FINALLY! - Citi launching Citi Prestige with Visa Infinite

[cove]

My biggest problem is I get very, very close to my credit limit each month because of the large number of free credit days. I notice my points stash is growing strongly again so I love the warehousing. Some months I have to do an interim payment so I can keep going. In August I think I was a few hundred dollars off the card limit and we had used Mrscove's card as well.

 

[thehound]

I'm loving the Prestige for overseas purchases. Having left Australia to travel through the US for 3 months before moving to Canada for a year, we've pulled in almost 400,000 Citi points since May. The most annoying thing though is the need to sign for every purchase in North America. Very happy to pay that 3.3% for essentially 1 KF mile per cent.

 

[Franko Costa]

I just got 50% off the fee and was only able to get another 3k in points....should have made it more awkward :-|

 

[VAG newbie]

Hey guys,

Looking to upgrade to a Prestige from my free-for-life Signature. Trying to justify the $700 fee, seems unlikely Citi will do me any favours with respect to that. Not overly interested in the various value-added benefits, however the increased points earn rate IS quite interesting.
P

Don't underestimate those benefits. If you are collecting points obviously you are thinking of redeeming tickets and flying some day. With the free limo service and free accomodation, and unlimited lounge access, very soon you will get your money back.

I also hesitated a bit with the $700 annual fee, but it's completely worth it!

 

[petejay]

I just got 50% off the fee and was only able to get another 3k in points....should have made it more awkward :-|

Did you have to go in a branch?

I've tried calling and emailing, they refuse to budge....

 

[Franko Costa]

I just called up after I had the $700 fee charged and they said they would make a $350 credit on the next bill

 

[coolkid101]

Did you have to go in a branch?

I've tried calling and emailing, they refuse to budge....

I think a lot depends on your spend over the last year. Have a look through a few previous pages and it's been discussed very recently

 

[albyd]

I just called Citi re my Prestige Annual fee so thought I'd offer up my experience as a data point for others.
Was transferred to a relationship manager.
I said I'm considering my options as my other bank is chasing my business and I've spent >$500K this year.
She put me on hold then offered $350 fee. I asked if she could do any better & came back with 10,000 points on top of the annual fee discount.

Pretty happy with the outcome - best card on the market IMO.

 

[coolkid101]

I just called Citi re my Prestige Annual fee so thought I'd offer up my experience as a data point for others.
Was transferred to a relationship manager.
I said I'm considering my options as my other bank is chasing my business and I've spent >$500K this year.
She put me on hold then offered $350 fee. I asked if she could do any better & came back with 10,000 points on top of the annual fee discount.

Pretty happy with the outcome - best card on the market IMO.

Great outcome. Thanks heaps for writing about your experience

 

[k3nnis]

Is the credit limit of $22500 good enough to upgrade from signature to prestige?

 

[coolkid101]

it's supposed to be 30k but a few people i know have got the card on less.
why don't you just try with an application anyway.

a friend of mine is on 25k limit on the signature. he put in one of the forms for "increase in limit and change of card" . they didn't give him the limit increase but gave him the prestige with his existing limit

Is the credit limit of $22500 good enough to upgrade from signature to prestige?

 

[legroom]

Is the credit limit of $22500 good enough to upgrade from signature to prestige?

I'd have thought it's more about the $$ spend to justify the annual fee, not so much the limit per se.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks guys. I am a bit hesitant in submitting an application because I don't meet the annual income. So was thinking to do a straight upgrade without checking income and have the correct limit.

 

[Franko Costa]

Just call and ask

 

[Franko Costa]

I'm wondering if you someone can send through a link to understand the KF program a little better - I've looked at the sticky without much success. My main question is if I book a flight with points (let's say to Thailand), then the 55k points for the return flight doesn't include taxes. How can I see how much these taxes would be if I currently have 0 KF points and 1m citi points?

In theory oneworld partner work best for me as I'm a Platinum QFF, but KF seems the best value from what I read.

 

[diningdecadence]

I'm wondering if you someone can send through a link to understand the KF program a little better - I've looked at the sticky without much success. My main question is if I book a flight with points (let's say to Thailand), then the 55k points for the return flight doesn't include taxes. How can I see how much these taxes would be if I currently have 0 KF points and 1m citi points?

In theory oneworld partner work best for me as I'm a Platinum QFF, but KF seems the best value from what I read.

sign up for KF and you can play with the redemption tool including seeing taxes costs without having any points in your account.

 

[thehound]

I'm wondering if you someone can send through a link to understand the KF program a little better - I've looked at the sticky without much success. My main question is if I book a flight with points (let's say to Thailand), then the 55k points for the return flight doesn't include taxes. How can I see how much these taxes would be if I currently have 0 KF points and 1m citi points?

Sign up for a free KF membership. You can then search for flights you want - make sure you tick the 'Redeem award flights' box. Once the available flights display you can select a particular flight/set of flights, and at the bottom right of the screen click on 'Display total cost' - this will show you the total number of points required AFTER the 15% discount has been applied for booking online. You can also click on 'Continue' at the very bottom right, and even without any KF miles in your account it will take you through to the next page - at the top right of the screen you'll see the total points required plus the taxes and surcharges payable.

I too have more than a million Citi points, and KF is pretty much where they're all going eventually as well!

 

[Franko Costa]

Thanks for that. I can't believe how much the taxes and other fees are! From MEL -> HKG, the points required are 42,500 plus $516 in taxes. I remember only a couple of weeks ago that Qantas had a $599 return fare

 

[thehound]

Thanks for that. I can't believe how much the taxes and other fees are! From MEL -> HKG, the points required are 42,500 plus $516 in taxes. I remember only a couple of weeks ago that Qantas had a $599 return fare

Those figures are in Y return - and using KF miles for economy flights is terrible value in my opinion. You're better off buying a revenue fare and earning status credits and points if you're happy to fly Y.

Much better value is to fly J or F with SQ, since you get so much more bang for your buck. MEL-HKG in J saver is 46750 one way, and for a date I looked at in May 2016 the taxes were $296.

If you're Platinum with Qantas and want to go to HKG, maybe you would be better putting your points into Asia Miles and just flying direct with Cathay?

 

[Franko Costa]

Thanks - just bought tickets to Japan for $350 return with Deathstar....I'll just keep the points for another day