Confirmed: Big Changes Coming to Citi Prestige Card in 2017 [1.25 CPP, No Golf, 4th Night Change]

A few days ago, word broke from Richard Kerr on Facebook that numerous changes will be coming to the Citi Prestige card on July 27, 2017.

  • No more American Airline redemptions at 1.6 cents-per-point.
  • The travel redemption rate of 1.33 cents-per-point will be lowered to 1.25 cents-per-point.
  • The fourth-night-free benefit for hotels will be based on average nightly rate instead of the 4th night’s rate.
  • The fourth-night-free benefit will no longer include taxes.

Based on reliable sources close to the matter, we’ve been able to confirm these changes will take place, although all these changes will happen on July 23, 2017, not July 27, 2017. Citi Prestige cardholders will be made aware of these changes later this week.

Free Golf Benefit

The information we got on the free golf benefit is as follows: The three complimentary rounds of golf will no longer be offered with the Citi Prestige card for reservations made on or after July 23, 2017.

It sounds to me that you can make a reservation before July 23, 2017, and use it afterward. This will help us get one extra round of golf by making an advance booking. Unfortunately, we can only have one round booked at a time, so you won’t be able to book out multiple rounds, just one.

Complimentary 4th Night

The information we got regarding the changes to the complimentary 4th night benefit is as follows: The Complimentary 4th Night benefit will be calculated based on the average nightly rate of the complete stay for reservations made on or after July 23, 2017. Taxes will no longer be included within the statement credit. Cardmembers will still be able to enjoy their benefit at any hotel with no restrictions on the number of times they can use this benefit. All other terms of the Complimentary 4th Night benefit will remain unchanged.

Once again, the indication is that the change is based on the date of booking, not the date of the stay. If you book before July 23, 2017, you’ll get the old terms. This is very useful since you can book out multiple stays later in 2017 and beyond using the old rates.

Other Benefits Remain Unchanged

All other Citi Prestige benefits will remain unchanged, including the annual $250 air travel credit, $100 statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, no foreign transaction fees on purchases, 24/7 Access to the Citi Prestige Concierge, 3x Points on Air Travel & Hotels, 2X points on Dining & Entertainment.

New Cardholders

As we wrote in a dedicated post, these changes do not apply to new cardholders at the moment. Although the Citi site no longer advertises the Admirals benefit, Golf Benefit, etc., new applicants will still get these benefits until July 23, 2017 when it changes for everyone.

This is true for those who apply today (or who applied within the past few days); we don’t know for certain that it will remain this way the whole year.

Final Thoughts

These are certainly big devaluations in the value of the Prestige card. The Admirals Club was very valuable to many, and the 4th night benefit, while still very useful, will be less hackable. The taxes part is especially a bummer.

The lowering from 1.33 to 1.25 might not be huge, but the loss of 1.6 cents-per-point on American is a big loss.

It’s still possible to get the old 50,000 points signup bonus on the Prestige card, and it might be worth considering in light of the upcoming changes; we still have a full year until the changes to into effect.

Edit: My understanding is that new cardmembers who apply now will still get the same

Thanks to Richard Kerr from Travel Hacking101 for sharing the original news of the change, and to Milestomemories and Milesforfamily for posting about it as well

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

30 Comments
newest
oldest most voted

Max
Max (@guest_440783)
July 16, 2017 17:44

Will the Annual Fee be waived for the first year?

Steve
Steve (@guest_415664)
June 6, 2017 10:00

If anyone has not already used their golf benefit on the prestige card, I would love to work out a deal! I loved this benefit but used up my 3 rounds already, thanks!
Steve

JP
JP (@guest_426217)
June 23, 2017 11:48

I still have them. email me at kayjaypatel [at] gmail.com

Daniel
Daniel (@guest_278611)
July 26, 2016 04:32

This just goes to show that Citi is completely untrustworthy and unreliable… There’s a reason they’re ranked second from the bottom on customer satisfaction. Only Synchrony Bank was rated worse. Citigold is getting stripped as of 1NOV, their products are uncompetitive and the few that are cannot be counted on to have their benefits stand the test of time .. and that Costco fiasco? Wake up Citi!

scott
scott (@guest_278551)
July 25, 2016 23:04

I’m canceling this next year unless they lower that annual fee. I don’t understand how they can justify charging $450 and then remove so many perks. After using the airline credit I would be paying $200 for possible use of the 4th night free benefit, and nothing else. Plus I had a horrible time using their Concierge service to even book a hotel. I find better value in using other cards with bonus points, so I don’t even use this. Now I’m almost being forced to use the Thank You points I have before they devalue.

Jim
Jim (@guest_278537)
July 25, 2016 22:10

Will the AF be lowered to $350 for everyone or only for Citigold? If it’s still $450, considering all of these devaluations, I’m cancelling come time for the AF…

Beth
Beth (@guest_278524)
July 25, 2016 20:49

I just got the card 10 days ago after the report there was a change coming. I’m Confirming that My benefits match the old list of benefits. My card says I have admiral club access my propaganda said I get golf rounds etc. I already booked $250 of airfare and a fourth night free this December so the annual fee has already been earned and I’ll book another flight after the new year for another $250 credit. I still find value in this card

Jose
Jose (@guest_278465)
July 25, 2016 16:39

I think it’s hilarious that people are losing their minds over this. Unless you only use the gold benefit and the admirals lounge access the card is still worth the fee

Jose
Jose (@guest_278467)
July 25, 2016 16:41

Golf* benefit

Dave
Dave (@guest_278468)
July 25, 2016 16:45

Both are the reason I kept the card.

mrredskin
mrredskin (@guest_279283)
July 28, 2016 11:39

exactly! this will be an easy one to get rid of come next year.

William Charles
Admin
July 25, 2016 19:29

They are valuable benefits, I think the worst is losing 1.6c on AA but I don’t really value lounge access much. These are pretty big changes.

FamilyOnABudget
FamilyOnABudget (@guest_278439)
July 25, 2016 15:12

Darn, I had planned on getting this card next for my husband since the golf benefit would have been great. We already have global entry so I see no reason to bother with this card now.

Jose
Jose (@guest_278464)
July 25, 2016 16:37

You can also use the lounge access(doesn’t charge you to bring in two extra people), the $250 credit and the fourth night benefit.

joE
joE (@guest_278423)
July 25, 2016 14:58

I hate to close down cards so I will product change this next renewal but I hate the fact that I will get hit with a hard pull for a simple product change.

DW
DW (@guest_278530)
July 25, 2016 21:14

wait…what? why the HP for a product change? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?

Rick
Rick (@guest_348957)
February 5, 2017 15:48

I have never had a HP with a product change. I did a PC from a Citi Aadvantage AMEX to a Citi Double Cash, and a PC from a Citi Premier to a Citi Prestige without a HP.

Keith
Keith (@guest_278399)
July 25, 2016 14:08

Looks like I will be canceling my card upon renewal.

Lantean
Lantean (@guest_278440)
July 25, 2016 15:12

same here… not worth renewing unless there is an amazing retention offer

Dustin
Dustin (@guest_278453)
July 25, 2016 15:57

Remember to use the $250 airline credit if your annual fee is not due until next year.

Dustin
Dustin (@guest_278454)
July 25, 2016 15:59

I didn’t add in the most important word: Make sure to use the $250 credit this year and next year before cancelling (if your annual fee is due sometime next year)