Citi Select (post March 2013) - ? worth $700 annual fee

[legroom]

Does anyone know if the Priority Pass Prestige Membership that comes with the Select card will be cancelled once the Select card itself is cancelled? I cancelled my Select card 2 weeks ago, but my Priority Pass card has an expiry of Dec 2015 printed on it, and when I go to the Priority Pass website, it still lets me log in, without telling me anything to indicate that my membership is no longer valid.

I'm not hugely worried about it either way, considering I only used the PP card twice in the first year - and one of those times I was flying J anyway, but the lounge I was in was so cough that I thought I'd go and check out a different one . Also, I now have two different PP cards with 2 free visits each for me only. Still though, the Prestige membership via Select gets unlimited visits for me and a guest, so I'm wondering if I should hang on to the card?

Same situation here

Plan to take both to LHR in April and test it out.

On the face of it, the Select PP card should still be good.

 

[Jack_OC]

Same situation here

Plan to take both to LHR in April and test it out.

On the face of it, the Select PP card should still be good.

Interestingly, I got the letter from Citi confirming the Select cancellation today, and it says "your complimentary special features memberships have also been cancelled. Please ensure you destroy these membership cards as they are no longer active".

Not that I necessarily believe anything Citi say though!

 

[cove]

Sad to hear several AFF members have left Citi Select this year. It remains a favorite of mine despite the lack of back up when you ask a question or two.
If you try to not ask any questions mostly this card runs really well.

 

[legroom]

Interestingly, I got the letter from Citi confirming the Select cancellation today, and it says "your complimentary special features memberships have also been cancelled. Please ensure you destroy these membership cards as they are no longer active".

Not that I necessarily believe anything Citi say though!

I did not receive such letter when I asked to downgrade to fee-free Signature 1-2 months ago.

The fact you could still log on PP suggests the opposite.

 

[uio]

Any confirmation on whether the previous select PP card still works?

 

[cove]

If you spend enough on your Citi Select card you never need to use your PP cards. Non Qantas Citi has been a favourite card despite the back end weakness where you will always regret asking any question.
If you need your hand held I don't think any Citi card will work for you as the back room support is missing.

 

[quokka77]

Slightly off topic, but I should also say, not only is the phone/back end support bad, but the branch experience is underwhelming too. I went to the Brisbane branch to *deposit* money and was told I couldn't, as my account was not active. "Could you not activate it for me now over the counter?" --oh no sir, you will have to ring the call centre on our free phone just here. They can activate the account for you, then we can accept your deposit. Two phone calls, much exasperation and thirty minutes later I was on my way to a friendly post office to put the cash deposit to ING instead. Needed the money in one of these accounts for favourable cash withdrawals on our current trip. Didn't want to do a bank transfer as I was leaving the country before the next business day. Looks like my citi plus card will stay in the drawer a little longer.

 

[AusTraveller]

Slightly off topic, but I should also say, not only is the phone/back end support bad, but the branch experience is underwhelming too. I went to the Brisbane branch to *deposit* money and was told I couldn't, as my account was not active. "Could you not activate it for me now over the counter?" --oh no sir, you will have to ring the call centre on our free phone just here. They can activate the account for you, then we can accept your deposit. Two phone calls, much exasperation and thirty minutes later I was on my way to a friendly post office to put the cash deposit to ING instead. Needed the money in one of these accounts for favourable cash withdrawals on our current trip. Didn't want to do a bank transfer as I was leaving the country before the next business day. Looks like my citi plus card will stay in the drawer a little longer.

Citi also has a "bank at post" (or whatever it is called) arrangement. So they should be able to take deposits there. Obviously only when account is active. Money is available pretty much immediately.

 

[DeKa]

Citi also has a "bank at post" (or whatever it is called) arrangement. So they should be able to take deposits there. Obviously only when account is active. Money is available pretty much immediately.

$3000 daily limit at Bank@Post.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Citibank security team on the ball today - bought 2 x ret Heathrow Express tix online tonight and within 10mins had phone call from Citibank asking me to verify that it was indeed a bona fidelity transaction.

 

[cove]

I still remember the phone call Mrscove received where she failed the ID phone call seeing I had completed her form incorrectly from the start. Citi terminated the call and made her produce all sorts of things to fix her file. I think that was the start of her dislike of anything Citi.
Of course she forgets just how well she did with the card to produce QF points galore. It has been and still is a very good card so we have one each for QF and SQ points.
Just recently we have used the Citi US cards as there is no foreign exchange cost at all.
Enjoying London Cruiser?
We are trying to decide which shows to book. Eagles and the Pajama Game have been mentioned.
The fraud detection team at Citi are doing ok and they are jumpy about foreign flight bookings.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Enjoying London Cruiser?

Still in MEL cove - dep on 17th in Suites then new F to LHR - arr abt 8am 18th. I needed the info on tix as it's my job to book the flts, book the hotels, book the transfers, book the shows, choose the restaurants, pick the daily sites and sights - Cruiserette says is too busy packing the make-up case - sound familiar anybody?

 

[cove]

We are off to London in about 30 hours time. Stay in touch Cruiser.

 

[Stephen65]

One thing I will say Citi do pretty diligently is fraud checking. I bought two sets of Avianca points recently during the 100% special and within five minutes I had them ring my mobile enquiring about it.

 

[diningdecadence]

One thing I will say Citi do pretty diligently is fraud checking. I bought two sets of Avianca points recently during the 100% special and within five minutes I had them ring my mobile enquiring about it.

which is bemusing as i booked a LM ticket last night using my citi select and didn't receive a call...

 

[burmans]

which is bemusing as i booked a LM ticket last night using my citi select and didn't receive a call...

Have you previously spent money on Lifemiles? Fraud departments look at unusual activity, so two sets of large purchases of points might trigger the call (particularly if you haven't bought before) whereas if you've done before its no longer unusual!

The fact that its in Colombia by itself is not a reason for a fraud call.

 

[Jack_OC]

I've also found Citi to be very thorough wrt fraud checking. I never used to bother calling my card provider to tell them I was going overseas, but the first time I used a Citi card overseas, they tried calling to verify soon after. The problem was, my purchase was made at LAX just before boarding my connecting flight, and I was on board with my phone turned off before they called me. When I landed in BOS, my card wouldn't work as it had been blocked. I got it sorted out by calling Citi, so it wasn't a big deal, but I've never had that happen with any other card provider. Now I make a point of telling them when I'm going away!

 

[balian1131]

- Edge tips the balance back towards Amex with its free domestic flight and very good grocery spend return (this alone is approximately $1000 per month for our household, and there have been some manufactured spend opportunities in the supermarkets recently, taking it over $5000 spend at Coles/woolies for the quarter).

Wondering if you could enlighten me to Manufactured Spending Opportunities down under. Recently moved to NZ from the US. Thanks.

 

[Newk]

Wondering if you could enlighten me to Manufactured Spending Opportunities down under. Recently moved to NZ from the US. Thanks.

possibly you could PM between yourselves?

Just saying

(how long do you think MS will last once broadcast here?.....Oh, and I know nothing so please don't Pm me)

 

[DaveB]

Just received the Select annual statement, all 35 pages of it which together with the Priority Pass and Travel Insurance continue to be features I have never used since upgrading to the card in 2010.
Don't understand why they prepare and post out annual statements as I only glance at it for amusement at their attempt to breakdown purchases to fit their various Categories. Being able to access and download the statement online in varying formats would probably get more use.
Does anyone actually make use of the Select benefits besides the lovely points??