$0 Annual Fee for Life on Citi Platinum/Signature CC Complimentary Insurance

[CJEMNMAC]

Hello! I'm very new in the game, and keen to get some signing FF bonus points.

I've seen that Citi is offering a 60k bonus at the moment on their signature card + a reduced fee of $299. Are 60k FF worth $299? Id plan to open the card then try and close it and maybe ask their retention team to waive the fee... Or am I dreaming?!

Citi is inconsistent with waiving fees etc and sometimes difficult to deal with. Going in to the deal you have to be prepared to accept the possibility of paying the fee.

I would advise not to always look at the amount of "signup bonus" but rather firstly what FF program you belong to, what is the conversion rate to your program of choice and maybe sign up to the card that will maximise points to your FF program and travel preferences.

 

[ExcuseMyFrench]

Thanks, that's a fair advise.

Favorite airline is Qatar and I couldn't find any way to earn FF points with them with an Australian credit card. Second best would be Qantas, but based on average annual spending, I'd only get 40k FF a year, so that sign up bonus is very attracting

 

[Cynicor]

Thanks, that's a fair advise.

Favorite airline is Qatar and I couldn't find any way to earn FF points with them with an Australian credit card. Second best would be Qantas, but based on average annual spending, I'd only get 40k FF a year, so that sign up bonus is very attracting

Signup bonus 60000
Nominal value @ 3c/point= $1800
Cost per year $299
6 annual fees pays for the points.

If you can't get citi to put you onto the free for life offer, and you want the card for the long term then I recommend not going for the points. A free for life 1:1 QF or 1.5ppd Citi card is very good value.

If you have a long term partner who would also be eligible for the card, then I'd give it a go. Try to get the points, pay the fee, then ask for free for life. If no-go, apply for free for life with your partner and cancel the card with the fee.

 

[ExcuseMyFrench]

Signup bonus 60000
Nominal value @ 3c/point= $1800
Cost per year $299
6 annual fees pays for the points.

If you can't get citi to put you onto the free for life offer, and you want the card for the long term then I recommend not going for the points. A free for life 1:1 QF or 1.5ppd Citi card is very good value.

If you have a long term partner who would also be eligible for the card, then I'd give it a go. Try to get the points, pay the fee, then ask for free for life. If no-go, apply for free for life with your partner and cancel the card with the fee.

Yes I have a trustworthy husband. He already has a citibank Emirates card, so not sure he'd be approved for another card... Nor if he'd want to have two.

I think I'll try and get the free ANZ FF Black, get the 50k points and cancel it after 11 months. I will apply at the same time for the free for like Citibank. Best of both world really! Thanks for your advices!

 

[rweir]

there's no point trying to 'play the game' if you don't have a personal valuation on points, which is *always* specific to your circumstances. for most people, 3c/point is comically generous, since they're only worth that for things like upgrading to business class, and require many many years of points accumulation. unless you're running large amounts of business or other reimbursable expenses through your card, it's likely much closer to 1c/point, making anything other than free signup bonuses hard to justify.

 

[Cynicor]

there's no point trying to 'play the game' if you don't have a personal valuation on points, which is *always* specific to your circumstances. for most people, 3c/point is comically generous, since they're only worth that for things like upgrading to business class, and require many many years of points accumulation. unless you're running large amounts of business or other reimbursable expenses through your card, it's likely much closer to 1c/point, making anything other than free signup bonuses hard to justify.

I don't feel that is really an accurate representation of point value. Business and first redemptions offer values around 3c per point too, and I've booked 2 of them this year on points I've accumulated in the last 2 years alone.

I have no reimbursable expenses, no business costs nor do I put massive amounts through my cards. I do seek out decent signup bonuses and I am smart with my CCs too. Much goes through the edge (3ppd for all supermarket and fuel spend) and a large restaurant meal with friends (maybe $500 etc) goes onto the charge for triple points. 50k sign on points plus 80k spend on a CC gets you a Oneworld J award for 35000 miles!

 

[Formal Hall]

Yes I have a trustworthy husband. He already has a citibank Emirates card, so not sure he'd be approved for another card... Nor if he'd want to have two.

Many of us have multiple citibank cards, two should not be an issue. If they are hesitating about offering you a second they can cut the credit limit on the first so that your credit line isn't much larger.

 

[rweir]

they seem to pretty strictly enforce the only-one-new-card-per-9-months rule, though.

 

[SimonF]

3 cents per point seems rather generous

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Can anyone advise if the sup cards have the same number as the primary card? I'm hoping it's like Amex where each sup card is different to make determining which card did the spending easier.

 

[albyd]

They have different numbers and are itemized separately on the statement.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

They have different numbers and are itemized separately on the statement.

WOW. Faster response than if I'd called CB

THANXS

 

[Powerballsam]

A little OT does anyone know if the double points offer that Citi send includes primary and secondary cards?

 

[tinkybelle]

I value Virgin at 2 cpp qantas at 1.2cpp because of the horrendous taxes.
to give an example 94k plus $103 syd LAX J fairly easy to get
96k plus $550 SYD LAX QF J extremely difficult to get.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

I value Virgin at 2 cpp qantas at 1.2cpp because of the horrendous taxes.
to give an example 94k plus $103 syd LAX J fairly easy to get
96k plus $550 SYD LAX QF J extremely difficult to get.

I think Velocity is only useful for LAX, domestic and short haul asia. It seems nigh on impossible to get a J or PE award to Europe. At least QF had some J and F available at less miles than what Virgin wanted to charge for a PE reward.

i find QF Ok for Asia, but then I'm usually booking 11 months in advance.

 

[jetpack]

I just transferred my points to Krisflyer and I got a message saying it will take 3 weeks for the transfer to occur. Does it really take this long?

 

[hummel]

I just transferred my points to Krisflyer and I got a message saying it will take 3 weeks for the transfer to occur. Does it really take this long?

2-3 days IME

 

[b_adger]

A little OT does anyone know if the double points offer that Citi send includes primary and secondary cards?

The offers that I have received say something like "bonus points on spend on card number xx_X..." I haven't been able to see if spend on the supp card counts as both times they messed up the points and just gave them to me after a phone call rather than appearing normally.

 

[RAM]

I just transferred my points to Krisflyer and I got a message saying it will take 3 weeks for the transfer to occur. Does it really take this long?

Secret of customer satisfaction - under-promise & over-deliver.

That said. Three weeks is a bit long but I suppose covers periods like extended religious festivals etc.

 

[Plutonus]

Secret of customer satisfaction - under-promise & over-deliver.

That said. Three weeks is a bit long but I suppose covers periods like extended religious festivals etc.

Yes, but unfortunately Citi is notoriously bad at this and usually over promises and under delivers.