Citibank Price Match Guarantee

[civinod]

They wanted a screen shot of step 3 and 4 of the Qantas redemption pages (classic awards). I had to talk them through the offer because they didn't know much about it.
Anyway after a couple of phone calls and emails it all worked well.

I didn't ask them for the same flights but when they came back to me they offered the exact flights and dates.

More than happy with all this. Will definitely try them again. Gives me more reason to think about dumping the Amex card as it seems to be of less value by the day.

 

[wafliron]

They wanted a screen shot of step 3 and 4 of the Qantas redemption pages (classic awards). I had to talk them through the offer because they didn't know much about it.

Anyway after a couple of phone calls and emails it all worked well.

OK, so much the same as my and other's prior experiences. Interesting that they weren't knowledgeable about the offer - my experience was the opposite.

I didn't ask them for the same flights but when they came back to me they offered the exact flights and dates.

That's good news too - I don't think we've yet had a report where they haven't immediately offered the same flights.

I'm going to be trying a few dom J PMG bookings over the next few months where I specifically request Virgin (to maintain status) - will be interested to see how that goes.

More than happy with all this. Will definitely try them again. Gives me more reason to think about dumping the Amex card as it seems to be of less value by the day.

Aye

Thanks for replying / sharing.

 

[jingles]

Has anyone noticed that the link no longer works https://www.citibank.com.au/takeflight/price_match.htm

I cant see any mention of it on the citibank site either

 

[anchew]

Nooooooo!!

 

[oz_mark]

Has anyone noticed that the link no longer works https://www.citibank.com.au/takeflight/price_match.htm

I cant see any mention of it on the citibank site either

Been mentioned up thread a few days ago.

Sent from my HTC Legend using AustFreqFly

 

[ronicat]

That's good news too - I don't think we've yet had a report where they haven't immediately offered the same flights.


I have had two of my four flights matched to different flights - QF to USA pricematched and offered UA
One domestic QF offered Virgin at a totally unacceptable time even though there were still seats available on Qantas flight
The other two domestic flights were exact matches

 

[Newk]

Has anyone noticed that the link no longer works https://www.citibank.com.au/takeflight/price_match.htm

I cant see any mention of it on the citibank site either

I think this one still does. Lifted from an earlier post

https://www.takeflight.citibank.com.au/public/info.aspx?name=price_match_guarantee

 

[N860CR]

Just come across this thread... very interesting.

I have a QF OneWorld award flight booked that is SYD-SIN-BKK-HKG-CDG-AMM-CAI-LHR-JFK-LAX-SFO-HKG-MNL-SYD. Mix of QF, CX, RJ, BA and AA, all booked (obviously) through Qantas. 280,000 points + about $1300 in taxes. Surely there is something that prevents me sending this to Citi to have it matched and booked as a full points earning ticket? (apologies if this has been mentioned already, I may have skipped over it).

 

[oz_mark]

Just come across this thread... very interesting.

I have a QF OneWorld award flight booked that is SYD-SIN-BKK-HKG-CDG-AMM-CAI-LHR-JFK-LAX-SFO-HKG-MNL-SYD. Mix of QF, CX, RJ, BA and AA, all booked (obviously) through Qantas. 280,000 points + about $1300 in taxes. Surely there is something that prevents me sending this to Citi to have it matched and booked as a full points earning ticket? (apologies if this has been mentioned already, I may have skipped over it).

Yes, the matching is based on simple one way or return fares. No multi-city etc.

 

[WA flyer]

You will probably have to break it down to separate bookings as they told me it has to be single lot return flights without stopovers in future!

 

[civinod]

Just did another redemption.

All the usual details they required (screen shot of steps 2 and 3) but they wouldn't do a thing until I resubmitted with the screen shot showing the date and time on my computer. Really can't fathom why they need that. Surely it doesn't take a genius to work out how to change the date and time on your own computer (if you wanted to get up to no good)

I suppose its Citibank bureaucracy.

But they came through with the same flights and cost in Citibank points.

Gotta love it.

Just need to get the limit increased on the Select card so I can put through some serious points.Anyone had experience in approaching them for big increases (more than happy to ditch the Amex in they come through).

 

[cove]

I hit a dead end at 75k and Mrscove is at 50k.
My suggestion is try doing it by phone.
You can always use BPay if they won't move your credit limit up but that will use up your money quicker.

 

[diningdecadence]

Has anyone used this service and then had to change their flights? How does it work? Do you receive a credit shell?

 

[beardoc]

Has anyone used this service and then had to change their flights? How does it work? Do you receive a credit shell?

I'd be interested to know this as well.

 

[wafliron]

Another PMG data-point, just as a FYI for everyone following this thread:

I e-mailed in a PMG request a few days ago for a simple MEL-BNE in J, but this time I specifically requested for the matched flight to be on DJ rather than QF - I'm chasing Velocity SCs to help requal for Velocity Gold. A Pinpoint consultant rang me within an hour (much faster than my previous experiences) and was more than happy to match with DJ - she didn't question it at all, just asked if DJxx_ was OK and ran through the cost. Five minutes later it was all booked, and within 24 hours Virgin had e-mailed me the booking confirmation / itinerary (as an aside this showed the full dollar cost of the fare as per normal - ~$600 charged to Citibank for a fare that cost me ~$35 + 24,000 CitiRewards points).

