CitiBusiness Gold 'no longer available'

[mick]

I find it bizarre that some people managed to score incentives to spend with multiple bonus points per $ spend just recently and so for Citi to completely remove the credit card is baffling. The converse of doom-and-gloom could be they are rebranding the card as a platinum, as many a gold card has become in recent times.

I guess it all remains to be seen...

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Damn, this sucks! I was on fee free for life also

Are you buy chance mixing this card up with the Gold that was FFL?

I was not aware that the CitiBusiness was ever FFL.????

 

[d00dz]

DAmmm this was a great card. Best points/qff I can find for a VISA card!

Mine expires 03/13.

People who get switched over let us know what card they offer you.
The 1.25points / 1 qff was really good! dammmit!

 

[disy]

I just converted some points for Qantas points. At the same time I asked about changes to the card. I was told it is closed for new applications, but continuing for existing cardholders. I was also told there would be 90 days notice if any changes are made with the card.

 

[hedge]

Are you buy chance mixing this card up with the Gold that was FFL?

I was not aware that the CitiBusiness was ever FFL.????

Perhaps

 

[wafliron]

Was on the Citibank website today and found that the CitiBusiness Gold is listed as no longer being available...

Damn, that's a real pity for those who don't already have one - easily the best all-round "low spender" card in the market, IMHO. Such a good card that I've kept mine, despite also having a Select. I hope they let those of us who already have one to keep it!

Perhaps Citibank has decided that the Gold card is just a little bit too good to be true in terms of QFF earn etc

Probably - it really was an anomaly in the current card market, given the high QF earn rate, flexibility (probably the only Visa/Master left which allowed a choice of redemption between QF and other airlines?) and the relatively low annual fee - plus it was "only" a Gold card, so not that lucrative for Citi in terms of merchant fees.

I was looking around as I'm considering signing up for the Signature card (don't quite earn enough for Select) as I'm thinking about moving towards Velocity/Singapore for points redemptions...

Good for you - broadening my horizons beyond QFF was one of the best things I've ever done re credit cards / frequent flyer points.

Forget Velocity unless you have a specific need though - by most measures it's a worse option than QF given less point earning options, similar burn rates, and less overall potential flights to burn on. Singapore is the way to go though - great airline, good burn rates, and the way you can "waitlist" award seats means overall award seat availability is very, very good.

Mine expires 12/12 so should find out shortly if it's renewed or offered another card.

Can you please let us know what happens?

 

[Pumbaa]

Forget Velocity unless you have a specific need though - by most measures it's a worse option than QF given less point earning options, similar burn rates, and less overall potential flights to burn on. Singapore is the way to go though - great airline, good burn rates, and the way you can "waitlist" award seats means overall award seat availability is very, very good.

The best use of Velocity points is domestic business class flights. Purchase flexi fares and upgrade with points (especially when they have half price promotion) and you get a similar result to a Qantas JASA. International redemptions are pretty average in value, but domestic business is a whole different kettle of fish!

Even better value when Amex gives 30% extra points. I move 100k points from Amex to yield 130k velocity points and still have 70k left over for business upgrades! Now thats value

 

[wafliron]

The best use of Velocity points is domestic business class flights. Purchase flexi fares and upgrade with points (especially when they have half price promotion) and you get a similar result to a Qantas JASA.

Wouldn't that be closer to QF YASAs, given you'll only earn full Y (and not J) SCs when you buy a DJ Flexi fare and then upgrade? And also a lot more expensive (cash-wise at least) than a JASA. Also, can't you do exactly the same thing on QF if you want to - purchase a Flexi Saver, upgrade to J and earn full Y SCs? Not to mention you also have the option of buying Y- and upgrading on QF, which you don't have on DJ?

I can't deny the value with DJ when they have a half-price upgrades promotion, but that's obviously a short-term thing.

Note that I'm no QF fanboy, but I just can't see where DJ is coming out on top here - or am I missing something?

Even better value when Amex gives 30% extra points. I move 100k points from Amex to yield 130k velocity points and still have 70k left over for business upgrades! Now thats value

I would respectfully disagree - unless you need to use your points on domestic awards, you're wasting the value in your MR points redeeming them to DJ (or QF for that matter). Off the top of my head, SQ, MH and CX offer way more burn value, and are all transfer partners of MR at the same 1:1 ratio as DJ and QF.

 

[Pumbaa]

Wouldn't that be closer to QF YASAs, given you'll only earn full Y (and not J) SCs when you buy a DJ Flexi fare and then upgrade? And also a lot more expensive (cash-wise at least) than a JASA. Also, can't you do exactly the same thing on QF if you want to - purchase a Flexi Saver, upgrade to J and earn full Y SCs? Not to mention you also have the option of buying Y- and upgrading on QF, which you don't have on DJ?

