FINALLY! - Citi launching Citi Prestige with Visa Infinite

[diningdecadence]

anyone concerned about redemption rates to airlines?

 

[Hammando]

I called them today and asked about the new card.

This is what I was told.

No change to earn rates. Also she didn't think there was an earn bonus for being a citi gold customer like they have in some countries.

No new transfer partners.

Free hotel night is back.

Gold HH membership, Shang gri la golden circle gold membership.

2 airport transfers per year in Asia pacific.

A few free golf rounds at certain golf clubs around the world.

There were a few other things but they were the main points.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

anyone concerned about redemption rates to airlines?

Given Citi's track record in this area we should all be concerned. My intentions were to use Altitude Rewards as the 'bank' to warehouse pts and regularly clear Citi pts across to SQ - but non ATO earn on Alt Black has put a dampener on that one - KrisFlyer Plat sweeps direct so now am faced with Citi being the 'bank' - not happy Jan!

 

[asg29e]

Given Citi's track record in this area we should all be concerned. My intentions were to use Altitude Rewards as the 'bank' to warehouse pts and regularly clear Citi pts across to SQ - but non ATO earn on Alt Black has put a dampener on that one - KrisFlyer Plat sweeps direct so now am faced with Citi being the 'bank' - not happy Jan!

I share your concerns. Citi are basically untrustworthy, but alternative "banks" are being enhanced out of existence. I'll be transferring all my points to SQ before the up-coming Select changes just in case. This sets the expiration clock ticking I know, but worst case scenario is I'll have to book a few more Suites flights. Do nothing and the worst case scenario is unannounced devaluation. I would find that highly annoying if I had a large Citi stash.

 

[DaveB]

Despite their failings, Citi have though never questioned my spending habits even whilst out of the country.
I keep three years worth of points stashed in various accounts for flying purposes with the surplus used for any purpose regardless of relative value including car hire, hotel stays, annual CC fees and all home purchases either directly or via store vouchers.

 

[asg29e]

I called them today and asked about the new card.

This is what I was told.

No change to earn rates. Also she didn't think there was an earn bonus for being a citi gold customer like they have in some countries.

No new transfer partners.

Free hotel night is back.

Gold HH membership, Shang gri la golden circle gold membership.

2 airport transfers per year in Asia pacific.

A few free golf rounds at certain golf clubs around the world.

There were a few other things but they were the main points.

ShangriLa Golden Circle gold membership? Are you sure that is what she said? If so I am completely underwhelmed. Gold is their base level, the one you get if you sign up for free on the ShangriLa website so it is hardly a benefit.

 

[Hammando]

Perhaps she just said ShangriLa Golden Circle membership and didn't specify the level.

Apologies I am unfamiliar with their program.

 

[DC3]

ShangriLa Golden Circle gold membership? Are you sure that is what she said? If so I am completely underwhelmed. Gold is their base level, the one you get if you sign up for free on the ShangriLa website so it is hardly a benefit.

..... and I hope that the HHonors is not the blue card.

 

[Hammando]

She definately said HH gold.

 

[legroom]

Good work !

I left Select for the fee-free Signature as they could only offer me the $350 p.a. for only one year.

Every month or two, I had the nostalgia of Select but the loss of the free hotel weighs in and then I'm happy with the lowly Signature.

Will need to look at the new card to see if it's worth the upgrade.

All Select holders...

Here are my numbers... Ignore the colours... But you can see at >$275k spend per year is when the Select starts to overtake the fee free sig. But like I said above that's based on using the first 137k Citi points to get $700 of prepaid visa/mc... Most of us wouldn't actually do that, we'd use them for airline miles in which case depending on the value you put on the points the tipping point would be lower...

Spend per year	Spend Per Month	VA/SQ Miles on Select*	VA/SQ Miles on Sig
$100000	$8,333	41,600	100,000
$150000	$12,500	108,267	150,000
$200000	$16,667	174,933	200,000
$250000	$20,833	241,600	250,000
$260000	$21,667	254,933	260,000
$275000	$22,917	274,933	275,000
$300000	$25,000	308,267	300,000
$400000	$33,333	441,600	400,000
$500000	$41,667	574,933	500,000
$600000	$50,000	708,267	600,000
$700000	$58,333	841,600	700,000
$800000	$66,667	974,933	800,000
$900000	$75,000	1,108,267	900,000
$1000000	$83,333	1,241,600	1,000,000

*After using 137k points for $700 vouchers to null the annual fee

 

[leyy]

If they devalue the transfer rates they need to provide notice usually 30 days...

