dw

While the T&Cs have not changed, I've noticed that Citi has proactively removed all mention of Flight Points AND the companion ticket from their *marketing* materials (but again not the T&C):

- on the main card page at http://citicards.com
- from the Prestige Card website at http://citi.com/citiprestige
- and from the comparison chart at https://online.citibank.com/JRS/portal.c?ID=TYCards

This may not mean anything... after all, they removed mention of the 15% off Spirit Incentives flight discount from their online marketing materials many months ago, and the benefit is still in place. However, IMHO, the deliberate removal of certain benefits from marketing materials often means that something is in the works...

mia

At https://www.thankyoucompanion.com

I now see:

I take this mean that both the Companion Ticket and the 15% discount benefit will end when Citi's contract with Spirit Incentives expires. I truly do not care about the Companion Ticket, but we buy a fair amount of domestic first class tickets and the 15% discount program have proven more useful than I expected.

Rus925

Classic Citi: trying to compete with AmEx Plat (which hasn't been doing great, either). Upped the annual fee to match AmEx, killed the companion ticket, killed flight points, offers the least valuable credit card points (less than 1¢ on Amazon.com and only transferrable to the least valuable travel rewards program: HHonors), added Admirals Club access only for the primary cardholder, still charges for additional card members anyway, somehow surprised customers haven't come running...

dw

Thanks, Mia. This must be a recent change because I just logged into that site a week or so ago. I wonder when Citi will be mailing us notifications?

I do find it odd that they are discontinuing the benefits with less than 4 months' notice... I would have thought they would have allowed people to use the benefits up until their next card anniversary date.

I suppose these changes are not too surprising now that they have added Admirals Club access. After all, Citi may not want to make this card that much better than the Citi Executive AAdvantage Card.

However, if Flight Points are going away as well, once I match my banked points, I'll be looking for a different card for everyday spending. There are better alternatives to a card that gives 1.6% back and 3.2% back on dining, but only when redeemed for US and AA flights.

taxicabnumber

It might be a hard date rather than an anniversary date due to the contract with Spirit Incentives ending (if that is in fact what's happening)?

Admirals Club and I guess the new 1.6 cents/point on AA/US are the "new" benefits, in exchange for all things Spirit Incentives going away...That said, without Flight Points this thing is no longer effectively a 3.2% back card. Might still have value for MS purposes if combined appropriately with other Citi cards, but more likely I'll just burn through my TYP on AA/US flights then convert this to a no-fee Preferred and sock-drawer it.

mia

I am not aware of any definite information on this. While Citi does have a troubling track record of tinkering with ThankYou Rewards, I think they would have removed Flight Points from the Prestige card at the same time it was removed from Premier, if that was the plan, unless they have now decided to implement transfers to airline programs.

I noticed it the second time that I logged in today, but not earlier. I may have been sensitized to look for it by your earlier post.

I think 4 months is generous by credit card industry standards. It's likely not practical to keep the Spirit Incentives benefits for a declining number of users over a twelve month phase out.

In my mind the $0.016 redemption rate on AA/US tickets was in lieu of offering transfers to AAdvantage. However, if they do intend to offer transfers to some airlines it would make sense to eliminate Flight Points, else the card would earn two miles per dollar on general spending (assuming a 1:1 transfer rate).

golfingboy

I see the same message when I logged into the thank you companion site.

This is a big for me and if they take away flight points without making every single spend worth 2 points per $1 then there is no point for me to stick with this card.

Those three benefits, along with the trip delay insurance and the $200 airline statement credit, were the main reasons I got this card.

I wonder what are they going to do to replace those benefits we are about to lose? Admiral's Club access and slightly higher redemption bonus for AA/US doesn't cut it for me.

mightyducksman

After seeing recent posts, checked my (already used companion) and my AU's (hasn't used companion) Spirit pages. The unused companion simply has the notice on the bottom that the program ends mid-10/14. The used companion ticket says the program ends 6/30/14 and if my anniversary date is on or after 6/30 (is exactly 6/30), I must use it by that date.

Don't know if the 6/30 date is directly tied to my account and others will get different messages...disappointing, particularly since I haven't been notified in any way.

anks329

I'm seeing this on my account; I've already used the companion ticket, and my anniversary date is in October.

Your annual complimentary companion ticket has already been used for this membership year. This benefit will no longer be offered as of 10/12/14 . . If your anniversary date is on or before 10/12/14 . you must use your benefit by that date.
Please contact Citi customer service for more information.

LGA

If the flight points are going away in a few months, you might do as I did when they disappeared from all but the Prestige card: Gather 'em now while you can and continue to enjoy the effective 2 TYPs/$.

golfingboy

I called citi to inquire and see if they have something in the grapevine to "replace" the 15% discount and companion benefits. Turns out I got a supervisor for the Prestige customer service team and this was the first time she heard about this cut.

The super agrees that these two benefits are huge (probably the biggest benefit behind the $200 statement credit IMO) and hopes Citi will come up with something to replace both benefits.

dw

I think Admirals Club access is the "replacement"

golfingboy

I really hope not, you can't really replace $$$ benefit with something like this and the AC access is only for the primary cardholder.

Even the 1.6 TYP option is sort of worthless because they do not always match the lowest fare that is available.

CNMAZ

My wife and I both have the Prestige, we both called customer service, each time the agent put us on hold, talked to a supervisor, and then told us that there were no changes being made that they are aware of. The customer service agent tried to call Spirit, but they already closed.

mia

I would not take much comfort from these discussions. I called the day before the Admirals Club and $0.016 redemption rates were announced. AA had already published the lounge access benefit on aa.com, but the Citi staff knew nothing specific. I pressed hard about the $0.016 benefit, and my call was switched to so many people that I ended up talking to someone at JP Morgan Chase. I think they really will not know until the cardholders know.