Citi Prestige 75,000 Point Offer Is Live – Should You Apply?

I wrote the other day about how Citi is replacing points with perks in their latest premium offer. That still holds true but as of now, the benefits and perks of the Citi Prestige that are gone are things of the past. So, now it is time to take a look at what the new offer gives and if it is enough to get you to apply. Here are the details.

Citi Prestige 75,000 Point Offer Is Live

Link: Citi Prestige 75,000 Point Offer (this is not an affiliate link)

So, here is what the card offers in its current edition:

• 75,000 points (up from 50,000 points) on the sign-up bonus after $7,500 in spending in 3 months
• Use points for all airlines at 1.25 cents per point
• 4th night free is now an average of all 4 nights and does not include taxes
  • can be booked online
  • can still be booked over the phone
  • ThankYou points can be redeemed a 1 cent per point for hotels (bad idea since you could cash out at that price and get credit card points from this spend on the hotel)
• Can cash out points at 1 cent per point
• Now with metal (seriously – this seems to be a headline perk these days!)
• Annual fee: $450 (not waived the first year)
• $250 in annual airline credit
• Receive a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit ($100) every 5 years
• Priority Pass Lounge Access

Should You Apply?

It is now pointless to consider this card against its previous offering since it no longer exists. The question is, does this card present enough value in its current offer to be worth your application? The points from the offer are pretty great – 75,000 points would be worth $937 when using the points for airline purchases through their portal. This is great, but the value of 1.25 cents per point is what the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers with Ultimate Reward points (a card with a $95 annual fee). It may be better to consider transferring these points to one of their numerous partners instead where you could get even greater value.

Transfer partners for the ThankYou network

The $250 in annual airline credit is a nice way to defray the up-front $450 annual fee but it is best utilized if you have travel plans already instead of looking at it like “free” money (since you are essentially paying for it with the annual fee). Combine that with the Global Entry credit and you are looking at $350 in straight value right in the first year, not counting the points. This almost defrays the annual fee.

The 4th night benefit is great, if you are staying at hotels that long. If you do, I would say that this Citi Prestige offer is a no-brainer. You get the almost $1,000 in minimum airline value from the point sign-up bonus, the $250 airline credit, the $100 Global Entry credit, and the 4th night free for $450 up-front with the annual fee.

Just remember – “Bonus ThankYou Points are not available if you have had a ThankYou Preferred, ThankYou Premier or Citi Prestige card opened or closed in the past 24 months.”

Do you plan on applying for this increased offer?

HT: The Points Guy