Citibank- transfering points before devaulation

[lovetravellingoz]

My kids are 3 years and one is 4 months old. Right now it is hard to control them but we are planning our trip to HK/China/Japan next 2 months. Let's see how it goes. If it goes well I may plan more travelling.

Good to hear.

With kids I suggest being a bit less rushed, and building in lots of breaks time where the kids can just be kids and play or chill in the room/ garden etc. When my kids were quite young a part of trip planning was to discover where any local playgrounds were. And where no playground with a bit of imagination you can invent one such as some local statues etc.

Perhaps make use of babbysitters so that the kids can just do little while mum and dad catch a show or doing something hectic that the kids would not like. (Though young kids are often happy with mum and dad)

If you go slow you can be surprised what kids can do (and converseley if you try and rush them what they will refuse to do!!!!!). ie My youngest daughter when 4 years old climbed Uluru mainly under her own steam. It took us about 3 times as long as everyone else, but it was still fun.

My wife is a very conservative type of person.

May I suggest making sure you build in aspects that your wife really enjoys and particularly like (even if you hate them!!!) ..whatever they may be....so that she relishes future trips. Perhaps you mind the kids while she has a massage/beauty treatment, goes shopping, goes for a jog etc. Or even just time by the pool/ in a garden where she can actually read a book for half an hour rather than watch "John & Betty".

I detest shopping but my wife and 3 daughters all liked to include some shopping stints, browsing through markets etc.

 

[coolkid101]

just cleaned out citi to KF as well.
have been spending the last week deciding KF vs VA - especially with the upcoming VA changes actually working out IN our favour as we do quite a few AUS-SIN trips
decided to go with KF just for R/F - 1/2 a year for 2 people to US/Europe would finish our bank within 3 years
it's easy enough to earn VA points with sign up bonuses anyway

just my 2cents for anyone else who might be going through this in the last few days of old rates

I've just transferred all my Citibank points to my Krisflyer account.

Now I need to work out how to spend those points within next 3 years.

 

[penegal]

Similar thinking from me coolkid101.

I posted this in the drink tank thread.

Reasoning - SQ KF essentially has 3 years, with the ability to extend via a clunky interface and some unpublished status benefits. 4+ years of travel is a reasonable time period to burn miles (subject to current balance), and KF has always had the best "value" IMHO.

VA - I don't have a VA credit card so as CE mentioned at the last think tank meta think tank, sending a respectable inventory to VA is probably wise. Considering this opens up VA, EY and DL it's not a bad play at all.

My recent favourite is there is actually DL domestic awards on quasi monopoly routes. This may seem out of character, but if you ever want to go to the big national parks, or Mount Rushmore, or small places in the mid west, the south, etc, then remember this post.

I am all done now - Citibank has zero rewards points (most went to SQ, and a small amount to VA to top up over there).

I will cancel the ANZ Bank card soon which means I have space in the wallet for a Virgin card if I suddenly want more Virgin points.

 

[bismarck]

I also cleaned out my Citi warehouse to KF. Didn't have that many, so should be straightforward enough to use up within 3 years.

Must admit, I am going to miss the overseas bonus points which were a big turbo-charger for my earning. Have now opted for a BW Platinum, and will enjoy not paying FX fees.

 

[uio]

Just transferred all to KF.

Quick Q, is there anyway to use KF points to redeem Au domestic VA flights easily?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Transferred my wife' points late on Friday (her account had not transferred to KF before) and the points are still yet arrive (now late afternoon Tuesday).

I transferred some points of mine a week back and they went though a lot quicker.

Is it slow for anyone else at present?

 

[psi999]

My kids are 3 years and one is 4 months old. Right now it is hard to control them but we are planning our trip to HK/China/Japan next 2 months. Let's see how it goes. If it goes well I may plan more travelling. My wife is a very conservative type of person.

Recently took our 3yo to HK and JP - no dramas. Few thoughts below.

HK disyneyland is worth checking out as is Hong Kong park playground (both easy to get to).

Hong Kong Park - Facilities - Children's Playground

Discount HK disney tickets: https://www.klook.com/activity/39-hong-kong-disneyland-hong-kong/

HK Star ferry & peak tram was also a hit.

We also hit up Tokyo disneyland. HK Disney (and HK overall) is much more suited to little kids.

Enjoy!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Just transferred all to KF.

Quick Q, is there anyway to use KF points to redeem Au domestic VA flights easily?

Yes. Just call them and book as a VA Partner award. Not taxes and charges when I have done this. Excellent availibity as long as you can buy cheap fares onVA you should be able to geta redemption seat.

See https://www.singaporeair.com/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/charts/virgin-aust-award-feb16.pdf

 

[kamchatsky]

Recently took our 3yo to HK and JP - no dramas. Few thoughts below.

