Citi Prestige Card review: Full details

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Citi Prestige Card overview

The Citi Prestige® Card is still a valuable part of the premium travel credit card market despite losing numerous perks over the years. Although the card is no longer open to new applicants, its valuable earning rates and remaining perks may still make it an attractive travel rewards credit card for some current cardholders. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

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The Citi Prestige, Citi’s most premium travel credit card, has undergone significant changes in the past several years. Improved earning rates in 2019 were coupled with massive devaluations, an annual fee increase to $495, stripped protections and caps on benefit usage.

Then, in mid-2021, Citi stopped accepting new applications for the Citi Prestige. Although this card isn’t open to new applicants, current cardholders can continue to use and benefit from the card.

There is potential for a new premium Citi card that could replace the Citi Prestige in 2025. Online data points show a filed trademark for a ‘Citi Strata Elite’, so for those who missed out on the Prestige, this could be the next premium card to jump on.

Frequent travelers will be able to get the most out of the earning rates and benefits of the Citi Prestige. With a high $495 annual fee, this card is only worth keeping if you know you’ll take full advantage of its benefits before your annual fee comes due again.

If you don’t travel frequently, you may be better off with a lower-annual-fee mid-tier travel card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees). And if you’re looking for different top-tier luxury benefits, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

The information for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Citi Prestige pros and cons

Citi Prestige welcome offer

The Citi Prestige isn’t currently available to new applicants. So, you can’t apply for this card and earn a welcome bonus.

However, you could apply for the Citi Prestige’s lower annual fee sibling, the Citi Strata Premier, to earn a welcome bonus after reaching a certain spending threshold.

Other options include top travel rewards cards, such as Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s 60,000-point welcome bonus (after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening) is worth $1,230, according to TPG’s January 2025 valuations.

Meanwhile, new Amex Platinum cardmembers can earn an 80,000-point welcome offer (after spending $8,000 on purchases on the card in your first six months of cardmembership) that we value at $1,600. You may be targeted for an even higher welcome offer through the CardMatch tool; not everyone will be targeted for the same offers, and offers may change at any time.

Related: American Express Platinum vs. Citi Prestige: Should you make the switch?

Citi Prestige benefits

As mentioned, Citi eliminated most of its travel and shopping protections and devalued certain perks in 2019. But there is still much to love about the card’s offerings.

Fourth night free perk

The Citi Prestige fourth night free perk has long been considered the most valuable benefit of the Citi Prestige.

The fourth-night-free benefit works like this: Citi will pay for the fourth night of your stay at virtually any hotel when you book through the Citi ThankYou travel portal. However, you can only use this benefit twice each calendar year. The fourth night free is based on your average nightly rate, excluding taxes and fees.

Remember that because bookings must be made through the Citi ThankYou travel portal, you generally won’t earn hotel loyalty points or receive elite benefits. And be sure to compare prices with several other booking methods, as the fourth-night free perk won’t always provide the best value.

Up to $250 travel credit

Citi Prestige cardholders get a travel credit of up to $250 every calendar year for travel purchases. Specifically, you’ll automatically get a statement credit for the first $250 of travel purchases you make each year.

This credit applies to a wide variety of travel purchases, including purchases from airlines, hotels and car rental agencies. If your purchase codes as travel, it will more than likely qualify for this travel credit. That makes it one of the most flexible credits offered by any premium travel card.

If you maximize this credit, it effectively lowers the $495 annual fee to $245.

Related: How credit card issuers classify travel and dining purchases

Global Entry statement credit

I love having Global Entry — it’s saved me from standing in line for countless hours at TSA security and in U.S. Customs lines. Citi Prestige cardmembers receive a credit every four years that can be applied toward a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

Several other cards also offer a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credit. But if you’ve already enrolled in either of the two programs, you can use the credit for a family member or friend’s application.

Priority Pass lounge access

As a Citi Prestige cardholder, you’ll also get access to the Priority Pass lounge network. The Priority Pass network includes more than 1,700 airport lounges worldwide.

Citi Prestige cardholders get a Priority Pass Select membership that provides complimentary lounge access for the cardholder, immediate family members and up to two guests. There are some excellent Priority Pass lounges in the U.S., but most of the best Priority Pass lounges are outside the U.S.

