Citi Prestige Card Relaunch Includes Major Changes
The rumored changes surrounding the Citi Prestige card have been confirmed. Citi will re-launch Prestige in January with some exciting changes and an unknown sign-up bonus. The big caveat here is the increased annual fee and the (gasp!) limit on the 4th night free benefit. It’s really hard to say whether the net effect is positive or negative. Let’s have a look at the changes: (Frequent Miler has a good chart summarizing changes from several sources.)
Positive Changes
- 5x Thank You Points on Dining and Airfare Purchases
- 3x Thank You Points on Cruise Lines
- $250 credit for air travel will become a general $250 travel credit
- Cell phone insurance benefit
Negative Changes
- At some point in 2019 the 4th Night Free Benefit will be capped at two uses per year
- You will no longer be able to redeem TYP’s for 1.25 Cents on airfare through the portal
- Increased Annual Fee: $495/yr
- Earnings on entertainment drop from 2x to 1x Thank You Points
Conclusion
Whether these changes are net positive or negative is dependent on multiple factors including your card portfolio, your personal value for Thank You Points and your 4th night free redemption value. For example, if you already have the Amex Gold card, the additional point on dining is not going to make much difference to you. On the other hand if you love the Platinum Card because you get 5x Points on airfare, the increased Prestige earnings might influence you to switch since their trip delay benefits are comparatively extremely generous. Since you can pool your Thank You Points, the 1 cent redemption through the portal won’t matter to anyone with a Thank You Premier Card.
Related:Â Prestige Retention Results
The 4th Night free benefit’s value really depends on a card holders travel style. Personally, I had Prestige for years and never used the benefit because I usually stay at top tier hotels and hate the idea of paying upwards of $1,000 a night regardless of whether I get the 4th night free. For me, it generally works out to less out of pocket to buy points. You can use this simple formula to see which option makes more sense for you.
HT: TPG
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I’m not sure that I understand the point of large annual fees and general travel credits to offset some of it. Wouldn’t they appeal to more people if they advertised a $245 AF (or on the CSR a $150 AF) with all of the other benefits except the travel credit? I would imagine the number of people NOT using their travel credit is almost none.
I cancelled my card when they dropped the Admirals Club membership. That’s the only perk that would get me back.
I miss the golf benefit, was one of the coolest perks around
Bethany, Why were you not at the Chicago Seminars this past weekend. This would have been the highlight of the seminars. This question was asked and no one knew an answer.
I was there… did we go to all opposite sections? lol. The changes were mostly confirmed yesterday, so no one would have known 🙂