Several Prestige Credit Card Benefits to be Eliminated Jan 2020 (And I'm Not Happy!)

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Emporium

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As some of you may be aware, Citibank Australia have removed product information about the Citi Prestige credit card from their website.

Some assumed the card is soon to be discontinued - but that is not the case. Citibank intend to make the card available to the public again starting from January (currently nobody can apply for the Prestige card).

The bad news is that SEVERAL Citi Prestige benefits are being ELIMINATED (e.g. airport "meet and assist" benefit, complimentary golf course access).

One of the MAJOR benefits Citibank are also eliminating is the complimentary one night at a 4 or 5 star hotel once a year anywhere in the world.

This particular benefit being removed in particular is infuriating, because this benefit alone is valued at around (I would guess) $350. I have personally used my one free night hotel stay at several 5 star hotels including Crown Casino Melbourne & Intercontinental Sydney. This is also a major benefit for those who travel to expensive cities like New York City or Singapore where hotel accommodation is through the roof. Getting a free night at a quality hotel in such expensive cities is a MASSIVE money saver.

Citibank intend on writing to all current Prestige Card holders (about several benefits being eliminated) sometime next month. I informed the CItibank phone representative about my disappointment regarding the complimentary hotel stay benefit coming to an end, and the representative advised me that she will pass on the feedback to her manager.

Considering these changes have not come into place yet and customers have not been informed of the changes in writing - I STRONGLY urge all of you to call Citibank (the Citi Prestige priority phone number is 02 8225 0042) and tell them your thoughts. If enough people call Citibank and let them know that we are not happy with this ballpark $350 benefit being eliminated - they may decide not to go ahead with the change.

Ultimately I am just annoyed with Citibank. This is supposed to be a "prestige" credit card with an annual fee of $700. Citibank seems to want to keep stripping away benefits, and i'm just so sick and tired of it - and don't even think I will keep the credit card in 2020 if Citibank goes ahead with the changes they intend to make (it just won't any longer be worth it for the annual fee I am paying).
 
I have been using that free night so it may make Citi Prestige history for me.
Mrscove gets a creditors run each month on hers so she may stay with her card.
 
My suggestion is that to remain competitive they should: (1) reduce the annual fee (!); (2) eliminate the 3.4% foreign merchant surcharge; or (3) increase the point earn for the category of merchants for which 1 Citi point per $ (equal to 0.5 Velocity points per $) currently applies. The golf, meet and greet and limo services matter little to me, but the value from the complimentary night and the pay 3 nights for a 4 night stay are key benefits that keep me holding this high annual-fee card.
 
The unlimited use Priority Pass card was always an expense they could have pared back on never using the Card/App. Stopped taking the card with me pre App days though did get caught out once when Calgary terminal works meant the Delta linked lounge was closed and having the card could have got us into the only other lounge available.
 
Almost 4 years ago to the day I last called Citibank on a WTF are you thinking rampage due to their points devaluation with virtual zero notice.

The kids at Citi really need to get their cough together. Hire a professional.

IMHO - I hope the challenger banks wipe them out.
 
As some of you may be aware, Citibank Australia have removed product information about the Citi Prestige credit card from their website.

Some assumed the card is soon to be discontinued - but that is not the case. Citibank intend to make the card available to the public again starting from January (currently nobody can apply for the Prestige card).

The bad news is that SEVERAL Citi Prestige benefits are being ELIMINATED (e.g. airport "meet and assist" benefit, complimentary golf course access).

One of the MAJOR benefits Citibank are also eliminating is the complimentary one night at a 4 or 5 star hotel once a year anywhere in the world.

This particular benefit being removed in particular is infuriating, because this benefit alone is valued at around (I would guess) $350. I have personally used my one free night hotel stay at several 5 star hotels including Crown Casino Melbourne & Intercontinental Sydney. This is also a major benefit for those who travel to expensive cities like New York City or Singapore where hotel accommodation is through the roof. Getting a free night at a quality hotel in such expensive cities is a MASSIVE money saver.

