Friday, August 30, 2013

booked the incorrect dates for airlines flight



I recently booked two return British Airways flights from Gatwick to Bordeaux so my wife and I could join my daughter on holiday there next summer. Immediately afterwards, my wife discovered we had booked the wrong dates.
The error was entirely ours. I logged back into the BA site and found I could change the flight dates to depart a week later using the booking manager. The times, flight numbers and prices were identical to the original ones but there was a fee of £120 to make the changes.
I thought this was a bit steep, but better than having to book new flights, so I went ahead. As I did so, a confirmation email came through for the original flights. This said: “Please check the details of the items purchased are correct. If you have made a mistake, you may cancel your flight booking and claim a refund without penalty, up to 24 hours from when you made the original booking. Refunds under these circumstances can only be requested by calling our contact centres.”
I phoned the call centre and explained what had happened. The agent said that as I had changed the flight details myself I was deemed to have accepted the flights and therefore she couldn’t cancel them for a refund. I said I was happy with the revised flights and didn’t want a refund, only a waiver of the £120 change fee. This request has fallen on deaf ears at BA. Is this fair?
Gill Charlton, consumer expert, replies
Like you, I didn’t realise that you could amend or cancel BA flights without penalty within 24 hours of making the reservation. It’s good to see an airline recognising that customers should not be penalised for making genuine mistakes in online reservations.
Unfortunately, in your rush to rectify your mistake, you made the amendments via the website and accepted the change fee, thus giving up your right to take advantage of the cooling-off period.
BA says that to make changes free of charge customers must telephone a contact centre. However, as a goodwill gesture, it is refunding the £120 fee.
The airline says that the 24-hour cooling-off period also applies to flights sold through agents. However, some agents have different timescales for amendments, requiring notification by the end of the business day; others refuse to allow any changes or cancellations once payment has been taken.
While most amendments must be made within 24 hours, an exception is made for those getting married and later realising they have booked flights in different names from those in their passports. In such cases, BA does not charge for the name change, though it will ask for documentary evidence.

booked wrong flight on easyjet



I recently made a flight booking with easyJet for my family of four to travel from Gatwick to Alicante for the October half-term. I have done this on many occasions over the past eight years as my parents have a home there.

Normally easyJet’s website remembers your previous booking history and brings up details of the travellers from the information already stored. It is all very easy - or so I thought.

Two days later, on checking the email confirmation, I noticed that the reservation details were incorrect. We were booked to travel out from Alicante and back from Gatwick. This was certainly not the reservation I had made. When I checked the “Where are You Going” tab on my computer, I found it still showed my stored preferences: outbound Gatwick, return Alicante. So how could this error have happened? To book Alicante-Gatwick return tickets I would have had to input new departure airports from the drop-down menu. I would have recalled doing this.

Another odd thing is that the confirmation shows the cost in sterling. I know that when you make a flight booking that originates from a European airport, the website’s default is to quote the cost in euros.



I contacted easyJet’s customer services desk where I was told that it must have been my mistake and that I would have to pay an additional £759.92 to rebook the correct flights. (The original flights cost a total of £418.68.) I work as a nurse and simply cannot afford to pay this amount.

I was so upset that I was put through to a supervisor. He told me that because nobody else had reported problems with the website on the day I made the reservation easyJet would not accept that it was a system error. He would only agree to refund £52 for the airport taxes. I have reluctantly accepted this but I am very upset about it (I have not dared tell the family yet). Can you help me?

Gill Charlton, consumer expert, replies
It is difficult to argue that you did not make the mistake yourself because airline booking systems are very robust in this respect. A screen shot of the final booking page can be a great help in situations like this. However, in your case, it does appear odd that your booking confirmation showed the cost of Alicante-Gatwick return flights in sterling. You would surely have remembered changing the default from euros to sterling.

I put this argument to easyJet. While the airline claims that it is nigh impossible for such a mistake to happen, it has now agreed - as a gesture of goodwill - to reimburse a total of £379.68 including taxes but excluding card charges and other fees. This will appear on the payment card used to make the booking.

The original offer of a taxes-only refund was because you notified the airline outside the 24-hour grace period for flight cancellations. If customers discover a mistake like this within 24 hours it is possible to obtain a fare refund. However, there is a cancellation charge of £30 per passenger and charges for payment cards and checked luggage are non-refundable. Do not despair of getting away in October. Prices may fall, especially on charter flights, so keep an eye on a price comparison site like skyscanner.net or kayak.co.uk.

Citi Dividend visa 5% Cashback offer

Apply for a Citi Dividend Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students


 you can earn 5% cash back on eligible purchases within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands, car rental agencies, movie theaters and theme parks from July 1, 2013, to September 30, 2013, upon enrollment.20% Intro APR on purchases for 7 months. After that, 13.99% – 23.99% variable based on your creditworthiness1each quarter on new must-have categories – like department stores, travel and more, upon enrollment.2
1% cash back cash back on all other purchases.



$0 Liability on unauthorized charges
No Annual Fee1
Online Services, including account management, online-only statements, account activity, and faster payments

citi aadvantage american express card review


If you apply for citi aadvantage card from American Airlines, you may have noticed that there is a non Visa-version. It’s officially called the Citi Select AAdvantage American Express.
Now most people generally think of AmEx as being cream of the crop. I’m not here to say my opinion one way or another on that, but the fact is this card is not issued by American Express. It merely operates over their payment network, that’s all.
The issuer of this card is still Citibank, who is also the issuer of the other AAdvantage cards.
So that brings us to the question… which one should you choose? Well compare and review them side-by-side… I think the choice is obvious.