Looks like the PMG is alive and well - and they're happy to allow you to "create" QF-style "ASAs" on DJ via it

Also, a couple of further FYIs that came out of this PMG request:

1) Apparently Citi Travel reduced the cash value of each CitiRewards point from 1c/pt to 0.83c/pt a few days ago. This change has a negative impact on non-PMG Citi Travel bookings as each CitiRewards point is now worth less (e.g. a non-PMG $1,000 fare now costs ~120k points instead of ~100k points), but it has no material affect on PMG bookings - it just changes some of the "sums" along the way. For example, with my 24k point booking, rather than them charging my card $240 (1c * 24,000) + taxes and then refunding $240 onto the card, they instead charged $206 (0.83c * 24,000) + taxes and will then refund $206. Same outcome - in fact slightly better, as the charge/refund onto your card is lower - but a little confusing at first if you're used to 1c/pt.

2) I'm not sure if this is new or not, but the Pinpoint consultant initially quoted me ~28k points and no $$ - turns out she was offering to allow me to pay the taxes and surcharges (~$35) with points, at the previously-mentioned rate of 0.83c/pt. I guess some people may find useful but overall it represents poor value for these extra points - but either way, be aware that this option exists so that you can ask for this to happen / ask for this not to happen if you get quoted the opposite way to that which you desire.

HTH!

 

[blessed11]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd add my 2c. I sent a request to Citi PMG on late Friday afternoon for a one-way SYD-MEL in J for 32,000 for 2 passengers. I recently received a call from a consultant who stated that they could match the flight but it would be on DJ. I asked if there were any available in QF either a little earlier or later, however the consultant advised that DJ & QF more or less fly at the same times every day SYD - MEL and DJ is always cheaper that QF in J... thus CitiBank will 99% of the time offer DJ on SYD - MEL in J as it's the cheaper fare.

Cheers !

 

[blessed11]

P.S. I just searched Velocity SYD - MEL for the same

19,320 + 48.23 for 2 passengers in J

OR

26,400 at Points Only

Transfer rate to DJ is 1.33 points per dollar, so would roughly need 14,500 Citi points. They want to charge me 32,000 for the same flight...

Seems like no deal to me ...

 

[ronicat]

Wouldn't you need 26400 velocity points = 39600 Citi points ($19800 spending on card equates to 39600 Citi points transferred to Velocity at 1.5:1 will give you 26400 Velocity Points) or PMG requires 32000 Citi points plus the ticket bought through PMG will earn points but the Velocity Award flight will not.

(

P.S. I just searched Velocity SYD - MEL for the same

19,320 + 48.23 for 2 passengers in J

OR

26,400 at Points Only

Transfer rate to DJ is 1.33 points per dollar, so would roughly need 14,500 Citi points. They want to charge me 32,000 for the same flight...

Seems like no deal to me ...

 

[blessed11]

Whoops! I worked that calculation backwards!

I think it's fare to compare to the Velocity Points + Pay (19,320 + $48.23) which is equal to QF where you a re required to pay taxes. 28,980 Citi points would be needed to convert to 19,320 Velocity points and purchase it directly, however as you mentioned no points or status would be earned, so in effect I guess I'd be paying a slight premium for that luxury. Thing is, I usually chase QF Status and was hoping to get this ticket on QF to use as a quasi JASA to help me gain Platinum OW...

 

[wafliron]

Just thought I'd add my 2c. I sent a request to Citi PMG on late Friday afternoon for a one-way SYD-MEL in J for 32,000 for 2 passengers. I recently received a call from a consultant who stated that they could match the flight but it would be on DJ. I asked if there were any available in QF either a little earlier or later, however the consultant advised that DJ & QF more or less fly at the same times every day SYD - MEL and DJ is always cheaper that QF in J... thus CitiBank will 99% of the time offer DJ on SYD - MEL in J as it's the cheaper fare.

Thanks for posting - I think that's the first time we've heard of a PMG request where a match on QF has specifically been requested being denied?

I think it's fare to compare to the Velocity Points + Pay (19,320 + $48.23) which is equal to QF where you a re required to pay taxes. 28,980 Citi points would be needed to convert to 19,320 Velocity points and purchase it directly, however as you mentioned no points or status would be earned, so in effect I guess I'd be paying a slight premium for that luxury. Thing is, I usually chase QF Status and was hoping to get this ticket on QF to use as a quasi JASA to help me gain Platinum OW...

I agree with this calculation (and with the fact that the ~3,000 point premium is well and truly worth it to earn points / SCs on the fare). Also note that DJ currently have a "30% off" promotion on reward seats running until 31 Dec 2012 - so from 1 Jan 2013 onwards this same fare would cost you ~27,600 DJ points = ~41,400 CitiRewards points if redeemed your CR points to DJ and booked directly.