Review of Citi Premier Card
There are several types of reward credit cards. The highly beneficial travel rewards cards, particularly for frequent travelers are a prime example. However, such individuals must conduct thorough research before selecting one from the numerous options available.
To this end, the Citi Premier® Card review will be done here in this article. This information will help you understand if choosing this option is worth it or otherwise. So, continue reading to find out more.
Overview of Citi Premier® Card
Versatility is one of its major highlights. This is given how the rewards do not only apply to travels but many regular purchases. The credit card issuer uses a point system known as “ThankYou Points”. These points can be earned in various measures by making certain purchases using the credit card.
It requires an annual subscription fee of 95 dollars. There is also a welcome offer as is the case with many other alternatives. This offer is a lucrative 80,000 ThankYou points.
However, there are conditions to be met before this is secured. Purchases of up to 4,000 dollars using the credit card will have to be made in no more than 3 months after opening the account. This amounts to spending around 1,340 dollars in the first 3 months.
Good Features of Citi Premier® Card
This reward credit card is very popular among people who use travel reward credit cards. There are clear reasons for this and they include the following:
Impressive Welcome Bonus
The welcome bonus as explained above is set at 80,000 ThankYou points. One impressive thing about the card issuer is periodic reviews of incentives. For example, the welcome bonus was set at 60,000 ThankYou points a while ago.
Also, having to spend up to 4,000 dollars in your initial 3 months on purchases seems like a reasonable offer. This is especially considering the welcome bonus conditions of many other alternatives. Of course, there are more considerate ones, but this is equally not bad.
Flexibility with Reward Redemption
Accumulated ThankYou points can be redeemed in various ways including – discounted travel costs, gift cards, cash back, and merchandise. The options are determined by the details of periodic promotions and the redemption options presented.
High Rewards
There are several incentives for using this card besides the welcome bonus explained early on. Some of these high rewards are outlined below:
- You get 10 (ten) ThankYou points for every dollar that you spend on car rental and hotel expenses. This also applies to attraction costs besides air travel. This is provided the booking is done using the Citi Travel official portal. By the way, this offer ends on the last day of June 2024.
- 3 (three) ThankYou points for every dollar spent on air travel, hotel cost, and at gas stations.
- 3 (three) ThankYou points for every dollar spent at supermarkets and restaurants.
- A ThankYou point for every dollar spent on other kinds of purchases.
There are no restrictions on earning capacity. Furthermore, the earned ThankYou points can be used at any time. As a result, you are not forced to use them within a timeframe. This is something that many other alternatives do not afford their cardholders. For more on this, you can visit: https://www.cnet.com/.
No Charges for Foreign Transactions
Having to pay foreign transaction charges if you use your card in foreign locations can be a thorn in the flesh. It can cost quite a lot, especially for people who travel a lot. Thankfully, the Citi Premier® Card has no charges for foreign transactions.
Hotel Saving
Cardholders can have 100 dollars off their hotel stay cost for a year. This benefit only applies to hotel costs of 500 dollars or above this price. It also has to be booked using the ThankYou.com portal.
Access to Select Exclusive Events and Presale Tickets
This is one of the perks that cardholders can enjoy. Presale tickets for select exclusive events ensures that you do not miss out on these events.
Drawbacks of Citi Premier® Card
Even the best reward cards are bound to have their drawbacks. Citi Premier® Card is no exception and here are some of its notable drawbacks:
Annual Subscription Fee
The fee is set at 95 dollars. Many other alternatives charge alike but the fees are usually waived for new cardholders. Well, this is not how it is with a Citi Premier® Card.
Bad on Purchase Protection
This is one of its major drawbacks. As a result, there is no compensation in cases like trip interruption/cancellation and baggage delay.
Conclusion
Travel reward credit cards can be worth it, especially for frequent travelers. They can be cost-saving for instance. You can read this article for more about this.
However, they are only worth it provided that the right one is chosen. The Citi Premier® Card’s review provided here offers valuable insights to help you make the right choice.
