Citibank Price Match Guarantee

[burmans]

Ahh bugger - thanks for the sharing though. Do you have a full copy of the new T&Cs you could post? It'd be nice if Citi actually provided them to us rather than a broken link on their website!

Somewhat amazing in this day and age that Citibank think this is OK to not have T&C's available, am sure this is not compliant with some law, regulation or Code!

 

[Korda]

Has anybody noticed that Citibank appears to have removed almost all references to their Price Match Guarantee Program from their website?

Anyone know if this program is still active?

 

[blessed11]

Used the Citi PMG for a domestic flight for 2 a couple weeks ago. Brilliant service and extremely prompt assistance from Pinpoint Travel

 

[FrankC]

Used the Citi PMG for a domestic flight for 2 a couple weeks ago. Brilliant service and extremely prompt assistance from Pinpoint Travel

Do you mind sharing some more details?
Like which flight you requested and which one offered?

Cheers

 

[blessed11]

Sure
SYD - MEL return. Sometime end of Nov in J
Checked tickets on Virgin and they were sold out around times I requested.
Offered same Qantas flight I requested and only submitted a day prior to departure (had to call and request PMG to be fast-tracked, which they did happily)
Ive done quite a few SYD - MEL return in J now. If Virgin is substantially cheaper they will offer those flights. However, I'm happy with Virgin in J though prefer QF for status credits

 

[FrankC]

Sure
SYD - MEL return. Sometime end of Nov in J
Checked tickets on Virgin and they were sold out around times I requested.
Offered same Qantas flight I requested and only submitted a day prior to departure (had to call and request PMG to be fast-tracked, which they did happily)
Ive done quite a few SYD - MEL return in J now. If Virgin is substantially cheaper they will offer those flights. However, I'm happy with Virgin in J though prefer QF for status credits

Thanks
Didn't know that they are able (& willing) to price match next day's flight - might come in handy someday

Cheers

 

[blessed11]

Yes - certainly does.
Just make sure you grab the screenshots in time from Qantas as they only allow award bookings 24 hours prior to date of departure

 

[uio]

Ahh bugger - thanks for the sharing though. Do you have a full copy of the new T&Cs you could post? It'd be nice if Citi actually provided them to us rather than a broken link on their website!

Re your particular flights, couldn't you have just put in two separate PMG requests rather than trying to get an open jaw on one "quote" matched?

I have what I am told is a full copy of the new T&C's, but I am a bit doubtful whether it is a formally issued one or not (it was sent to me as a Word doc, rather than a .pdf like most T&C documents).

On my particular flights, I could not do two separate PMG requests as all PMG requests now need to originate in Australia.

The pinpoint staff were generally helpful but I don't think they were that familiar with all the rules at the time. Not sure if your experience depends which consultant you get. Certainly I got more traction sorting it out once a more senior staff member stepped in after a few complaints. I don't think it's their fault though - Citibank need to be clearer on the exact terms of this feature of the card.

 

[uio]

T&C's as sent to me on 5 June 2012, bold points as highlighted by myself:

[h=1]Price Match Guarantee Terms and Conditions[/h]

1. If you can provide proof of a recent (as defined below) Qantas Frequent Flyer award one way or return flight offer available to you in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program, we’ll match that flight in the Citibank Rewards Program by providing a comparable flight offer for the same number of Citibank Rewards points.
2. This Price Match Guarantee is made available in Australia only to Australian Citibank Rewards Credit Cards holders by Citibank and is managed on Citibank’s behalf by Pinpoint Travel Group. It is not available to Citibank credit card holders that enrol in Citibank’s airline frequent flyer direct earn programs.

