In this post, I’d like to talk a bit about the Citi Prestige Card, which is no longer open to new applicants. Despite that, it’s a product that continues to be in my wallet, and I figure it’s at least worth providing some context on why.
In this post:
There’s no way to get the Citi Prestige Card anymore
Let me start with the bad news. Since 2021, the Citi Prestige Card is no longer open to new applicants. Not only can’t you apply for the card directly, but you also can’t product change another card to this. So if you don’t have the card now, you can’t get it (if you already have the card, this might be a reason to think twice about canceling it).
What’s interesting is that we recently saw the launch of the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (review), which is Citi’s new premium credit card, with a potentially good value proposition. Even with the launch of that, those who have the Citi Prestige Card continue to be able to keep the card with that value proposition, rather than being product changed to this new card. I’m not sure if that will continue to be the case in the long run, but that’s where things currently stand.
Basics of the Citi Prestige Card
Now let me cover some of the details of the Citi Prestige Card, including the annual fee, rewards structure, benefits, and more. This card definitely isn’t as lucrative as it used to be, but there’s still value to it, in my opinion.
Citi Prestige Card $495 annual fee
The Citi Prestige Card has a $495 annual fee, and there’s a cost of $75 to add each authorized user. There’s value to adding authorized users, so I’ll talk a bit more about that below. But at this point, the fee is on the lower end among ultra-premium cards.
Keep in mind that if you’re a Citigold customer, you can receive a $145 annual rebate on your annual fee, which is a nice perk.
Citi Prestige Card rewards structure
The Citi Prestige Card earns Citi ThankYou points, which is one of the major transferable points currencies. ThankYou points earned on the card can be transferred to airline and hotel partners, which I consider to be the best use of these rewards, given the potential for outsized value.
The card has the following rewards structure, all with no foreign transaction fees
- Earn 5x points on restaurant purchases, including takeout and delivery
- Earn 5x points on airfare and travel agency purchases
- Earn 3x points on hotel purchases
- Earn 3x points on cruise purchases
- Earn 1x points on all other purchases
Citi Prestige Card $250 annual travel credit
To help offset the $495 annual fee, the Citi Prestige offers a $250 travel credit every calendar year. This is super straightforward, as there’s no registration required, and it can be applied toward any purchase coded as travel.
To me this is good as cash, and the way I view it, this really lowers the card’s out of pocket cost annually to ~$245, since just about anyone getting this card should be using the $250 statement credit. And of course if you have a Citigold account, you’d get another $145 off that.
Citi Prestige Card Priority Pass™ Select membership
The Citi Prestige Card offers a Priority Pass™ Select membership for the primary cardmember, as well as authorized users. With this, you can take up to two guests with you at no extra cost.
While many premium cards offer a Priority Pass™ Select membership, what’s noteworthy is that this membership does offer credits at Priority Pass restaurants, unlike premium cards issued by American Express, Capital One, and Chase. That’s a major advantage of this card, and a reason to hold onto it, in my opinion.
Citi Prestige Card Global Entry Or TSA PreCheck Credit
The Citi Prestige offers a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit once every five years. Just charge the application fee to your card, and it will automatically be reimbursed. This is a pretty standard benefit on premium cards nowadays.
Citi Prestige Card fourth night free benefit
The Citi Prestige Card offers a fourth night free hotel benefit. Twice a year, you can book a hotel through the Citi Travel portal, and get the fourth night reimbursed. This has the potential to represent a good value, but isn’t a slam dunk, like it used to be.
Up until 2019, the Citi Prestige Card fourth night free benefit was the single best benefit offered by any card. You could use the fourth night free benefit an unlimited number of times, and it could even be used for reservations directly with hotel groups (so you could earn points and elite nights). I can’t even say how many thousands of dollars this benefit saved me over the years, though it’s a shell of its former self at this point.
Citi Prestige Card cell phone protection
The Citi Prestige offers cell phone protection at no additional cost:
- This applies if your phone is stolen or suffers certain damage
- You can be reimbursed for the cost of the repair or replacement
- You can get up to $800 per claim, and there’s a $50 deductible per claim
- Coverage includes up to $1,500 in total yearly benefits for up to five phones on your monthly bill
While that’s a nice perk, the downside is that the card offers only 1x points on your cell phone bill, so you’re forgoing quite a few points by choosing to charge your cell phone bill to the card.
Why I still have the Citi Prestige Card
Back in 2015-2019, just about everyone in the miles & points space had the Citi Prestige Card, as the fourth night free hotel benefit was simply incredible. How do I justify still holding onto the Citi Prestige Card? Here’s how I approach it:
- The card costs me around $100 to hold onto, after you take the annual fee and subtract the $250 annual travel credit and the $145 Citigold credit that I get
- This is my go-to card for dining, as the 5x points this card offers in that category is the best return on dining of any major card, in my opinion
- Now that American Express, Capital One, and Chase cards have eliminated credits at restaurants from the Priority Pass perks, this card’s Priority Pass™ Select membership is even more valuable
- Having this card allows me to maximize value with the Citi Double Cash® Card (review), which offers 2x points on everyday spending
This card isn’t some slam dunk for everyone, but between the 5x points on dining and the credits at Priority Pass restaurants, it’s a card that I’m holding onto for the time being.
