Most Citi "Protection" benefits and Price Rewind discontinued September 22, 2019
Jun 24, 2019, 3:26 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,044
I'm not happy that Citi is removing all of these protections, but I also have to say, I've never used a single one of them.
Granted, that's often the nature of insurance, but I'm pretty likely to just selectively move my charges to different cards (mostly Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve).
I don't really need any of these protections if I'm eating at a restaurant getting my 5x or getting a haircut with my DoubleCash. I'd guess they'll lose less than 5% of my charges here.
Now, for those who want to use only one card always and everywhere, I see that this is a different calculation.
Granted, that's often the nature of insurance, but I'm pretty likely to just selectively move my charges to different cards (mostly Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve).
I don't really need any of these protections if I'm eating at a restaurant getting my 5x or getting a haircut with my DoubleCash. I'd guess they'll lose less than 5% of my charges here.
Now, for those who want to use only one card always and everywhere, I see that this is a different calculation.
Jun 24, 2019, 3:36 pm
#47
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: JFK / LGA.. EWR is not part of NYC!
Programs: Brand loyalty is for suckers
Posts: 1,047
Prestige still worth it for 4th night free (even if only twice a year), $250 airfare credit, and 5x dining purchases. All other travel goes on the Sapphire Reserve.
Jun 24, 2019, 3:43 pm
#48
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
Curiously this change makes the MileUp card one of their best cards in terms of value. No annual fee, 2x AA miles on groceries and Extended Warranty. Not even DC has Extended Warranty anymore.In addition, the base AA Platinum Card offers free bags, which can justify the $95 annual fee for occasional AA fliers - also earns 2x AA miles on dining. I have and will keep both cards. And the AA Executive Card still provides lounge access. None of the other cards (except maybe Costco, which I am not familiar with) provide any unique value. A lot of these banks seem to be prioritizing their cobrand cards and not much else. Will complete the minimum spend on my brand new Premier and sock drawer it (and convert it to Citi Dividend eventually). No interest in maintaining a fourth transferrable currency with me too products.
Jun 24, 2019, 3:47 pm
#49
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,043
My wife and I stay at high end luxury hotels at least a few times a year. The 4th night free, even at twice a year, will easily yield significant savings.
We'll see where things go, but this alone would not cause us to cancel a card that has an effective annual fee of $245 but has often saved us upwards of $400-$500 per 4th night free bookings.
Regards
Jun 24, 2019, 3:55 pm
#50
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,028
Jun 24, 2019, 4:02 pm
#51
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,487
Personally, over the past four years, I've filed one travel delay claim (with either Citi or Chase) in three of those four years, each time involving an overnight delay. The claims have ranged from just around $100 to around $900 (the latter due to a snowstorm and being stranded for three days due to flight cancellations).
With congested airspace around many cities now and seemingly more unpredictable weather, and airlines operating with high load factors, it seems more and more common for people to be affected by a flight cancellation that leads to a significant delay before they are re-accommodated.
Jun 24, 2019, 4:07 pm
#52
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: New York
Programs: Bonvoy LifetimeTitanium, UA Plat 2MM, LHW LeadersClub, IHGPlat, HiltonDiamnd, ASMVPG100K, WyndDiamnd
Posts: 1,227
Called up and told them that I will leave after the benefits are removed, but understand they made a business decision that they do not want the travel and leisure market.
For me back to the Platinum Card (especially for air fare--5X and baggage protection) and Chase Sapphire for most other travel (and Hilton Aspire at a Hilton hotel). The representative did mention the $300 travel credit and the new cell phone protection, but I said that would not be enough to keep the card. He also mentioned the fourth night free. I had not used it much before, and am using it a couple of times this year, but as I told him I doubt I would spend four nights at a hotel that I was not elite in, and with the new booking scheme, I would not get my elite benefits. Accordingly, the fourth night free will be meaningless. 5X restaurants is nice, but not enough to keep the card.
Also, the Prestige card used to have some exclusive events (similar to By Invitation Only), but they do not seem to have them anymore and there were some really nice events.
I very rarely give up a card, but it looks likely this will be the case.
For me back to the Platinum Card (especially for air fare--5X and baggage protection) and Chase Sapphire for most other travel (and Hilton Aspire at a Hilton hotel). The representative did mention the $300 travel credit and the new cell phone protection, but I said that would not be enough to keep the card. He also mentioned the fourth night free. I had not used it much before, and am using it a couple of times this year, but as I told him I doubt I would spend four nights at a hotel that I was not elite in, and with the new booking scheme, I would not get my elite benefits. Accordingly, the fourth night free will be meaningless. 5X restaurants is nice, but not enough to keep the card.
Also, the Prestige card used to have some exclusive events (similar to By Invitation Only), but they do not seem to have them anymore and there were some really nice events.
I very rarely give up a card, but it looks likely this will be the case.
Jun 24, 2019, 5:00 pm
#53
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
I have the Citi AA MC Ex Card ,and it took the same hit as Prestige. I won't cancel since I leverage the authorized user portion of the equation for family for AA AC membership but am very likely going to move my spend over to my Amex. I called Citi to complain about the benefit reduction and it gave me 2500 miles. I get removing price rewind, but I doubt in the ever crowded luxury card market that this is going to get Chase, AMEX, etc to move the needle down. Then again I don't have the metric analysis.
