If you’re looking for a credit card with a healthy balance of rewards and benefits, consider the Citi Premier Card. This mid-tier credit card lets you earn points through its flexible ThankYou Rewards program, with big rewards available if you’re a frequent spender. This article will dive into the card’s benefits and its key features, like travel protection benefits and earning rewards through bonus categories.
Overview of the Citi Premier Card
If you want a mid-level bank card that earns points in Citi’s ThankYou Rewards program, then the Citi Premier Card might be right for you. With a 60,000-point welcome bonus after $4,000 worth of purchases in the first three months of opening your account, this card is an excellent choice for people who want to earn rewards quickly. You can learn more about credit card levels here.
The Card also offers substantial recurrent rewards in numerous common spending categories, including 3X ThankYou points on travel and gas stations, 3X on restaurants and supermarkets, and 1X on all other purchases. Additionally, the card comes with a yearly hotel savings incentive, ideal for frequent travelers.
Moreover, Citi Premier Cardholders can access exclusive travel experiences and enjoy superior travel protection benefits. Although the card doesn’t offer travel protection benefits like other card variants in its price range, the Citi Premier’s travel insurance is one of the best available. Accidents and unforeseen events can happen while traveling, but the Citi Premier Card’s travel insurance covers you.
So, if you want to enjoy travel benefits without spending much on travel, the Card is the way to go. With substantial rewards on everyday purchases and top-tier travel insurance, this card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers or people who enjoy earning points with their regular spending.
Travel Protection Benefits of the Citi Premier Card
Regarding travel protection benefits, the Citi Premier Card falls short compared to its similarly priced competitors. However, it still offers some top-shelf travel insurance coverage. In comparison to similar cards, the Citi Premier® Card lacks trip cancellation and interruption benefits, as well as baggage delay and lost luggage benefits. But it offers travel accident insurance and worldwide travel accident insurance, which is not to be taken lightly.
Travel accident insurance covers accidental death or dismemberment while traveling on a common carrier, such as a plane, train, or bus. The Card offers up to $250,000 in coverage per traveler. Worldwide travel accident insurance, on the other hand, covers the cardholder and their family for accidental death or dismemberment, even if not traveling on a common carrier. This coverage extends to the cardholder’s spouse/domestic partner and children under 23.
In addition to this top-shelf travel insurance, the Citi Premier Card offers an account anniversary bonus that matches 10% of your previous year’s rewards. This kind of reward is unmatched by many similar mid-tier credit cards.
Earning Rewards with the Citi Premier Card
The Citi Premier Card offers excellent rewards on everyday spending with its 3X bonus categories on supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and air travel. The card’s introductory offer of 60,000 points is an attractive incentive, but the real value lies in the ongoing rewards.
Regarding the value of points, ThankYou points can be redeemed for gift cards, cash back, travel through the Citi travel portal, or transferred to airline loyalty programs. The transfer options include some of the most popular airline loyalty programs, such as JetBlue, American Airlines, and Singapore Airlines.
The value of each point can vary based on how they are used, but generally, each point is worth around 1 cent.
One of the biggest perks of the Card is the ability to transfer points to airline partners at a 1:1 ratio. This allows cardholders to maximize the value of their points by redeeming them for flights or upgrades. However, it’s worth noting that transfers may take up to a few days to process, so it’s important to plan.
The card also comes with a $100 annual travel credit for booking a single hotel stay of $500 or more through Citi’s travel portal, which can help offset the annual fee. Additionally, using the card for everyday purchases can quickly add to significant rewards and savings.
Overall, it is an excellent option for those who value rewards for everyday spending and want the flexibility to transfer points to travel partners. The bonus categories make it easy to earn points across various spending categories, and the ability to redeem points for flights or transfers to airline partners can make those rewards even more valuable.
You can learn more about loyalty programs by visiting https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/benefits-of-loyalty-programs.
Pros and Cons of the Citi Premier Card
Pros:
It offers a generous welcome bonus, ongoing solid rewards in multiple categories, and an annual hotel savings benefit. The 3X bonus categories, including supermarkets and gas stations, make this card appealing to everyday spenders. Additionally, the transfer partners of Citi’s flexible ThankYou Rewards program provide great value to frequent travelers.
Cons:
One big downside is the lack of travel protection benefits compared to its similarly priced competitors. Additionally, the annual hotel savings benefit falls short of other cards’ hotel perks. Finally, some consumers may prefer cash-back rewards rather than points.
Conclusion
Get more out of your everyday spending with the Citi Premier Card. With a welcome bonus of 60,000 points, substantial ongoing rewards in multiple categories, and an annual hotel savings benefit, this card is a great choice for those looking for flexibility.
While the travel protection benefits may not compare to its competitors, it makes up for it with its 3X bonus categories and valuable transfer partners. Consider your spending habits and travel goals before deciding if this card suits you.