 Citi® / AAdvantage®
American Express® Card
Citi® Gold / AAdvantage®
Visa Signature® Card
Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage®
Visa Signature® Card
TypeAmExVisa SignatureVisa Signature
Annual Fee$50$50$95
Get no blackout dates on award travelYesYesYes
25% savings on eligible in-flight purchasesYesYesYes
Chip and PIN (Signature) technologyNoYesYes
Free First Checked BagNoNoYes
Priority BoardingNoNoYes
Earn 10% of your redeemed miles back (up to 10k annually)NoNoYes

So basically, the AAdvantage American Express card is on par with the Gold Visa Signature. Both have a $50 annual fee and most of their benefits are the same.
The most noticeable difference between the two is that the Visa version has EMV chip and signature technology. Meanwhile the AmEx does not.
If Visa & AmEx are almost the same, why do they have both?
This is a question I get asked a lot about credit cards. You will often see banks with a card that’s available as both a Visa and MasterCard, or in this instance, a Visa and American Express.
While I don’t know specifically why Citibank offers an American Airlines AmEx, my guess is that it stems from the various antitrust settlements over the past few years.
You see previously, the major banks would only issue one type of card. To make a long story short, after various lawsuits and settlements, they agreed to each offer cards for the 3 biggest payment networks (Visa/MC/AmEx).
This is why you see Bank of America offering AmEx on a couple cards, which is quite ironic because BofA was actually the inventor of Visa!
The Winner of the 3 versions is…
… definitely the Platinum Visa. There are 3 major reasons why it’s the obvious choice:
1. First checked bag is free
You get this for yourself as well as up to four other passengers if they’re traveling under your same reservation. The AmEx and Visa Gold versions do not include this perk.
Given that just one checked bag normally costs $25 one way – $50 round trip – even if you just use this benefit once per year, it makes the extra $45 for the annual fee worth it.
2. Priority boarding privileges
You only get this on the Platinum. It allows you (and up to 4 people traveling under your same reservation) priority boarding with group 1 privileges on all American Airlines flights.
3. Better rewards
There are several aspects of the AAdvantage Platinum that are superior to the other two versions:
Double AAdvantage miles on American Airlines purchases.
Get 10% of your redeemed miles back – up to 10,000 miles per calendar year.
$100 flight discount awarded each year you make at least $30k in purchases and renew your card.


Citi ThankYou Premier free Companion Ticket review


 Citi ThankYou Premier Companion Ticket
Pros
Earn frequent flyer miles for both primary cardholder's flight and companion flight
Authorized user on the credit card also eligible for companion ticket
Able to upgrade with miles and upgrade certificates, depending on fare class

Cons
Companion ticket only works with paid ticket
Domestic travel only (can book international travel with the Citi Thank You Prestige Card)
Coach travel only
Must book with Spirit Incentives, where fares generally 15%-35% more expensive
Delta flights currently not available online; must call to book

citi thankyou premier companion airfare travel benefit is entitled to receive one free companion airfare each year (12 month renewal period) with the purchase of a like published fare coach class ticket from Spirit Incentives. One of the travelers must be the primary registered Citi Thankyou® Premier cardmember.

 To qualify for the complimentary companion airfare ticket,economy class airfare ticket must be purchased at the published fare from Spirit Incentives

all itineraries must be identical, a minimum 4 days advance purchase, roundtrip, one way, or multiple destination tickets. Multiple destination itinerary provide for two flights (departure and return) similar to round trip itinerary, however the return flight can be from a city other than the arrival city on the departure. Open tickets, open returns, open jaws, prepaid tickets, circle trips or stopovers are not permitted. Spirit Incentives will offer all the available scheduled jet or commuter service airline and routing made available by the global distribution system (GDS) utilized by Spirit Incentives and may not be able honor requests for specific airports, airlines, flight times or routings. Code share flights do not apply.

 you must contact Spirit Incentives at least 72 hours prior to your scheduled departure to cancel and rebook.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

best travel credit card in singapore


As people take to the skies more often, demand for credit cards targeting singapore travellers has surged accordingly.

Many people are drawn to these cards by the various perks dangled by banks and credit card firms to entice those bitten by the travel bug. These cards are also targeted at different customer segments.
 below are some of the best travel rewards credit card in singapore


 the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card, which was launched last Tuesday, targets regular fliers on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir.

Cardholders can earn one KrisFlyer mile for every $1.20 spent on eligible purchases. KrisFlyer miles can be redeemed for free tickets or free upgrades on the two carriers and their partner airlines.



Some banks target their credit cards at travellers who are looking to maximise their travel rewards from both overseas and local transactions.

One such card is the OCBC Titanium MasterCard, launched in 2004, which has one of the most generous air miles schemes.

OCBC Bank's head of core cards and unsecured lending, Ms Wong Chung Yee, said the card caters to the "increasing number of people opting for free and easy travel" and who tend to do their own online hotel bookings.

Besides earning 2.5 miles for every foreign dollar spent, Titanium cardholders can earn 2.5 miles for every $1 spent at popular local nightspots such as Mink and Butter Factory.

Also competing in the air miles department is the UOB PRVI Miles Platinum American Express Card, which offers 2.5 miles for every $1 spent. As an added incentive, cardholders who accumulate their purchases on the card can earn an additional 20,000 bonus miles if they spend more than $50,000 per year, said United Overseas Bank's Gan Ai Im, managing director of cards and payments.

Maybank adopts a different approach, aiming to help cardholders save on administrative charges.

Its Horizon Platinum Visa Card lets cardholders enrol for free in the Maybank Frequent Flyer Programme, and enjoy fee waiver for conversion of points to air miles.

Frequent travellers to Australia and New Zealand can consider the ANZ Travel Visa Signature Card.

ANZ launched a promotion for the card in April whereby every $1 spent on direct flight bookings with airlines or purchases in Australia and New Zealand can earn cardholders 2.8 miles.

ANZ Singapore's head of retail banking Philip Lim said: "As air travel becomes increasingly affordable and accessible in recent years, we notice that Singaporeans are travelling overseas more frequently for both leisure and business... a significant portion of Singaporean travellers begin to value air miles and travel-related privileges and rewards."

One common gripe of travellers with air miles on their credit cards is that these miles expire after a certain period of time, but there are several cards that are more generous in this area.

