FINALLY! - Citi launching Citi Prestige with Visa Infinite

[quokka77]

Thanks for the info, that's all valuable data.

 

[cove]

Great card for everything except ATO.

 

[Foreigner]

Great card for everything except ATO.

Which are the cards best for ATO, other than Amex cards?

 

[cove]

QCU cc,BW World,BW Platinum, US CitiExec are ok. On WOW cc you can do a $5,000 for 3,750 points each month. ANZ Blacks finish Feb 26th.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

OK just finalised 4nts in PVG for May 5 to 9 - all paid for up front on non-refundable rate. I was under the impression that ALL 'Stay 4 Pay 3' promo bookings were non-refundable and with no breakfast included now but that is not the case.

Indeed Citi Concierge - which is based in Hong Kong - are using hotels.com as the provider this year - so if contemplating this promo do check both non-refund / refund and b/f / no b/f rates on hotels.com web site and compare to what you can get elsewhere - then you will be in position to accurately assess merit of rates.

I hate booking nonrefundable but I am attending a trade show in PVG so should be ok – total for 4 nts I have paid is A$1,465.26 – you guys can readily compare this to what you can find on WA site or any other booking engine. With this nonrefund / no b/f booking WA have indicated in writing as I am HH Dia I will still receive Dia benefits so brekky problem goes away

And one more point - on ALL correspondence I have received from Citi Concierge the phone number on bottom is listed as + 612 8225 0042 - this is indeed the number for Citi Prestige Priority in Sydney - if you call this number wanting to talk to Concierge they will have to transfer you - how ridiculous. Direct number to Concierge is 1800 799 299

 

[cove]

Thanks for the phone numbers CE.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Thanks for the phone numbers CE.

That's the beauty of AFF cove - members willing to help others knowing full well it will be returned in spades at some point in time.

Now further to that I have received Booking / Payment confirmation - it comes direct from Hotels.com - with a bunch of other interesting info included which I won't say much about here - if you make a booking you will see ut.

 

[cove]

Yes CE I have a booking now. I have tried to be helpful on AFF and I have been helped which has been really good.

 

[edman]

Does anyone have any experience on a booking using the stay 4 pay 3 promo also accruing Le Club Accor Hotels points?

 

[VAG newbie]

Does anyone have any experience on a booking using the stay 4 pay 3 promo also accruing Le Club Accor Hotels points?

Not with Le Club, but have tried Hilton. No points, but gold status recognized.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I have a Limo transfer booked from PVG to downtown on Wed - changed flt from 828 onto 380 830 - arr time back ~2hrs so sent off email to Concierge requesting modification to booking - recd cancellation notification 10mins later - WTF - sent off another email stating cancellation NOT requested simply modification - recd another NEW booking 5 mins later - clearly bookings cannot be modified - must cancel and create new.

5 mins later I receive call from Concierge to explain all this - (UK phone number) - I apologised for my actions but agent said NO NO do not apologise - he would have done same - better to be sure than sorry!

Citi service - can't fault it can you?

 

[edman]

Got caught out trying to book limo last week for my AUstralian Open trip - must be made 72 hrs + prior, no leniency on this. Thought that was strange they wouldn't even check availability. Not a very "premium" experience.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Got caught out trying to book limo last week for my AUstralian Open trip - must be made 72 hrs + prior, no leniency on this. Thought that was strange they wouldn't even check availability. Not a very "premium" experience.

From my experience there are lead-in times to all services:
Limo: 72 hours
Hotel: 48 hours
Hotel Status: 1-9 weeks

 

[villemus]

Just called up the concierge regarding the 4th night free program

Apparently they use hotel.com to check availability (I always thought that they use a travel agent instead as per those US blogs)

This means a wider range of hotel and at the same time you may not get the status credits for the big chains.

 

[jakiman]

Just FYI on my upcoming Limousine Transfer bookings.

1. ICN to Hotel in Seoul (55km) for 4 people with 3 large luggage. (March)
They said the standard E-class of equivalent they use won't fit all the luggage. Fair enough.
So they gave me an option to "upgrade" to a larger MPV for $3 USD. Yes. $3 USD only!

2. SYD to Home (25km my way, 35km their way!) for 1 person with 1 large luggage. (April)
They only allow up to 25km free in Sydney. They won't accept my faster/shorter route. (even taxis use my route!)
So they have to go along the automated multiple freeways/tunnels/harbour bridge route which is 35km.
It's USD 5.70 Per extra KM. So yeah, it's about AUD $80 extra. Still cheaper than cab but not by much.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Just called up the concierge regarding the 4th night free program

Apparently they use hotel.com to check availability (I always thought that they use a travel agent instead as per those US blogs)

This means a wider range of hotel and at the same time you may not get the status credits for the big chains.

It's actually hotels.com - sorry for being pedantic. Previously Citi did indeed use a HK based agent but too many probs. The major diff from old to new was that with old system you paid full amt at hotel at check out and rebate would appear in your card ~8wks down the track. With new system rebate is deducted up front and you don't need to pay and wait for it to be refunded.

As for hotel loyalty pts you can pretty well kiss them goodbye with all programmes if booked through 3rd party.

 

[villemus]

oh in addition, they can't book anything more than 4days stay in 1 single booking.

e.g. if I want to book for a 5 days stay, they'd have to book for a 4 days stay + 1 single day stay. However, when a hotel has a minimum stay policy, you won't be able to book the 5th day. This is what I got hit with. Waiting for their call back tomorrow to see if they can call the property to incl the extra day

 

[LadyC]

oh in addition, they can't book anything more than 4days stay in 1 single booking.

e.g. if I want to book for a 5 days stay, they'd have to book for a 4 days stay + 1 single day stay. However, when a hotel has a minimum stay policy, you won't be able to book the 5th day. This is what I got hit with. Waiting for their call back tomorrow to see if they can call the property to incl the extra day

Will be interested to hear more about this - keep us posted.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

This I wasn't aware of - old system you could readily book >4 days in a booking and still get 1 night rebate - we stayed 10nts at Double 6 in Seminyak over Christmas - I booked first 5nts to get 1nt rebate / Cruiserette booked second 5nt stint to get 1nt rebate - 2 back to back bookings giving 10nts total with 2nts rebated - probably best if we get this clarified on new system - we will wait your response villemus.

 

[big_head]

Not sure if they have changed the concierge services in the new year, but so far it has been less than stellar. Huge contrast making bookings this year vs last.