Credit Card with Free or Lowest Cost Priority Pass Lounge + Eatery Access for The Year with a Complimentary Guest

graceyym on 27/03/2024 - 20:34
Last edited 27/03/2024 - 21:15 by 1 other user

I'm in the market for a new credit card and want one with the best perks especially whilst travelling as I have about 2 months of travelling to book in, pay for and do this year.

I plan on cancelling the card prior to the 1 year mark to avoid the second year fee.

These are what I'm looking at so far, leaning towards the unlimited Priority Pass option with Citibank - is it worth it and is there anything with better value?

Citibank Prestige Card

Spend: $10,000 on eligible purchased within 3 months
Receive: 275,000 Citibank Points (worth $1100 in vouchers)
Unlimited Priority Pass Lounge Entry + 1 Complimentary Guest
Fee: $700 p.a.

OR

Westpac Altitude Rewards Black
Spend:
Receive: 150,000 Altitude Points (worth $700 in vouchers)
2 x Priority Pass Lounge Entries + a Complimentary Guest
Fee: $150 first year, then $295 thereafter

Financial Credit Card

Comments

  • MS Paint on 27/03/2024 - 20:45
    -2

    completentary

    TIL this is not a word

  • bmxr on 27/03/2024 - 20:48
    +1

    2 months worth of travelling. Given you are looking at lpounge access are we safe to assume that means many, many flights in that 2 months?

    If you were able to do that travel all with one airline/alliance you would easily attain gold/platinum status or the equivalent and get access to airline business and first class lounges, which trounce almost every Priority Pass Lounge across the globe in my experience (with the exception of KCH, the PP lounge is better than the MAS lounge, so much so, that they closed the MAS lounge).

    So just spend your time planning with a single airline/alliance and researching a CC that earns you the most points/status with that airline/alliance.

    • graceyym on 27/03/2024 - 21:09

      Yes, will be around Europe so many in-between flights is the plan. Thanks for that, appreciate it :)

  • sumyungguy on 27/03/2024 - 21:12

    Citibank Prestige has a $20K minimum credit limit; you'll need a decent level of cash flow to get approved, but otherwise seems a good deal for the lounge access assuming you're spending lots of time in airports.

  • Gdsamp on 27/03/2024 - 21:55

    HSBC Premier World Mastercard
    $0 annual fee
    $10k min limit
    Two (2) complimentary airport lounge passes each calendar year with Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass'
    Each lounge pass is admission for one person and can either be used by the primary cardholder or a guest

    • Wiadro on 28/03/2024 - 08:09

      This sounds like my CBA world debit card

      • Mr x on 01/04/2024 - 18:31

        Hey is it true you need to be referred, did you get referred?

        • Wiadro on 01/04/2024 - 18:41

          Nah I got invited.

  • dtc on 27/03/2024 - 22:00
    +1

    Probably only the Amex platinum beats the Citi, but the Amex is a lot more expensive (and has a 3% FX fee, so isn’t much use overseas). However you might be able to get a lot of the fee back through its other benefits (travel, dining, hotel memberships etc).

  • spackbace on 27/03/2024 - 22:02
    +1

    Receive: 275,000 Citibank Points (worth $1100 in vouchers)

    Or 137,500 velocity points

    Receive: 150,000 Altitude Points (worth $700 in vouchers)

    Or 50,000 velocity points

    Looking at just straight up voucher value is the worst value

  • scanuck on 27/03/2024 - 22:29

    These cards are not comparable in terms of lounge access

  • 6079 Smith on 27/03/2024 - 23:49
    +1

    I got the Citi Prestige in Nov after my US card removed priority pass access. The $700 is steep but in my case I’ll probably use it to get into 30 lounges with a guest this year so very worth it. I also transferred the points to VA during a 20% bonus promo

    Other perks are:
    - $10/ month Uber rebate after spending $40 (also works OS) so $120/year
    - 4th Night Free on Hotels (can be used 4 times a year) which can save you serious coin. We’ve used it twice for a total saving of $330
    - Free airport transfer up to $100 so probs saving $40/50 on an Uber if used strategically

    • 0FoxGiven on 28/03/2024 - 05:41

      Can't see the free airport transfer perk for that card. Did they take that perk off this year?

    • Castcore on 04/11/2024 - 17:59

      Have you gotten much use out of your priority pass this year?

      • 6079 Smith on 06/11/2024 - 08:42
        +1

        I’ve been on a round the world trip for the last 9 months so I’m at 48 visits (most of them with a guest). Going to make my 49th and final this arvo in MEL.

        Doing the maths it’s about $8 per visit per person assuming you get no other benefit from the card. They’ve devalued the free transfer and the 4th night free but I’ve probably got another $700 of value from the card.

  • Emphasise on 28/03/2024 - 08:47

    Have you had a look at the HSBC Star Alliance card?

    • $0 Annual fee in the first year
    • Star Alliance Gold Status for 1 year after $4000 spend in 90 days

    Lots of perks for being in gold, they have a big network for lounges to access. Take a look on the site to make sure they cover where you're going.

    • graceyym on 28/03/2024 - 10:31

      Is star alliance global lounges with food selections?

      • Emphasise on 28/03/2024 - 10:33

        Yeah they should all have food, they're typically on a higher tier than priority pass

    • Balthraka on 29/03/2024 - 12:44

      Am I right that the flight you're on would also have to be a Star Alliance flight to access?
      Or can I get my Gold Status, fly with a OneWorld airline but access Star lounges?

      • Emphasise on 29/03/2024 - 12:58

        From: https://www.pointhacks.com.au/star-alliance/

        How does Star Alliance work?
        When you fly on a Star Alliance airline, you can enjoy seamless connections with other Star Alliance airlines. If you have elite status with one airline, then your benefits are accepted across all member airlines as well – including perks such as lounge access.

        • Balthraka on 29/03/2024 - 20:03

          Hmmmm… Clear as mud. Haha.

          The card gives you star alliance gold status. Not single airline elite status.

          Very keen to work out whether having star alliance gold is enough to get you in the lounge or whether it requires gold plus a boarding pass from a star alliance airline.

          • Emphasise on 04/04/2024 - 14:49

            @Balthraka: Yeah you need to be on a flight with an airline that's under the star alliance program to get in them. E.g. You're flying with ANA, you can get into the air NZ lounge in Sydney.

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