Sitting on load of #Citibank points or #miles and planning to use them for Fuel/0.45p redemption?
Think again!
This thread will give you suggestions on the best way to maximize your Citi #creditcard points and get the best value
#travel
Citi Bank cards portfolio
Rewards, Indian Oil, Cashback - Upgrade to PM/Prestige or Rewards redemption
Primermiles, Prestige - Miles transfer
If you are holding Premiermiles and having more than 10,000 PM miles then you should consider getting upgrade to Prestige to convert 10k points to 18k Airmiles
Remember 100 PM=50 Airmiles
if upgraded PM to Prestige 100 PM= 45 Prestige points -> 180 Airmiles
Citi points can be transferred to following airlines or Hotel partner
Airlines-Turkish(TK), Qatar, THAI, Etihad, EVA, Flying Blue, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic(VS), Singapore(SQ), Cathay Pacific(CX), British Airways(BA), Air India
Hotels - IHG, Taj innercircle
& Intermiles (Avoid)
🛫#Singapore Airlines (SQ)
🔹*Alliance member
🔹Highly rated airline
🔹Transfer partners HDFC, HSBC, Amex
🔹Saver awards
🔹More award space available for members
🔹Free Stopover on return or add stopover for $100
🔹Waitlisting option on own flights
SQ-Conti
🔹Low surcharge & taxes on own flights, Pass on partners
🔹Comparative high miles required on partners
🔹Wide range of partner airlines for earn & redeem
🔹Miles expiry 3 years
🔹Can redeem for anyone, max 5 nominees, Removing/changing nominees not free
SQ-Conti
Transfer if
🟢If you are having transferable points in multiple cards
🟢Planning South East Asia, within America, Aus, NZ
🟢Have travel plan maximum by next year
🟢Your travel requires to fly on Singapore Airlines
🟢Looking for A380 First Class suites
SQ-Conti
🟢Traveling in a competitive reward zone
🟢Round the world
🟢Early planner, seats open 355 days before for members
🟢wants to transfer to Virgin Australia Velocity
🟢Need open-jaw route
SQ-Conti
Avoid if
🔺No plan in near future, Miles have hard expiry of 3 years
🔺Planning to travel to Europe, Japan, USA, Middle East, Africa
🔺Don't have other cards points to merge miles compensating high miles requirement of SQ
🔺Travel itinerary requires backtracking
🛫#Turkish Airlines (TK)
🔹*Alliance member
🔹High connectivity
🔹Transfer partners Citi, Axis
🔹Saver awards
🔹Free Stopover on return on own, conditional for partners
🔹Medium surcharge & taxes, Pass on partners
🔹Competitive miles requirement
🔹Hard miles expiry 3 years
TK-Conti
🔹Family pooling for elite members
🔹Free award reservation hold for 48 hrs
🔹Companion award available at 30% off
🔹Travel zone reward rate is competitive
TK-Conti
Transfer if
🟢Planning Europe, USA, within America, Inter Oceania
🟢Have travel plan maximum by next year
🟢Low in miles
🟢Need open-jaw route
🟢Travel itinerary requires backtracking except the same airport
TK-Conti
Avoid if
🔺No plan in near future, Mile have hard expiry of 3 years
🔺Planning traveling in First,
🔺Contains multiple class, mostly not allowed
🔺Poor availability of awards on partners
🛫#VirginAtlantic (VS)
🔹Miles never expire
🔹Transfer partners Citi, Amex
🔹Very competitive miles requirement
🔹Off peak & peak chart for own flights
🔹high availability on own flight
🔹Multiple partners for redemption-ANA, Air NZ..
VS-Conti
🔹Free Stopover on return on self, varies on partners
🔹can transfer to Hilton 1 Prestige points to 6 Hilton Points
🔹High surcharge & taxes, Pass on partners
🔹Free award reservation hold for 24 hrs
VS-Conti
Transfer if
🟢No immediate plan
🟢Planning Japan, Caribbean, USA
🟢Low in points
🟢Need one-way on ANA
🟢Have the patience to book flight over the phone for partners
VS-Conti
Avoid if
🔺Prefer premium class travel exception- ANA,Delta
🔺Travel through London, Transit/Specific visa requirement
🔺Contains multiple class in the itinerary
🛫#CathayPacific (CX)
🔹Oneworld member
🔹Soft miles expiry 18 months
🔹Transfer partners Citi, Amex
🔹Free Stopover on return on own & partners
🔹Distanced based chart, published for own not for partners
🔹Companion award available at 25% off
🔹Medium taxes, Pass on partners
CX-Conti
Transfer if
🟢No immediate plan
🟢Contains multiple class in itinerary
🟢Travel distance in competitive bands
🟢Mostly lower taxes then Avios for Oneworld flights
🟢Flying very long haul flight including layover
🟢Can reduce miles required using miles arbitrage
CX-Conti
🟢Looking for Round the world
🟢Need open-jaw route
CX-Conti
Avoid if
🔺If requires stopover, can be booked through chat or phone only
🔺Frequent Waitlists on own flight
🔺Limited award availability nowadays
🔺Except British Airways, Finnair, Qantas & Qatar Airways, other’s can’t be booked online
🛫#BritishAirways (BA)
🔹1🌎 member
🔹Transfer partners Citi HSBC Amex
🔹Distanced based chart
🔹Every segment priced separately
🔹Off peak & peak chart
🔹Soft miles expiry 36 months
🔹Family pooling from same address
🔹Extreme fuel & carrier imposed charges
🔹Transferable Avios
BA-Conti
Transfer if
🟢No immediate plan
🟢transferable points in multiple cards
🟢Short domestic flights e.g. American Airlines
🟢Travel distance in competitive bands
🟢Flying very long haul segment
🟢Can reduce miles required by introducing stop
🟢Looking for RTW
BA-Conti
Avoid if
🔺Want to reduce cash outgo
🔺Not familiar with alternative routes
🔺If required to cancel within 24 hours of departure