Oct 28, 2014, 2:34 pm
Last edit by: tonei
Transition-Related Notes
• Members are starting to receive Priority Pass Select cards in the mail. These are sent by Collinson via USPS, separately from the rebranded Prestige cards.
• There was a decimal rounding error in the ThankYou point accounting on October statements. Remove a 0 from each of the totals reported - it should then match
• Members who signed up prior to 10/18 still only receive a $250 airline credit for the year; if you previously used the $200 incidental credit, you can get another $50 in airline purchases reimbursed through December.
• If you signed up before 10/18/14 you are eligible to receive the 15% discount and companion benefits for a year after your signup date. Call Citi at 877-288-2484 and ask to speak with a travel specialist, rather than letting them send the information to Spirit Incentives for an email quote. There are mixed reviews as to the efficacy of this service.
• Members are starting to receive Priority Pass Select cards in the mail. These are sent by Collinson via USPS, separately from the rebranded Prestige cards.
• There was a decimal rounding error in the ThankYou point accounting on October statements. Remove a 0 from each of the totals reported - it should then match
• Members who signed up prior to 10/18 still only receive a $250 airline credit for the year; if you previously used the $200 incidental credit, you can get another $50 in airline purchases reimbursed through December.
• If you signed up before 10/18/14 you are eligible to receive the 15% discount and companion benefits for a year after your signup date. Call Citi at 877-288-2484 and ask to speak with a travel specialist, rather than letting them send the information to Spirit Incentives for an email quote. There are mixed reviews as to the efficacy of this service.
CITI Prestige changes effective 10-18-14
Sep 9, 2014, 3:45 pm
#316
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 11
Just wanted to let people know of my experience with annual fee. I'm a citigold customer, so I got hit with the $350 AF last week; after speaking to the retention department, they offered a $125 credit and 750 points for $750+ spending for the next 16 billing cycles. Seemed fair, so I took it.
Sep 9, 2014, 4:08 pm
#317
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,957
It's interesting that they have stretched the retention period out past a year. Assuming they don't intend to shift your renewal date, I wonder if the subliminal message is: Don't expect anything next year.
Sep 9, 2014, 5:00 pm
#318
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,528
The Prestige gives 2x so keeping both and using the Premier for that extra point may be worth it if you spend more than $7813 per year on that category. ($125 annual fee / 0.016 on AA travel).
If you don't, then you need to figure out if the loss of the extra point on that category is offset by the additional point on travel + the higher AA 1.6x rate, etc.
If you don't, then you need to figure out if the loss of the extra point on that category is offset by the additional point on travel + the higher AA 1.6x rate, etc.
Sep 17, 2014, 1:31 pm
#319
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: GDL
Programs: Alaska Sig Visa, Citi TY Premier, Citi Prestige, Amex Biz Plat, Amex SPG Biz
Posts: 22
Citi Prestige Benefits Change - Postal Mail Notification
Here's the hard copy I received in the mail last week from Citi.
Citi Prestige Benefits Change - Postal Mail Notification
Citi Prestige Benefits Change - Postal Mail Notification
Sep 18, 2014, 5:59 pm
#320
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 224
What am I missing about this card?
What am I missing about this card? I don't see how the benefits justify an annual fee of $450 when I compare the Prestige to other premium products. What do you current card holders see that I'm missing? How do you justify the annual fee?
Sep 18, 2014, 6:53 pm
#321
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,498
Has anybody gotten an e-mail about the travel protection and shopping benefits changing on the Prestige card?
They appear to be revamping the benefits on all the AAdvantage cards in November, including:
Trip delay coverage improvements:
Baggage delay coverage:
Right now I think Prestige offers up to $250 (4x per year) for trip delay of 6+ hours, and I don't think there's any baggage delay coverage (only lost luggage coverage). So I wonder if Prestige will follow the AA cards? The 3 hour benefit would be pretty awesome.
They appear to be revamping the benefits on all the AAdvantage cards in November, including:
Trip delay coverage improvements:
- AA Exec card: up to $500 for 3+ hour delay
- AA Gold/Plat cards: up to $500 for 12+ hour delay
Baggage delay coverage:
- AA Exec card: up to $500 for 3+ hour delay
- AA Gold/Plat cards: up to $100 for 6+ hour delay
Right now I think Prestige offers up to $250 (4x per year) for trip delay of 6+ hours, and I don't think there's any baggage delay coverage (only lost luggage coverage). So I wonder if Prestige will follow the AA cards? The 3 hour benefit would be pretty awesome.