I can't deny the value with DJ when they have a half-price upgrades promotion, but that's obviously a short-term thing.

Note that I'm no QF fanboy, but I just can't see where DJ is coming out on top here - or am I missing something?

I would respectfully disagree - unless you need to use your points on domestic awards, you're wasting the value in your MR points redeeming them to DJ (or QF for that matter). Off the top of my head, SQ, MH and CX offer way more burn value, and are all transfer partners of MR at the same 1:1 ratio as DJ and QF.

Some very valid points my friend. Just a few things I would like to say in defence of my statements.

1) Virgin will guarantee the upgrade from economy to business class, whereas with qantas I would have to take my chances in the upgrade lottery. Being a bronze member, I wouldn't hold my breath!

2) SCs earn doesn't really interest me that much, flying in J for a reasonable price is where my interest is!

3) Earning Amex membership reward points have become harder ever since I sold my business earlier this year. 9900 points or 4450 velocity points on promotion or 3115 amex points @ 30% bonus is a lot easier to swallow than 18 000 FF points to upgrade or 36 000 FF points for an outright redemption. $300 or there about is a fair price for a business one way flight!

4) I agree MR reward points are best transferred to SQ for overseas trips and thats where I send all my points. But I only go on overseas trips once a year, while I go to interstate trips 2-3x a year.

5) If redeeming domestic J, Virgin comes out on top for me!

 

[wafliron]

Some very valid points my friend. Just a few things I would like to say in defence of my statements.

Fair enough! And my questions below are just that - questions - not an attempt to be argumentative. YMMV and all that

1) Virgin will guarantee the upgrade from economy to business class, whereas with qantas I would have to take my chances in the upgrade lottery. Being a bronze member, I wouldn't hold my breath!

Are you talking about international upgrades here? Because QF will "guarantee" domestic upgrades, same as DJ do, as far as I know?

2) SCs earn doesn't really interest me that much, flying in J for a reasonable price is where my interest is!

Ah OK, I just assumed you were given you mentioned ASAs.

3) Earning Amex membership reward points have become harder ever since I sold my business earlier this year. 9900 points or 4450 velocity points on promotion or 3115 amex points @ 30% bonus is a lot easier to swallow than 18 000 FF points to upgrade or 36 000 FF points for an outright redemption. $300 or there about is a fair price for a business one way flight!

Happy to hear that you sold your business, sorry to hear it has reduced your point-earn opportunities. I'd imagine the upside is better than the downside though

That aside, which route you talking about here? I was under the impression that DJ and QF burn rates for business upgrades were similar (excluding any special promotions), but perhaps I've got that wrong - in which case I may need to re-evaluate my position on this!

5) If redeeming domestic J, Virgin comes out on top for me!

Do you mean you prefer the product? Or just referencing your preference for their burns rates, upgrade system, etc?

 

[ksthommo]

Mine expires 12/12 so should find out shortly if it's renewed or offered another card.

Good News, Citibusiness Card has
turned up, good for another 3 years.

 

[jamesD]

I talked to a Citibank shopfront customer service officer yesterday in Sydney and he said there would be no changes for existing customers - just that its no longer available to new customers.

 

[anchew]

Anyone know why they are no longer offering this card to new customers?

 

[DC3]

I have to say that I'm happy to hear that it's being continued for existing customers. Not sure why it's no longer available to new customers.

 

[wafliron]

Thanks for the updates ksthommo and jamesD, good to know.

 

[SC9]

I'm probably one of the last few that got approved before the product got cancelled - valid from 10/12 says the card. Signed up under 50% promo. Glad i did that after closing Amex Plat Credit card ($395 annual fees did not get waived).

 

[burmans]

I have to say that I'm happy to hear that it's being continued for existing customers. Not sure why it's no longer available to new customers.

Not so sure I regard that as good news, I was hoping they would make me an offer that they would upgrade me to one of the higher cards at the same fee structure.

 

[d00dz]

Got my re-newed cards today! Another 3 years with this point system! WOoo

The new cards have paywave too! SOo goood!

 

[Franko Costa]

Has anyone been successful in upgrading the card to Singature level at no cost? I'm planning on calling up and seeing my chances given I dislike using cards that aren't for the public as it normally turns out bad...any tips of what I could say?

 

[d00dz]

Why would you?

Earn rate on the signature is 1:1, businessgold is a bit higher