1. To show us a recent award one way or return flight offer available to you in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program you will need to email/fax us a printout of a screenshot from the relevant page from the Qantas Australia website of the award availability to you which clearly shows: date you sourced the quote, flight numbers; airline; dates of travel; total number of points and if the relevant offer allows you to pay with a combination of Qantas Frequent Flyer points and dollar payment, the amount of the dollar payment; number of adult and child passengers; class of travel; and quantity of baggage included. To contact us phone 1300 144 920. This offer is available for bookings made through the Citibank Travel Program call centre and claims cannot be made for online bookings.
2. An award flight offer is only valid if the quote you provide was obtained within the previous 3 business days of you contacting the Citibank Travel Program call centre. Documentation must be sent to us via email on [email protected] or fax on 02 9352 3280.

1. An award flight offer in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program is any domestic or international one way or return, Flight Booking, Classic or Any Seat award in Economy, Premium Economy, or Business class that is available on the Qantas Australia website. First class is not included. The award flight must be one way or return, originate in Australia and it must be available to you in the ordinary use of the program.

1. Round the world, multi-stop and open jaw award flights are not eligible.

1. If the Qantas award flight offer that you show us is available to you in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program would require you to pay non-commissionable components of the ticket cost such as taxes and surcharges separately, then the comparable flight offer we offer you will match the number of points for the commissionable portion of the ticket only and will exclude any applicable taxes and surcharges or other fees. The portion of the ticket cost that is non-commissionable will be determined by the airline issuing the ticket and may differ from that levied by Qantas.

1. The comparable flight we will offer you will be on an airline, route, date, flight, flight number, departure time, arrival time, transit time, flight duration and cabin class that we deem -is comparable to the offer that you have shown is available to you in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program. The comparable flight will have booking conditions, such as flexibility, cancellation and changeability, that we determine are comparable (as above) to the offer that you have shown is available to you in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program. You may not choose the airline, route or other such matters in the process of the selection of the comparable flight award offer.
2. The only way to take up our offer of a comparable flight award is to redeem Reward points that you hold with us in the Citibank Rewards Program or, to the extent that this option is available in relation to the Qantas award flight that you show is available to you, a combination of Reward points and dollar payment on your Citibank Credit Card in the same ratio as is offered by Qantas This program is subject to the terms of the Citibank Rewards Program Terms and Conditions.

1. The process of using reward points as a method of payment ie cashback process will occur as per the terms and conditions of the Citibank Travel Program. Where the cardholder has quoted an incorrect number of points at the point of the transaction, they will be required to pay for the difference at the Qantas Flight Booking fare price. Any fees incurred as a result of cancelling or amending the booking will be at the cardholder’s expense.

1. We will have discharged our obligation under this Price Match Guarantee when we provide you a comparable flight award offer, even if you do not take up the option to book.
2. This offer cannot be used to upgrade or amend an existing booking.

1. We may refuse to respond to requests you make under this guarantee that are unreasonable or unreasonably numerous– or if you do not currently hold sufficient Citibank Rewards Program points to make the redemption you propose.
2. We are not responsible for loss you suffer in the event we are reasonably unable to contact you in response to your request made under this guarantee. We are not responsible for the performance of the contract of carriage of the ticket you take up as a result of our comparable offer including flight delays and cancellation and schedule changes.
3. Flights booked under this program may be eligible for airline frequent flyer rewards in accordance with the terms and conditions of the airline’s rewards program.

1. This information is correct as at 1 December 2011 and is subject to change at any time without notice.

 

[oz_mark]

On my particular flights, I could not do two separate PMG requests as all PMG requests now need to originate in Australia.

Pretty sure that was always in the rules (whether they applied it or not!)

 

[wafliron]

On my particular flights, I could not do two separate PMG requests as all PMG requests now need to originate in Australia.

Ah oh course - that has always been a rule, I just forgot about it.

T&C's as sent to me on 5 June 2012, bold points as highlighted by myself:

Thanks for posting that - wish we knew if that was the most current version of the T&Cs.

