Given the Citi Prestige no longer accepting new applications, many current cardholders find the Premier card more suitable. Offering similar earning potential at a reduced annual fee and with features such as 3x earning categories and benefits such as free hotel nights for every four used as well as $250 travel credit perks such as third night free hotel stays and additional travel credits this card may make sense for many cardholders.
Benefits
Citi Prestige and Citi Premier credit cards provide travelers with many travel-focused perks. Both cards earn Citi ThankYou points that can be redeemed towards travel purchases or transferred to airline partners to add value, with frequent travelers also benefiting from complimentary fourth night hotel stays and a $250 annual statement credit for travel expenses.
This card boasts an attractive rewards program, with 5x points earned on airfare and hotel spending and 3x on dining and gas purchases. Furthermore, no foreign transaction fees apply, making this an ideal card to add points on everyday purchases – although its $495 annual fee makes this difficult when considering regular spending patterns.
The Prestige card stands out from other credit cards by offering one of the most flexible travel card programs on the market, with points you earn being transferable to over 12 airline partners – making it one of the most flexible travel cards around. Plus, its annual fee covers several perks like complimentary fourth night hotel stays and airport limo transfers!
However, its annual fee is higher than most travel cards, and it has a strict minimum spend requirement. Although its features and perks may make the card worth your while for many travelers, it is important to decide if it’s suitable for you personally before signing up.
Both cards provide frequent travelers with various advantages, including free Priority Pass Select membership and an annual $250 airline credit. Citi Premier also features additional benefits, such as 5% cash back on restaurant and grocery purchases as well as contactless payment features allowing card users to tap it to a reader instead of inserting or swiping their card into it.
Though the Citi Prestige card carries an annual fee, its many features and benefits can easily make up for it for travel enthusiasts who frequently fly or stay in hotels. Maximizing credits and perks could offset this fee altogether.
Sign-up bonus
Though both Citi Prestige Card and Citi Premier Card are premium cards, the latter provides greater benefits at a reduced annual fee. Plus, its earning potential is much greater, offering 3X rewards in three key areas for many households’ budgets: groceries, dining out and gas purchases. It currently features an attractive 60,000 point sign-up bonus after spending $4,000 within three months of card membership!
Citi Premier Card provides more than just its generous sign-up bonus with its low annual fee of $95. Its bonus rewards cover more categories of spending than those available through the no longer-available Citi Prestige Card, which only offered 4X points for airfare and restaurants, 3X for hotels/cruise lines, and only 1X everywhere else.
Citi Prestige Card’s $495 annual fee may be hard for some people to justify, particularly those who aren’t frequent travelers. But its numerous perks and credits may help offset this cost: such as its fourth night free benefit on hotel stays which could save hundreds of dollars on vacation costs and no foreign transaction fees for overseas transactions.
Citi Prestige and Premier cards both fall within the Citi ThankYou points ecosystem, so most purchases made using either card can earn rewards. However, due to its greater selection of 3X earning categories than Prestige Cards can make Premier more appealing in many situations.
Be mindful that sign-up bonuses on these cards may not be guaranteed; due to Citi’s rules, receiving one could take 24 months after earning your ThankYou points.
If you are planning to apply for a new credit card, Citi Premier Card would be an ideal place to start. By getting this offer first and qualifying for its sign-up bonus before opening new cards that would disqualify you for the welcome offer, the sign-up bonus could become eligible immediately. Also bear in mind that certain cards require you to meet minimum spending thresholds so make sure you have enough funds available in your wallet to meet those criteria before moving forward with applying for additional cards.
Annual fee
Although its annual fee of $495 may seem high, the Citi Prestige Card delivers great value to cardholders who maximize its benefits. It boasts high rewards rates in multiple categories such as airfare, hotels and restaurants and provides cardholders with a $250 travel credit each year and fourth night free hotel stays; in addition it provides priority pass membership and enhanced insurance coverage.
Citi Prestige Card also offers an enticing sign-up bonus and allows cardholders to accumulate a large number of ThankYou points; these points can be redeemed at 1.25 cents each when used for travel booking through Citi travel portal or transferred directly to airline partners. Furthermore, as a Citigold or Private Client Banking member you’ll get an additional 15% bonus for all the ThankYou points earned each year!
Citi Prestige Card has some drawbacks, such as its high annual fee and limited airline and hotel transfer partners; therefore, this card may be better suited for frequent travelers who spend large sums on travel and entertainment expenses.
Citi Premier Card offers a rewarding rewards-focused credit card with a low annual fee and offers an attractive sign-up bonus and 3x rewards on air travel, hotels, supermarkets, gas stations and dining; in addition, this card also comes equipped with free Priority Pass Select membership as well as 5x rewards on dining!
Citi Prestige and Citi Premier cards share many similarities, yet each also have distinct distinctions. Though earning rates for both cards are comparable, travel enthusiasts tend to favor the Citi Prestige due to its special offers and $495 annual fee. You should select a card based on what best meets your spending habits.
Rewards
Both cards offer exceptional rewards: Citi Premier features a generous sign-up bonus and high earn rates across several broad categories, while Citi Prestige boasts more robust benefits and charges a higher annual fee. In the end, which card will suit your spending needs will depend on how often and for how long you travel or dine out – along with which benefits matter most to you.
Citi Premier card provides an impressive sign-up bonus of 60,000 points when spending $4,000 within three months of opening an account, according to TPG valuations, this can be worth as much as $1,360 and used towards booking travel through Citi’s travel portal or transferred directly to airline partners. Furthermore, this card comes equipped with an annual travel credit of $250 as well as 4th night free hotel benefits – something no other card does!
Citi Prestige boasts a higher annual fee, but also offers an array of travel and dining perks such as Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership, global entry/TSA PreCheck credits, as well as a fourth night free hotel benefit – making this card one of the top travel cards available. It has gained a loyal following over time.
However, there are certain restrictions with this card’s sign-up bonus that prevent it from being received every 24 months; you are only eligible to claim it once in that time and not if you opened or closed another Citi Rewards+ card, ThankYou Preferred, Premier or Prestige Card within that same 24-month period.
Citi Premier cards provide more flexible points known as ThankYou Rewards, offering greater earnings across broad spending categories such as airfare, hotels, gas stations and restaurants (including takeout). ThankYou points earned with Citi Premier can also be redeemed at up to 1.25 cents each for travel through Citi’s travel portal at 1.25 cents each compared to Amex or Chase flexible point currencies; additionally they can transfer points between Citi’s 16 airline loyalty programs for even greater value!