Among them are the DBS Altitude American Express Card and the DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card, which have no expiry for points accumulated and, as an added incentive, 10,000 bonus miles are awarded when the annual fee is paid.

Similarly, there are no expiry and no cap on miles earned on the Citi PremierMiles card, which awards 1.2 miles for every $1 spent.

The number of Citi PremierMiles card members has grown 20 per cent year-on-year since its launch in July 2007, said Ms Jacquelyn Tan, Citibank Singapore's head of credit payment products.

rewards cards that allow you to redeem points with multiple airlines


Many credit cards let you earn travel rewards. The ones I like best give you more flexibility in your choice of rewards. These cards allow you to accrue points then redeem them with multiple airlines, so you have more options when it comes time to cash in points or miles.

One of my favorite programs is American Express Membership Rewards with the Platinum Card. With Membership Rewards, you can pay for all or part of your tickets with points by booking through American Express Travel, so you can fly with almost any airline.

You can also pay with points when booking hotels, vacation packages and cruises.

You also have the option of transferring your points into your frequent-flier program with some airlines.

I have an American Express Platinum Card, and while the annual fee of $450 is not cheap, the benefits are worth it for me. You can get entrance into the airport clubs of American, Delta and US Airways, plus membership in Priority Pass, which offers entrance to more than 600 lounges worldwide.

The airport club memberships cost between $450 and $500 per club, so this benefit has a value of close to $1,500 for the three airline clubs.

You’ll also get a $200 annual credit for airline fees. You can also get a buy-one, get-one-free in business class on some international routes. Those fares are a big chunk of change, but can be well worth it for a business traveler who purchases business-class fares.

If you have a secondary card for a spouse, the spouse can also get free entrance into the American, Delta and US Airways airport clubs. The secondary card costs $175 per year, but membership for these three clubs would cost close to $2,500 for both of you.

American Express also offers other cards like the Green Card, which has a cheaper annual fee of $95 that is waived for the first year.

You still earn one point per dollar spent on most purchases, but you do not get all of the perks that come with the Platinum card. The two American Express cards mentioned above are charge cards, not credit cards, so they must be paid in full each month.

American Express was the pioneer on points that can be used with multiple airlines. Now other cards have come along with similar structures. Capital One, Chase Sapphire and BankAmericard Travel Rewards have lower annual fees and fewer perks. One nice thing about these four cards is that they don’t charge foreign transaction fees.

If you’ve got good credit, you can get the Capital One Venture Rewards card, which gives you two miles per dollar spent.

You can redeem miles for travel on any airline, miles don’t expire and you don’t have to worry about blackout dates. The annual fee is $59 and is waived for the first year. Visit capitalone.com.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a very nice sign-up bonus of 40,000 points when you spend at least $3,000 in the first three months. This is worth about $500 in airfare. You earn two points per dollar spent on travel and dining and one point on other purchases. You’ll save 20 percent off travel when you redeem points for airfare, hotel, car rentals and cruises with the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.

You’ll also receive a 7 percent dividend at the end of the year. The annual fee is $95 and is waived for the first year. Visit creditcards.chase.com/sapphire.

BankAmericard Travel Rewards offers 1.5 points per dollar spent on everything, and it has no annual fee. You’ll earn a bonus of 10,000 points if you spend at least $500 in the first 90 days.

You can book travel however you choose, then visit the Travel Rewards website to redeem points for a statement credit on your account. You can even pay for your baggage fees. Visit bankofamerica.com/travelrewards.

What I like about these programs is that it can be much easier to get award travel. If you’ve ever tried to book a frequent-flier seat, it can be difficult to find seats for 25,000 points or miles and it could cost you 50,000 points or miles for a coach-class ticket.

With the programs above, you don’t have blackout dates, and if the airfare is available for $250, it won’t cost me more than 25,000 points.


citi simplicity card has higher interest rates After 18 month


Citi bank has a new card, called "Simplicity", which it thinks has terms that will attract a lot of new customers. On the surface, the new citi simplicity card looks great, but in my opinion there are much better options out there.

The card will have no annual fees, no interest on purchases and transfers for 18 months, and no late fees. This all sounds great, but the good times will only last you for 18 months.

After the 18 month period is over, the interest rate on the cards will be less competitive than other cards out there, running somewhere between 13 percent and 22 percent depending on your credit score.

Another big disadvantage to the card is that there is no reward program attached. Consumers that do not take advantage of reward programs are giving away free money. Some reward programs are worthless, but there are some great reward programs out there that offer everything from cash back to airline miles.

The not-having late fees is nice, but if that is the main selling point for you, you probably shouldn't be getting another credit card in the first place.

In an ideal world, we could all pay off our total balance every month, but this is not an ideal world. Things come up, and there is nothing wrong with carrying a balance as long as you make payments each month. But these are not the type of people that Citi wants to target with these cards. It wants people that charge a lot, and then pay their minimum payments each month.

Citi is banking on finding customers that will be carrying a big balance when their 18 month introductory period ends, and then the above average interest rates will more than make up for the interest it didn't charge during the first 18 months.

Citibank claims that the new offering is designed to help people responsibly manage their finances, but I believe it is really an attempt to lure in people to carry bigger balances. The recent recession resulted in better card management by consumers, and this has had a negative impact on credit-card revenues at banks. Citi's card operations have experienced a three percent drop in revenues over the last six months, and I believe it is hoping this new card will help change that trend.

Lured in by the 0% interest rate on purchases, people are much more likely to run up big balances, and then get left facing the high interest rates down the road when their balances are too high to pay off.

The best way to take advantage of this offer would be to use the card for 18 months, and then transfer your balance to a lower interest rate card after your introductory period ends. There are much better offers out there, so be aware of them before you carry a high balance at a high interest rate.

Citi Dividend Card For College Students review


The Citi Dividend Card for College Students is one of the best student cards offering cash rewards when you spend on the card. This Citi student card gives you bonus cash back on certain eligible purchases and 1% cash back for all the other purchases you make with your card.

