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Travel credit cards are a hot market, which is one reason why so many card issuers want to get in on the action. Citi is one of those and offers some pretty decent mid-tier travel cards for consumers. However, it also used to provide its own version of a premium travel credit card. Though it's no longer open to new applicants, there are still plenty of people who hold the Citi Prestige® Card. Let's take a look at the earning rates and benefits of this card for those who are lucky enough to have one.
Citi Prestige Card Annual Fee
As a premium travel credit card, the Prestige Card incurs a pretty hefty annual fee of $495. However, this is lower than the annual fees of competitors such as The Platinum Card® from American Express and Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Since the Prestige Card is no longer issued, it hasn't suffered the fee increases that affect these other premium credit cards.
Related: Comparison of Premium Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Citi Prestige Card Earning Rates
The Prestige Card earns ThankYou® Points that can be transferred to 21 hotel and airline partners. This includes an industry-leading transfer ratio of 1:2 to Choice Privileges (meaning one ThankYou® Point becomes two Choice points). Points earned by other competitors like American Express Membership Rewards and Capital One miles transfer at a 1:1 ratio.
Aside from superior transfer ratios, the Prestige Card also enjoys a very generous earning structure:
- 5X points on air travel, travel agencies, and at restaurants
- 3X points at hotels and on cruise line purchases
- 1X point per dollar on all other purchases
Those who hold the Prestige Card are likely already aware of how valuable its earning rates can be. While ThankYou® Points may be less popular than other flexible point currencies, they're worth a lot. In recent AwardWallet user redemptions, ThankYou® Points were redeemed at an average rate of 2.17¢ each. Compare that to Amex points (1.95¢), Chase Ultimate Rewards (1.94¢), and Capital One (2¢).
It's also impossible to find any other cards with an unlimited 5x earn on restaurants or flights. Two American Express cards come close to these earnings. The American Express® Gold Card has excellent restaurant rewards (Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per year, then 1X)), and the Amex Platinum earns 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
However, the 5x per $1 spent via the Prestige Card is uncapped, which is excellent for big spenders. It also accounts for travel agencies, which means you can book flights with online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia without sacrificing earnings.
Citi Prestige Card Benefits
Because it's a premium travel credit card, the Prestige Card does more than just offer the ability to earn points.
Statement credits
Annual travel credit
TheCiti Prestige Card offers up to $250 in annual statement credits good for travel purchases. Like the travel credit offered by the Sapphire Reserve, this travel credit is broad and easy to use. Simply charge travel purchases to your card and the credit will be automatically applied.
Citigold banking credit
Only available to those with a Citigold banking relationship, this credit gives you a $145 statement credit each year simply for maintaining the relationship. Note that you'll need to maintain a combined balance of $200,000 per month to qualify for Citigold banking.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
Like many other travel credit cards, the Prestige Card offers up to $100 every four years towards either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Simply pay for your application fee with the card to receive a statement credit offsetting the cost.
Fourth night free
The Prestige Card previously offered amazing value with its fourth-night-free benefit. In the past, these were uncapped, had the ability to earn points, and included the taxes and fees you'd paid.
These days, cardholders are entitled to just two uses of the fourth night free per year. They're also not able to receive elite night credit or benefits on these bookings (as hotels generally don't provide elite status perks when you book through a portal), nor does the fourth night free include taxes or fees. However, there's still value to be had. This is especially true with non-chain bookings, like you'll find at Walt Disney World hotels.
Here's an example of a four-night stay over Christmas using the fourth-night free benefit.
You'll pay $1,305.60 for this stay in Citi TravelSM (which is where you must book to utilize the fourth-night-free benefit). Meanwhile, here's what it looks like when booking directly via Disney's website.
That's a cost of $1,572, so you'll save nearly $275 from this credit card perk. Do that twice a year and you've recouped the card's annual fee just from this benefit.
Airport lounge access
The Prestige Card offers a Priority Pass Select membership, which allows users to gain airport lounge access at more than 1,400 locations worldwide. The membership provided by the Prestige Card is one of the most generous around: Enrolled members can bring up to two guests with them to the lounge. Authorized users also receive their own Priority Pass membership.
