Reduction in Transfer Rates to Velocity/Krisflyer

[albyd]

this document should help https://citibank.com.au/global_docs/pdf/Citi-Prestige-Signature.pdf

 

[Duffa]

no worries. I was wondering about using my limo for a trip to the city..... hmmm...
Also haven't booked my hotel yet

Last December 2014 I booked a hotel for May 2015, no problem.
Forgot to use the limo service in SIN in June

 

[Duffa]

this document should help https://citibank.com.au/global_docs/pdf/Citi-Prestige-Signature.pdf

Thanks albyd, I'll get that calender reminder set to sweep early March

 

[burmans]

Thanks albyd, I'll get that calender reminder set to sweep early March

I suspect there will be a few reminders via AFF too!

 

[Duffa]

And from that date my ANZ rewards black will get all my "non-penalty" spend - 1.11 to Kris Flyer is now my best earn rate; apart from supermarket spend of course, which is Amex Plat Edge at 3 per $, unless I happen to be in Woolies, whereupon the 5% Wish card discount trumps all comers!

cough this game is complicated

 

[albyd]

I've just been planning a Hilton stay. Normal transfer rate to Hilton not as good value as pointy end travel. With current double HHonours offer (until 17 Jan), it looks pretty good for the hotel I have in mind. Just need to run it by my better half before I trap points in HHonours so my deadline will be a little earlier than for most

PS: Anyone transferred to Hilton recently? How long did it take?

 

[Plutonus]

Even though Citi has now provided notice, aren't they still going against the precedent in the NAB case by not maintaining the value of the points earned prior to 18 March 2016?

 

[Kimster]

1 business day....extended family holiday during Ramadan shopping in Malaysia with booking at DT Hilton. Great Timing for me from Hilton.

I've just been planning a Hilton stay. Normal transfer rate to Hilton not as good value as pointy end travel. With current double HHonours offer (until 17 Jan), it looks pretty good for the hotel I have in mind. Just need to run it by my better half before I trap points in HHonours so my deadline will be a little earlier than for most

PS: Anyone transferred to Hilton recently? How long did it take?

 

[ninja-tim]

Just want to confirm.

If I transfer points to KF today, then these points have a 3 year expiry. What happens if I transfer more points in 2 years time or book a flight. Will all the points (including those transferred today) have a renewed expiry of 3 years from then?

 

[tharaka]

Just want to confirm.

If I transfer points to KF today, then these points have a 3 year expiry. What happens if I transfer more points in 2 years time or book a flight. Will all the points (including those transferred today) have a renewed expiry of 3 years from then?

Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. The exact amount of points you transfer today will expire in 3 yrs. Your Points inventory will work First in First out. So when you book a ticket it takes points from the first in points.

Hope this makes sense.

 

[thehound]

Even though Citi has now provided notice, aren't they still going against the precedent in the NAB case by not maintaining the value of the points earned prior to 18 March 2016?

Interesting point - I'd be interested to hear what others might comment on this too.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Even though Citi has now provided notice, aren't they still going against the precedent in the NAB case by not maintaining the value of the points earned prior to 18 March 2016?

I've always found reward scheme devaluations unfair as they act in a way that is retrospective.

I suppose you'd have to look at what the T&Cs said, and also I believe if you've done a recent transfer you've agreed to some further lose of rights too.

personally I'd have preferred they offered me the choice of paying an annual fee and keeping the higher earn rate, but by the sounds of it with the RBA pushing the merchant fees down there's not much $$ left to buy miles with. The US seems to have far higher merchant fees which allows the credit card schemes there to be much more generous.

I'm just waiting for notice from NAB on when they''ll be devaluing the combined amex card as it sounds like these will only be able to get the lower merchant fee associated with the mc or visa card on the account ie only direct amex cards are likely to have higher earn rates, but they will likely have to start dropping their fees or lose out on market share - after losing costco in the USA they can't afford much more loses, and interestingly Citibank got the contract and from the sounds of it will be cracking Champaign corks if they manage to break even on the deal.

