Oct 28, 14, 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
Mar 4, 15, 6:04 pm
#766
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 7,743
I spent yesterday in Vancouver, where EMV/Chip+Pin is used. On 2 separate occasions I had people not realize the card had a chip and start trying to swipe it. Even after I told one of them it has a chip she had to flip it over a few times before she saw it.
The problem is the same as the mag strip - they expect the chip to be on the left hand side of the "front" of the card, being the opposite side as the signature. However it's actually on the right-hand side of the "back" of the card (for some definition of "back" - I've got to admit I'm really not sure which is the front and which is the back!)
I'm off to Singapore/Australia tomorrow so I'll see how well people there handle it given they are very much C+P countries.
Update: So I just called Citi regarding getting a PIN for this card (has to be done by mail, and will take at least a week), and also mentioned the poor design of the card. He confirmed this was the "new design" and that there were no other options available. He did promise to pass the feedback on to the relevant people.
So I'd suggest that if you're unhappy with the card, call the number on the back of the card and let them know. Hopefully with enough feedback they'll realize how had a design it is...
Last edited by docbert; Mar 4, 15 at 6:15 pm
Mar 4, 15, 6:21 pm
#767
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,303
Mar 4, 15, 7:04 pm
#768
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: AA Plat Pro, IHG Diamond Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 6,175
I had the same issue recently in Hong Kong, where they are also very used to EMV cards. Even handing the card with the chip side up didn't seem to help... Because it's not where people expect it to be, most cashiers seemed not to see it, and would try to swipe the card.... And of course, not where the actual strip is, but where they assumed it was.
Mar 4, 15, 7:42 pm
#769
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 47
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!
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!
Mar 4, 15, 8:59 pm
#770
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 7,743
Mar 5, 15, 7:27 am
#772
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: Milege+, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,676
It is a chip and sign see this link:
https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/te...hip-technology
https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/te...hip-technology
Mar 5, 15, 9:32 am
#773
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Admirals Club, Global Entry
Posts: 1,130
So then we can take it that the last response means that, yes, this is just a chip & signature card and that the PIN is just for ATM withdrawals.
According to the Wiki on the topic, as I recall, that means it's an on-line PIN and won't work at unattended off-line kiosks such as (in my experience) some French train ticket machines. I have vast experience playing machine roulette with various chip & signature cards at the CDG train kiosks and so I speak here, unfortunately, with some considerable authority. (The end of the story: my Merrill Lynch chip & signature visa ended up working for some reason when my $450 AA World Elite chip & signature MasterCard would not. In the in-town machines, though, it worked fine.)
I have requested PINs on all my chip & signature cards so that I can use them in an ATM or -- possibly -- in some other on-line kiosk.
According to the Wiki on the topic, as I recall, that means it's an on-line PIN and won't work at unattended off-line kiosks such as (in my experience) some French train ticket machines. I have vast experience playing machine roulette with various chip & signature cards at the CDG train kiosks and so I speak here, unfortunately, with some considerable authority. (The end of the story: my Merrill Lynch chip & signature visa ended up working for some reason when my $450 AA World Elite chip & signature MasterCard would not. In the in-town machines, though, it worked fine.)
I have requested PINs on all my chip & signature cards so that I can use them in an ATM or -- possibly -- in some other on-line kiosk.
Last edited by FallenPlat; Mar 5, 15 at 9:41 am
Mar 5, 15, 9:42 am
#774
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,414
In June (old card design) I used my Prestige card with no problems at Paris Metro and Velib stations. I had a PenFed chip-and-pin card as backup, but never had to use it.
Mar 5, 15, 10:02 am
#775
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 47,172
Mar 5, 15, 3:10 pm
#776
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,414
No. The machines never asked for one (and I don't think I've ever assigned a PIN to my Prestige card anyway as I don't use credit cards for cash advances).
At restaurants and stores in Paris the chip-and-signature feature kicked in and I was asked to sign a piece of paper just like at my dry cleaner back home (whose credit card machine now requires use of EMV chips on cards that have them).
But Velib and Metro kiosks just accepted my card based on the chip without any PIN or signature verification. Note that the transactions were small. I only bought a couple of 1-day Velib passes (which I think were 1,70€ each) and I don't think I bought more than a carnet (13,70€) of Metro tickets at a time.
At restaurants and stores in Paris the chip-and-signature feature kicked in and I was asked to sign a piece of paper just like at my dry cleaner back home (whose credit card machine now requires use of EMV chips on cards that have them).
But Velib and Metro kiosks just accepted my card based on the chip without any PIN or signature verification. Note that the transactions were small. I only bought a couple of 1-day Velib passes (which I think were 1,70€ each) and I don't think I bought more than a carnet (13,70€) of Metro tickets at a time.
Mar 8, 15, 3:14 pm
#777
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: CA
Programs: cnb reward for travel/gas/restaurant/grocery
Posts: 80
Does anyone know that using prestige card load serve not counting towards $15000 spending which will give extra 30,000 bonus typ. I just called, rep told me that I was still 1500 dollar shy to get those additional bonus. apparently, those amount I loaded into serve. But I never saw Cash advance service fee shown in my account. Any one have similar experience?
Mar 9, 15, 10:50 am
#778
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,184
I had the same issue recently in Hong Kong, where they are also very used to EMV cards. Even handing the card with the chip side up didn't seem to help... Because it's not where people expect it to be, most cashiers seemed not to see it, and would try to swipe the card.... And of course, not where the actual strip is, but where they assumed it was.
Last edited by hiima; Mar 9, 15 at 11:01 am
Mar 9, 15, 11:53 am
#779
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 141
I gave up and let the clerk know when I hand in the card that mag is in front. After a confusing look, I have to literally point my finger to the mag.. and comes "Ohhhh"
Still, the perks are worth it and I don't ever have to worry about asking "Do you accept Amex"
*btw, anyone have seen $450 and $50 authorized user AF waived on their statement?
Still, the perks are worth it and I don't ever have to worry about asking "Do you accept Amex"
*btw, anyone have seen $450 and $50 authorized user AF waived on their statement?
Mar 9, 15, 11:55 am
#780
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: AA Plat Pro, IHG Diamond Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 6,175
