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 19, 2014, 8:51 am
#331
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, TY, UR, UA, US, WN, MR, SPG
Posts: 1,453
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.
In addition to other things already specified:
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.
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.
While this is not nearly as lucrative for some, and undoubtedly decreasing somewhat as Citi reduces the number of monthly ThankYou points given for banking, this substantially increases the value of points earned. For those with banking relationships AND grandfathered Forward cards (5x TYP dining/some amazon purchases), that bumps the return on 5x to 8%. In 2014, I will have earned somewhere in the ballpark of 150K TY points on very minimal spend. Without the Prestige, that's $1500 in airfare. With, it's $2400 (limited to US/AA though). That's pretty substantial.
With the 3x on airfare/hotels, and the 1.6x on US/AA, that makes it 4.8% if used on those flights.
Add in the $250 airline credit, the global entry reimbursement, Admiral's Club access, hotel benefits, and it really make a case for itself. If you earn ThankYou points elsewhere (banking, Forward), it's almost going to be a given.
Sep 19, 2014, 5:45 pm
#332
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 5
As far as I can tell, you get 3 free rounds in 2014 and will get another 3 rounds in 2015. When I look at "My Account" after logging into the golf portal, I see "Free rounds remaining for 2014: 1" in the top right corner. This is because I've already used the benefit twice this year (both times at Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz which saved me $230 and $165 respectively). Also note that I only became a card member this past June 2013.
For golfers in the Bay Area, this card is almost a no-brainer simply for the 3 free rounds at Pasatiempo (one of the best if not the best available US course available with the benefit) which more than covers the annual fee. Add to that the 1.6/1.33 redemption for flights and the $200/$250 flight credit alone and it IS a no brainer for me. Oh, and I also have the grandfathered 5x Forward card to boot
Sep 21, 2014, 1:04 pm
#333
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 396
Where can you see the list of of other courses that the benefit can be used on?
Sep 22, 2014, 12:02 pm
#334
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 5
https://book.golfswitch.com/Portal/V...tate=CN&area=#
Sep 23, 2014, 12:30 pm
#335
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Those interested in the Admirals Club benefit may wish to SUBSCIBE to this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...lubs-soon.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...lubs-soon.html
Sep 24, 2014, 3:19 pm
#336
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,074
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.
. Plus, it actually has bonus categories.
Sep 24, 2014, 5:30 pm
#337
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: Delta Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 308
I've been told a couple of times (by the CSR) that there will be no double dipping between the $200 and the $250. Anyone else have more data points?
Sep 25, 2014, 7:43 am
#339
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: Delta Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 308
Yes they confirmed the extra $50. Just purchase some airfare after 10/18.
Sep 25, 2014, 8:30 am
#340
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 27
Meaning, I'd get an extra $50 for this calendar year (after 10/18) and another $250 for 2014? If so, that sounds like a good deal to me.
Sep 26, 2014, 6:28 am
#341
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: L.A.
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Delta Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,135
I read this thread below, about the "double dipping"
http://thepointsguy.com/2014/09/cred...e-before-2015/
If I were to apply for the crd now, what kind of purchases qualify for the $200 credit?
Is it incidentals similar to the amex platinum or can I buy airfare?
I read that it has to be less than $100...
http://thepointsguy.com/2014/09/cred...e-before-2015/
If I were to apply for the crd now, what kind of purchases qualify for the $200 credit?
Is it incidentals similar to the amex platinum or can I buy airfare?
I read that it has to be less than $100...
Sep 26, 2014, 9:44 am
#342
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 229
Does anyone have any experience with canceling this card within 37 days of being charged the annual fee and getting the annual fee refunded? Worked out well with the Citi Executive, curious if it's possible with the Prestige as well. Thanks!
Sep 26, 2014, 11:59 am
#343
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 258
I read this thread below, about the "double dipping"
http://thepointsguy.com/2014/09/cred...e-before-2015/
If I were to apply for the crd now, what kind of purchases qualify for the $200 credit?
Is it incidentals similar to the amex platinum or can I buy airfare?
I read that it has to be less than $100...
http://thepointsguy.com/2014/09/cred...e-before-2015/
If I were to apply for the crd now, what kind of purchases qualify for the $200 credit?
Is it incidentals similar to the amex platinum or can I buy airfare?
I read that it has to be less than $100...
I assume you don't get both. I have a flight to charge anyway, probably only $150 or so, so I'm willing to forgo the 15% discount (which didn't give me my preferred route anyway), to try and get it reimbursed. Maybe I'll just get $50, but I'm ok with that too.
Sep 28, 2014, 8:23 am
#344
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: L.A.
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Delta Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,135
Since they are changing several benefits in less than a month, the date that happens does anyone think that Citi will offer a nice new promo spend bonus as well?? More than 30k!
Oct 3, 2014, 2:01 am
#345
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 153
Another data point: CSRs I spoke to also said the $250 would account for what I've already received this year, so only $50 extra.
I asked about the priority pass access as I may travel shortly after the changeover. The CSR said since cards wouldn't be mailed until possibly late November, there's no way to access priority pass lounges until then. She had a note in their system that we could continue to use airport angel lounges until the cards arrive (although that's pretty useless to me).
I asked about the priority pass access as I may travel shortly after the changeover. The CSR said since cards wouldn't be mailed until possibly late November, there's no way to access priority pass lounges until then. She had a note in their system that we could continue to use airport angel lounges until the cards arrive (although that's pretty useless to me).