Unlike a debit card, student credit cards can help you establish a credit history, and if you make purchases with it and pay your bills on time, you would build a good credit score over time, which is important when you find employment in the future or apply for loans.

Here is a detailed review of the Citi Dividend Card for College Students, highlighting the pros and cons of this student credit card and how it best benefits you.

Things We Like About This Card

No annual fee. Get cash rebates in return for your spending without paying any annual fee with this Citi Dividend Card for College Students.

0% introductory rate on purchases for 7 months. After the introductory period, the APR for purchases will be variable, between 13.99% and 23.99%, depending on your creditworthiness. You pay no interest if you make full payments every month.

Get bonus cash back from Citi on eligible purchases when you purchase in select categories such as travel, department stores and so on, with enrollment. For all other purchases you will earn 1% of what you spend.

Your rebates are earned as “Dividend Dollars”, which are payable in checks of $50 increments upon request.

Your Dividend Dollars don’t expire, as long as you have qualifying purchase activity at least once every 12 months unless the Citi Dividend Card Reward Program is terminated. This allows you to accumulate and redeem your rebates whenever you want.

No cosigner required if you have good enough credit.


Citi Photocard option. If you wish, you can have your photo and signature at the front of your credit card. What a great way of identifying yourself! It also makes it more difficult for someone else to use your card in person if your card gets stolen.

Fraud and security protection services as well as identity theft solutions, emergency cash replacement and lost or stolen card reporting.

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver. If you rent a car with your Citi card and damage the car in an accident or if it gets stolen, don’t worry about the cost since you will be covered automatically.

Retail Purchase Protection. This plan will protect you against any accidental damage or the theft of eligible purchases for up to 90 days from the date of purchase. This benefit is very useful for when you purchase expensive items like a laptop.

Free extended warranty. Citi will extend the original U.S. warranty (of one year or less) of the items you purchase by up to one year.


Our Least Favorite Things About This Card

Yearly rebate limit, that only allows you to earn a maximum of $300 in rebates per year. The good thing is that this rebate limit doesn’t apply to the rebates earned on purchases through the online Citi Bonus Cash Center which are unlimited. There’s also no limit on the Dividend Dollars that you are also eligible to earn when making balance transfers.

Citi ThankYou Cards Offering sports, dining and family experiences


Today Citi unveiled a series of music, sports, dining, comedy, theater and family experiences exclusively for Citi ThankYou cardmembers. As part of the new entertainment benefits of Citi ThankYou, Citi designed this special events lineup based on the interests of ThankYou cardmembers. Ranging from youth sports clinics to intimate culinary events, comedy shows and VIP concert access, these experiences are another example of how Citi is delivering more access to entertainment. Tickets to each special event can only be purchased with a Citi ThankYou card.

More Rewarding Entertainment for Citi ThankYou Cardmembers

The Citi ThankYou Preferred card now offers twice as many ThankYou Points for each dollar spent on both dining out and entertainment at no annual fee. ThankYou Points can be redeemed for a wide variety of rewards on thankyou.com like electronics and digital music downloads, and concert tickets on LiveNation.com. In addition, the Citi Private Pass entertainment access program offers Citi credit and Citibank debit card customers access to thousands of events including preferred seating, early access, VIP experiences, complimentary tickets and more.

"Our Citi Private Pass program rewards cardmembers by giving them more access to the entertainment they love and want, with thousands of events each year," said Jennifer Breithaupt, SVP of Entertainment Marketing, Citi Cards. "We're excited to introduce experiences curated exclusively for our Citi ThankYou cardmembers that give them special access to some of the best talent in music, sports, culinary, comedy and more."

Citi is offering ThankYou cardmembers a variety of experiences for the entire family, including clinics where young sports fans can learn skills and sportsmanship from professional baseball, football and basketball players.

"Experiencing the energy and pure love for the game that young players bring to the field is always fun, and I'm looking forward to being out there, at Citi Field, and teaching the kids some of the fundamentals of the game," said award-winning baseball slugger David Wright.

Added two-time championship MVP quarterback Eli Manning, "Growing up, football was a big part of our lives and brought not just fun and friendships, but an appreciation of sportsmanship on and off the field. It's always great to expose kids to the game at an early age, and I am happy to be working with Citi at their clinic for young football fans."

Experiences also include unique opportunities for cardmembers to enjoy popular music live.

"I love introducing new music to my fans in an intimate setting," said country music star Luke Bryan. "I'm really proud to work with Citi to create unique experiences for my fans."

Citi ThankYou Cardmember Event Lineup

A preliminary list of experiences to be offered to ThankYou cardmembers starting in August through December 2013 is below; additional events will be announced this fall in select major U.S. cities. Tickets are available exclusively for purchase with a Citi ThankYou, Citi ThankYou Preferred, Citi ThankYou Premier or Citi Prestige card. More information on upcoming events and how to purchase tickets can be found at www.citi.com/thankyoucards. Space is limited and tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Comedy

-- New York Comedy Festival: New York (November 6-10)

Family

-- Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic VIP Experience: Chicago (September 13)

Music

-- Josh Groban VIP Experience: Chicago (October 20)

-- Austin Mahone Exclusive Pre-Show Experience and Concert Access: New York (October 24, 2013)

-- Luke Bryan VIP Experiences: New York/New Jersey Metro Area (August 24) and West Palm Beach, Fla. (October 26)

Sports

-- Youth Baseball Clinic with David Wright at Citi Field: New York (August 29)

-- Matt Forte Football Watch Party: Chicago (October 13)

-- Jerry Rice Youth Clinic: San Francisco (November 2)

-- Rob Gronkowski Youth Camp: Boston (November 10)

-- Mariano Rivera Youth Clinic: New York Metro Area (November 16)

-- Eli Manning Football Youth Clinic: New York/New Jersey Metro Area (Fall 2013 - Date to be Announced)

-- Yasiel Puig Youth Baseball Clinic: Los Angeles Metro Market (Fall 2013 - Date to be Announced)

Theatre

-- Motown the Musical VIP Experience: New York (December 5)

New Citi ThankYou Preferred Benefits

Citi ThankYou Preferred card is designed for people who love earning points for doing the things they enjoy. New and existing Citi ThankYou Preferred cardmembers can now earn two points for every dollar spent on dining at restaurants and entertainment: from their favorite coffee shop to fine dining, music downloads and movie rentals, to concert and sports tickets, museum admission and more. ThankYou Preferred cardmembers will continue to earn one point for every dollar spent on other purchases, with no annual fee. There is no limit to the amount of ThankYou Points cardmembers can earn for purchases, and their points do not expire. More information including how apply for a Citi ThankYou Preferred card is available at www.citi.com/thankyoucards.