Related: Is a Priority Pass lounge membership actually worth it?

Cellphone protection

When you pay your monthly cellphone bill with your Citi Prestige Card, you’ll get protection against theft and damage for up to five phone lines. While there is a $50 deductible per claim, you can get up to $800 of coverage per claim.

The Citi Prestige doesn’t offer bonus points on cellphone services, but you may want to pay your monthly cellphone bill with your Citi Prestige to take advantage of this protection.

Related: Credit cards that cover cellphone loss and damage

Earning points on the Citi Prestige

An essential part of evaluating a card is assessing how easily you can earn points through spending. Luckily, earning is one area where the Citi Prestige doesn’t slack for a premium travel card.

The following standard earning rates include:

• 5 ThankYou points per dollar spent at restaurants (including takeout and delivery), airfare and travel agencies (9% return based on TPG’s January 2025 valuations)
• 3 points per dollar spent at hotels and cruise lines (5.4% return)
• 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases (1.8% return)

However, remember that Citi removed travel protections from its cards in 2019. So, despite the effective 9% return on airfare, I usually use a credit card that provides travel insurance when booking flights.

I also typically use a hotel credit card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve when paying for hotel stays. As such, I usually only use my Citi Prestige at restaurants, cafes and bars.

Redeeming points on the Citi Prestige

Citi ThankYou points can be redeemed in various ways, but the most valuable option is to transfer them to an airline or hotel partner.

You can also use your Citi ThankYou points to redeem for travel through Citi’s travel portal. Doing so will usually provide less value than transferring to airline partners. But, depending on your travel goals, there may be times when doing so works best for you.

Additionally, you can redeem points for gift cards, use them to pay at select online retailers, get cash back or make charitable contributions.

Related: The complete guide to Citi ThankYou Rewards: How to earn, redeem and transfer points

Transferring points on the Citi Prestige

Transferring your points to Citi’s 21 airline and hotel partners will likely give you the most value.

If you’re unsure which transfer partners are best, TPG credit cards writer Danyal Ahmed has transferred ThankYou points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue for business-class flights from the U.S. to Europe for as low as 50,000 points one-way. This is a great way to use your ThankYou points.

Related: Best ways to redeem your Citi ThankYou points

Which cards compete with the Citi Prestige?

The most direct competitors to the Citi Prestige are two other premium travel cards.

• If you want to maximize travel points earning: The Chase Sapphire Reserve charges a $550 annual fee but offers generous earning rates on select categories, plus benefits like a $300 annual travel credit, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years and a Priority Pass Select membership. To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
• If you want loads of extra perks: The Amex Platinum charges a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) but offers a suite of luxury benefits like unparalleled lounge access, an airline fee statement credit of up to $200 per calendar year, up to $15 each month (up to $35 in December) in Uber Cash (up to $200 each calendar year)*, biannual Saks statement credits of up to $100 per calendar year, elite status with Marriott and Hilton and more. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply. To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Platinum.
• If you want a premium travel card with a lower annual fee: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a moderate $395 annual fee (see rates and fees) and earns 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on everything else. In addition, cardholders receive $300 back in credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel and access to the Partner Lounge Network and Capital One lounges. To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture X.

For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel cards.

*Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Platinum as a payment method and redeem with any eligible Amex card.

Read more: The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison

Is the Citi Prestige worth it?

The card can be worth the cost for those who use most of the Citi Prestige’s benefits. When used strategically, the fourth-night-free benefit can still provide hundreds of dollars in value. The $250 annual travel credit is easy to use, plus the card’s earnings on dining and flights can provide significant value.

Bottom line

The Citi Prestige isn’t a clear-cut choice for everyone. While it offers some valuable benefits, many of them overlap with other premium credit cards. As such, it’s worth carefully considering how much value you get from the Citi Prestige Card when your annual fee posts.

If you missed out on the Citi Prestige, keep an eye out for Citi’s potential upcoming premium card. We don’t have concrete confirmation yet that it’s coming any time soon, but an announcement could come at any time.

Related: How to decide if a credit card’s annual fee is worth paying

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.