Citi Premier Card stands out among travel rewards credit cards with an attractive sign-up bonus and points-earning opportunities, and an annual fee that provides immense value, particularly if you travel frequently.
Citi’s card also provides access to an extensive network of transfer partners, making it ideal for frequent air travelers who rely on Citi-affiliated airlines as partners.
1. Earn 3x ThankYou Points on Airline and Hotel Purchases
Citi Premier Card can offer frequent travelers and hoteliers an attractive mix of rewards with 3X points on air travel, hotels, supermarkets, gas stations and dining (including takeout) while other purchases earn 1X points. Citi’s definition of dining includes cocktail lounges, nightclubs and taverns that may not qualify for other cards with this bonus category.
This travel card is one of the top choices for earning extra rewards on airfare and hotels, though be mindful that its no-fee structure means its travel protections won’t allow for full value redemption of points when booking flights and hotels. You can visit this site for more tips on saving money when travelling.
Keep in mind that Citi does not offer an extensive list of airline and hotel transfer partners within the U.S. compared to Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards which offer many more choices.
However, redeeming ThankYou Points through Citi allows you to bypass award charts altogether and book flights any time of year without worrying about availability or overbooking issues.
2. No Foreign Transaction Fees
Foreign transaction fees can be an added burden when traveling overseas, and Citi Premier Card does not impose them for purchases made overseas – a welcome feature given that these costs typically amount to up to 3% of your purchase total. You can click the link: https://www.usatoday.com/foreign-transaction-fees-avoid-paying/ to learn more about foreign transaction fees.
Citi Premier Card also comes with an added travel perk that can help offset its $95 annual fee: a $100 discount off hotel bookings of $500 or more booked via Citi’s travel portal each calendar year, before taxes and fees.
This benefit easily pays for itself and provides maximum value from your Citi Premier Card membership.
Overall, the Citi Premier Card is an excellent travel credit card with a reasonable annual fee and robust rewards program, offering excellent earning rates across popular spending categories. This is what many consumers find when they research the pros & cons of the Citi Premier Card for their travel needs. Furthermore, flexible redemption options, an impressive welcome bonus of $1,000 USD plus $100 in annual hotel credits make for a rewarding travel experience.
3. No Expiration Dates
Citi Premier Card points never expire, giving you the freedom to use them however you want – from travel or gift cards, to transferring them directly with Citi’s 14 airline partners and 2 hotel partners at a 1-to-1 ratio, plus World Elite Mastercard benefits like $5 off three Lyft rides in one month and three free months of food delivery membership from DoorDash!
Plus you’ll gain access to benefits exclusive to World Elite Mastercard holders such as discounts of $5 for three Lyft rides per month as well as three months free food delivery membership from DoorDash!
If you have big spending goals, maximizing the welcome bonus and taking advantage of Citi’s standard redemption value of 1 cent per point can help offset its $95 annual fee in your first year.
4. Transfer ThankYou Points to Airlines or Hotels
Citi Premier Card members can earn valuable airline and hotel rewards that they can transfer directly to Citi’s expansive network of partners, or redeem through gift cards or its travel portal.
Citi Premier Card boasts an annual hotel savings benefit of up to $100, an impressive addition to its other impressive features.
As an example, this card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, offering travelers who frequently spend abroad an important savings opportunity. Furthermore, there’s an attractive signup bonus and points-earning opportunities, plus its annual fee is only $95–compared with many premium travel cards which charge these fees.
Citi Premier Card members can redeem their ThankYou points for statement credits, cash back, third-party gift cards or travel booked through the Citi Travel Portal at an exchange rate of 1 cent per point. But to maximize value from ThankYou points transfer them one of Citi’s airline or hotel partners; such as JetBlue, Choice Hotels or Wyndham Resorts that can all provide great returns on your points investment.
5. 24/7 Customer Service
Citi Premier Card members enjoy access to customer service 24 hours a day, as well as a dedicated concierge team, which can assist with everything from finding tickets for sold-out events and restaurant reservations, to helping with travel booking.
Unfortunately, to qualify for this card, an excellent credit score is necessary and its $95 annual fee can easily offset rewards earned with it. Furthermore, other cards in its category offer additional perks like trip and baggage insurance policies that this one lacks.