They definitely changed sometime between May and June this year though - following is a copy I saved (downloaded from their website before they pulled it) on 6 May 2012:

Price Match Guarantee Terms and Conditions
1. If you can provide proof of a recent (as defined below) Qantas Frequent Flyer award flight offer available to you in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program, we'll match that
flight in the Citibank Rewards Program by providing a comparable flight offer for the same number of Citibank Rewards points.
2. This Price Match Guarantee is made available in Australia only to Australian Citibank Rewards Credit cardholders by Citibank and is managed on Citibank's behalf by
Pinpoint Travel Group. It is not available to Citibank Credit cardholders that enrol in Citibank's airline frequent flyer direct earn programs.
3. To show us a recent award flight offer available to you in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program you will need to email/fax us a printout of a screenshot from the relevant
page from the Qantas Australia website of the award availability to you which clearly shows: date you sourced the quote, flight numbers; airline; dates of travel; total
number of points and if the relevant offer allows you to pay with a combination of Qantas Frequent Flyer points and dollar payment, the amount of the dollar payment;
number of adult and child passengers; class of travel; and quantity of baggage included. To contact us phone 1300 144 920. This offer is available for bookings made
through the Citibank Travel Program call centre and claims cannot be made for online bookings.
4. An award flight offer is only valid if the quote you provide was obtained within the previous 3 business days of you contacting the Citibank Travel Program call centre.
Documentation must be sent to us via email on [email protected] or fax on 02 9352 3280.
5. An award flight offer in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program is any domestic or international, Flight Booking, Classic or Any Seat award in Economy, Premium Economy,
or Business class that is available on the Qantas Australia website. First class is not included. The award flight offer may be one-way, return, open-jaw or multi-stop but
must originate in Australia and it must be available to you in the ordinary use of the program.
6. If the Qantas award flight offer that you show us is available to you in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program it would require you to pay non-commissionable components
of the ticket cost such as taxes and surcharges separately, then the comparable flight offer we offer you will match the number of points for the commissionable portion of
the ticket only and will exclude any applicable taxes and surcharges or other fees. The portion of the ticket cost that is non-commissionable will be determined by the
airline issuing the ticket and may differ from that levied by Qantas.
7. The comparable flight we will offer you will be on an airline, route, date, flight, flight number, departure time, arrival time, transit time, flight duration and cabin class that
we deem - is comparable to the offer that you have shown is available to you in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program. The comparable flight will have booking conditions,
such as flexibility, cancellation and changeability, that we determine are comparable (as above) to the offer that you have shown is available to you in the Qantas
Frequent Flyer Program. You may not choose the airline, route or other such matters in the process of the selection of the comparable flight award offer.
8. The only way to take up our offer of a comparable flight award is to redeem Reward points that you hold with us in the Citibank Rewards Program or, to the extent that
this option is available in relation to the Qantas award flight that you show is available to you, a combination of Reward points and dollar payment on your Citibank Credit
Card in the same ratio as is offered by Qantas. This program is subject to the terms of the Citibank Rewards Program Terms and Conditions.
9. You may book a total of up to five flights as per the quote provided, with each booked flight needing to satisfy the terms and conditions.
10. The process of using reward points as a method of payment i.e. cashback process will occur as per the terms and conditions of the Citibank Travel Program. Where
the cardholder has quoted an incorrect number of points at the point of the transaction, they will be required to pay for the difference at the Qantas Flight Booking fare
price. Any fees incurred as a result of cancelling or amending the booking will be at the cardholder's expense.
11. We will have discharged our obligation under this Price Match Guarantee when we provide you a comparable flight award offer, even if you do not take up the option
to book.
12. This offer cannot be used to upgrade or amend an existing booking.
13. We may refuse to respond to requests you make under this guarantee that are unreasonable or unreasonably numerous - or if you do not currently hold sufficient
Citibank Rewards Program points to make the redemption you propose.
14. We are not responsible for loss you suffer in the event we are reasonably unable to contact you in response to your request made under this guarantee. We are not
responsible for the performance of the contract of carriage of the ticket you take up as a result of our comparable offer including flight delays and cancellation and
schedule changes.
15. Flights booked under this program may be eligible for airline frequent flyer rewards in accordance with the terms and conditions of the airline's rewards program.
16. This information is correct as at 1 December 2011 and is subject to change at any time without notice.

