Citi 'Thank You' Rewards CC

[1rockinmama]

Hi there! We just started using the Citi MasterCard 'Thank You' Rewards credit card back in Jan. When we signed up and put $3k on it (dental bill covered it) we received 50k in points which said up to $625 when booking WITH them for airfare. After researching, it looks like it's 10k points for every $80 for regular statement credits though. I haven't called to book a flight through them yet in order to get the cheaper route when I call and book, but has anyone used this card at Disney(resorts, parks, etc) then turned around and applied points as statement credits for those Disney purchases? TIA!

 

[TravelandLeisure]

I used the Citi Thank You card to purchase Target gift cards. 50,000 points will get you $500 in gift cards. I then used the Target gift cards to purchase Disney gift cards (using my Red card as the default), and saved an additional 5%. Using this method will get you $525 in Disney Giftcards. It's a much better deal than using the statement credit.

 

[Hikergirl]

I used the Citi Thank You card to purchase Target gift cards. 50,000 points will get you $500 in gift cards. I then used the Target gift cards to purchase Disney gift cards (using my Red card as the default), and saved an additional 5%. Using this method will get you $525 in Disney Giftcards. It's a much better deal than using the statement credit.

This is exactly what I do too.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Every time I've run the math using my bonus points for statement credits is a bad deal. I get more turning the points into gift cards to spend at places I know I will be going.

For instance I currently have a grocery charge for $31.94 where Citi says I can apply points to cover the purchase...
Citi says for 4,258 points I can cover my $31.94 charge so each point's ultimate redemption to me in USD = $0.0075
OR
2,500 points = $25 barnes and noble gift card (book nerd here!) so each point = $0.01

I see the gift card point redemption is the same for a Target card as a barnes and noble card, they have lots of gift cards available I'm SURE they will have something that you would use. Even if you chose to not go the Target/Disney gift card cycle method pre-trip and instead charge everything to your card on your trip you will be better off using the rewards points you earn on gift cards for future purchases than applying them to previous charges.

 

[Madteaparty001]

I agreed that the travel cost is usually inflated so it's not worth what they claim. My DH and I usually call and have them turn our points into a check for our mortgage or student loans. More info here: http://millionmilesecrets.com/2015/...-the-cash-back-rate-for-citi-thankyou-points/

The first time we did it they just let us deposit the money into a bank account since we have auto pay set up, the second time a different person did it and threw a little hissy fit over it so we had them directly apply it to our mortgage and made sure they adjusted our bill that month accordingly (then we took the money we would have put into the account for the mortgage and spent it on travel the way we wanted to).

 

[Albort]

I agreed that the travel cost is usually inflated so it's not worth what they claim. My DH and I usually call and have them turn our points into a check for our mortgage or student loans. More info here: http://millionmilesecrets.com/2015/...-the-cash-back-rate-for-citi-thankyou-points/

It depends on how its redeemed. Best is to transfer to Airlines and redeem for flights. I recently used 15k pts on Grand Hyatt hotel in Taipei. Regular rates start at $269. Thats $.017 per point. If i redeemed for cash, id be $.01. $269 room for $150 is a pretty sweet deal!

I think the best way now to buy disney gc is through Sams Club. Sams Club is always at 5% off, use it now with your Freedom, get 5% back in pts. Ink card will also net u the 5% all year around up to 50k in purchases...

 

[rnorwo1]

I'm following along. We are hoping to use our points to book airfare (not to Disney). I need to start researching if I'll be better off transferring to AS or booking through them. We also just got the prestige card, so I think that's supposed to make the points more valuable if you redeem in certain ways, but I need to research that some more. It has a hefty annual fee, but I'll come out ahead the first year if I use the available airline credits, and then I can cancel next year if I don't see the value in it.

 

[Just1Princess]

Following along too! I've had my card for several years but any suggestions to maximize rewards are great!

 

[1rockinmama]

Thank you all for your tips and tricks! I NEVER thought of the points to Target Gift Cards to Disney Gift Cards!

Has anyone done the call and get a points quote on airfare through their CC company? If so, what was your points/dollars ending ratio?

TIA all!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I'm following along. We are hoping to use our points to book airfare (not to Disney). I need to start researching if I'll be better off transferring to AS or booking through them. We also just got the prestige card, so I think that's supposed to make the points more valuable if you redeem in certain ways, but I need to research that some more. It has a hefty annual fee, but I'll come out ahead the first year if I use the available airline credits, and then I can cancel next year if I don't see the value in it.

We just got the Prestige as well and are very happy with it. With Prestige, you get a value of $0.016 per point when purchasing AA flights and $0.0133 when purchasing flights on other airlines. So far, we have received a $250 airfare credit, a $100 Global Entry application credit and have used the Admirals club twice. I have also tested the trip cancellation insurance and received cash payment for a flight I booked on AA using Thank You points. -- Suzanne

 

[rnorwo1]

We just got the Prestige as well and are very happy with it. With Prestige, you get a value of $0.016 per point when purchasing AA flights and $0.0133 when purchasing flights on other airlines. So far, we have received a $250 airfare credit, a $100 Global Entry application credit and have used the Admirals club twice. I have also tested the trip cancellation insurance and received cash payment for a flight I booked on AA using Thank You points. -- Suzanne

What is the trip cancellation benefit?

Also, do you have the regular card, I think it's the preferred? I have points on it also, I'm hoping I can combine them (I have one and my DH has the other, though).