Monday, August 12, 2013

amex Centurion free first-class upgrades

American Express Centurion
 Annual fee: $2,500
 When it launched in 1999, American Express’s Centurion card, made from titanium, essentially defined the premium card category, and it’s still the most exclusive card out there. Cardholders pay a one-time $5,000 joining fee and $2,500 annually.

 They also must spend at least $250,000 annually on an Amex Platinum or Gold card. Michael Dolen, founder and CEO of CreditCardForum.com, says the Centurion isn’t that much better than the Amex Platinum Card, which gives you many of the same benefits for only a $450 annual fee. What you can’t get with the Platinum card, however, is elite status on Delta and US Airways. That means Centurion holders are eligible for free first-class upgrades on those airlines when flying domestically – and when space is available, says Brian Kelly, of ThePointsGuy.com.

One of the plushest perks for Centurion holders is access to the Centurion Lounge, which opened in Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport in February. All Amex cardmembers can purchase one-day access to the lounge for $50; Centurion cardholders get in free. The lounge’s amenities include a shower suite, family room, gourmet buffet and computer bar.

Citibank increased platinum card applications in Malaysia


Citibank increased conversions by 42 percent in a recent retargeting campaign to generate new platinum card applications in Malaysia, which used DG Mediamind's creative optimization tool.
The ad management firm uses Smart Versioning technology, which allows marketers to manage multiple creative ad banners and serve up targeted messaging to specific audiences.
Nicholas Goh, associate director from MEC Malaysia, says the Citibank campaign has combined retargeting with DG's feature to optimize more than 80 banners based on user behavior to drive better conversions.
Citibank's direct response campaign started early this year to promote its new Reward Platinum credit card to online users in Malaysia.
MEC and Splash Interactive had to develop workflow, retargeting sequence, and strategy for the three-month long campaign that was executed in two phases.
In the first six weeks, consumers were exposed to banners from various categories such as dining, travel, and entertainment, which featured different creatives and messages.
For instance, if a user clicked on a travel-related banner but did not convert, she would be retargeted with another travel ad in subsequent impressions.
In the second phase, the team conducted a mid-campaign analysis to retarget users that have signed up for the platinum cards.
Post-conversion banners were served on the bank's website to communicate other benefits, reward points, and rebates for the card.
As a result, DG said the campaign attracted 42 percent more requests for credit card applications compared to a previous retargeting campaign that did not include a behavioral component.
The ad management firm also claimed that overall production time was reduced as creative agency Splash only took three days to produce 87 banner versions using an Excel feature from its tool.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

thailand Citibank Cash Back Platinum


Earn 1% cash back on any spend, locally & overseas.

Receive 1% Cash Rebate when spend at Shell gas stations in thailand for every 800 Baht/sales slip. (Max. 1,600 Baht/ sales slip & 4,800 Baht/month). Register by send SMS – Type Gas followed by space and xxxx following by last 12 digits of credit card. Send to 4712333. (Now - 31 Dec 2013)

Free Annual Fee when spend over 60,000 Baht/ year.

Free 24-Hour personal assistance service

24-Hour Free Roadside assistance service. (2 times / year and 500 baht / time)
Get the best promotion offer when apply via Citibank Online.
Receive 500 Baht cash back credited into your account after spend 5,000 Baht within 30 days after card approval.
Receive additional 500 Baht cash back upon 5,000 Baht transaction within 30 days after card issuance and upon applying for e-statement.
Simply register via SMS by type Cash followed by space and followed by last 12 digits of card number. Send to 4712333 (3 Baht/ SMS) and will receive the reply message.

Travel Insurance coverage of 200,000 USD when purchase the ticket with Citibank Cash Back Credit Card.
200 USD insurance coverage for flight or luggage delay.
700 USD insurance coverage for lost luggage.
Coverage Limitation or condition will be descriptive and is part of the Master Policy done by
Jardine Lloyd Thompson Co.,Ltd.
29th Fl., Vanit Building 2,
1126/2 New Petchburi Rd.,
Makkasan, Rachthevee,
Bangkok 10400.
Tel 0-2626-2507.

Thai Citibank Royal Orchid Plus Select card review


Earn miles faster with every spend on Thai Airways Citibank Royal Orchid Plus Select. Earn 1 point to redeem 1 mile. Mileage can be redeemed for free air tickets or class upgrade with Thai Airways

Get triple points when purchase Thai Airways ticket from Citibank Travel Service*

Free Airport Lounge access at Royal Silk Lounge twice a year at Suvarnabhumi airport (calendar year, TG boarding pass must be presented)

Enjoy conditional fee waive if spend at least 300,000 Baht/annum.

Free Roadside Assistance and Home Assistance and 24 hr. Secretarial Assistance

Travel Insurance with coverage of Baht 25,000,000

Travel Accident Insurance coverage of Baht 25,000,000 when paying travel fares via the card
Flight or luggage Delay coverage of Baht 20,000
Luggage lost coverage of Baht 50,000
Purchase Protection Plan up to Bht 400,000/time or 120,000 Bht/piece when the goods you purchase via the card are lost, or damaged within 30 days after purchase.