Finally, the Priority Pass Select membership offered by the Prestige Card includes access to non-lounge experiences (such as spas and restaurants), which is rather unique these days after other cards have removed this benefit.
Alternatives to the Citi Prestige Card
The Prestige Card is a great card if you've already got it. Unfortunately, since it's not open to new applicants or product changes from another Citi credit card, those who are looking for similar benefits will need to search elsewhere. Here are a few good alternatives.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- With American Express Global Lounge Collection® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
- A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID - this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
- $695 annual fee.¤
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
We've mentioned the Amex Platinum a few times already — and for good reason. Although it has a higher annual fee than the Prestige Card, it has correspondingly better benefits. These include hotel elite status, 5x points on flights booked directly with the airline or via American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 per year), and a $200 annual prepaid hotel credit. It also includes annual credits for Saks Fifth Avenue and Uber Cash.
Beyond this, the card offers airport lounge access via its Global Lounge Collection®, which includes a Priority Pass Select membership, Delta Sky Clubs®, American Express Centurion Lounges, Lufthansa Senator Lounges, Virgin Clubhouses, Plaza Premium lounges, and more.
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
$200 hotel credit offered with The Platinum Card® from American Express applies to prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings made via American Express Travel®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
Related: Amex Platinum review
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on all other travel
- 3X points on dining at restaurants
- 1X points on all other purchases
The Sapphire Reserve is another strong competitor to the Prestige Card. Again, its higher annual fee comes with increased benefits. These include a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass membership, and the ability to earn 3x points per $1 spent on travel and dining.
Related: Sapphire Reserve review
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- 3X points per $1 on airfare and hotels and at gas stations, restaurants, and supermarkets
- Annual Hotel Benefit: Save $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when you book through CitiTravel.com
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- 10X points per $1 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
- 3X points per $1 spent on airfare, and other hotel purchases
- 3X points per $1 spent at gas and EV charging stations
- 3X points per $1 spent on dining at restaurants, including cafes, bars and lounges
- 3X points per $1 spent at supermarkets
- 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
If you'd like to earn transferable Citi ThankYou® Points on your purchases, your best bet is the Citi Strata Premier. This is a mid-tier card and has an annual fee of just $95, which means you won't be getting much in the way of statement credits. However, you will be earning 10X points per $1 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com; 3X points per $1 spent on airfare and other hotels; and 3X points at gas stations, EV charging stations, restaurants, and supermarkets
You'll also get a $100 hotel credit once per year when you spend $500 on a hotel booking through Citi TravelSM.
Finally, those who have the Citi Strata Premier also can take advantage of the industry-leading 1:2 transfer ratio to Choice Hotels, which can lead to some truly fantastic (yet cheap) redemptions.
Related: Citi Strata Premier review
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Our last recommendation on this list is the newest and offers some excellent perks for its $395 annual fee: the Capital One Venture X. This includes a $300 annual travel credit, a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus, airport lounge access, and up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit (available once every four years).
Although it only earns 2x Capital One miles on purchases, it's uncapped and not limited by category. This means you'll be able to get 2x on purchases that'd earn 1x with other cards. You'll also earn 10x on hotels and rental cars in the travel portal, plus 5x on flights in the portal.
The Capital One Venture X is also great for those seeking lounge access. This is thanks to the ability to bring unlimited guests (subject to space constraints at lounges) and to add authorized users for free — plus the fact that each authorized user gets their own Priority Pass Select membership. Members also get access to Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges.
Related: Capital One Venture X review
Bottom Line
The Citi Prestige Card offers compelling rewards to those who already hold the card. However, if you don't currently have one, you're out of luck: It's no longer open to new applicants, and you aren't able to product change to the card. Happily, there are quite a few alternatives that can match or beat the Citi Prestige Card, including options from Amex, Chase, and Capital One.
Do you still hold the Prestige Card? What's your favorite benefit?
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)
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