Citibank upgrading fee free Gold to fee free Platinum

[oz_mark]

Well neither the Gold nor the Platinum will be linked to QFF past 1 Apr 2009:

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Program News - Changes to Earning Points with Cards

Citibank will have an option to credit to FF, but that option may come at a cost!

 

[netjock]

Citibank will have an option to credit to FF, but that option may come at a cost!

The QFF program isn't that good. With the recent issues with Qantas and the continued screwing over of the general flying public I think there are better programs out there.

For Amex they have 1:1 for Singapore Airlines now. You get some less points for Singapore Airlines on Citibank but you decide how to use it.

Think this is a grab for points to jack up the QFF revenue for the float of the FF program.

 

[brissyflyer]

I got my Gold card upgraded to Platinum and an increase in credit limit. I was on a $119 annual fee for Gold and now I pay the same fee for Platinum, pretty good deal I think.

As for FF points I prefer to use my points for Take Flight redemptions, book the flight get Rewards points and FF points.

Peter

 

[alect]

I got my Gold card upgraded to Platinum and an increase in credit limit. I was on a $119 annual fee for Gold and now I pay the same fee for Platinum, pretty good deal I think.

As for FF points I prefer to use my points for Take Flight redemptions, book the flight get Rewards points and FF points.

Peter

What's the conversion rate for Reward points for cash back for Take Flight (not clear from the site - shocking I know!)?

 

[gibspmuh]

What's the conversion rate for Reward points for cash back for Take Flight (not clear from the site - shocking I know!)?

Every point is worth 0.6c with the Take Flight rebate (so 1000 points will give you $6 in credit back on your account). Up until recently each point was worth 1c, so it was a significant devaluation of the Take Flight option.

 

[alect]

Every point is worth 0.6c with the Take Flight rebate (so 1000 points will give you $6 in credit back on your account). Up until recently each point was worth 1c, so it was a significant devaluation of the Take Flight option.

That seems to be the general conversion rate for most rewards - pretty porr value. Clearly Citi may be good if free for life but as a rewards card it is not a great choice.

 

[prastr]

Hi All,
Long time reader, first time poster
Just another confirmation that call centre stated "out of the blue" platinum upgrade will remain fee free for life including additional cardholder.
Thanks Citibank,

prastr

 

[brissyflyer]

Every point is worth 0.6c with the Take Flight rebate (so 1000 points will give you $6 in credit back on your account). Up until recently each point was worth 1c, so it was a significant devaluation of the Take Flight option.

Thats nasty, I didn't realise they had changed it. It was great when it was 1000 points = $10.

Oh well

 

[gaz1]

Hi,

One thing that doesn't seem to have been discussed yet is the increased points capping in the free Platinum upgrade.

- Do we get the increased points cap (Gold is 60,000 p.a., Platinum is supposed to be 120,000 p.a.).
If so, this is quite a benefit if you spend this much.

- Does this increased cap apply to people who are currently capped (i.e. not getting any points at the moment), or do we have to wait until the start of the next billing year?

Cheers,

Gary.

 

[austrider]

I'm surprise to hear a separate ID is required. When I got my fee-free Gold I could link that account with an existing ReadyCredit account - unfortunately I cannot recall how I did it.

I will wait till my new PIN arrives and try it myself via their site.

Re: 10k pt min, that still stands. (it's their standard T&C).

I finally got my act together to review my Citibank account - and it seems the new card and the old card are already linked - I do not have to do anything.

The old cards are still there and the direct debits still work - seems that's how they are tackling the issue of changing card number - ie keep your old card activated!

Overall quite happy with Citibank on this upgrade.

By the way has anyone registered with Visa Pt? Is it any good?

https://www.visaplatinum.com/platinum/ap/index.shtml

 

[netjock]

Hi All,

Just got confirmation the platinum upgrade for no fee for life gold card holders will remain no fee for life with platinum benefits (although the higher points cap was not specifically mentioned).

The email did mention all the platinum benefits as per the citibank website will apply.

Body of message below:

Thank you for your email.
For general information, you will not be charged any extra fees when accepting the Platinum upgrade offer. The annual fee structure on your current credit card will be applied to the Platinum card. Therefore, the Platinum card will have no annual fee for life for as long as the account is open.

Further to your enquiry, we advise that the Platinum card has the same features and benefits of a Gold card, except of the following:
- Platinum card offers exclusive benefits with a free personalised Rewards Programme
- 24-hour Concierge Service not available on Gold card
- complimentary Transit Accident Insurance available on Platinum card only.

