Citi Prestige FAQs and Live Link for 75,000 Bonus Points
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
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Update 8/1/17: Citi has clarified that some stays booked online may not be eligible for hotel elite benefits and credit, though stays booked through the Concierge will continue to be eligible. If booking online, it's always worth adding your loyalty account number just in case, by calling the chain after booking or by asking an agent to add your number at check in.
As I shared with TPG readers last week, Citi has changed and enhanced many features of the Citi Prestige card. These changes take effect starting today, July 23, and we have the exclusive application link for an offer that comes with 75,000 bonus points.
Below, we've answered the most common questions about the card — including all the new details about the 4th Night Free feature and some important news about hotel elite benefits. We expect you'll have more questions, and if you want to learn more about a particular feature that isn't addressed here, please add it to the comments below. You can also check out my full review of the card.
Question: When can I sign up and get 75,000 bonus points?
Answer: Right now! The application is now live and you can only find it here at The Points Guy: Citi Prestige Card application.
Q: Who's eligible for the 75,000-point sign-up bonus?
A: You're eligible for the sign-up bonus if you haven't opened or closed a ThankYou card of any type in the last 24 months. This includes Citi Prestige, Citi Premier and Citi Preferred cards. If you're eligible and get approved for the card, you'll need to spend $7,500 in purchases in the first three months to earn the bonus.
Q: How long will the elevated bonus stick around?
A: We don't have an exact end date, but the 75,000 bonus points is a limited-time offer.
Q: What are some of the new perks?
A: Cardholders now have the ability to book 4th Night Free reservations via the ThankYou portal online, and can get 1 cent per point for cash redemptions, and, of course, that 75,000-point sign-up bonus. Also, the card is now made of metal.
Q: Which features have gone away?
A: Gone are Admirals Club access, 1.6 cents per point redemptions on American flights and three free rounds of golf.
Q: How much do I get when redeeming ThankYou points for airfare at the Citi ThankYou Travel Center?
A: You'll now get 1.25 cents per point for airfare on all airlines.
Q: How much is the annual fee?
A: $450 per year.
Q: What are the ThankYou transfer partners?
A: ThankYou Rewards has a total of 15 transfer partners: Asia Miles, Etihad Guest, EVA Air, Flying Blue, Garuda Indonesia, JetBlue (at a ratio of 1 to 0.8), JetPrivilege, Malaysia, Qantas, Qatar, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Hilton Honors (at a ratio of 1 to 1.5) and Sears Shop Your Way (at a ratio of 1 to 12).
Q: How is the 4th Night Free benefit changing?
A: You can now book 4th Night Free reservations in two ways: either online through the ThankYou portal or by calling or emailing the Citi Prestige Concierge. If you book online, you can pay for the stay using either cash, ThankYou points or a combination of the two.
Q: When will the 4th Night Free online booking option become available?
A: It is scheduled to be available starting the evening of July 23 at thankyou.com.
Q: Which hotels are eligible for the 4th Night Free credit?
A: Almost any hotel. Technically, any hotel available via thankyou.com is eligible for 4th Night Free, as well as any hotel that the Concierge books for you if you call or email. You must book under the name of the primary cardholder and pay for any cash portion with the Citi Prestige card.
Q: Can I book 4th Night Free reservations using special rates such as AAA or those for elite members?
A: Yes. If a hotel offers discounts for members of certain loyalty or membership programs, these rates can still be combined with the complimentary 4th Night benefit when booked through the Citi Prestige Concierge.
Q: Will I still earn points and be able to use my elite benefits on 4th Night Free stays?
A: Yes, you will continue to earn elite credit for any 4th Night Free stays booked with the Concierge, however stays booked online may or may not be eligible, depending on the rate and chain. If booking via thankyou.com, you will need to add your hotel loyalty program number to your reservation either by calling prior to checking in or at the time of check in.
Q: How long will it take for the 4th Night Free credit to be posted to my account?
A: When booking online, the 4th Night Free discount will be immediately deducted from the total you pay, so there won't be a credit since you'll only be charged for the paid nights. For phone and email bookings with the Citi Concierge, the credit will post as it has in the past.
Q: Will I earn ThankYou points on 4th Night Free bookings?