The Strata Elite Card is Citi’s new premium focus
As I mentioned above, while existing cardmembers on the Citi Prestige Card continue to be able to hold onto the card, it’s the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (review) that’s open to new applicants. The card has a big welcome bonus — many people should be eligible for the product, and it’s a card that I recently applied for.
To cover the basics of that, the card has a $595 annual fee, and offers a variety of perks that can help justify that, with an especially good first year value. These benefits include a $300 annual hotel credit, a $200 annual “Splurge Credit,” a $200 annual Blacklane credit, four annual Admirals Club passes, a Priority Pass membership, and more.
Those looking for a lower cost option may be interested in the $95 annual fee Citi Strata Premier® Card (review). The card has well-rounded bonus categories, as it offers 3x points on dining & restaurants, gas stations & EV charging, supermarkets, airfare, and hotels, and it also offers a $100 annual hotel credit, whereby you can get $100 off a $500+ hotel stay booked through the Citi Travel portal.
Bottom line
For several years now, the Citi Prestige Card hasn’t been open to new applicants. That being said, it’s a card that many existing cardmembers have held onto, given the value proposition. The card has a $495 annual fee, but offers a $250 annual travel credit, 5x points on dining, a Priority Pass™ Select membership with restaurant credits, and more.
I’ve held onto this card for years, and plan to continue to do so. That being said, if you don’t yet have the card and want a premium product from Citi, it’s the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (review) you should be considering.
Do any other OMAAT readers still have the Citi Prestige Card? Or at least have fond memories of the uncapped fourth night free benefit? 😉
I will never get rid of this card - just for the 4th night free benefit. This year I only used it once, and saved $1100. Last year, used it twice for a savings of $4100 (Park Hotel Vitznau in Switzerland and Sydney Pullman over NYE). No other card has 5x dining. And now with the AA transfer partner it is better than the CSR.
But why have the new one if you have this one????
The SUB
Also 5x on all airfare which can be transferred to AA is oustanding!
Still have the card and use it for dining and airfare, although citi got rid of travel insurance so I don't put all my airfare spend on it.
I haven't used the 4th night free benefit in years as it's often times more expensive to book through the thankyou portal even with the 4th night free "discount".
Another benefit not often mentioned is the extra two years of warranty when used for purchases. This has saved me several thousand dollars over the years when something or other decides to give up the ghost after the typical one year warranty has run out.
Particularly useful for electronics especially laptops and cellphones. Citi will pay if the the battery dies. Combines with cellphone accident coverage from using a different card for the monthly service...
Another benefit not often mentioned is the extra two years of warranty when used for purchases. This has saved me several thousand dollars over the years when something or other decides to give up the ghost after the typical one year warranty has run out.
Particularly useful for electronics especially laptops and cellphones. Citi will pay if the the battery dies. Combines with cellphone accident coverage from using a different card for the monthly service one can be essentially completely coverage against any sort of loss of failure.
Ben, it just occurred to me with all the points/miles/rewards you diligently chase- the amount of cards you own must mean your wallet is absolutely HUGE!
How do you fit it in your pocket?
The other huge benefit to this card is the 5x on OTAs/TAs like expedia (and of course 5x on airfare with no cap like amex plat).
having the prestige card before they took away the option to get it is sort of like those of us who got lucky locking in a sub 3% mortgage in the US vs those who now have to suffer through 6-7%. count your blessings!!
Ben, on average, how many times per year have you used a Priority Pass restaurant? How much do you spend on dining?
Still have the card. 5x on flights without the coupon book is nice. As is the 3x on cruises.
One thing not to forget about is the opportunity cost of keeping $200k with Citi to maintain Citigold. If you're high income enough to where $200k is your emergency fund, well, fine. Otherwise, there is potentially a real cost in terms of the management fees you'll pay Citi vs. what you could pay elsewhere (a very...
Still have the card. 5x on flights without the coupon book is nice. As is the 3x on cruises.
One thing not to forget about is the opportunity cost of keeping $200k with Citi to maintain Citigold. If you're high income enough to where $200k is your emergency fund, well, fine. Otherwise, there is potentially a real cost in terms of the management fees you'll pay Citi vs. what you could pay elsewhere (a very good chance it's a lot more than $145 over the course of a year).
Citi has a self-directed investment account that qualifies. However, the platform prohibits certain ETFs, which makes it a non-starter for some. Strangely, even Citi Private Client (higher asset level than regular Citi Gold) has the prohibition.
Vanguard Index Funds or similar can be put in your Citi account so zero cost to make Citigold.
I still have the card and it also costs me $100 (for the same reason). But then I typically manage to get some $300 worth of value out of the Fourth Night Free benefit (even after adjusting for the Citi portal's apparent 10% surcharge). The mostly unpublished additional benefit worth mentioning is 10x points for hotel bookings through their portal until this coming year-end. Like you, I also have the Double Cash and pay Citi for the Exec since I mostly fly AA.
Best card to this day for me because of the 5x on restaurants!
The 4th night like you mentioned isn't what it use to be. But SOMETIMES, JUST SOMETIMES, you can spot a diamond in the rough and get super outsize value.
I have both the card and fond memories of the 4th night benefit before it was nerfed.
Any word on whether Citi will force Prestige holders into the Strata Elite? Would be a sad day.
Still holding the Card and love using restaurants credit and Priority Pass.