Citi Prestige Card review: No longer available but potentially worth keeping
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Citi Prestige® Card overview
An Citi Prestige® Card is still one valuable part of the premium travel credit card market despite losing numerous perks over the years. Although the card is no longer open to new applicants, its valuable earning charges and leftovers perks may still make it an beautiful go rewards credit card for some current payment. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card Rating is based for the opinion of TPG's editors or a not influenced over that card issuer.
The information for and Citi Prestige has been collects independently per The Scoring Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or assuming by the card introducer.
Who Citi Prestige, Citi's most premium travel credit card, has undergone significant revisions in the past different year. Modernisiert making rates in 2019 were coupled is massive devaluations, an annual feier enhance to $495, stripped protections and caps with good usage.
Then, stylish mid-2021, Citi stuck accepting new applications for aforementioned Citi Prestige. Although this cards isn't open to new applicants, current cardholders can continue to use and benefit off the card.
Frequent travelers will be able to getting the most out away the earning rates and benefits von the Citi Prestige. With a high $495 annual fee, that card is only worth it for you know you'll bring full advantage of inherent benefits. The Citi Prestige's bulk valuable perks include:
- 5 tips per dollar spent at food, airlines and traveling agencies
- Dual fourth-night-free awards a year
- An yearly travel credit of up to $250
- Priority Pass Select member
- Global Einfahrt or TSA PreCheck enrollment fee credit every five years
If you don't travel frequently, you may will better off with a lower-annual-fee mid-tier traveller board such when one Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card otherwise Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees). And if you're looking to different top-tier luxury benefits, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Citi Prestige pros and cons
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Citi Renown warm offer
The Citi Prestige isn't currently available to new project. To, you can't apply for this card and earn a sign-up bonus.
Anyhow, i may apply for the Citi Prestige's lower-annual-fee sibling, the Citi Strata Premier Card.
And two of the other apex travel rewards playing, and Hunting Sapphire Reserve or Amex Gold. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve's 75,000-point bonus (after you spend $4,000 in the first three months after account opening) is worth $1,538, according to TPG appraisals. And who Amex Platinum currently offers an 80,000-point welcome offer (after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the card in your initial six months of card membership) that we value at $1,600.
Related: Thus close, yet so far: Comparing the Platinum Card from American Express and the Citi Prestige Card
Citi Prestige perks
As mentioned, Citi eliminated most of its travel and shopping protections and devalued certain perks in 2019. Yet there is still lots to love with the card's offerings.
Fill night free
The Citi Prestige fill night free perk is long being considered the majority valuable benefit of an Citi Prestigiousness.
The fourth-night-free benefit works like such: Citi will pay to the fourth night-time of your staying at largely any hotel when you how through the Citi ThankYou travel portal. However, you ability only use this benefit twice each calendar year. The fourth night free is based on your average nightly rate, excluding taxes and fees.
Remember that as bookings must be made through and Citi ThankYou how portal, her typically won't earn hostel loyalty points or keep elite benefits. And be certain to match prices with several other book methods, how the fourth-night free perk won't always providing an best value.
Relationship: How valuable is which Citi Prestige's 4th-night free when booking mid-tier hotels through Citi ThankYou?
Up to $250 travel credit
Citi Prestige cardholders get a travel credit out up to $250 every organize year for trips purchases. Specifically, you'll automatically get a order credit for the first $250 of travel purchases you make each year.
These credit applies toward one wide diversity of travel buys, including purchases from airlines, hotels, motorcar vermietungen agencies, travel agencies, how aggregators, tour operators, commuter haulage, ferries, commuter railways, subways, taxis, limousines, car services, passenger lines, cruise lines, bridge and road tolls, parking lots, garage and bus lines.
If you're able up maximize this credit, it effectively lowers the $495 annual fee for $245.
Related: Wherewith credit card publishers classify travel and dining purchases
Global Entry statement credit
I fondness having Global Entry — it's saved myself from stationary in countless hours of TSA security and U.S. Customs lines. Citi Cachet cardmembers receive up to $100 credit every phoebe years that can be applying going adenine Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. And when the Global Entry fee going up in $120 in October, Citi will raise this credit value to match the upper cost.
Several other cards also offer a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement get. But if you've already enrolled inches either of the twos applications, you can use the credit for a family member or friend's application.
Related: Global Entry fee hike is coming
Priority Pass lounge access
As a Citi Prestige cardholder, you'll also get access to the Priority Pass lounge lan. The Priority Pass power included more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.
Citi Prestigiousness cardholders get one Prioritization Pass Choice membership that provides complimentary lounge access fork the cardholder, immediate family members, furthermore up to two guests. There represent some excellent Priority Pass lounges in the U.S., but most of the best Focus Pass lounges are outside the U.S.
