It’s nearly the end of 2016 and one of the benefits of the Citi Prestige card is the fact that it comes with a $250 travel credit. Like the Chase Sapphire Reserve $300 travel credit, charges must POST to your December 2016 statement to be eligible.
That means if your statement closes on December 10th and you make a purchase on December 12th it will not count towards your 2016 travel credit (instead it’ll count towards your 2017 travel credit). You can change your statement closing date with Citi to try and give yourself more time, but I wouldn’t rely on this working.
I’d recommend using this credit sooner rather than later, if you’re interested to know what has triggered the credit in the past this post will help you. If you have any questions about this benefit, please ask us in the comments as I want to try and make sure all readers are using these benefits to the fullest!
You can view other posts in this series:
View Comments (27)
Data point and then a question:
Data point: Last year I bought a ticket -- or at least I thought I bought a ticket using my Citi Prestige Card before my (early) December 2015 closing date. But there was some complication in the actual ticketing by the airline, which I didn't notice at first. To my horror, the ticket didn't go through until my Prestige closing date and didn't post until afterwards. As this was unfolding, I contacted Citi about moving the closing date later into the month. Too late for that, as it would be now. But -- and maybe this was just a freak piece of luck at a time of kinder and gentler relations between Citi and its valued cardholders -- but I got someone to understand the situation and give me a special $250 credit to make up for the one that an airline quirk plus my getting-acquainted-with-the-technical-year-end-enddate-of-a-new-card ignorance had made me skate by. YMMV, but for those of you who cut it too close, got the dreaded 1 or 2 December closing date, or whatever -- worth a call or two to see if you can find a sympathetic ear. I have to say that this gave me an irrational sense of loyalty to the card, and to Citi!
Question: Wasn't there a place on the website where we used to be able to see whether we had used our credit for a given year? Given my experience above, I am hyper-sensitive about getting on the wrong side of the December date!
DP/Caution: my statement date is the 17th of the month. I purchased AA gift card on the 17th of November; however, since the transaction did not process until the 18th, the credit did not appear on the November statement. I am fairly confident and have been assured by Citi it will appear on the December statement. Lesson for me: do not wait until the statement close date to make the purchase.
I did a test purchase of a $10 gift card from SW a few months ago; did receive the credit.
is there an easy way to see the balance remaining on the travel credit?
I bought a $110 SW gift card since I believe I have about $108 left. my statement closes on 12/14. I haven't used the card in a while so I assume I won't see the credit post until my statement date.
@ben if u make the charge after 01/01/2017 youl be eligible for the credit. I'm actually in the same boat as you and don't know the answer to your last question. If the credit is applied on the statement than I won't be able to keep it open because I won't get the AF refunded for the second year. Anyone know the answer to Ben's question? When does the credit post? On the statement or before?
I did a little more digging on flyertalk, I think that what happens is that the credit will post on the first statement that closes after the charge posts.
This, coupled with the fact that the AF posts on the last statement of the year and then becomes due PRIOR to the next statement closing (which is when the credit will appear). Therefore, we have to pay the AF. Typically, the due date that the AF is due on is ~2-4 days before the next statement close date. So if we pay the AF, then wait ~2-4 days for the next statement to close/credit will post, we can then cancel the card on day 5 after we pay the AF. I think this means that we will get a prorated refund for 10 months. So, ($450/12)*10=$375. Therefore we're paying a $75 fee to get a $250 credit...good deal. I would love some extra verification that Citi still prorates AFs, though.
A rep told me earlier this week that the annual fee is pro-rated. It would just take a quick call to verify.
I got my Prestige early 11/2015. I got my first $250 credit 11/25/2015. My AF was billed to me on 12/24/2015. I've also already redeemed by 2016 $250 credit. And I expect my AF to post on 12/24/2016 and then be due late Jan 2017.
Am I eligible to get another $250 statement credit before paying the AF? If I make a travel charge between 12/24 and 12/31/2016, then I don't think I'll get it. But if I make the travel charge after 1/1/17 then I should get another $250 statement credit....right?
Also, does the credit post within a day or so after the travel charge posts to the account? Or does the travel charge post when the statement closes?
I can't be the only person thinking about this...?
The charge appears immediately, but is due in the following statement. The credit appears on the following statement.
I have a question about new accounts and their first statement. Does any one remember if the spend put on a Citi card shows on the first statement generated. Thinking about applying for the Prestige tomorrow Dec 7, wondering if it would be possible to maximize the $250 for this calendar year or if I am too late. If I am too late I might go with the Premier.
So, if my statement closes on Dec 10 and I make an eligible purchase on Dec 11, will that count towards my 2017 allowance? Thanks.
So if my statement closed dec 2, and next one is jan 3 am I screwed?
Yup, might be worth trying to call Citi.
I am in the same boat as you. However, assuming your Dec 2 statement did not include the annual fee, you should be able to maximize the $250 credit for 2017 by spending it now, and then canceling in January.
Anyone know how long it takes a United Gift Registry purchase to post?
about 2-4 days. Maybe a week (but I got mine right away).
Does anyone know if the golf benefit works the same way? I planned on using my final two rounds for 2016 over christmas break. Will those actually count for 2016 or 2017?
Golf benefit is the same I believe: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/citi-prestige-golf-benefit-three-free-rounds-how-it-works-best-uses/
Also, as a datapoint. An American Airlines gift card purchased online worked for the travel credit for me in November.