They're obviously not being too careful updating these documents - both your copy and my copy say they're correct as at 1 Dec 2011!

One obvious difference is you newer copy specifically says open jaw and multi-stop (and RTW) are not allowed, whereas mine says open jaw and multi-stop are allowed (and does not mention RTW either way). I haven't taken the time to analyse what else has changed.

 

[qaz]

posting a screenshot wouldn't work cos it'd have my name/FF#

an actual 'screenshot' would but a 'printed' webpage doesn't and is acceptable proof

 

[legalistic]

Hi all,

I noticed that Citibank price match guarantee is still part of the citibank travel program, but has since been advised that that this service has now ceased. Has anyone else been told the same? And if so, are they planning to relaunch something along the same lines?

If canned, maybe someone with access to a citigold banking representative can seek official advice, and to fix the website to avoid confusion.

Cheers!

 

[simonsyd]

Hi all,

I noticed that Citibank price match guarantee is still part of the citibank travel program, but has since been advised that that this service has now ceased. Has anyone else been told the same? And if so, are they planning to relaunch something along the same lines?

If canned, maybe someone with access to a citigold banking representative can seek official advice, and to fix the website to avoid confusion.

Cheers!

I hope it is not canned, one of the major benefits I use of my Citi select card. Used it myself a couple of weeks ago, needed to get to LOTFAP early May, no J rewards with QF or VA so called QF plat line got seat released on QF 11 desired date then put in for pricematch via the normal channel (pinpoint) and ended up matched no problem to commercial fare (VA). Only downside is no Flounge (I will be tight for time on the departure day anyway) on loss of 5000 pooints for cancelling booked QF classic award.

We have found PMG good for Asian (BKK / SIN), NZ and US destinations in J (hint carefully matching for SIN if you are looking for PPS value). Europe risk of being matched to a carrier you may not wish to fy with.

Will rethink the select if both PMG and ATO payments canned.

 

[cove]

Simonsyd you are calling it the way others see it.

 

[paultiffen]

Sorry for the distraction but I know which country LOFTAP is but have been unable to figure out the acronym. Can anyone PM me?

 

[cove]

If you rejig it then it stands for Land Of The Free And Paranoid to equal LOTFAP.

 

[mghinoz]

Hi all,

I noticed that Citibank price match guarantee is still part of the citibank travel program, but has since been advised that that this service has now ceased. Has anyone else been told the same? And if so, are they planning to relaunch something along the same lines?

If canned, maybe someone with access to a citigold banking representative can seek official advice, and to fix the website to avoid confusion.

Cheers!

I was speaking with a chap from Pinpoint this week, and he informed me that the Citi Price Match Guarantee was scheduled to end this Wednesday - April 3rd, 2013.

 

[blessed11]

I was speaking with a chap from Pinpoint this week, and he informed me that the Citi Price Match Guarantee was scheduled to end this Wednesday - April 3rd, 2013.

mghinoz - do you have a Citi Select card?

I would have thought they'd give prior warning if they were totally canning the PMG.

 

[mghinoz]

mghinoz - do you have a Citi Select card?

I would have thought they'd give prior warning if they were totally canning the PMG.

I've never used the Price Match Guarantee (PMG), and was actually asking the Pinpoint operator about it as it is one feature of the card that I hadn't bothered to look into.

He basically said that it was brought in when the option to voluntarily redeem points to QFF was removed (as opposed to the current option of automatic direct transfer to QFF). All of that occurred before I got by Citi Select card, so I was not au fait with it.

He went on to say that the PMG is due to end this Wednesday, so I didn’t bother to look into it any more.

Yes, I would have thought that if there was to be a removal of a benefit of this card that we would have to receive some written notification. So we should obviously take the information I received as unconfirmed at this stage – particularly as it came from Pinpoint and not Citibank.