Like when they devalued the Citi Platinum transfer rates.

 

[dein_gesicht]

Ok for those who asked me, I just called up and pushed quite hard for the select at $350 given the devalue that occurred on the card (plus I was putting through $20-25k per month from my parent's business).

The new card will have the following additional features (I called up and went through it):
- 2 QFF per $1 spend (yes that's right - she confirmed this three times as I didn't believe it) or 2 citi reward for $1
- 5 QFF for $1 spend on international (also same for citi points)
- fee night in hotel at 80 different locations
- spend 3 nights and get 1 free at heaps of different hotels
- some golf package to play complementary at a number of different courses (2 different packages)
- golden circle membership at shangri-la (I can't remember which one was free)

I don't think priority pass was mentioned but I may have forgotten.

For me now it's a no brainier

 

[Cruiser Elite]

The new card will have the following additional features (I called up and went through it):
- 2 QFF per $1 spend (yes that's right - she confirmed this three times as I didn't believe it) or 2 citi reward for $1
- 5 QFF for $1 spend on international (also same for citi points)

That's fine - but transfer rate is the critical point - thanks for your efforts dein.

 

[gregff]

They really should offer transfer to SPG. That would be a big plus.

 

[Cynicor]

Ok for those who asked me, I just called up and pushed quite hard for the select at $350 given the devalue that occurred on the card (plus I was putting through $20-25k per month from my parent's business).

The new card will have the following additional features (I called up and went through it):
- 2 QFF per $1 spend (yes that's right - she confirmed this three times as I didn't believe it) or 2 citi reward for $1
- 5 QFF for $1 spend on international (also same for citi points)
- fee night in hotel at 80 different locations
- spend 3 nights and get 1 free at heaps of different hotels
- some golf package to play complementary at a number of different courses (2 different packages)
- golden circle membership at shangri-la (I can't remember which one was free)

I don't think priority pass was mentioned but I may have forgotten.

For me now it's a no brainier

I love how people are calling and expecting Citi staff to know anything accurate.

I cannot see this card earning anywhere near 5 QF ppd on oseas spend unless the fx charges are in excess of 5%. I also doubt QF points will be greater than 1.5 at the absolute limit. I'll keep an interested eye out though.

 

[dein_gesicht]

I love how people are lazy and expect others to find out stuff and post on forum

 

[legroom]

No offence, but your post count is far fewer than the intended target of your dig.

People on this forum is entitled to express healthy skepticism esp. when it comes to Citi which has had a track record of not even honouring its written terms [hello Free Hotel Nights cancellation; hello ATO goodbye with instant effect etc..], let alone verbal promises from reps.

You are entitled to fully believe what Citi told you; And others are equally entitled to remain skeptical. That is not laziness.

I love how people are lazy and expect others to find out stuff and post on forum

 

[DaveB]

Will be pleasantly surprised if QF converts to match SQ/VA and not the lower CX rate.
I thought enhancing the SQ rate was only a matter of time until they stopped ATO and started giving away Signature cards.

 

[Cynicor]

I love how people are lazy and expect others to find out stuff and post on forum

Mate, you can call and ask what you want, and feel completely free to post the information. But at the end of the day, Citi staff have a reputation of being incompetent and filling in their knowledge gaps with made up information.

I will be eagerly awaiting the print version of the card details. But laziness it is not. As a little experiment, I would suggest calling again and seeing if you get the same outcome (esp on the QF points) twice in a row. That would be quite interesting.

 

[Kimster]

Given Citi's track record in this area we should all be concerned. My intentions were to use Altitude Rewards as the 'bank' to warehouse pts and regularly clear Citi pts across to SQ - but non ATO earn on Alt Black has put a dampener on that one - KrisFlyer Plat sweeps direct so now am faced with Citi being the 'bank' - not happy Jan!

Certainly my approach too Cruiser. All warehousing on Altitude and regular clearance of Citi to SQ. Its way better that way I reckon.