
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 232
Before applying for the Citi Prestige...
Can you book multi-city with TYP?
Also, I'm looking at an itinerary that has AA flight numbers, is mostly AA metal and some operated by oneworld. How does TYP evaluate this?
Thank you, in advance.
Can you book multi-city with TYP?
Also, I'm looking at an itinerary that has AA flight numbers, is mostly AA metal and some operated by oneworld. How does TYP evaluate this?
Thank you, in advance.
May 10, 2015, 3:11 pm
#329
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 354
You can search the TYP travel portal if you have any TYP earning products (credit or banking). Otherwise, they do have a multi-city search tool where you can do segment by segment searches.
If you've got a UR card, you can also try their travel search portal to see what it pulls up (both use Connexions Loyalty). I've found that the prices that the TYP portal returns are slightly higher though, necessitating a call to their call center to try to convince them that their prices are higher than every other OTA shows for the same fare classes.
If you've got a UR card, you can also try their travel search portal to see what it pulls up (both use Connexions Loyalty). I've found that the prices that the TYP portal returns are slightly higher though, necessitating a call to their call center to try to convince them that their prices are higher than every other OTA shows for the same fare classes.
May 21, 2015, 8:09 pm
#330
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
The TYP redemption issue on AA has gotten worse compared to the issue I had last year. I am looking at a trip in F which is being priced at $1240, but TYP site is asking for $2303. Another trip, it is $779 in F, but on the portal it is over $1500.
It looks like they are intentionally blocking UP fares for TYP redemptions. So frustrated, this was an area where I intended to use that benefit when I got the card, but they are not being honest here.
It looks like they are intentionally blocking UP fares for TYP redemptions. So frustrated, this was an area where I intended to use that benefit when I got the card, but they are not being honest here.