Travel service for Citi card members

[clunk]

Haven't seen this kind of deal posted much so I don't know if its against the rules ... (where are they BTW?)

Signed up for CitiTravel service ($79.95/yr) after a customer service pitch over the summer. You get three months before they charge your card and then you get a full refund if you cancel before the year is up (like I planned to do). I recently found out that this service can offer a pretty good deal when booking some travel.

In addition to low price (when booking) guarantee, they offer you an additional 5% cash rebate after your travel is completed. I took advantage of this to the tune of ~$35 dollars this summer. I am taking my wife on a cruise in March (10th anniversary) and will get 5% back on that too (~$90). With those transactions, my membership fee is covered.

I also found out that they offer travel certificates through American Airlines. When I booked our air travel to San Juan (cruise departure city), I was able to reduce the already on sale airfare of $474 by another $75 (x2) + I will get the 5% back on that travel too. I also booked the flights for my parents to come from San Fran to watch the kids and got $25 off of each of their fares (certificate scales with airfare).

So ... $79.95 membership fee (refundable) = ~$185 (rebates) + $200 (certificates)

They also offer hotel discounts and rental car savings, but I haven't used those services yet.

The phone number for using the service is 1-800-CITI-234. I'm sure if you get a CSR on the phone, they can hook you up with service. Or maybe try calling the Citibank 800# on your credit card. I also don't know if this service is exclusively for Citbank cardholders.

I know that you may be able to ultimately find a cheaper deal thru Priceline or one of its variants, but those options are out for me since we are usually not very flexible on travel times. Also, you can get some really cheap cruise deals at the last minute, but I didn't want to blow the 10th anniversary vacation. I also liked the fact that this service is offered in conjunction with Citibank so cancellation/refund shouldn't be a problem.

OK ... flame away.

 

[bleuless]

i'll give you props for doing all the calculations

 

[DVDKing]

This may be worth it if you do lots of travelling, but for most of us who travel less than twice a year (excluding those mini-vacations/road trips), it does not seem worth it to me. Lots of hassle just to get a 5% rebate. Most of my trips are under $500 total including gas/meals/entertainment which are not part of the rebate amount. Tried for 3 months and got my money refunded.

 

[clunk]

Absolutely correct, Mr. King. I was going to cancel before the year was up and make $35 for my efforts (rebate was very painless BTW).

But if you can schedule your travel on American, then the discount airfare certificates will make up the registration fee fairly quickly. The 5% rebate is icing on the cake.

Now I'm not sure whether to take my savings and run or let it ride for another year ...

 

[DieselMan]

<< You get three months before they charge your card and then you get a full refund if you cancel before the year is up (like I planned to do).

<<

When you say "before the year is up", do you mean after the nine months following the first 3 free months, or do you mean the end of the calendar year (because somehow I was billed for this in December last month, but I do recall now having signed up for it back in October). So if I signed up for it in October 2001, when is the latest I can cancel? I don't even think I ever filled out a form of my own for this thing; the rep on the phone just asked a few questions and that was it...

 

[clunk]

When I signed up, the rep said that I had three months to try it, and then they would charge $79 for an additional year (15 months total). The paperwork that I got with the membership indicated that the year included the 3 month trial (12 months total).

I was ready to call and argue to get the extra 3 months. When I made the latest travel plans, I found out that my expiration date was actually 18 months (don't know how) from the signup date. There was a considerable delay in sending me my membership packet ... they may have restarted the clock for that.

The number that I called to check the expiration date was 1-800-548-1116 (also the number used for cancellation).

 

[DieselMan]

So as long as I cancel before the expiration, I can get a full refund, correct? I'd rather cancel right now, but I am pretty sure I will be traveling a couple of times before summer arrives. It doesn't hurt to have access to more special offers

 

[clunk]

Right, but I'd call to find out just when that expiration date is. Also, when you travel, look for a sale on American Airlines cuz that'll be your best value after the certificates.

I also think that you still have to be a member when you apply for the rebate (post-travel), so don't cut it too close.

 

[DieselMan]

Great,
Thanks clunk for all the tips and info