FINALLY! - Citi launching Citi Prestige with Visa Infinite

[legroom]

If anyone joined Prestige this year because of their free hotel night and free airport transfer, there may not be any good news coming. They still do not allow bookings for 2016.

More reason to use them now (2015)

Made use of the limo transfer from / to NRT last week (80km allowance) by S-class Merc - very enjoyable (while it lasts)

Beat the Narita Express hands down

Would love to have that & free hotel extended to 2016 and beyond

 

[palpal]

Hello everyone
like many of u I am getting very vague answers from Citibank customer service so I thought your collective expertise may answer my Qs

1. I currenly have a Citibank signature card fee free for life under their promo last year. If I was to apply for a new prestige card ( not upgrade signature) and keep the signature card do I get the 70k few flyer signup points? Few previously have suggested here I do as it is a new line of credit. Would like some clarification

2. On the citi prestige, u get shangri la jade and Hilton gold status. Is this for the life of the prestige card or do u have to maintain this with future hotel stays?

3. Lastly with the limo transfer, if I travel with my wife and kids, do they charge extra? Even if I as the main card holder travel with them in the limo?

thanks everyone in advance

 

[cove]

Well palpal I think if you keep phoning you might get multiple answers. Their call centre can be like that.
On item 3 I think you will be ok but I don't bother using that service as we use drivers we know.
We have 2 Prestige cards and I haven't seen those hotel status offers. The four nights and pay for three is the one that seems to be a winner but I don't tend to stay 4 nights in one hotel.
Shangri La would be worth investigating as I was impressed with their properties. Hilton is barely ok so I wouldn't chase that too hard unless you love mediocrity in the US.
Getting a 70,000 sign on sounds great if it comes off for you.
My last call to Citi was to transfer many points seeing they played up with the value of those already earned points and then reversed their decision.

 

[legroom]

Palpal

#3: limo transfer

They will ask who is traveling with you; if not the supplementary card holder they claimed you would be charged for that pax.

My single limo experience was that the driver didn't ask a single question apart from you confirming that "I'm palpal".

No van, only a true S class Merc so jamming the kids in could be difficult.

The boot space is limited.

 

[bigray73]

Hi Palpal. I used the limo transfer service with wife & 2 kids twice in Japan in September. Citi were fully aware and initially stated that there would be no extra charge. A week before we were heading to Japan they emailed back to say that we would not fit in a sedan and would need to be upgraded to a van so that there would be an extra charge. I complained and they then agreed to not charge extra if the 4 of us went in a sedan

 

[thehound]

Hi Palpal. I used the limo transfer service with wife & 2 kids twice in Japan in September. Citi were fully aware and initially stated that there would be no extra charge. A week before we were heading to Japan they emailed back to say that we would not fit in a sedan and would need to be upgraded to a van so that there would be an extra charge. I complained and they then agreed to not charge extra if the 4 of us went in a sedan

I've previously posted on my experience with the limo service in Hong Kong. My wife, infant son and I arrived with a mountain of luggage since we were moving overseas. A sedan was waiting for us, and we ended up with luggage on every available spare surface in the car! I was contacted by yQ (the limo service) prior to departing Hong Kong and asked if we'd like a van for $150USD extra - I politely declined, advising I was happy to have any extra luggage sitting on our laps for the return journey in a sedan.

They sent a van anyway at no charge.

When I booked I advised there would be 3 passengers in total.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I've previously posted on my experience with the limo service in Hong Kong. My wife, infant son and I arrived with a mountain of luggage since we were moving overseas.

How did you go with the infant? Was there a carrier or in true HK style just 'put em on the seat' ?

 

[thehound]

How did you go with the infant? Was there a carrier or in true HK style just 'put em on the seat' ?

No baby seat, he just sat on my lap. No different than taking taxis or Ubers in US/Canada though.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

WOW - just had a call from Citi security - they asked me to agree to cancelling my Prestige and issue me with a new one as a merchant I have previously used has been compromised.

The merchant? ......... HILTON!

 

[quokka77]

Yeah it's not an isolated problem CE. Hilton, Starwood hotels hacked, credit card details at risk - Australian Business Traveller

 

[Kimster]

WOW - just had a call from Citi security - they asked me to agree to cancelling my Prestige and issue me with a new one as a merchant I have previously used has been compromised.

The merchant? ......... HILTON!

Still reeling with having to change my DD set up from my old prestige card to new as Citi Security asked me to cancel the old card. The Merchant - Google!!
Not sure whats happening with Citi Security and card compromises.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Still reeling with having to change my DD set up from my old prestige card to new as Citi Security asked me to cancel the old card. The Merchant - Google!!
Not sure whats happening with Citi Security and card compromises.

I went through a few cards over a year when it was the 'Citi Select' card. What a nightmare updating all the direct debits, resigning agreements with new card details etc.

 

[diningdecadence]

ahhh they tried to do it to me last week, the day before i was flying out overseas. how long will it take to send a replacement to an overseas address? 7-10 days. umm no thanks, i'll keep my card, and if there's fraud then citi can deal with it once i'm back. ridiculous.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

ahhh they tried to do it to me last week, the day before i was flying out overseas. how long will it take to send a replacement to an overseas address? 7-10 days. umm no thanks, i'll keep my card, and if there's fraud then citi can deal with it once i'm back. ridiculous.

Yes I chose identical course of action.

 

[gregff]

Does this also imply that if a citi card is lost or stolen overseas, 7-10 days is the best they can do for a replacement? Do they have emergency o/s card replacement like Amex? Anyone have experience with card replacement o/s?

 

[quokka77]

Does anyone here rely on Citi Prestige as their primary travel insurance? I just purchased cover from a separate provider, but having had a better read of the PDS of the paid cover vs the free Citi prestige cover, I don't think there's much difference. Anyone care to share their experience or thoughts?

 

[cove]

We don't rely on credit card travel insurance as we have many flights on points/miles and almost no paid for trips. Our comprehensive Chubb annual insurance costs just over $100 a person now as we have never had a claim over so many years. I think we cover about 14 travelers for about $1400 ish per year.

 

[quokka77]

Citi prestige does cover points flights / trips in most circumstances (if you have converted citi points to the ff program used to book the trip). They also cover spouse and dependants if booked with points. I'll ask my clever family member who works in personal injury law to have a quick read.

 

[quokka77]

On the topic of the great citi devaluation (KF and vff) I am not rushing out to cut up my card. I will however be looking closer at Delta and Asia Miles for transpac and European long haul awards. I think the value is still there, but it's no longer a no brainer to send to KF and VFF.

 

[Cynicor]

Citi prestige does cover points flights / trips in most circumstances (if you have converted citi points to the ff program used to book the trip). They also cover spouse and dependants if booked with points. I'll ask my clever family member who works in personal injury law to have a quick read.

Indeed it does, but that is only "most circumstances" for people with only 1 card. I use a mix of Amex, Citi, SQ, QF, Avianca, CX points for most trips and can't prove that I have converted them from citi.

Rather than having to remember I find an annual policy simpler and more reliable, but YMMV.

If the prestige insurance works for you then that is excellent. Plat charge insurance used to be the best around but had been severely devalued (outside of Cent coverage).