More information is available online. From the Citibank Australia homepage, please select 'Citibank Platinum' from the 'Look for a Product' drop down box.

A copy of the Terms and Conditions is also available from our website.
From the Citibank Australia homepage, please select 'Useful Forms & Links' from the 'Jump to Services & Offers' drop down box, and then click on 'Credit Cards > Protect your card'.

For further enquiries, you can call us on 13 24 84. Our CitiPhone Banking Team is available 24 hours, seven days a week.

We apologise for the delayed response. We are currently responding to a high volume of queries through email. A return to normal service level is expected shortly.

If there's anything else we can do to assist you, please let us know.
We'll be happy to help.

Thank you for using the Citibank Australia Website.

Yours sincerely,
Citibank Online Customer Service Centre
Citibank Pty Limited ABN 88 004 325 080 AFSL No. 238098 citibank.com.au

I have retained a copy of the email for future reference.

 

[edman]

Thanks Netjock, that clears matters up a bit.

I hadn't bothered to contact them, but it may be a wise idea to have a copy of that email addressed to me personally. Great that they are responding to emails now, I've not had much luck in the past!

 

[alect]

Thanks Netjock, that clears matters up a bit.

I hadn't bothered to contact them, but it may be a wise idea to have a copy of that email addressed to me personally. Great that they are responding to emails now, I've not had much luck in the past!

I too have sent off an email.

 

[austrider]

I finally got my act together to review my Citibank account - and it seems the new card and the old card are already linked - I do not have to do anything.

Receive a letter from Citibank regarding "Changes to your credit limit" of my old Gold card.

"We are pleased to confirm your new credit limit of $0.00".

Classic.

 

[straitman]

Receive a letter from Citibank regarding "Changes to your credit limit" of my old Gold card.

"We are pleased to confirm your new credit limit of $0.00".

Classic.

Wow. Don't spend it all at once :!:

 

[jingles]

Receive a letter from Citibank regarding "Changes to your credit limit" of my old Gold card.

"We are pleased to confirm your new credit limit of $0.00".

Classic.

I received a letter offering me $25,000 credit limit which i send off and accepted.

After sending it off i noticed that it said the offer was for my gold card.
This is about 2 weeks after accepting the plat card offer so it is interesting to see if i will get the increase..

 

[asterix]

I've been a Citibank Visa card holder since 1997. I upgraded to Gold around 2000 and then had to downgrade due to applying for a homeloan in 2005. I got Citibank to switch me over to the Citibank Silver fee free for life offer in May this year.

I've been spending 30-45K each year since 1997, but I'm yet to see a platinum card arrive in the mail . I have never paid any interest on the card as I have it direct debited on the due date. Although I did receive a CitiBusiness Gold Visa card in the mail sometime last year, but I cut that card up.

 

[SIA1A]

One of the less obvious but important benefits of the Plat card over the Gold card is that you no longer have to speak to India etc

Actually, the main Citi call centre (and for that matter, Diners Club Australia, which is owned by Citi) is located in the Philippines, not India.

I have found that the colour of your card (Plat/Gold/Silver/whatever) and the number you call (whether 02 xx_x xx_x, 13xx_x or 1800 xx_xx_) doesn't make any difference to the call centre service. All calls seem to end up in Manila.

The only variation to this is when you decide to call the Customer Advocacy Unit (for serious complaints) on + 61 2 8225 0163 or the Fraud Unit on 1333 550 206. In both cases you get to an Australian office.

 

[SIA1A]

Will you.
Which other VISA has the same earn rate for FF points?

For me the Citibank is required on those occassions that I cannot use Amex.

HSBC Premier USD MasterCard has a better earn rate, especially for Singapore Airlines Kris Flyer Miles: Get 2 KF Miles for each USD1 apent.

Citi Visa only offers 0.7 Kris Flyer Miles per AUD1 spent.

I've never had difficulty using MasterCard - just as widely accepted as Visa.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

HSBC Premier USD MasterCard has a better earn rate, especially for Singapore Airlines Kris Flyer Miles: Get 2 KF Miles for each USD1 apent.

Citi Visa only offers 0.7 Kris Flyer Miles per AUD1 spent.

I've never had difficulty using MasterCard - just as widely accepted as Visa.

Ta....but a few questions if I may:

1/ USD...so do you have to be a US resident to get one?

I am an Australian Citizen living in Aust.

2/ If it is a USD card, I assume that if most of my transactions are in $Aust as I mainly spend in Australia that I will have to pay currency conversion fees.

If so, would the cost of these not outweigh the extra earn?