Citibank intend on writing to all current Prestige Card holders (about several benefits being eliminated) sometime next month. I informed the CItibank phone representative about my disappointment regarding the complimentary hotel stay benefit coming to an end, and the representative advised me that she will pass on the feedback to her manager.

Considering these changes have not come into place yet and customers have not been informed of the changes in writing - I STRONGLY urge all of you to call Citibank (the Citi Prestige priority phone number is 02 8225 0042) and tell them your thoughts. If enough people call Citibank and let them know that we are not happy with this ballpark $350 benefit being eliminated - they may decide not to go ahead with the change.

Ultimately I am just annoyed with Citibank. This is supposed to be a "prestige" credit card with an annual fee of $700. Citibank seems to want to keep stripping away benefits, and i'm just so sick and tired of it - and don't even think I will keep the credit card in 2020 if Citibank goes ahead with the changes they intend to make (it just won't any longer be worth it for the annual fee I am paying).
What is the source of this information? Without source this is nothing more then speculation.
 
The source is CITIBANK AUSTRALIA themselves. This is not speculation but indeed FACT.

Call Citibank on 13 24 84 (or their priority phone number for Citi Prestige customers - 8225 0042) and ask them for yourself.

The changes I have mentioned above (e.g. the elimination of a yearly complimentary night at a 4/5 star hotel - valued at hundreds upon hundreds of dollars) is already confirmed and set to take effect starting January.

That's also why Citi Prestige concierge are refusing to make reservations/bookings for any date after December.

Because Citi Prestige cardholders have NOT been advised of these changes in writing as yet (Citibank intend to do so in December) - I am urging you all to call Citibank and tell them how you feel. If they know enough customers are angry about these changes - it is possible they may decide not to proceed with it.

Remember - this complementary hotel benefit is valued at around $350 per year. Once this benefit is eliminated - I'm guessing it's virtually impossible to ever get it back. That's why it's so important to stop it from happening before Citibank enforces these changes.
 
Oh it get's even better...

Citibank are also downgrading the complimentary airport transfer benefit.

At the moment, you receive 2 complementary airport transfers per year...starting from 2020 you only receive 1 complimentary airport transfer per year.

What a joke!

These changes will be made public to cardholders via email this week (or at the latest, next week).
 
Nope.

As of January 2020 - only ONE complementary airport transfer per year.

So now we have complementary night at a 4/5 star hotel benefit eliminated, meet & assist benefit eliminated, complimentary golf course access benefit eliminated, return airport transfer benefit eliminated.

And no...the annual fee is NOT being reduced. It will remain $700.
 
One of the MAJOR benefits Citibank are also eliminating is the complimentary one night at a 4 or 5 star hotel once a year anywhere in the world.
It's even worse than I thought. The hotel "4th night free" benefit is no longer unlimited and is now CAPPED. You can only use it 4 times - that's it!


How is capped at 4 times, worse than the once a year you claimed originally?
 
How is capped at 4 times, worse than the once a year you claimed originally?

They are two seperate things.

First one OP mentioned was a free night stay world wide. (once a year originally, now it's gone)

The 2nd was stay 4 nights you only pay for 3 nights. (was unlimited, now only 4 times a year)
 
There are TWO different hotel benefits.

4th Night Free - This is a benefit where if you book a hotel room for 3 nights in a row, you can stay the following night (your 4th night) for free. This benefit was originally unlimited (you can book as many '3 night stay/get your 4th night free' reservations), but now you can only use this benefit 4 times a year.

Complimentary Hotel Stay - This is a separate benefit, where once a year you can book a one night stay at a leading 4/5 star hotel at no cost. Citibank pays for your free night. This benefit has now been eliminated.
 
If enough people call Citibank and let them know that we are not happy with this ballpark $350 benefit being eliminated - they may decide not to go ahead with the change.
be aware that Citibank has already factored in that many customers will be unhappy with the changes, and that many will cancel.
 
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