"Enhancements" to MR earn on Platinum Card, Reserve & Centurian

[exp1k]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Which Citibank cards don't charge an FX fee? To my knowledge they have only removed that for their transaction account product which does not earn points for spend (ie there isn't a cost to them of giving out points).

I'm yet to see a card that earns points and also offers no fx fee - even some of the most elite products in Australia for high spenders have fx fees for all purchases... Sometimes they might be slightly lower than for less premium cards however (as the interchange is higher for premium cards).

I did this comparison a few months ago:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....card-rewards-transfer-35846-2.html#post553446

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Thanks edison. Does it mention anything about CX Gold?

Nope .....

 

[k3nnis]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

ok thanks. So for new plat charge applicants, there is no more cx gold entitlement

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

ok thanks. So for new plat charge applicants, there is no more cx gold entitlement

Well it was never a published benefit anyway. I never got it myself.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Ok thanks.

 

[greenfrog86]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

I did this comparison a few months ago:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....card-rewards-transfer-35846-2.html#post553446

That is luck rather than a product feature... the citi conversion fee is meant to be 3.3%...

 

[nlagalle]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Just got letter from Amex for my Platinum Charge card. Usual devaluation points earning that we have talked about.

I see they have updated the website now as well.. Trying to trump the 3 points per dollar.. I wonder what will happen to the Amex ultimate that earns 1.5:1 now, will it change as well?

 

[Flashback]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Just got letter from Amex for my Platinum Charge card. Usual devaluation points earning that we have talked about.

Just to confirm about hotel status for Plat Charge card holders:

- Priority Club Gold (basic and first supplementary card holder)
- Starwood Gold (basic and first supplementary card holder)
- Club Carlson Gold Elite (basic and supplementary card holder)
- Le Club Accorhotels Platinum (basic and supplementary card holder)

Car Hire:
- Hertz #1 Club Gold
- Avis Preferred

Valet Parking discount on Westfield Bondi Junction and Doncaster.

The Plat Card can also access the following lounges:

- Virgin Australia Lounges
- American Express Lounges
- AA Admirals Club
- US Airways Club
- Delta Sky Club

+ Priority Pass lounges (with Priority Pass card)

ok thanks. So for new plat charge applicants, there is no more cx gold entitlement

A few differences from the AU Plat Charge to the UK Plat Charge now then.

Is Priority Club new for you guys? Looks like they've dropped Hilton?

In the UK we have Hilton, and like your IHG PC, it's only for 1 year with you then needing to requalify to keep it.

CX Gold is also a (new) feature of the UK Plat Charge.

 

[wafliron]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

ok thanks. So for new plat charge applicants, there is no more cx gold entitlement

I wouldn't be so sure about that - it wasn't published when I signed up (earlier this year), but upon asking I was sent an enrolment form. The form states it must be returned by 31 Dec 2012, and when I returned my form (only a few days ago) I wasn't told anything about it no longer being an offered benefits. So: give them a call and ask. I'd guess you'll still be able to apply for it.

I wonder what will happen to the Amex ultimate that earns 1.5:1 now, will it change as well?

Current advice is that both the Qantas and Velocity 1.5 point per $1 cards are not changing right now, and currently cannot be changed due to contractual obligations with Qantas and Virgin. When those contracts expire, and what happens after that, is an open question.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Was hoping someones CX gold is coming up for renewal and if they can confirm if its an ongoing thing.

 

[greenfrog86]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Was hoping someones CX gold is coming up for renewal and if they can confirm if its an ongoing thing.

I asked about whether SPG was going as some people have speculated (answer = no, its here to stay) and also about CX Gold (answer = one off benefit then qualify thereafter)

 

[k3nnis]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

ok thanks. hilton gold is more useful I would think than SPG Gold.

 

[greenfrog86]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

ok thanks. hilton gold is more useful I would think than SPG Gold.

Why? I like that SPG has a range of property types as I can't afford to stay at the top end of town all the time...

If I'm going to pay Hilton prices then I would see if I can get an Amex FHR rate somewhere else to get the associated benefits.

Given there are none of the 'focused service' Hilton brands anywhere near us this would be practically useless for me.

Anyway, this is OT as Hilton is not a benefit under the Platinum card... I am happy however with Accor (despite almost all of the excluded properties being in Aus) and Carlson hotels (would have loved this earlier this year as our company has Radisson as its favoured brand in the UK).

 

[Flashback]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

ok thanks. hilton gold is more useful I would think than SPG Gold.

Why? SPG Gold is ongoing, HH was only a one-off...... and you can get that through various other means without needing to use up your c/c "1 only life"

 

[serfty]

Why? I like that SPG has a range of property types as I can't afford to stay at the top end of town all the time...
...

Ordinarily, SPG gold is earned with [not][-]4[/-] [but] 10 stays, HHonors Gold requires 16.

The benefits are commensurate with that variance.



Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[k3nnis]

diidn't know you can get SPG gold with 4 stays good to know though

 

[oz_mark]

Is Priority Club new for you guys? Looks like they've dropped Hilton?

Priority Club Gold has been a benefit for a while, not sure Hilton status was ever given with the Platinum charge card.

Ordinarily, SPG gold is earned with 4 stays, HHonors Gold requires 16.

The benefits are commensurate with that variance.

I thought SPG Gold required 10 stays?

 

[gumpy]

I'm going to keep it simple and go 100% citibusinessgold... 1.25 and transfer to qf is fine for me...

they also recently raised the points cap.

 

[serfty]

diidn't know you can get SPG gold with 4 stays good to know though

It's actually 10 ...

Apologies - just goes to show that one posts with a "Smartphone" at one's peril!

 

[anat0l]

Ordinarily, SPG gold is earned with [not][-]4[/-] [but] 10 stays, HHonors Gold requires 16.

The benefits are commensurate with that variance.

It's actually 10 ...

Apologies - just goes to show that one posts with a "Smartphone" at one's peril!

Indeed it is 10, and speaking of commensurate, SPG Gold is not that awfully shabby.

It doesn't quite top Hilton Gold, but an enhanced room (just as vague as PC Platinum "room upgrade") and choice of amenity between bonus Starpoints, complimentary Internet or complimentary beverage per check-in, plus 3 Starpoints per dollar rather than 2; not bad for 6 less stays a year. Starpoints invariably have a bit more power than Hilton HHonors points, which makes up for their slower earn rate.

Of course, it all depends on where you are in the world (or where you travel) as to which program is more useful to you, whether it be an ongoing status or once off. It's worth noting that Starwood status (Gold or Platinum) rarely grants access to a lounge (if the property has one) unless your room (booked or upgraded to) affords you that privilege; also, unless it is in your rate or you are Platinum, there is rarely free breakfast (and in the case of a Platinum, the gazetted minimum is only continental, not full). The Hilton brand is more ubiquitous overseas and the majority have Exec Lounges; whilst Gold doesn't guarantee an Exec Level room, it's common to obtain such an upgrade and thus having Hilton Gold can be easily more attractive.