Safe Travels
Safe Travels
Jun 24, 2019, 6:10 pm
#54
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,623
This sucks. I've gotten thousands back on cancellation of multiple trips.
What are the best cards now with trip cancellation protection?
I'd also be curious if there are big retention offers right now or are they letting everyone jump ship
What are the best cards now with trip cancellation protection?
I'd also be curious if there are big retention offers right now or are they letting everyone jump ship
Jun 24, 2019, 6:20 pm
#55
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Flyover Country
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Free Range Airline Chicken
Posts: 202
I have the Platinum AAdvantage card, which I’d already planned to cancel (and keep the Barclays version for the free bags and earlier boarding since I usually don’t fly one airline enough to get and keep status). No change to my plans there. I have the Premium card, and had intended to get the Prestige card when I became eligible for anothe bonus. I had actually considered that the Premium/Prestige pair might replace my CSR, but that seems less likely now.
I am baffled by their choice canceling rental car coverage, unless they are assuming that other card issuers will cancel as well in a race to the bottom. Oddly, although I’m only a light-frequency flyer compared to most here (about six domestic trips and one or two international trips/year for about twenty years), I haven’t had a delay/cancellation that was long enough to be eligible for credit card coverage in At least fifteen years—And back then if such coverage existed I didn’t know about it and didn’t have it. So the elimination of the delay coverage doesn’t bother me much. The big issues for me (besides loss of rental car coverage) are the cancellation of the superior extended warranty, and of Price Rewind. I used a Citi card for all my camera and electronics purchases, which I had quite a few of, because of that coverage. The extended warranty was a comfort, and I probably pulled in $400/year off of Price Rewind (part of why I understand them canceling it).
I am baffled by their choice canceling rental car coverage, unless they are assuming that other card issuers will cancel as well in a race to the bottom. Oddly, although I’m only a light-frequency flyer compared to most here (about six domestic trips and one or two international trips/year for about twenty years), I haven’t had a delay/cancellation that was long enough to be eligible for credit card coverage in At least fifteen years—And back then if such coverage existed I didn’t know about it and didn’t have it. So the elimination of the delay coverage doesn’t bother me much. The big issues for me (besides loss of rental car coverage) are the cancellation of the superior extended warranty, and of Price Rewind. I used a Citi card for all my camera and electronics purchases, which I had quite a few of, because of that coverage. The extended warranty was a comfort, and I probably pulled in $400/year off of Price Rewind (part of why I understand them canceling it).
Jun 24, 2019, 6:32 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 805
What's the point of the annual fee at this point on the prestige card? After the $495 fee - $250 travel credit you end up paying $245 for two free hotel nights assuming you book two 4 night hotel stays through their reservation system and decent point earnings. Am I missing something? Is that really worth $250?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve you pay an effective $150 for slightly less point earnings on hotels and flights, but gain travel protection and a ton of other benefits. Plus the ability to cash the points out for travel at 1.5 cents per point.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve you pay an effective $150 for slightly less point earnings on hotels and flights, but gain travel protection and a ton of other benefits. Plus the ability to cash the points out for travel at 1.5 cents per point.
Jun 24, 2019, 6:42 pm
#57
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,043
What's the point of the annual fee at this point on the prestige card? After the $495 fee - $250 travel credit you end up paying $245 for two free hotel nights assuming you book two 4 night hotel stays through their reservation system and decent point earnings. Am I missing something? Is that really worth $250?<snip>
So the answer is yes, it can absolutely be worth it but you have to do your own math. But don't assume that your math is everyone's math.
Is it going to be as generous going forward as it used to be? Nope, but that seems to be the trend in travel over all. But at this point, Citi is still paying me to carry the card.
Regards
Jun 24, 2019, 6:59 pm
#58
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: UA 1K 3MM Lifetime, AA PlatPro,Marriott Titanium Elite Lifetime, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 741
Citi Prestige still offers Priority Pass that includes restaurants in some airports where you can have up to 2 guests and lounge access in others. The value of this benefit depends on your itinerary and travel habits; regularly needing to use a lounge or eat in the terminal. Alternatively, Chase Sapphire Reserve offers Priority Pass as well. Amex Platinum will soon drop the restaurant option from Priority Pass so not as enticing.
Last edited by edsh; Jun 24, 2019 at 7:29 pm
Jun 24, 2019, 7:01 pm
#59
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: stl
Programs: AA LT Plat/8.1mm now with 1350 miles left in my account and proud of it.. SPG LT Titanium.
Posts: 3,082
As for the trip protections, I think this is what happens when you have to many card holders flying on AA. On a more serious note, I have the exec card and really can't understand why they would strip all travel protections from a travel card.
The interesting thing will be to see if any of the other major card players follow suit after receiving this "signal" from Citi or just leave them to hang in the wind.
The interesting thing will be to see if any of the other major card players follow suit after receiving this "signal" from Citi or just leave them to hang in the wind.
Jun 24, 2019, 7:58 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,854
The Premier card was already going on the chopping block when the annual fee shows up in July. The Gold AA will be downgraded to a MileUp card and sock-drawered next year unless Citi waives the AF. I just don’t fly AA enough (and with checked bags) to justify its existence.
I wonder how many people will not pay attention to this change, rent a car and decline CDW as usual and then end up with a nasty surprise.