larciel

Just wanna share my story. It's 9:50 EST right now and I forgot to pay the balance which was due today. Called it in because I thought it was past deadline for same-day posting (which is usually 8pm EST or 5pm EST) and to my surprise, rep told me it's until 12AM EST.!

I was ready to bring out "I was too busy still scratching my head from SB49 ending" excuses but we didn't need to go there, and we ended call very pleasantly.

+1 for citi.

FlyMeToTheLooneyBin

So I've had this card for about a month now, and I use it as my primary card. It is annoying to have to "chat" with every cashier. Sometimes, I just want my food and don't want to make friends.

I wish they had an optional alternate more conventional card design with the stripe in back.

ffflllyyyeeerrr

This x1000. I've only once had a cashier be able to swipe my card correctly without fumbling around a few times or telling me it doesn't work.

fuddrules

I'm considering apply for the Prestige card.

For whatever reason I'm having a hard time figuring out what TYP can be used for. I'm not interested in transferring them to a FF program and I don't fly American.

With that said there is a 30k bonus points for sign up (online, nearest branch is over 100 miles away). What ways other can this sign up TYP bonus be used?

I will be able to use the $250 airline credit this year and then once early in 2016.

I assume as long as I book through the travel agent I could get a 4th night free at a Universal Studios hotel (around $425 credit) and use that 4th night offer 1 other time this year so it seems like it would be a great card unless I'm missing something.

Thanks for any help.

eajusa

Prestige has a lot of premium benefits, as well. You may also use TYP for statement credits, purchase gift cards, or buy merchandise from TYP mall. For more info check this sticky http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/citi-...s-program.html

dukerau

Outside of frequent flyer miles, the best TYP redemptions are:

• Partner gift cards
• Mortgage / Student Loan payment (this is a check made out to the institution where your mortgage or SL is held. Many reports of depositing the check into a checking account at the institution it's made out to without issue.)

Both of these get a 100TYP = $1 valuation. Cash/statement credit are lower.

fuddrules

Thanks to both of you.

I've read that guide and my options seem a little limited. The statement credit is 20,000 points for a $100 credit? Not Good.

I don't have a mortgage or SL to payoff so that's not an option.

It seems my best bet would be to use the TYP for an airfare I've booked beyond the $250 statement credit or for hotels/rental cars or gift card?

I know I'm making this more difficult than it should be but w/o the card and never using points (I've only used miles) it's a little foreign to me.

winsteven13

Don't apply for it lol

traveler9020

Taking into consideration the fact that you don't fly American and the $450 annual fee that comes with the Prestige, this may not be the right card for you. The main draw for this card is the AAdmirals Club membership, most of the other benefeits can be found with other products for far less than $450/year.

lotrbfme

YES!! It has become annoying. The first time was OK... I actually like to chat, but c'mon... Not everytime I want to use my card I feel like explaining to the cashier how to use it and how I got the card etc etc...

hiima

It's actually not AC membership, it's AC access when flying AA/US flight. AC membership gets you in without flying AA/US.

FallenPlat

For me, the other potential draws for the product apart from Admirals Club access & family/guest privileges are: (i) the 1.6x multiplier for purchasing flights on AA with TYPs applies not just to TYPs earned with the card but to Citi checking/savings TYPs as well, (ii) the Priority Pass membership comes with free family/guest privileges (unlike Amex Plat's), (iii) the annual airline credit is $250 (more than Amex Plat's) and can be used for tickets (unlike Amex Plat's), (iv) with a Gold account at Citi, the annual fee is $100 less (so $450-$250-$100 = $100).

Obviously the key here is AA flights + Admirals Club access (requires same-day AA boarding pass).

The other key for me, which no one comments on, is that the 1.6x thing lets you buy a $400 AA ticket for 25,000 points with no capacity limitations, i.e., you don't have to struggle to find saver space. Or a $480 AA ticket with 30,000 TYPs. I've gradually figured out that that's what the card is all about. Finding saver space in this day and age is hard unless you're single, unemployed and childless. In my opinion.

So, yes, if you're not interested in AA flights or Admirals Club access, the card's a waste for you. Don't do it!

eajusa

What any person has to consider is what you get for $200, assuming you use the $250 rebate every year. Some cards with a $95 AF offer many of Prestige's benefits. In this case consider whether you get enough added benefit to justify the extra $105. For everyone, it will vary. Some benefits to consider are Global Entry at $20 per year ($100 every five years refunded),
the 1.3 on airlines, the 1.6 on AA, etc. The weakest benefits of this card have already been noted by the OP, so I won't go there.

lotrbfme

AA Citi Executive:
Spend 40k on AA gets you: 80k miles, 10k EQM. Spend 40k elsewhere get only 40k miles.

Citi Prestige:
Spend 40k on any airline or hotel gets you: 120k points which equals 1,920 USD for AA. Enough for 4 round trips MIA-SEA that will get you 44k miles (if you have status), 22k EQM and 8EQS

eajusa

This is a perfect example of why I chose to apply for the Prestige and not the Exec. This being my third Citi card, puts me at the max CL Citi will give me, so I wanted the card with the biggest bang for my buck.