Simply click to redeem gift of your choice, 24 hours at www.citirewards.com
Convenient and quick way of Citi Rewards redemption Citibank Select Dedicated Line 0-2232-2333

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

no annual fee Choice Privileges Visa card


Get the ONLY credit card that earns Choice Privileges points - the new no annual fee Choice Privileges1 Visa Signature® card

Earn up to 4 free nights at more than 1,500 Choice Privileges locations after your first purchase3 and your first paid stay at a Choice Hotels brand property4 in the U.S.

Choice Privileges members will earn 8,000 points after the first use of their new Choice Privileges Visa Signature card for a purchase or balance transfer
 Choice Privileges members will earn an additional 24,000 points after their first paid stay with their new Choice Privileges Visa Signature card at a Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, Ascend Hotel Collection™, Cambria Suites®, MainStay Suites®, Suburban Extended Stay®, Econo Lodge® or Rodeway Inn® hotel in the U.S. Limited time offer.

Go for FREE more often by earning:
15 points per eligible $1 spent at over 4,200 Choice Privileges locations*
5 points per eligible $1 on additional Choice Privileges points
or Choice Hotels gift card purchases*
2 points per eligible $1 spent on everyday purchases*
Cardmembers will get Automatic Elite Gold Status, which offers*:
Ability to book free nights 50 days in advance instead of 30 days
Every time you earn points for eligible stays, Choice Privileges gives you a 10% point bonus

Monday, June 17, 2013

Choice Privileges $50 gift card promotion



Register now and earn a $50 gift card for participating dining, shopping, or gas retailers when you take two separate stay at  between May 23 and August 21, 2013.* You can  earn an unlimited amount of gift cards during the promotion  Choice Privileges Elite Diamond and Elite Platinum members can book directly with a hotel; however, if they book through ChoiceHotels.com these members will receive 100 additional Choice Privileges points with every qualifying stay.
Trips at Econo Lodge®, Rodeway Inn®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel®, or MainStay Suites® hotels must be a minimum of two consecutive nights

 Promotional Gift Card Options
U.S. Resident Options
Amazon.com
BP
Bahama Breeze
Chevron/Texaco
Chili’s
Exxon/Mobile
LongHorn
Macaroni Grill
Macy’s
Maggiano’s
Olive Garden
On The Border
Red Lobster
Seasons 52
Shell
Sunoco

Canada Resident Options
Canadian Tire
Esso
FutureShop
The Gap
Harvey’s
Kelsey’s
Milestones Restaurant
Montana’s Cookhouse
Petro Canada Gift Card
St- Hubert
Swiss Chalet


Earn points Refer a friend to Choice Privileges


referring your friends to join Choice Privileges!
so why not tell your friends and family and let them enjoy Choice Privileges membership as well?

Here's how it works:
Enter the first name and e-mail address of anyone you'd like to refer and click the submit button.
An e-mail will be automatically sent to your friend(s) on your behalf telling them about the benefits of Choice Privileges and how to join the program.
Each time one of your referred friends joins and completes their first point-eligible stay, 500 points will be added to your account.*
Your friend will receive 500 points upon completion of their first eligible stay.

Points will post within 72 hours of the referred friend completing their first eligible stay.  Allow 20 days after check-out for hotels in Europe, the Middle East, Mexico, Central America, Australasia and the Caribbean for points to post to your account.

hotel club velocity offer 3 Points per $1 spent


When booking with velocity rewards online accommodation partner HotelClub*, Velocity members earn 3 Points per $1 spent, per Qualifying Stay. Silver, Gold and Platinum members earn a Points bonus on top of the base Points earned.
earn 3 Points per $1 spent
With more than 70,000 hotels in over 140 countries, it's easy to find a hotel, apartment, resort or inn to suit your taste and budget.

amex KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card lounge access

American Express and Singapore Airlines are pleased to present our fourth co-brand card in Singapore, the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card. Ascend aims to satisfy today’s savvy travellers’ appetite for unforgettable experiences through a range of lifestyle and travel benefits. Ascend Cardmembers can earn double KrisFlyer miles when making purchases on singaporeair.com, KrisShop and Tradewinds Tours & Travel. To make journeys more comfortable and stress-free, Ascend Cardmembers enjoy free lounge access four times each year to participating SATS Premium Lounges in Singapore as well as all Plaza Premium Lounges around the world. The travel journey is further enhanced with a complimentary night’s stay per year in any of the over 80 participating Millennium Hotels and Resorts properties located worldwide.Receive 5,000 bonus KrisFlyer miles upon first credit card spend. Ascend Cardmembers earn 1 KrisFlyer miles for every S$1.20 spent and for every S$500 spent above S$1,000 each month, there is a bonus of 300 KrisFlyer miles.

Transfer australia citibank points to airline miles


Transfer points to citibank australia's leading airline partner and travel reward programs:
Velocity Frequent Flyer, the frequent flyer program of Virgin Australia

1.5 Citi Rewards points = 1 Velocity Point for Citibank Signature, Select  and CitiBusiness credit cards
2 Citi Rewards points = 1 Velocity Point for Citibank Silver, Gold, Classic and Platinum credit cards

 redemptions must be in multiples of 15,000 Citibank reward points
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program

You can now convert your CitiDollars, CitiMiles, PremierMiles or Citibank Reward Points at a competitive rate to KrisFlyer miles
1.5 Citibank reward points = 1 KrisFlyer mile, redemptions must be in minimum of 15,000 Citibank reward points
Asia Miles™,



2 Citibank reward points = 1 Asia Mile, redemptions must be in multiples of 5,000 Citibank reward points

Australia Citibank Select Card 60000 bonus points


Experience the luxury of Citibank Australia Select Credit Card, If you earn above $120,000, the Citibank Select Credit Card is for you.