 

[Albort]

Thank you all for your tips and tricks! I NEVER thought of the points to Target Gift Cards to Disney Gift Cards!

Has anyone done the call and get a points quote on airfare through their CC company? If so, what was your points/dollars ending ratio?

TIA all!

Chase UR rewards, if you have a premium card, they give u a straight 20% off. The best redemption is through partners though. a $1000 flight may cost you 70k, around $.014 per pt. It varies. I almost redeemed $1000 tickets for 30k pts, which is $.033 per point but parental dont want to do a stopover...

Another way is using these points for upgrades. Lets say tickets are $1700 round trip. A business upgrade is $5000. Star Alliance upgrades are 30k one way, 60k round trip. If upgrade awards are available, it would be $.055 per mile!

 

[1rockinmama]

Chase UR rewards, if you have a premium card, they give u a straight 20% off. The best redemption is through partners though. a $1000 flight may cost you 70k, around $.014 per pt. It varies. I almost redeemed $1000 tickets for 30k pts, which is $.033 per point but parental dont want to do a stopover...

Another way is using these points for upgrades. Lets say tickets are $1700 round trip. A business upgrade is $5000. Star Alliance upgrades are 30k one way, 60k round trip. If upgrade awards are available, it would be $.055 per mile!

Chase UR Rewards? I have the Disney Visa but not the premium. I need to do some math. We put 90% of our bills ($4000 a month) on our Citi Thank You card....would it be better to do the Disney Visa card?...Wait it only applies AIRFARE credit right?

 

[SuzanneSLO]

What is the trip cancellation benefit?

Also, do you have the regular card, I think it's the preferred? I have points on it also, I'm hoping I can combine them (I have one and my DH has the other, though).

The Prestige card has some nice trip cancellation insurance benefits. Included are coverage for foreign evacuation and cancellation coverage, including for a pet which needs emergency care.

This is my only Thank You points card at the current time.

 

[Albort]

Chase UR Rewards? I have the Disney Visa but not the premium. I need to do some math. We put 90% of our bills ($4000 a month) on our Citi Thank You card....would it be better to do the Disney Visa card?...Wait it only applies AIRFARE credit right?

if your Monthly is $4k a month, theres a load of cards you can apply for. Disney Visa gives u what, 2% on gas stations, grocery stores, rest. and Disney locations. within that $4k, what kind of bills are u paying? Chase Business Ink(if you have some kind of business) will give u 5% on cable/internet bill, office supplies. 5k spending within 3 months currently will get u 70k in points! CSP is also a great card with high bonus. I think the Citi Access(will need to be a new iPhone though), has a 3x on online purchases. YMMV on the different sites though.

It really all depends on how u want to spend ur points on. i basically use my card based on categories earn 2 different award programs.

 

[rnorwo1]

The Prestige card has some nice trip cancellation insurance benefits. Included are coverage for foreign evacuation and cancellation coverage, including for a pet which needs emergency care.

This is my only Thank You points card at the current time.

Thanks! I need to look at this a lot
Closer!

 

[1rockinmama]

if your Monthly is $4k a month, theres a load of cards you can apply for. Disney Visa gives u what, 2% on gas stations, grocery stores, rest. and Disney locations. within that $4k, what kind of bills are u paying? Chase Business Ink(if you have some kind of business) will give u 5% on cable/internet bill, office supplies. 5k spending within 3 months currently will get u 70k in points! CSP is also a great card with high bonus. I think the Citi Access(will need to be a new iPhone though), has a 3x on online purchases. YMMV on the different sites though.

It really all depends on how u want to spend ur points on. i basically use my card based on categories earn 2 different award programs.

We put everything except our mortgage on it b/c banks won't allow you to pay it with a CC. Gas, groceries, haircuts, dinner, tires, oil changes, Starbucks, you name it, it goes on the card and then we pay it off on the 1st and 15th pay checks. We got 50k points upon obtaining card and putting $3k on it. So, maybe I should find another card that does a big point promo and apply and get it and use it in it's need timeframe to get said points and do that too? Hmmm, then this second I'd do, I'd just get the promo, cash in the points for gift cards then close the account and do another one? Wonder how safe this is for our credit? Last month I had an 802 and my husband had a 796. We have NO credit card debt as we pay it off twice per month. Mortgage, 2 cars, the last $6k of my student loan and basic bills.

 

[Albort]

We put everything except our mortgage on it b/c banks won't allow you to pay it with a CC. Gas, groceries, haircuts, dinner, tires, oil changes, Starbucks, you name it, it goes on the card and then we pay it off on the 1st and 15th pay checks. We got 50k points upon obtaining card and putting $3k on it. So, maybe I should find another card that does a big point promo and apply and get it and use it in it's need timeframe to get said points and do that too? Hmmm, then this second I'd do, I'd just get the promo, cash in the points for gift cards then close the account and do another one? Wonder how safe this is for our credit? Last month I had an 802 and my husband had a 796. We have NO credit card debt as we pay it off twice per month. Mortgage, 2 cars, the last $6k of my student loan and basic bills.

the only card I could think of for ur mortgage is the citi bank access card. it gives u 3% on online purchases and some rent paying site like lasting or rad pad charges like 2.5% and u can net .5%. it isn't much but it's still something.

if ur looking for huge bonuses, business cards might be a good choice. my business ink card netted me 70k pts for $5k spendings.