Citi Prestige Card review: Full details

Citi is a TPG promoting companion.

The Citi Status® Card remains to be a priceless a part of the premium journey bank card market regardless of shedding quite a few perks through the years. Though the cardboard is now not open to new candidates, its priceless incomes charges and remaining perks should make it a lovely travel rewards credit card for some present cardholders. Card Ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

The Citi Status, Citi’s most premium journey bank card, has undergone vital adjustments prior to now a number of years. Improved incomes charges in 2019 had been coupled with large devaluations, an annual payment improve to $495, stripped protections and caps on profit utilization.

Then, in mid-2021, Citi stopped accepting new functions for the Citi Status. Though this card is not open to new candidates, present cardholders can proceed to make use of and profit from the cardboard.

There’s potential for a new premium Citi card that could replace the Citi Prestige in 2025. On-line information factors present a filed trademark for a ‘Citi Strata Elite’, so for individuals who missed out on the Status, this might be the following premium card to leap on.

Frequent vacationers will be capable to get essentially the most out of the incomes charges and advantages of the Citi Status. With a excessive $495 annual payment, this card is simply price protecting if you recognize you will take full benefit of its advantages earlier than your annual payment comes due once more.

Should you do not journey continuously, it’s possible you’ll be higher off with a lower-annual-fee mid-tier travel card such because the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees). And should you’re in search of completely different top-tier luxurious advantages, think about The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

The data for the Citi Status has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Citi Status welcome provide

The Citi Status is not presently accessible to new candidates. So, you possibly can’t apply for this card and earn a welcome bonus.

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Nevertheless, you can apply for the Citi Status’s decrease annual payment sibling, the Citi Strata Premier, to earn a welcome bonus after reaching a sure spending threshold.

Different choices embody high journey rewards playing cards, similar to Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum.

For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s 60,000-point welcome bonus (after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening) is price $1,230, in line with TPG’s January 2025 valuations.

In the meantime, new Amex Platinum cardmembers can earn an 80,000-point welcome provide (after spending $8,000 on purchases on the cardboard in your first six months of cardmembership) that we worth at $1,600. Chances are you’ll be focused for a good increased welcome provide via the CardMatch instrument; not everybody will probably be focused for a similar provides, and provides could change at any time.

Associated: American Express Platinum vs. Citi Prestige: Should you make the switch?

Citi Status advantages

As talked about, Citi eradicated most of its journey and buying protections and devalued sure perks in 2019. However there may be nonetheless a lot to like in regards to the card’s choices.

Fourth evening free perk

The Citi Prestige fourth night free perk has lengthy been thought of essentially the most priceless advantage of the Citi Status.

The fourth-night-free profit works like this: Citi pays for the fourth evening of your keep at nearly any resort if you e book via the Citi ThankYou travel portal. Nevertheless, you possibly can solely use this profit twice every calendar yr. The fourth evening free is predicated in your common nightly fee, excluding taxes and charges.

Do not forget that as a result of bookings have to be made via the Citi ThankYou journey portal, you usually will not earn resort loyalty factors or obtain elite advantages. And you’ll want to evaluate costs with a number of different reserving strategies, because the fourth-night free perk will not at all times present the most effective worth.

As much as $250 journey credit score

Citi Status cardholders get a travel credit of up to $250 every calendar year for journey purchases. Particularly, you will robotically get an announcement credit score for the primary $250 of journey purchases you make annually.

This credit score applies to all kinds of travel purchases, together with purchases from airways, accommodations and automobile rental companies. In case your buy codes as journey, it’s going to greater than probably qualify for this journey credit score. That makes it one of the versatile credit provided by any premium journey card.

Should you maximize this credit score, it successfully lowers the $495 annual payment to $245.

Associated: How credit card issuers classify travel and dining purchases

International Entry assertion credit score

I like having Global Entry — it is saved me from standing in line for numerous hours at TSA safety and in U.S. Customs traces. Citi Status cardmembers obtain a credit score each 4 years that may be utilized towards a International Entry or TSA PreCheck software payment.

A number of different playing cards additionally provide a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credit. However should you’ve already enrolled in both of the 2 applications, you should utilize the credit score for a member of the family or pal’s software.

Precedence Move lounge entry

As a Citi Status cardholder, you will additionally get entry to the Priority Pass lounge network. The Precedence Move community contains greater than 1,700 airport lounges worldwide.