Sigh, it was a good wicket while it lasted

 

[daveozsydney]

I've just been planning a Hilton stay. Normal transfer rate to Hilton not as good value as pointy end travel. With current double HHonours offer (until 17 Jan), it looks pretty good for the hotel I have in mind. Just need to run it by my better half before I trap points in HHonours so my deadline will be a little earlier than for most

PS: Anyone transferred to Hilton recently? How long did it take?

I contemplated this and crunched the numbers and it works for cat 1 hiltons and the cat 9 and 10 options.

I transferred the equivalent of 760,000 HH recently and it took just a couple of days - maybe 2-3 from memory to post. It wasn't instant but still ok. Was enough for 10 days at the Conrad Maldives (rated number 1 hotel in the world for a few years) with Hilton Gold every 5th night free deal - Cash cost was 2K AUD per night so 20K worth of hotel for 380,000 Citi points versus roughly one return first class in Singapore Suites worth about 13-14K
There are a few other properties in the chain in this league where it may be a viable award (using reward rates and not cash and points rates)

Also have a lot of points in air schemes so hotel was a better burn for me rather than paying for accommodation.

Flying there with A380 Suites and the onwards business to Male (no first service) - booked mix class redemption online with no service fee.

 

[diningdecadence]

I contemplated this and crunched the numbers and it works for cat 1 hiltons and the cat 9 and 10 options.

I transferred the equivalent of 760,000 HH recently and it took just a couple of days - maybe 2-3 from memory to post. It wasn't instant but still ok. Was enough for 10 days at the Conrad Maldives (rated number 1 hotel in the world for a few years) with Hilton Gold every 5th night free deal - Cash cost was 2K AUD per night so 20K worth of hotel for 380,000 Citi points versus roughly one return first class in Singapore Suites worth about 13-14K
There are a few other properties in the chain in this league where it may be a viable award (using reward rates and not cash and points rates)

Also have a lot of points in air schemes so hotel was a better burn for me rather than paying for accommodation.

Flying there with A380 Suites and the onwards business to Male (no first service) - booked mix class redemption online with no service fee.

doing almost exactly the same but coming from JFK on Suites. won't be there in March by any chance will you?

 

[daveozsydney]

May - couldn't find flights in april when I wanted to go. Let us know how it is! I also looked at redeeming some AA points to go EY apartments but again no availability as everyone is redeeming their AA before the devaluation!
Watch out for the 25kg per person allowance on the seaplane! I think that's the only option to get there... Hotel looks amazing! Apparently you can upgrade with cash if there's availability and you ask nicely. Also free drinks every evening with hilton gold and free breakfasts... makes it VERY worthwhile!

 

[Cynicor]

May - couldn't find flights in april when I wanted to go. Let us know how it is! I also looked at redeeming some AA points to go EY apartments but again no availability as everyone is redeeming their AA before the devaluation!
Watch out for the 25kg per person allowance on the seaplane! I think that's the only option to get there... Hotel looks amazing! Apparently you can upgrade with cash if there's availability and you ask nicely. Also free drinks every evening with hilton gold and free breakfasts... makes it VERY worthwhile!

Jump over to the proper thread but I'd apply for cash upgrades in advance. Just back (5 days) from my 2nd stay there.

 

[mark4217]

Hi Daveozsydney,
Can you tell me which room you booked at Conrad Maldives for that HH point spend. Cheers and thanks

 

[Cynicor]

10 nights base beach villa, pay 4 get 5 as HH gold or diamond.
90kx8 nights, basically.

 

[mark4217]

Thanks Cynicor, as a diamond and when booking, do they automatically know to charge you for 8 nights if you make the booking for 10 nights, i.e. 5 night free x 2... How do they know you are expecting the 5th night free. Cheers

 

[Cynicor]

It's handled by the booking engine automatically. It will only show up availability if you have enough points to make the booking. Too OT now, please ask any more Q in the Rangali thread.