HK disyneyland is worth checking out as is Hong Kong park playground (both easy to get to).

Hong Kong Park - Facilities - Children's Playground

Discount HK disney tickets: https://www.klook.com/activity/39-hong-kong-disneyland-hong-kong/

HK Star ferry & peak tram was also a hit.

We also hit up Tokyo disneyland. HK Disney (and HK overall) is much more suited to little kids.

Enjoy!

Thank you for the tip. It is funny that I come from HK myself and I still haven't been to HK Disneyland, even though I have been to HK quite a number of times.

I will see how we go there in next few weeks to see how the kids cope. We are going to Okinawa so we are hiring a car there and hopefully the kids will be more settled there as the island should be quite relaxing.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Transferred my wife' points late on Friday (her account had not transferred to KF before) and the points are still yet arrive (now late afternoon Tuesday).

I transferred some points of mine a week back and they went though a lot quicker.

Is it slow for anyone else at present?

Her points have arrived at KF now.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

I suspect Citi are experiencing plenty of transfers and queries. I just booked on 6 March 7x Delta flights in preparation for the coming devaluation.

I log in to check my points and 1 of 7 is at international spend ( 4 points per dollar ) and the other 6 are at new international earn of 1.5 points per dollar... have just spent 30 mins arguing the dates and reading the T&C to the operators and trying to convince them that Delta is an international company, charged in USD ..It really cannot be this hard.

Now i await an "investigation" as to why...

Cleaned out Citi today

Following up from my post earlier.

Citi guy tells me today the reason only 1 of 7 flights posted is because 6 flights are deemed to be a domestic purchase because Delta have an Australian bank account ?? WTF.. But don't worry you have not been charged the international transaction fee.. ( I open my statement while on the phone and advised I have been charged an international transaction fee and I suggest he check his facts.. )

End result


I spent $2882 and should get 11528 points

I actually received 1860 points ( for the 1 correct flight ) + 3625 points ( for the 6 flights at 1.5 points ) = 5485 points

The guys tells me that I did not receive 3625 for the 6 flights but rather 2417 points as Citi only pay 1 points per $$ on domestic.. ?? ( I know what I received but anyway.... )

So then he says we owe you a further 3 points per dollar for all 7 flights = 8646 ???? and because the guy last week did not call you back we will round up to 10000 points

So I now receive the original 5485 + 10000 = 15485

I have over the last 12 months received about 50k points for goodwill for non return of phone calls and I always push a bit saying the customer service is bad, I should have used a different card blah blah...

I actual prefer the bad service........cost v benefit

Thanks to today I am now over the 15000 limit again and can transfer yet again...

 

[burmans]

Points all gone, will keep the card as it fee free but don't think I'll be using it much.

 

[PLANT]

Anything under 20k and slow points earner needs to go to velocity right?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Anything under 20k and slow points earner needs to go to velocity right?

Depends where you want to fly.

MEL-CNS is 11k in Y and no fees. 22k return.
(booked as a VA Partner awrd via KF which is less points and $ if redeemed with VA direct)

 

[PLANT]

What about Brisbane-->Perth via the above method.

 

[cove]

Plan A for you Plant I would think.

 

[RAM]

and that is the rewards balance zeroed for a second time.

Interestingly enough one of the IVR menu systems for rewards no longer gives you the option of talking to someone for a points transfer but directs you to use the 'online banking'.

Call another number and hey presto a real human to do the transfer.

After Citi were hacked (or one of their clearing/processing house's for ccs) in 2010 saw my CLOSED cc run up to nearly $30k starting 1 second after midnight and DD cleared outstanding bal of totally different CC account - I ensure my online use of Citi = zero. I had kept date, time, name etc of closing that CC (unwanted and unrequested upgrade to Plat) from about 10 months earlier. Yet "they" were able to chalk up 100% of my existing cc credit limit AND knew exactly when the billing cycle was for that card (different to plat card btw).

I found out about the hack (millions of cc accounts info taken covering 9 countries I think it was) from Washington Post. Citi Aust initially denied any such thing had occurred but relented when I emailed them a copy of the article.

All up took 4 months to get credit back.

If not for the Priority Pass access then it would be scissor time. Would love to be surveyed, just would love it.

 

[asg29e]

Big transfer today. Citi warehouse down to one point. Now need to do 8 return F flights to Europe in the next 3 years. Sounds about right.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

What about Brisbane-->Perth via the above method.

That would be 40K for return in Y.

See https://www.singaporeair.com/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/charts/virgin-aust-award-feb16.pdf

 

[kamchatsky]

Her points have arrived at KF now.

My points also safely arrived at KF as well