Update 1/4/19: A lot of these changes go live today. We are still waiting to see what sign up bonus (if any) will be available when the card officially relaunches to new applications (I’m assuming some time later today).
[Update 11/9/18: Citi sent out an email blast and has a public page about this now. Added some details below. Temporarily bolded the new details to make it clear.]
Citi has announced major changes to the Citi Prestige card. These changes will go live on January 4, 2019. Changes are as follows:
- Card will earn 5x points on dining (including cafes, bars, lounges and fast food restaurants) and air travel (airlines and travel agencies)
- Card will earn 3x points on cruise lines and hotels
- $250 credit for air travel will become a $250 travel credit
- In May 2019 Citi will add cell phone insurance beginning May 1, 2019
- (Through August 2019, card will retain it’s 2x earn on entertainment)
In September 2019 a number of benefits will be devalued:
- 4th night free benefit can be used twice per calendar year
- Only bookings made on or after September 1, 2019, will count toward the 2019 cap. Earlier bookings will not count toward the cap. (Sounds like you can even book out into the future and it won’t count toward your cap, but not positive about this.)
- Citi Prestige 4th-night benefit will no longer be bookable via Citi Concierge which means (among other things) losing out on the hotel points and status.
- Annual fee will be increased to $495 (from $450)Â and $75 per authorized user, including cardmembers with a Citi Priority account. You will receive official notice of this change at a later date. This change will be effective at your account anniversary after September 1, 2019. If you maintain a Citigold or Citi Private Bank account, these annual fee and authorized user fee increases will not apply to your account. (Most of us who are grandfathered at $350 will be increased to $495.)
- When redeeming points for air travel you’ll no longer receive a 25% bonus (meaning points are only worth 1¢ instead of 1.25¢ when redeeming through Citi’s travel portal)
- Card will no longer earn 2x points on entertainment beginning September 1, 2019
- Relationship bonus will be removed. You will receive your final relationship bonus on your account anniversary. For example, if your anniversary is October 1, 2019, you will receive your final bonus during that statement cycle.
Other benefits will be remaining the same.
Our Verdict
One of the main reasons people have kept the Prestige is to take advantage of the 4th night free benefit. It being restricted to two uses per calendar year is a major restriction and in my opinion the new benefits don’t make up for this change. If you don’t use that benefit then I don’t see how keeping the card long term makes sense (both currently and in the future). The 5x on dining and air travel is nice but dining is already a category where it’s possible to get 4% cash back with no annual fee. If you do use the 4th night free benefit then I guess even though it’s restricted to two uses per calendar year you’ll still probably come ahead when you take into account the $250 travel credit as well. Overall these changes are underwhelming and a net negative for most people. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
It’s also worth remembering that the Citi Prestige is currently not accepting new applications and it looks like it won’t be until January, 2019. I wonder what the sign up bonus will be at relaunch?
AF showed up as $495, despite being CitiGold. This is going to be a sh*tshow if I have to call in every year. Is there a link or pdf saying $350 is grandfathered?
If you get a new citi prestige checking account and apply for the prestige credit card, will the annual fee still be reduced to $350?
Just got my Prestige annual fee @$350 as a former Citi Gold client. Keeping it for another year!
David marksu
Is the Citi Prestige Concierge for booking free fourth night dead? Calling 1-561-922-0158 gives a “no longer in service” message. Emails to the [email protected] are going unanswered.
Is the Citi Prestige Concierge for booking free fourth night dead? Calling 1-561-922-0158 gives a “no longer in service” message.
Am I getting the travel credit twice? I purchased an airline tickets on Jan 2 (sorry I was not able to wait until Jan 4) and in my Jan statement closed on Jan 15, I received the airline credit for $250. At the same time, it also credited some taxi charges happening after Jan 4. So, I am guessing I am able to use a new $250 credit?
AF hit last month. I put $250+ in airline charges three weeks ago. Statement closed yesterday with $250 reimbursed. I called today to cancel card. Citi tried to have me cancel card through their automated system, but I said “representative”.
Rep told me I could get AF refunded within 37 days and since I was within that time I would get a full refund. No incentive offers or any attempt to keep me. I had the card since 2014.
Hi, is it possible to upgrade citi premier to citi prestige?
I currently have CSR, Amex Platinum and Citi Prestige and I still think this card is as good as (or better than) these other cards, even with an annual fee $495.
– No other card offers free 4th night anywhere in the world (I am surprised it lasted this long). I usually use 4th night free bookings 1-2 times a year to book small boutique hotels ~$200/night and this feature alone is enough to pay the annual fee. One can use it for much higher priced hotels and still come out ahead!
– Earning 3 points for hotels and cruises is also very good. I am not sure if CSR earns 3 points with cruise bookings.
– I have been using the Prestige digital priority pass for the last few years and it is as good as offerings from other cards.
– Citi Prestige has very good trip cancellation/delay/baggage protection.
5 points for flight bookings made on any website will make this the best card in market.
– I always use Citi Prestige primary overseas insurance as they allow partial CDW with the rental cars and have no vehicle brand/vehicle restrictions like other cards (any vehicle under 75K with 4 wheels can be rented). Wheel and tire damage (without an accident) is also covered which is excluded from Amex and Chase.
– 5 points for local/international dining is clearly superior to any other card in the market. If someone spends $6000 per year on dining, that gives you 30000 TY points (transfer them to Avianca/SQ for booking a one-way economy trip to South America or Europe).
-As long as Citi partners with SQ, Avianca, Etihad and Virgin Atlantic, one can easily transfer points to make international award booking for the same value compared to Chase or Amex. Avianca also has the best redemptions for short distance domestic Star Alliance flights.
PS: It is ridiculous that AA is NOT a travel partner with Citi. I wish someone higher up in Citi makes an effort to make it happen.
– Adding cell phone coverage is a nice addition and I will use the card for paying our household cell phone bill if deductibles are reasonable.
– I really have no use for earning 2 points for entertainment/cashing points for $1.25 etc., so I am not going to miss them.
I am hoping that the $350 fee for grandfathered users (without a current Citi Gold) will remain same, but only time will tell when time comes to renew after September 2019.