Starting next year, Citi Prestige cardholders will no longer get the benefit of Admirals Club access. The change will take effect on June 20, 2017.
Update: Citi has changed to date to July 23, 2017.
You can see the details in your online login if you have the Prestige card:
Image from Onemileatatime http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2016/07/18/citi-prestige-admirals-club-access-discontinued/
We don’t know how this will play out for new cardholders, and it’s possible that they’ll scrap the benefit immediately for new applicants. However, you can still apply for the card today and get the benefit, at least until June 2017, as it’s still showing as a benefit in the online application.
This change is in addition to the other two changes we reported on earlier which might be happening tomorrow with regards to a higher spend threshold on the signup bonus and the removal of the 2x dining category.
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The 2x dining benefit is staying. The AA Loung access has been updated on Citi’s website to 7/23/17. Anyone that recently signed up will still have access for a full 12 months.
Shonuffharlem: Looks like the AA Executive card is the only way to go for now. Assuming Barclays upcoming AA co-branded card will offer the same benefit.
Damn this really sucks. How did Citi let this go in their new contract? What ways to get AA club access are left?
I’m sure the Adm. Club experience was having families and people not accustomed to being there annoying those that spend a lot of $$ on AA. Also, if the cost of entry is say “$25″/person, then I can see how even someone using it once per quarter w/ family really takes advantage of the benefit.
I did opt for AA flight over United so I could work in the lounge…so, it had the desired effect on my purchasing that they’d like to see. I can’t say as much for all the vacation travelers. The card has always been a “business travelers” card. Flight credit, 4 nights at a hotel, golf outings…they simply took an expensive benefit that freq. travelers wouldn’t miss anyways…plain and simple.
Seeing at this is *about* the only card that offers the 4th benefit and for as many locations and other cards exist to get lounge access…I think it’s easy from comments to determine who milks the system and who simply chooses the best card for their business purposes.
The comments are hardly an example of those who milk the system. I also travel for work and have been enjoying my Admiral’s access when I’m flying from somewhere that doesn’t have a Centurion, which no Admiral’s Club can even compete with. In fact, I’ve only booked AA flights since I’ve gotten the Prestige because one of my two frequent stops do not have a Centurion. Now, I have absolutely no reason to pick AA and am perfectly fine with the cheaper option and my Amex Platinum Priority Pass.
Citi has devalued this card to a ridiculous degree for a premium card. Even the removal of the dining is a big hit since road warriors are mostly eating out.
I just received a $200 statement credit for this perk going away. It may be a combination of that and educating the supervisor I escalated to when I called in regarding details of the change.
Milking the system? No. I paid a $350 annual fee for a certain amount of perks. I think the $200 statement credit is well justified. I do wish it would have been 20,000 TYP, but cash is king I suppose.
The loss of admirals club, as well as the 2x on dining, is a deal breaker for me. I thought this was going to be my go-to card that I would hold for many years. Guess not. Now which one should step in to fill the role?
Or just chase bonuses…. lol
I called Citi to mention the Prestige benefit change and the idea of compensation. Neither the initial CSR nor the supervisor knew about the changes. The supervisor is to call me back tomorrow once he researches the changes.
I just received a $200 statement credit for this perk going away. It may be a combination of that and educating the supervisor I escalated to when I called in regarding details of the change.
Milking the system? No. I paid a $350 annual fee for a certain amount of perks. I think the $200 statement credit is well justified. I do wish it would have been 20,000 TYP, but cash is king I suppose.
Wow. Gutting. Based at PHL, this was my most-used benefit of any card ever. Couldn’t they have nerfed the golf benefit? Or even the Priority Pass? This was the best benefit. Maybe I have to move to a city with a Centurion Lounge now.
I’m glad they got rid of this and not the golf benefit. I’m in the opposite boat of you. I almost never use AA lounges and get $700+ worth of golf every year. Win some and lose some I guess
You’d move just to get free lounge access with a credit card? That’s bizarre considering the cost of moving vs. the cost of just paying for lounge access, if it came to that.
If the only benefit was the 4th night benefit, this card would still be worth it for me; however, I’m still disappointed to see this.
Total crap. They got so.many cardholder’s now, they have to drop benefits. I saw it coming.
My wife opened her Citi Prestige account on May 17th of this year and I can confirm that she sees the same June 20th, 2017 termination date for Admirals Club lounge access.
I just got approved yesterday. Have not even gotten the card yet and Admirals club will now only be good until June? Is that legal? Do I still get to use the $250 credit twice?
Admirals Club is until June 2017. Not sure if it’s legal for them to change benefits within a year, but if they are doing it then I’ll assume it’s legal.
You should be able to get the $250 twice, as before, we haven’t heard of any change in that regard.
Not according to a comment on the miles to memories post…
The CARD act says issuers have to give 30-days notice on a change in terms. Anything beyond that is a courtesy or the result of negotiations between AA and Citi.