Brochure

Chairman 2.0 will be a Citi AMEX card

The annual fee will be roughly $495, although it may be reduced for certain customers.

The card will include Hilton Gold status.

Priority Pass benefits will be roughly the same as before, including free guests.

There will be some sort of high end concierge service (not sure to whom they're farming that out).

Unlike all other Citi cards, purchases in foreign currencies will be charged at the actual exchange rate without any forex fees until Dec 31, 2008.

I'm surprised the rewards for these high end credit cards seem so crappy. For a $500 annual fee, you'd think Citi/AMEX would be able to do a bit better than 1% back on all purchases in TY points and 1 TY point per flight point earned. Hell, PremierPass Elite with an $85 annual fee has twice as good rewards from a TY points accumulation POV. Absent the prestige factor and/or access to airport lounges, this looks like a raw deal.

Pooch123 said:I'm surprised the rewards for these high end credit cards seem so crappy. For a $500 annual fee, you'd think Citi/AMEX would be able to do a bit better than 1% back on all purchases in TY points and 1 TY point per flight point earned. Hell, PremierPass Elite with an $85 annual fee has twice as good rewards from a TY points accumulation POV. Absent the prestige factor and/or access to airport lounges, this looks like a raw deal.

I'm not sure about twice as good, sounds like exactly the same to me. Anyway I'm sure these will be "prestige" TY points or something.

Meh, even if I was the FF type I'd rather have PPE for $85. If I desperately wanted "free" booze I'd probably go Am.Ex platinum for $450.

1 thing I left off tho Citibank will waive the annual fee for people with "Reserved" Status at any Citigroup venue. Reserved Status required $500K cash/brokers balances and is avalible via Citibank(brokerage Balance), Smith Barney or Citigroup PB.

Sorry for the multiple posts. I tried posted it and it keep timing out so I thought the problem was on my end. It would time out right after I hit post.

adiganifatwallet said:any idea how much do they charge for an additional cardmember?
and what kind of "special customer" got the reduced rate from the annual of $495?
Does having Citi Gold account qualifies?

Was my post 2 posts above you confusing? Link

Reserved Status required $500K cash/brokers balances and is avalible via Citibank(brokerage Balance), Smith Barney or Citigroup PB.

Just to make sure you understand this time. Cash/brokerage balance at Citibank(Brokerage Balance) means retail bank accounts. Citigold will not get you a fee waiver on this card because Citigold counts loan and mortgage balances vs Reserved status which is given to people with brokerage accounts at Citibank retail banks, SB Brokerage offices and via PB on brokerage accounts only looks at cash/brokerage balances ie counts only assets held at Citigroup towards the qualification vs Citigold also counts liabilities towards the balance requirements.

I'm sure Dolmar will correct but this is the same Priority Pass as Am.Ex Plat. Priority Pass?

If it is then it can be had for $375 elsewhere. Throw in PPE for TY points and there isn't much reason to pay for this card.

If you can get it for free I wouldn't turn it down but I wouldn't pay full price.

I'll wait for the $200 bonus with the first year annual fee waived link...

dolmar said:ScootyPuffSr said:I'm sure Dolmar will correct but this is the same Priority Pass as Am.Ex Plat. Priority Pass?

If it is then it can be had for $375 elsewhere. Throw in PPE for TY points and there isn't much reason to pay for this card.

If you can get it for free I wouldn't turn it down but I wouldn't pay full price.

AMEX PLT does not give Priority Pass at all. AMEX PLT gives you access to Delta, NW and CO lounges and only if you are flying one of thoses airlines while PP gives you access to lounges no matter what airlines you are flying.

My apologies, as usual I've have to continue supplying my own booze. I still can't believe how this card is no better than PPE for TY points.

If you can get it free great but I think $495 isn't worth it for free booze and getting to sit with some rich old dudes instead of the general riff raff.

To each their own.

markkundinger said:If you spend enough time in airports, the urge to get away from the "gate lice" can be pretty damn strong.

And to be fair to the Chairman card, the AMEX PLT is pretty crap as far as membership rewards points, too. Plus, to some people (me included) one TY point is more useful than one membership reward point

I dont think anyone can claim I am a Citigroup hater but I am sorry I have to disagree with your claim that membership rewards is bad. First off via membership reward you can basically redem a free ticket on almost any airline as membership rewards has atleast 1 partner from all 3 of the major airline alliances. Yes understand upgrades can not be had via partner airlines only free award seats and if you want to fly 1st class in 3 class service this is only way to do it. Yes Starwood program is more flexable as it wil transfer directly into more airlines than membership rewards but Starwood has a limit of 100K points that can be earned via AMEX card. While it seems Starwood does not enforce this policy they could choose to do so in the future at any time without notice.

With all of the above said TYP still have a value and could really be a better value for many who tend to redem for coach awards as thoses awards are super hard to snag via the airlines own rewards programs as so many people are going after the coach awards. TYP awards are really only limited by space avalible on the airline as Citi will buy a seat as long as one is avalible for sale. TYP short coming tho is you can not do upgrades or redem via fixed point option for 1st class on 3 class service.

markkundinger said:ScootyPuffSr said:If you can get it free great but I think $495 isn't worth it for free booze and getting to sit with some rich old dudes instead of the general riff raff.
If you spend enough time in airports, the urge to get away from the "gate lice" can be pretty damn strong.

And to be fair to the Chairman card, the AMEX PLT is pretty crap as far as membership rewards points, too. Plus, to some people (me included) one TY point is more useful than one membership reward point

I do not begrudge any millionaires buying luxury items.

However, I just can't see myself buying a first class ticket when a coach ticket gets me to my destination at the same time. For the difference in price on an international flight, I could buy myself a laptop, use it on the flight, throw it away when I get there and still come out ahead! Or I could enjoy the laptop on the flight and for the next several years.

I have flown some, but not "a lot" buy most of your measures. I don't know, I carry my 12 inch laptop with me which is very lightweight to carry and fits in my lap or in the airline seat very comfortably.

I don't know what airports you guys use or what airlines you guys fly..........but I get to my gate........

1) make sure everything is on time
2) use restroom if I need to
3) sit down with my laptop....work....watch a movie....surf the web...play a game...
4) wait until I hear boarding being called

I've never had trouble with "riff raff" and in fact sometimes I so zone in on my laptop that I become paranoid I won't hear the boarding call so I nervously look around every 10 minutes to make sure people are still standing around.

If you sit in your seat quietly working on your laptop or reading your newspaper I don't know why the "booze lounge" is so necessary. I've never had "gate lice" pester me when I was just keeping to myself and sitting in my seat.

To each their own.