Sep 18, 2014, 6:58 pm
#322
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,498
Oh, it looks like Prestige gets the same benefits as AA Exec. By changing the URL on the AAdvantage details I got, I found this.
Sep 18, 2014, 7:29 pm
#324
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,498
- $250 airline fee reimbursement (easy to use)
- Admirals Club access when flying AA or US (but no access to partner lounges--not even US lounges)
- Priority Pass Select (access to Priority Pass lounges EXCEPT UA lounges, so mostly international)
- Trip and baggage delay coverage that is unparalleled (up to $500 reimbursed if you or your bags are delayed 3 hours)
- edited to add: Reimbursement for Global Entry application fee
If you're not going to use the lounge access, then I'd recommend Chase Sapphire Preferred at $95 over Prestige at $450. But if you do use the lounge access and redeem TYPs for travel on AA (where each TYP is worth $.016 toward just about any ticket), it becomes a lot easier to justify the steep annual fee for Prestige. Especially if you use that delay protection.
Last edited by themicah; Sep 20, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Sep 18, 2014, 7:31 pm
#325
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,957
See also post #1 of this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/citi-...1-23-14-a.html
Priority Pass has better USA coverage than Airport Angel or Lounge Club. The Priority Pass membership provided with Prestige will include two guests at no additional charge.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/citi-...1-23-14-a.html
Priority Pass has better USA coverage than Airport Angel or Lounge Club. The Priority Pass membership provided with Prestige will include two guests at no additional charge.
Last edited by mia; Sep 18, 2014 at 7:38 pm
Sep 18, 2014, 7:49 pm
#326
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 224
Going forward, it's harder to justify than it used to be (no more companion ticket or flight points). But there are still benefits you won't find on most cards with lower fees:
If you're not going to use the lounge access, then I'd recommend Chase Sapphire Preferred at $95 over Prestige at $450. But if you do use the lounge access and redeem TYPs for travel on AA (where each TYP is worth $.016 toward just about any ticket), it becomes a lot easier to justify the steep annual fee for Prestige. Especially if you use that delay protection.
- $250 airline fee reimbursement (easy to use)
- Admirals Club access when flying AA or US (but no access to partner lounges--not even US lounges)
- Priority Pass Select (access to Priority Pass lounges EXCEPT UA lounges, so mostly international)
- Trip and baggage delay coverage that is unparalleled (up to $500 reimbursed if you or your bags are delayed 3 hours)
If you're not going to use the lounge access, then I'd recommend Chase Sapphire Preferred at $95 over Prestige at $450. But if you do use the lounge access and redeem TYPs for travel on AA (where each TYP is worth $.016 toward just about any ticket), it becomes a lot easier to justify the steep annual fee for Prestige. Especially if you use that delay protection.
Sep 18, 2014, 9:48 pm
#328
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,487
I guess the lounge access and $250 airline credit could help offset the annual fee. However, I still can't wrap my arms around the fact that Citi is charging a $450 annual fee for the benefits that they are providing. If someone is going to pay a $450 annual fee, there are premium products out there that surpass what this card offers.
Sep 19, 2014, 7:03 am
#329
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Apex, NC
Programs: AA EXP, Delta DM, Bonvoy Titanium, Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Club, National Exec something!
Posts: 103
Just wanted to let people know of my experience with annual fee. I'm a citigold customer, so I got hit with the $350 AF last week; after speaking to the retention department, they offered a $125 credit and 750 points for $750+ spending for the next 16 billing cycles. Seemed fair, so I took it.
Sep 19, 2014, 7:46 am
#330
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,192
Thanks for the reply. I guess the lounge access and $250 airline credit could help offset the annual fee. However, I still can't wrap my arms around the fact that Citi is charging a $450 annual fee for the benefits that they are providing. If someone is going to pay a $450 annual fee, there are premium products out there that surpass what this card offers. I can't for the life of me figure out why this product is still around. Maybe the recent reduction of benefits are a sign that the Prestige is about to be history. I thought there was something that I was missing but based on the information you provided, I guess not.
3x for airfare and hotels.
Only $350 and 15% bonus TY points for Citigold clients
60K signup/first-year spend bonus.
Until 10/18/14 can still apparently snag a BOGO trip for each cardholder
Certainly a candidate for cancellation after a year.
Last edited by toomanybooks; Sep 19, 2014 at 7:53 am