FINALLY! - Citi launching Citi Prestige with Visa Infinite

[diningdecadence]

Yes DD that works out at one real Kris Mile per dollar spending going forward.

with the increase in FX to 3.4% (and the 'real' rate closer to 4%) i'll be dropping my FX spend, but keeping the domestic at 1:1. might have to investigate Asia Miles a bit closer too after 2 QF F redemptions through them.

 

[cove]

Yes I agree DD. Have opened an Asia Miles account with zero in it so fa.
That 3.4% is something I won't do.
BW World works ok for FX but the pathway to get that card is convoluted as you have to start with BW Platinum.

 

[thehound]

with the increase in FX to 3.4% (and the 'real' rate closer to 4%) i'll be dropping my FX spend, but keeping the domestic at 1:1. might have to investigate Asia Miles a bit closer too after 2 QF F redemptions through them.

Can you explain why it's closer to 4%? Is that when you take into account the worse rate Citi provides compared to the mid-market rate?

 

[diningdecadence]

Can you explain why it's closer to 4%? Is that when you take into account the worse rate Citi provides compared to the mid-market rate?

yeah the corporate rate i can get through FX compared to what Citi charges was 4% different on my last transaction. not sure of the differential between ozforex and similar places but suspect it would be less than the C/C rates. at those kind of rates i find i really need to do the sums to see what kind of burn rate i can achieve vs paying the 'surcharge'

 

[thehound]

yeah the corporate rate i can get through FX compared to what Citi charges was 4% different on my last transaction. not sure of the differential between ozforex and similar places but suspect it would be less than the C/C rates. at those kind of rates i find i really need to do the sums to see what kind of burn rate i can achieve vs paying the 'surcharge'

Well I'm currently living overseas and the Prestige has been the go to card for foreign transactions given that it was earning 3.33 KF miles for that 3.3% fee. Once that pares back to 2.5 KF miles for 3.4%, I think we'll probably just switch over to using the Bankwest card with 0% FX fees earning 1 QF pt/$.

 

[Franko Costa]

Bankwest earns 0.75 QFF per $ spent from memory

 

[thehound]

Bankwest earns 0.75 QFF per $ spent from memory

Yes that's correct, my mistake.

 

[cove]

BW World gets you what you need thehound. You can ask /get invited after having started with BW Platinum which carries a 50,000 sign on bonus and the lower earn rate.
Have a look to see if you can qualify for the Citibank US card while you are in Canada. I am delighted with this card and I use it in the UK, Australia and the US and Canada. AA miles work ok to book AA, Qantas and Etihad (and more).

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Again the Citibank's 'Stay 4 Pay 3' benefit is a winner. I need 4nts in Shanghai in May - tossing up Le Royal Meridien or Waldorf Astoria - WA more expensive - base rates no b/f at LRM is A$264 - WA A$412. I am HH Diamond so can get b/f included if WA honour HH Dia bennies if booked through 3rd party - as I posted in Hilton thread I contacted WA Ops Mgr and she confirmed WA will indeed honour Dia bens - great result.

So this is state of play with Citi's 'Stay 4 Pay 3' benefit:
[TABLE="width: 555"]
[TR]
[TD]Source
[/TD]
[TD]No Nts
[/TD]
[TD]Daily Rate
[/TD]
[TD]Sub Total
[/TD]
[TD]Tax
[/TD]
[TD]Gross Total
[/TD]
[TD]Rebate
[/TD]
[TD]Net Total
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Citibank
[/TD]
[TD]4
[/TD]
[TD]$412.42
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$1,649.68
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$247.45
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$1,897.13
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$412.42
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$1,484.71
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]WA
[/TD]
[TD]4
[/TD]
[TD]$403.58
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$1,614.32
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$242.15
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$1,856.47
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$0.00
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$1,856.47
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Gotta love that! Between Cruiserette and myself we reaped >A$2,000 rebates with this benefit in 2015 - hopefully we can get it well above that amt in 2016.