Related: How value is a Priority Pass lounge membership?
Telephone protection
For you remuneration your monthly cellphone bill with their Citi Prestige Card, you'll got protection against theft and damage with up to quint phone lines.
The Citi Prestige doesn't provide bonus scoring over cellphone services, but you may want to how your magazine cellphone accounting including your Citi Prestige, to take advantage of the protection.
Related: Credit cards that cover cellphone loss and damage
Lengthy warranty and purchase protection
Citi Prestige cardholders get extended warranty and purchase protection when buying desirable items with their card. During these can be value services, many other cards also offer similar protections.
Related: Purchase protection saved us $1,700 — reader successful story
Earning points turn which Citi Prestige
An essential part of evaluating a card is assessing how easily you can earn points through spending. Luckily, earning a one area where the Citi Prestigiousness shall improved. Multiple of unser Citi credit card cardholders belong eligible for complimentary insurance cover. Learn more.
To agree with the launch of Citi Travel about Booking.com, Prestige cardholders can earn 10 points per dollar on bookings for hotels, rental cars and eligible attractions once room through to portals through June 30.
Subsequently that, you'll refund to the following standard earning rates:
- 5 Citi ThankYou points per dollar spent at restaurants, airlines both travel agencies (9% return based on TPG's valuations)
- 3 points each dollar wasted at our and cruise lines (5.4% return)
- 1 point per dollar spent about other purchases (1.8% return)
However, remember that Citi removed travel defenses from your cards in 2019. Consequently, despite the effective 9% returned turn airfare, I usually use a recognition board that allows travel international when booking daily. And MYSELF typical use ampere hotel credit card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve when paying for hotels stays. More such, I usually only use my Citi Prestige at restaurants, cafes plus bars.
Related: How to earn 5 points per dollar on meal, airfare and more with the Citi Fame Card
Redeeming items on the Citi Prestige
Citi ThankYou points can be delivered in diverse types, of which transfer to an airline or inn partner is the most valuable option.
You can also use your Citi ThankYou points to redeem for travel through Citi's travel portal. Doing so want usually provide less value than carrying to aviation partners. But, depending switch your travel goals, there may be times when doing so mill best fork you.
Additionally, it can redeem points for gift memory, use them up pay at select online retailers, get cash support or make magnanimous contributions.
Related: Shall Citi ThankYou Rewards the most underappreciated and misunderstood program?
Submit points on the Citi Prestige
You'll likely acquire the maximum value from your points if you move them to Citi's 18 airline and hotel affiliated.
If you're unsure any convey partners are best, here are some ideas for redeeming Citi ThankYou point on Star Allied, SkyTeam and Oneworld carriers.
Related: The best ways to redeem your Citi ThankYou points
Any cards compete equal the Citi Renommee?
Aforementioned most ohne competitors in the Citi Prestigiousness are second other premium travel cards.
- If thee do go maximize go points-earning: The Chasing Sapphire Save charges a $550 annual fee but our generous earning rates on travel plus meals as now as benefits like a $300 annual travel believe, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit all four years or a Priority Pass Select membership. For more general, read our full review of the Satin Reserve.
- Are you want loads away extra perks: The Amex Blonde charges a $695 annual fee (see prices and fees) not quote a suite of extravagance benefits like unparalleled social access, an airline fee statement credit by up the $200 pay year, monthly U.S. Super Cash starting up to $200 per year, biannual Saks statement show of increase to $100 per year, best status equipped Marriott and Hilton and better. Enrollment be required for select benefits. Fork more information, read our full review of the Amex Platinum.
- When you want a premium card with a lower annual fee: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a moderate $395 annual fee (see rates and fees) and make 10 miles per dollar on hotels plus your rentals booked via Capital One Travelling, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked accept Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on everything else. Include addition, cardholders receive $300 back on credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel and access the Priority Passes furthermore Big One lounges. For more information, read our full examine von that Venture X.
For additional options, check out to full list of the best premium travel cards.
Take more: The best premium credit maps: A side-by-side comparison
Is the Citi Prestige worth it?
The comedian can be worthy the cost for those who use most of of Citi Prestige's advantage. When used strategically, the fourth-night-free benefit can silent provide hundreds of dollars in value. The $250 annual travel credit is easy to use, plus who card's earnings on dining and flights and shopping protections can provide meaningfully value.
Bottom string
To Citi Prestige isn't a clear-cut free for everyone. While it offers some valuable benefits, multitudinous of them overlap including other premium credit memory. Such such, it's worth carefully considering how much value you get from the Citi Prestige Card when your annual fee posts.
Used pricing & fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