A: Yes. Since these are hotel purchases, you will earn 3x ThankYou points on all bookings, no matter whether you book through the ThankYou portal or the Citi Concierge. If you pay for part of your reservation with ThankYou points, you will still earn ThankYou points on the portion paid with your Citi Prestige card (though not for the free 4th Night itself).
Q: Can I get a metal card as an existing cardholder?
A: Yes. You'll be receiving a first release Citi Prestige metal card in the coming months. Your account number will be identical, but your 3-digit CVV and expiration date will change.
Q: What does the $250 annual Air Travel Credit cover?
A: According to Citibank's terms and conditions, purchases covered by the Air Travel Credit include "purchases made with airlines including air fares, baggage fees, lounge access and some in-flight purchases."
Q: What qualifies as travel and what qualifies as entertainment?
A: Cardholders get 3x points on air travel and hotels, 2x points on dining and entertainment and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Travel is for airlines and hotels only — not Uber or taxis. Entertainment, however, covers a broad spectrum including music downloads, movie theaters, concerts and sporting events.
Q: Is the $250 annual Air Travel Credit issued each calendar year or anniversary year?
A: The Air Travel Credit is issued each calendar year. However, it resets at the end of your December billing statement — not on December 31.
Q: How often do I get the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit?
A: The Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit will reset once every five years.
Q: How many free guests can I bring with me to Priority Pass lounges?
A: The Priority Pass membership that comes with the Citi Prestige allows you to bring either immediate family or two guests with you into Priority Pass lounges for free. Note that certain Priority Pass lounges may have more restrictive guest policies which are listed at prioritypass.com.
Q: Do I get any elite benefits with hotels or car rental agencies?
A: Yes. Thanks to the Citi Prestige being a World Elite Mastercard, you'll get Avis Preferred Plus membership, National Emerald Club Executive status and Sixt Platinum status.
Q: What car rental protection is included?
A: The Citi Prestige car rental protection will cover up to $100,000 toward the cost of repairs or the cash value of the car, whichever is less. In the United States the coverage is secondary to your personal insurance, but the card provides primary coverage outside of the US.
Q: What kind of purchase protection or flight delay/cancellation benefits are available with the card?
A: The Citi Prestige's trip delay protection benefits are impressive: If delayed for at least three hours, expect to be reimbursed for expenses incurred due to the delay up to $500 per covered traveler per trip.
The card's trip cancellation and interruption protection covers travelers including yourself, family members and travel companions on the trip. You can be reimbursed up to $5,000 per covered traveler per interrupted or canceled trip; or, in the event of partial payment, the actual amount charged to your Citi card and/or ThankYou points.
Purchase protection includes 120 days of coverage (90 days in New York) for purchases that are damaged, lost, or stolen, up to $10,000 or the amount charged to the card (including ThankYou points). There is a maximum of $50,000 in coverage per year.
Extended warranty coverage adds an additional 24 months on top of the manufacturer's warranty and Citi Price Rewind will refund the difference on a registered purchase if a lower price is found on the same item within 60 days of purchase — up to $500 per item and a maximum of $2,500 per year.
Q: What are the authorized user benefits?
A: Authorized users on the card get their own Priority Pass membership with the same guest privileges as the primary cardholder and access to the Citi Prestige Concierge. Authorized user cards have an additional annual fee of $50 each.
Q: Are there any other unusual benefits of the Citi Prestige?
A: The Missed Event Ticket Protection is a unique perk that can reimburse you for the price of event tickets —like sporting events, concerts or lectures — if something unexpected keeps you from using them. The coverage provides reimbursement of up to $500 per ticket, including service fees that are listed on the ticket or receipt, and up to $5,000 in a calendar year per account.
Q: Are there any foreign transactions fees with the Citi Prestige?
A: None.
For more on the Citi Prestige card:
- Full TPG Review
- How I've Gotten $2,250 in Value from the Citi Prestige Card
- How Long Do Citi ThankYou Points Take to Transfer?
- Why You Should Add Authorized Users on Your Citi Prestige
- Planning a Last-Minute Portugal Day Trip with Citi Prestige Concierge
Have a question about Citi Prestige? Please share it in the comments below.