Apply by 20 November 2013 and receive a signup bonus 60,000 reward points1 in the rewards program of your choice when you first spend on your card. Plus enjoy a free bottle of award winning wine every time you dine and use your card to pay at partner restaurants, with the Citibank Dining Program

You can choose either the Citibank Rewards Program or Citibank Qantas Rewards Program2 for your Select Credit Card and receive these benefits below.
Citibank Rewards Program benefits for Select:
60,000 bonus Citibank reward points1 when you first spend on your card
Earn 2 points per $1 spent, plus the benefits of unlimited points with no expiry4
Earn 5 points per $1 spent on eligible international purchases including online shopping on international websites4
Unlimited airport lounge access for you and a guest with Priority Pass™ membership5
A complimentary bottle of wine when you dine at partner restaurants with the Citibank Dining Program and use your card to pay6
One complimentary hotel stay7 per year from a selection of over 50 premium hotels worldwide, booked through Citibank Travel Program
Unlimited complimentary airport transfers8, when you book your international business or first class flights through the Citibank Travel Program
Extensive travel rewards; access an expanded range of airline and hotel partners9, or use our online booking service to secure great deals on flights and accommodation and pay with your points - the choice is yours
A $500 Freestyle Collection Gift Card10 to use when you book your luxury getaway worth over $10,000 with the Citibank Travel Program.
Citibank Qantas Rewards Program benefits for Select:
60,000 bonus Qantas Frequent Flyer points1 when you first spend on your card
Earn 1 Qantas Frequent Flyer point per $1 of eligible spend on purchases, and an extra point per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services2
Redeem your Qantas Frequent Flyer points for Classic Award flights on Qantas, Jetstar and participating partner airlines, or for products, experiences and vouchers from the online Qantas Frequent Flyer Store11
Unlimited airport lounge access for you and a guest with Priority Pass™ membership5
An annual Citibank Qantas Rewards fee of $49 applies (in addition to the annual card fee of $700).

Citibank card privileges at SwissĂ´tel


Special privileges Citibank card members at SwissĂ´tel worldwide hotels and resorts
SwissĂ´telHotels & Resorts is an award winning and distinctive group of deluxe hotels for today's discerning business and leisure traveller, combining the renowned Swiss hospitality with fresh, contemporary design.

Citibank card members Stay at any SwissĂ´tel and enjoy

• Complimentary daily breakfast for two
• Complimentary in-room internet access

Citibank card privileges with Fairmont President’s Club


Exclusive privileges with Fairmont President’s Club
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ distinctive hotels offer a sense of heritage and sophistication, warm, engaging service and culturally rich experiences.

Fairmont President’s Club (FPC), Fairmont’s guest recognition programme, provides frequent guests of the luxury hotel brand with an enhanced level of service, and special benefits and privileges during their stay.

Exclusively for Citibank card members, sign up as a Fairmont President’s Club Member and enjoy:
• 10% off Best Available Rate
• 10% savings on Willow Stream Spa treatments and products
• Complimentary in-room internet access
• Private reception desk, offering check-in and check-out

Sunday, June 16, 2013

enjoy the benefits of GFF lifetime Platinum

Great news for GFF Platinum members, as you now can enjoy the benefits of GFF lifetime Platinum membership without going through through the annual evaluation process. 

As our appreciation of your loyalty to Garuda Indonesia, we present a new product exclusively for you, the GFF Lifetime Platinum. You can get GFF Lifetime Platinum membership if you maintain your GFF Platinum membership for 10 consecutive years.
Fly with Garuda Indonesia and continue to maintain your GFF Platinum membership for 10 years in a row, and then enjoy all the convenience and privileges of GFF Platinum for a lifetime.

Premium Check in Service in Soekarno-Hatta Airport


  GFF Platinum members or any GFF members with an Executive Class ticket can now enjoy premium check-in service in Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

For GFF Platinum members, our officers will greet and serve you during check-in process, and then escort you to the Garuda Indonesia Executive Lounge.

garuda GFF gold card benefits


Once you have attained garuda indonesia GFF Gold status, you will enjoy access to all garuda indonesia Domestic Airport Lounges, an extra 15 kg baggage allowance, Executive Class check-in at all Garuda Indonesia desks. What's more, you will continue to receive all of the privileges that you have enjoyed as a Silver member.
Gold membership benefit (Minimum 30.000 tier miles or 30 sectors)
Earning Miles
Spending Miles for Award Ticket
Transferring Award Ticket
Spending Miles for Upgrade Award
Transferring Upgrade Award
Dedicated check-in counter at Soekarno-Hatta airport
Executive Class check-in counter
Domestic Airport Lounge plus 1 guest for international flight
15 kg Free excess baggage
Tier bonus 25%
Tier Miles Percentage
Baggage handling priority
Priority waitlist on reservation*
Luggage Tag

Garuda BNI Visa Platinum Credit Card


Experience the advantage of Garuda BNI Credit Card especially for you, our valued customer. Enjoy various benefits such as 3 types of GFF Mileage Bonus, 5% Discount Redemption Ticket, Fast Track to GFF Gold, and even BNI Executive Lounge Access. Get your GARUDA BNI Credit Card now! Contact BNI Call at 500046 or (021) 500046 from mobile phone
Benefit of Garuda BNI Visa Platinum Credit Card
Get 1 GFF Miles reward every spending of Rp 10,000,-
200 GFF Miles Enrollment Bonus
2,000 GFF Miles Activation Bonus
1,000 GFF Miles Loyalty Bonus
Fast Track Upgrade to GFF Gold
5% Discount Ticket Redemption
Travel Accident Insurance
BNI Domestic Airport Executive Lounge for Cardholder


Activation bonus will be given once your mileage from transaction has reached first 250 GFF Miles
Loyalty Bonus will be given each year at card renewal for active cardholder
Fast Track Upgrade to GFF Gold will be given for cardholder who spent minimum Rp 8,000,000,- each month for first 5 month of credit card membership

garuda citibank card signup bonus miles

  Enjoy our special privilege of Garuda Indonesia Citibank Card just for you. Whether you are a business traveler, frequent leisure flyer, or just a vacation traveler; receive DOUBLE GFF miles for every transaction. Redeem your miles for a FREE FLIGHT of Garuda Indonesia EVEN FASTER!
Benefit of Garuda Indonesia Citibank Card Membership
Free 2500 GFF miles signup bonus 
Double GFF miles for every transaction
20 kg Free excess baggage

