BEWARE! CitiBank changing Emirates PLATINUM CARD to Emirates Citibank WORLD CARD

Peck on 15/07/2014 - 12:55

I received this SMS today;

"We are replacing your existing Emirates Citibank PLATINUM CARD with an Emirates Citibank WORLD CARD in the next few weeks. Your new WORLD CARD will come with additional benefits at no extra cost. For more information, visit citibank.com.au/newemiratesworld or contact us on 1300 309 477 if you have any questions."
Now, I know for a fact that the PLATINUM CARD has an annual fee of $249 and Citibank WORLD CARD has an annual fee of $299. So I rang Citibank and asked what the 'additional benefits' were. All that they could quote were the 'existing' benefits. There may be 'new' benefits but they are not apparent. The man at Citibank said that the annual fee would be $299, and then after going away and checking,he said that existing PLATINUM CARD holders would only pay $249. He said that this would be detailed on the 'welcome package'. My guess is that eventually the fees will go to $299. When I asked could I just keep using my Emirates Citibank PLATINUM CARD he said that he did not think so. (Well, in my opinion, if I do not activate the new card, my old card may continue to work!)

Financial

Related Stores

Citibank Australia
Citibank Australia

Comments

  • Peck on 15/07/2014 - 13:11
    +1

    This is on top of them reducing the mileage earn rate in about May this year. I think that the way that Citibank plan to make money with all of their offerings (eg their 2.9% line of credit deal) is 'Slowly, slowly catchee monkey.' People grasp an offering and may find it inconvenient to let go, as Citibank erodes cost/benefits to customers.

  • JetBombat on 15/07/2014 - 19:34
    +1

    The benefit is that they will be getting an extra $50.

  • Loveshk on 17/07/2014 - 09:28

    Maybe when u get the card call them and see if they can wave the annual fee. They did that for me last time I called.
    But yeah I'm pissed about the miles down to $1- 1 mile.

    Does anyone know if this card still gets the airport lounge access in Dubai ? This current card u can but I can't find any information about ithe new one.

    • Peck on 17/07/2014 - 10:23

      Re'Waive Annual fees' I did that this year. One unexpected result seems to be that I am now having trouble getting my 2 Australian Lounge passes - but still worth it to save the $249. Not sure if I will have trouble getting Limo to/from airport too. I didn't know about the entitlement to 'airport lounge access in Dubai'.

  • Peck on 23/07/2014 - 16:40

    Looks like little interest in this subject, however I can now add that I received my Emirates Citibank WORLD CARD, and in the literature it tells us that Emirates Citibank PLATINUM CARD has dropped its Skywards Miles earning rate even lower. New rate per $1, 0.5 Domestic spend, 1.5 International spend, Zero Emirates spend.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join