 

[LadyC]

CE, is there a website or list you can refer me to that has all the hotels that Citibank allow the 'stay 4 pay 3'? Or do i need to work out a couple of hotel options and call and ask which ones they might rebate?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

They have changed their supplier for 'Stay 4 Pay 3' this year - before it was some Sing based TA - now it is hotels.com - so log onto hotels.com - check rates for your dates - if it shows there it will basically be available for the 4 / 3 benefit. In some isolated cases it isn't available - but most are.

 

[LuisT]

They have changed their supplier for 'Stay 4 Pay 3' this year - before it was some Sing based TA - now it is hotels.com - so log onto hotels.com - check rates for your dates - if it shows there it will basically be available for the 4 / 3 benefit. In some isolated cases it isn't available - but most are.

Are there any restrictions on class/price etc... for the hotels? And is there anyway to see from the hotels.com site which hotels it will work on?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Are there any restrictions on class/price etc... for the hotels? And is there anyway to see from the hotels.com site which hotels it will work on?

My understanding is that if it is visible to book on hotels.com then it should be able to be booked via Concierge.

There are some cases where hotel has already heavily discounted offers and the 'Stay 4 Pay 3' benefit is unavailable - but these are not that common.

Bear in mind the benefit has some restrictions:
1. Benefit is applicable to 'Room Only' bookings with b/f not included.
2. Benefit is on 'Accomodation' only basis - room rate is covered but not any applicable 'Taxes and Charges'
3. Benefit is based on 'Pay Upfront' basis - full payment less rebate amount payable at time of booking.

Above is my understanding which I gleaned from 1 conversation from 1 Concierge Rep but I think it is pretty accurate.

 

[cove]

I did my first one for Brisbane so that has saved over $200 in one go. Haven't stayed at the Brisbane Hilton for several years.
Actually I stopped using Hilton when they zeroed my account. They wriggled out of paying qualifying points when I booked thru a third party so I dumped them for a qualifying period.
CE you saved me!

 

[big_head]

Does anyone know if the 20% off for six senses stays is still available? Trying to make some bookings still for July, only to be told they are unavailable and to check back later.......Cruiser Elite, what month did you make your bookings for?? Thanks

 

[quokka77]

Transferred my city points to KF. Will cash out again early March. After that, I'm thinking CX for Oz-Europe (instead of KF) and Delta (on VA, instead of VFF) for Oz-USA. Anyone else got better ideas?

 

[diningdecadence]

Transferred my city points to KF. Will cash out again early March. After that, I'm thinking CX for Oz-Europe (instead of KF) and Delta (on VA, instead of VFF) for Oz-USA. Anyone else got better ideas?

consider transferring to asia miles for QF OZ-USA. have booked a couple of F awards this way (availability for AM opens same time as QF)

 

[VAG newbie]

Transferred my city points to KF. Will cash out again early March. After that, I'm thinking CX for Oz-Europe (instead of KF) and Delta (on VA, instead of VFF) for Oz-USA. Anyone else got better ideas?

You know that DL's skypeso has depreciated once again right? SYD/BNE to LAX is now 94000, not 80000. So whether you do it through VA or DL makes no difference, although with DL you can transit via ICN on KE. I agree AM might be better if you can find QF.

Going to Europe you might consider flying QR using Q-miles as well. It's 90k in J to Europe and I heard (unconfirmed) that QR reserve more seats for their own members so you might have more luck in finding a seat, although I haven't confirmed this as I don't have Q-miles account.

Thai Orchid have some good rates to Europe as well, on par with KF. But I guess if you want TG you might as well use LM, or transfer to KF still if the rate is the same as SQ is better than TG.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I've had to take this card out of my wallet for international transactions.

Once a week it gets blocked by citi for 'suspicious transactions', despite being 100% legit and passing verified by visa and Citibank having notes of my travel pattern etc..

I know what triggers the blocks (pattern of spend type & country changes in between them) but because I can't control the pattern of when merchants process the charge - it means the card gets blocked at inconvenient times.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Cruiser Elite, what month did you make your bookings for??

May on this occasion.