Free access for 2 persons at Citibank Lounge
Save 5% for ticket purchase at Garuda Indonesia ticketing office
Spending & transfer miles for award & upgrade ticket
Executive Class check-in counter
Dedicated check-in counter at Soekarno-Hatta Airport
Priority baggage handling
Priority waitlist on reservation**
Luggage tag
And other Citibank Credit Card privileges

Saturday, June 15, 2013

get garuda GFF Silver and bonus miles with BCA Platinum Card


  • By having BCA Card Platinum, if you are not yet a GFF member or you are a GFF Blue member, now you can enjoy a fast track to garuda-indonesia GFF Silver Membership & get 1,000 Miles Bonus. To immediately have this promotion, redeem a minimum Rp 100,000,- of your Reward BCA!
  • Don’t miss garuda-indonesia frequent flyers  amazing redemption program! Redeem your Reward BCA for Double GFF Mileage (for every Rp. 10.000,- Reward BCA, you can earn 200 GFF Miles), and make it even faster for you to redeem your accumulated miles with award tickets, class upgrades, travel packages and many more!

Jakarta to Guangzhou with Garuda A330-200


Starting from December 1, 2012, Garuda Indonesia is providing a more comfortable flight from Jakarta to Guangzhou with a bigger fleet, Airbus A330-200. The aircraft is equipped with flat-bed seat in Executive Class and personal Audio and Video on Demand equipment on all classes to provide the extra comfort on your flight. Make your reservation by contacting our 24 hour Call Center, sales office, or travel agents.
flight number GA898 GA899

Garuda Indonesia special fares at night sale



Stay awake & contact Garuda Indonesia Center at (021) 2351-9999, get Garuda Indonesia's special offers.

Book your flight between 06.00pm - 04.00am 1 January to 31 Mei 2013 from Monday to Friday and get a special offer fares from Garuda Indonesia wide selection of domestic routes.

This program is valid only for the purchase of ticket with travel period 28 January to 31 December 2013.

Garuda Indonesia WEEKEND PROMO discounted fares


Get special fares, Call us this weekend
Book your flight between 00:00 Saturday and 23:59 Sunday to enjoy specially discounted fares from Garuda Indonesia on a wide selection of domestic route flights. Travel period: 16 March - 31 December 2013.


Brighten your day off. Take off with Garuda Indonesia on our WEEKEND PROMO special fares.

Travel to a wide range of domestic destinations from 16 March to 31 December 2013.

Call 0804 1 807 807 to book your flight. Our lines are open from 00:00 Saturday to 23:59 Sunday.

Save 15% with indonesia citibank credit card for airlines tickets


  1. Save 15% with indonesia citibank credit card for airlines tickets
  2. Exclusive for Citibank Ultima, Platinum, Gold , Citi Rewards and Telkomsel.
  3. Save up to 15% with Citi Rewards Points only valid for ticket fare , not inclusive surcharge or other tax involved.
  4. Maximal redemption is up to 15% and depends on points availability in each card per transaction. 
  5. Only valid at www.garuda-indonesia.com

Brisbane to Denpasar or Jakarta on Garuda Indonesia


Garuda Indonesia is delighted to offer you new round trip flights from Brisbane to Denpasar or Jakarta. Book your tickets at garuda-indonesia.com, your nearest Garuda Indonesia Sales Office or Travel Agent. Our Call Center is available to assist you round-the-clock at 0804 1 807 807 or +6221 2351 9999.

Brisbane - Jakarta
Economy Class (Return)
Start from 
AUD 883.90
Brisbane - Denpasar
Economy Class (Return)
Start from
AUD 727.52



Term and Conditions :

Date of Issue:Until 30 Juni 2013
Date of Travel:Effective  1 Aug 2013 – 20 Sep 2013
Max Stay:From Jakarta : 14 days
From Denpasar : 10 days
Surcharges:Value Added Tax *PPN* Insurance *IW* Airport Tax *SC* And other  surcharges is  included 

united Premier Platinum Benefits

Benefit Premier Platinum
Qualification requirements (in a calendar year)
PQM/PQS criteria, including four flights* operated by United or Copa 75,000 PQM or 90 PQS
Economy Plus seating benefits
Complimentary access to Economy Plus At booking
Economy Plus companions +8
Upgrades
Complimentary Premier Upgrades MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Complimentary Premier Upgrades companion upgrades MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Complimentary Premier Upgrades confirmation (as early as) 72 hours
Instant upgrades on Y- or B-class full-fare economy tickets MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Regional Premier Upgrades eligibility MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Premier mileage bonuses
500 award miles and PQM minimum accrual MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Premier bonus award miles on United, Copa and select partner carriers 75%
Premier priority travel services, including Premier Access℠
Priority check-in MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Priority security screening, where offered MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Priority boarding privileges MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Priority baggage handling** MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Premier Priority Desk phone line MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Access to most sold-out flights MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Lounge access when travelling internationally MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Compensation for Global Entry application fee MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Travel benefits with Star Alliance members
Star Alliance Silver or Gold status Star Alliance Gold
Fee waivers and discounts
Complimentary checked baggage allowance 3 bags at 70 lbs. (32 kg) each
Discounted same-day flight changes No fee
Discounted United Club℠ membership rates MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Phone service fee No fee
10% discount on in-flight duty-free MileagePlus Premier Platinum
$60 statement credit for MileagePlus Chase Credit Card Cardmembers
Award travel benefits
Priority award waitlisting MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Standby for international awards MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Unrestricted access to United Standard Awards MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Better availability for United Saver Awards in economy MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Better availability for United Saver Awards in select premium cabins MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Reduced close-in award booking fee No fee
Reduced award redeposit fee for tickets issued on or after June 15, 2011 No fee
Reduced award change fee No fee