Citi Status cardholders get a Precedence Move Choose membership that gives complimentary lounge entry for the cardholder, instant members of the family and as much as two visitors. There are some excellent Priority Pass lounges in the U.S., however many of the best Priority Pass lounges are exterior the U.S.

Associated: Is a Priority Pass lounge membership actually worth it?

Cellphone safety

If you pay your month-to-month cellphone invoice together with your Citi Status Card, you will get safety towards theft and injury for as much as 5 telephone traces. Whereas there’s a $50 deductible per declare, you possibly can rise up to $800 of protection per declare.

The Citi Status does not provide bonus points on cellphone services, however it’s possible you’ll wish to pay your month-to-month cellphone invoice together with your Citi Status to reap the benefits of this safety.

Associated: Credit cards that cover cellphone loss and damage

Incomes factors on the Citi Status

A vital a part of evaluating a card is assessing how simply you possibly can earn factors via spending. Fortunately, incomes is one space the place the Citi Status does not slack for a premium journey card.

The next commonplace incomes charges embody:

• 5 ThankYou factors per greenback spent at eating places (together with takeout and supply), airfare and journey companies (9% return primarily based on TPG’s January 2025 valuations)
• 3 factors per greenback spent at accommodations and cruise traces (5.4% return)
• 1 level per greenback spent on different purchases (1.8% return)

Nevertheless, keep in mind that Citi eliminated journey protections from its playing cards in 2019. So, regardless of the efficient 9% return on airfare, I normally use a credit card that provides travel insurance when reserving flights.

I additionally sometimes use a hotel credit card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve when paying for resort stays. As such, I normally solely use my Citi Status at eating places, cafes and bars.

Redeeming factors on the Citi Status

Citi ThankYou factors will be redeemed in numerous methods, however essentially the most priceless possibility is to switch them to an airline or resort companion.

It’s also possible to use your Citi ThankYou points to redeem for journey via Citi’s travel portal. Doing so will normally present much less worth than transferring to airline companions. However, relying in your journey objectives, there could also be occasions when doing so works greatest for you.

Moreover, you possibly can redeem factors for reward playing cards, use them to pay at choose on-line retailers, get money again or make charitable contributions.

Associated: The complete guide to Citi ThankYou Rewards: How to earn, redeem and transfer points

Transferring your factors to Citi’s 21 airline and hotel partners will likely give you the most value.

Should you’re not sure which switch companions are greatest, TPG bank cards author Danyal Ahmed has transferred ThankYou factors to Air France-KLM Flying Blue for business-class flights from the U.S. to Europe for as little as 50,000 factors one-way. It is a good way to make use of your ThankYou factors.

Associated: Best ways to redeem your Citi ThankYou points

• If you wish to maximize journey factors incomes: The Chase Sapphire Reserve prices a $550 annual payment however provides beneficiant incomes charges on choose classes, plus advantages like a $300 annual journey credit score, a International Entry/TSA PreCheck software payment credit score each 4 years and a Precedence Move Choose membership. To be taught extra, learn our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
• If you’d like a great deal of additional perks: The Amex Platinum prices a $695 annual payment (see rates and fees) however provides a set of luxurious advantages like unparalleled lounge entry, an airline fee statement credit of as much as $200 per calendar yr, as much as $15 every month (as much as $35 in December) in Uber Money (as much as $200 every calendar yr)*, biannual Saks assertion credit of as much as $100 per calendar yr, elite status with Marriott and Hilton and extra. Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply. To be taught extra, learn our full review of the Amex Platinum.
• If you’d like a premium journey card with a decrease annual payment: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable $395 annual payment (see rates and fees) and earns 10 miles per greenback on accommodations and automobile leases booked through Capital One Journey, 5 miles per greenback on flights and trip leases booked through Capital One Journey and a pair of miles per greenback on all the things else. As well as, cardholders obtain $300 again in credit yearly for bookings made via Capital One Journey and entry to the Accomplice Lounge Community and Capital One lounges. To be taught extra, learn our full review of the Capital One Venture X.

For added choices, try our full record of the best travel cards.

*Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account if you add the Amex Platinum as a fee methodology and redeem with any eligible Amex card.

Learn extra: The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison

Associated: How to decide if a credit card’s annual fee is worth paying

For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on here.