Citibank Travel Program - Price Match Guarantee v Qantas Frequent Flyer flights!

[angusburns]

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This just arrived in my in-box...

The new Citibank Travel Program[SUP]1[/SUP] offers the ultimate in travel. You can use your reward points, credit card or a combination of both to book with over 175 airlines and thousands of hotels worldwide with no blackout dates or waiting periods on any airline.? You can also enjoy exclusive access to fantastic travel offers and discounts, all whilst earning reward points for every dollar you spend.
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[TD="align: justify"]Introducing the Citibank Price Match Guarantee[SUP]2[/SUP]
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[TD="align: justify"]We're so confident in the value of our program that we have introduced a Price Match Guarantee. If you ever find a cheaper flight using Qantas Frequent Flyer points, we promise to match it when you use your Citibank Reward Points. Visit citibank.com.au/travel to search and book your next escape, and put us to the test for your next holiday. To get you started, we've included just a taste of the many great value offers available.
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Hope this is new news and is of interest - wonder how it will work in real life...

 

[greenfrog86]

This seems to be a waste of time, however if you don't want to transfer into a FF program then might assist...

A business class flight MEL-SYD-MEL through Qantas as a Classic award was showing 32,000 points plus about $50 in taxes etc.

Citibank on the other hand quoted the below...

So looks like its not IF you find a better redemption through Qantas, but whether you can be bothered...and even then Citi will probably book you on Virgin anyway
[h=3]Cost Summary[/h]

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[TD]1 Adult[/TD]
[TD]118,360 points[/TD]
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[TD]Subtotal of fares[/TD]
[TD]118,360 points[/TD]
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[TD]Taxes, airline charges and other fees[/TD]
[TD]15,710 points[/TD]
[TD]or[/TD]
[TD]$157.10[/TD]
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[TD]TOTAL incl. Taxes, airline charges and other fees[/TD]
[TD]134,070 points[/TD]
[TD]or[/TD]
[TD]points + pay
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[mos]

I guess this bit of Citibank's T&C might at least make it worth the phone call to find out what flight they would offer:

"15. Flights booked under this program may be eligible for airline frequent flyer rewards in accordance with the terms and conditions of the airline's rewards program."

If Citibank did end up price matching on the same Qantas flight that was available as a Classic Award, could it end up being a JASA-like situation?

Cheers,
Michael

 

[oz_mark]

I guess this bit of Citibank's T&C might at least make it worth the phone call to find out what flight they would offer:

"15. Flights booked under this program may be eligible for airline frequent flyer rewards in accordance with the terms and conditions of the airline's rewards program."

If Citibank did end up price matching on the same Qantas flight that was available as a Classic Award, could it end up being a JASA-like situation?

Yes, it is just a normal commercial fare that they book you on. But as I mentioned in one of the various other threads on this, when taking a domestic JASA you may well be up for the full GST amount of that fare under the taxes and charges banner (funny things happen on the way to the commissionable and non-commissionable parts of the fare).