Ultimate Travel Credit Cards Guide Citi Proprietary Bottom Line 

The next Bank in the series to be reviewed is Citi Bank. Citibank offers a variety of cards, from their successful Thank You cards to American Airlines co-branded cards. In the case of Citi, there will be two categories and the verdict among the cards. Here are the links to the Ultimate Travel Credit Cards Guide Citi series:

Introduction

Proprietary

Airlines and Hotels

Verdict

The first set to be evaluated are the Proprietary Cards. They are the Thankyou series of cards, usually associated with a good transferable points system. The Thankyou points can be transferred to various partner programs. The transfer partners are below:

Citi Thankyou Preferred

Description: The basic card for the Thankyou points program. It is aimed at people who are starting to build credit, and it offers benefits to transfer your points to partner programs. Score: 7/10

Sign Up Bonus: It comes with no sign-up bonus. Score: 0/10

Normal Day Accrual: You can accrue points in a 1 point per $1 in most categories, except when purchasing dining and entertainment. In those cases, you would earn 2 points per $1. Score: 5/10

Added Perks: The card comes with Citi Private Pass access. Nonetheless, it comes with foreign transaction fees. There are no more benefits other than these worth mentioning, unfortunately. Score: 3/10

Annual Fee: The card does not have an annual fee. Score: 10/10

Credit Score needed: Good-Very Good Credit Score

Final Score: 25/50

Citi Thankyou Premier

Description: The second tier of the Thankyou cards, this one also offers the ability to earn Thankyou points. So, this means you can transfer your points to their partners. Score: 7/10

Sign Up Bonus: The card comes with no sign-up bonus. Score: 0/10

Normal Day Accrual: You can earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel. This category is very generous as it offers various options defined as travel. Also, you get 2 points per $1 for dining and entertainment. Finally, you get 1 point per $1 on everything else. Score: 7/10

Added Perks: The card comes with more protections than the Preferred. Also, the card does not have foreign transaction fees, as well as Citi Price Rewind. Citi Price Rewind offers you the difference in price between your product and any cheaper offer. Score: 6/10.

Annual Fee: The card has a $95 annual fee, waived the first year. Score: 7/10

Credit Score needed: Very Good- Excellent Credit Needed

Final Score: 27/50

Citi Thankyou Prestige

Description: The highest level of the Citi Thankyou series of cards. This one comes with many more benefits than the rest. It offers the same transfer partners as the other Thankyou cards, though. Score: 7/10

Sign Up Bonus: This card does have a sign-up bonus. So, 40,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 are offered. Score: 4/10

Normal Day Accrual: You can earn 3 points per $1 spent on Airfare and Hotels. Also, you get 2 points per $1 for dining and entertainment. Finally, you get 1 point per $1 on everything else. Score: 7/10

Added Perks: The many added perks include Priority Pass Select membership as well as Citi Price Rewind. You also get $250 airfare credit, a Global Entry fee waiver, and a 4th Night Free offer on any hotel booked through Citi Concierge. Score: 8/10

Annual Fee: The card has an annual fee of $450, not waived the first year. Score: 6/10

Credit Score needed: Excellent Credit

Final Score: 32/50

Citi Thankyou Preferred College Student

Description: I added this one because I like the fact that they offer a credit card specifically for college students building credit. It offers the same options to transfer Thankyou points. Score: 7/10

Sign Up Bonus: This one comes with a sign-up bonus of 2,500 points after a $500 purchase. Score: 3/10

Normal Day Accrual: You can accrue points in a 1 point per $1 in most categories, except when purchasing dining and entertainment. In those cases, you would earn 2 points per $1. Score: 5/10

Added Perks:  The card comes with Citi Private Pass access. Also, it has access to Citi Price Rewind. Nonetheless, it comes with foreign transaction fees. There are no more benefits other than these worth mentioning, unfortunately. Score: 3/10

Annual Fee: No annual fee! Score: 10/10

Credit Score needed: Building Credit-Good, you need to be enrolled in a University.

Final Score: 28/50

Landing Thoughts

I am a big fan of the concept of having a credit card targeted to students,. It would likely be the only card of these I would apply for personally. Nonetheless, I can see value in the Citi Prestige, but not as much as it used to offer. Since losing Admirals Club membership, I don’t see it worth the $450 annual fee, honestly.

Introduction

Proprietary

Airlines and Hotels

Verdict

What do you think? Are Citi ThankYou cards a good deal?