I was on the phone this morning redeeming some points for a fixed point flight, and the CSR said that the Citi Professional card was about to lose it's eligibility for fixed point flight redemptions (20k points = up to $400 ticket) effective 4/15. No word on if the same applies to Expedia.com accounts. This effectively reduces the value of ThankYou Points.
2. What travel options do ThankYou Members have for Travel Rewards?
ThankYou Members have options to redeem for travel:
Our online travel booking tool is powered by Expedia and allows you to travel when you want, how you want and on an airline you want. There are no limits on seat availability, advance purchase rules, limited airline choices, blackout dates or inflexible minimum point requirements.
The online booking tool is available for our variable priced option. All ThankYou Members may redeem ThankYou Points for Travel Rewards based on variable amounts. These amounts are based on a combination of factors including itinerary, date and time of travel, and dollar value of travel. Go to www.thankyou.com to plan your trip. Choose an airline schedule, hotel or vacation package you want, and the number of points needed will vary based on the current fare. Since there’s no minimum point requirement, you can rest assured you won’t be using any more of your points than necessary. For example, if the flight you want is inexpensive, you might only have to use 18,000 or 20,000 points, because the number of points needed for redemption is based on the fare. Unlike many other travel reward programs, there are no limits on the number of reward seats or rooms available – if there is availability on the flight or at the hotel you want, you’ll get it. There’s no need to book in advance, or stay over a Saturday night.
If you have a Smith Barney Account, Citibank® Account, Expedia® Account or are an eligible Citi® cardmember, you can also take advantage of our fixed flight option by calling a ThankYou Network Travel Specialist, toll-free. You will get a ticket on the date you want to travel - if a seat is available. There are no seat limits, blackout dates, advance booking or Saturday night stay requirements. For this option it takes only 20,000 points for flights in the continental U.S. and Alaska, up to $400 in value. There are more destinations in the chart below. And if the ticket you want is over $400 in value, simply redeem 5,000 more points for an incremental $50 in ticket value. Since these point levels are subject to change, for the most current point levels please contact a ThankYou Network Travel Specialist.
In addition, if the travel reward you want is not available from one of these options, you can ask one of our Wish Specialists to find it for you using our Your Wish Fulfilled feature. 3. Am I eligible for fixed flight options for airline tickets?
Certain ThankYou Members have the option of redeeming for air travel at fixed ThankYou Point amounts. Currently, ThankYou Members with a Smith Barney Account, Citibank® Account, Expedia® Account or the following Card Accounts are eligible for fixed flight airline tickets at fixed ThankYou Point amounts: Citi PremierPass® Card, Citi PremierPass® Card - Elite Level, Citi PremierPass® Card – Smith Barney Elite Level, Citi PremierPass® / Expedia.com® Card, Citi PremierPass® / Expedia.com® Card - Elite Level, Citi ProfessionalSM Card with ThankYou® Network, CitiBusiness PremierPassSM Card, CitiBusiness® Card with ThankYou® Network, Citi® ChairmanSM Card and Citi Chairman® American Express® Card. This list is subject to change without notice. Fixed flight option Travel Rewards are only available when you call the ThankYou Service Center. Agents will work to offer you the best deal on available flights – you are not required to select the fixed flight option. 4. I am eligible for fixed flight option Travel Rewards. What are the current prices and destinations?
Point levels are subject to change; please contact a ThankYou Network Travel Specialist for the most current point pricing. COACH Flights Starting Points Ticket Value (in Dollars) Continental US & Alaska and Canada 20,000 Up to $400 in value Mexico and Central America 45,000 Up to $900 in value Hawaii and Caribbean 50,000 Up to $1,000 in value Europe 60,000 Up to $1,200 in value Puerto Rico to US (48 States) 40,000 Up to $800 in value Middle East and Africa 80,000 Up to $1,600 in value Asia 80,000 Up to $1,600 in value South America 60,000 Up to $1,200 in value Australia and South Pacific 100,000 Up to $2,000 in value
BUSINESS CLASS Flights Starting Points Ticket Value (in Dollars) Continental US & Alaska and Canada 90,000 Up to $2,700 in value Mexico and Central America 120,000 Up to $3,600 in value Hawaii and Caribbean 140,000 Up to $4,200 in value Europe 180,000 Up to $5,400 in value Puerto Rico to US (48 States) n/a n/a Middle East and Africa 200,000 Up to $6,000 in value Asia 240,000 Up to $7,200 in value South America 180,000 Up to $5,400 in value Australia and South Pacific 180,000 Up to $5,400 in value 5. How do I book my Travel Reward redemptions?
To book using our online travel booking tool powered by Expedia visit, www.thankyou.com, look in the Rewards section, under the Travel & Experiences category.
Eligible ThankYou Members who would like to redeem for fixed flight option airline tickets or cruise rewards should contact the ThankYou Service Center at 1-800-THANKYOU (1-800-842-6596). The lines are open from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 Midnight ET, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Additional destination and travel options not offered through Expedia may be available from Your Wish Fulfilled, our unique service that allows you to request personalized rewards.
Message edited by: ShakuniMama on 2008-03-10 08:16:25 CDT
Perfect time to consider adding the Citi Plat AMEX. Great card (5 TY Everyday/3 everything else) and will keep the better redemptions. + 15K sign-up bonus + annual fee waived first year + some free airport lounge access.
EDIT: I hear this card is not eligible for fixed point redemptions after 4/15. Still a great card, but be advised.
That's not how fixed points work -- they don't care where the points came from, they only care whether you currently have a qualifying card or account before they'll let you redeem fixed point. So even if your points came from Citi Professional when fixed points was available, you still won't be able to redeem for fixed points after 4/15.
BTW, you do know what points came from what. If you go to your statement and click on the expiring points link, you'll see how many points you have from where and when they expire. When you redeem points, they pull from the ones that expire first.
Also note that all that matters is whether you have a qualifying product, not where the points came from.
Precisely my question. I have 6 cards connected to the account, are they going to start splitting points?
And SLC tried to answer it. I'll try again. All the points from multiple cards are dumped into one account.
Then, to get the better redemptions after 4/15 you'll just need to have at least one qualifying card for the better redemptions. It doesn't matter where each point came from (or even all) as long as you have one qualifying card.
slc39 said:Fixed points will be available for Expedia customers and Citibank checking customers enrolled in ThankYou network.
I'm still confused. I just looked up the expiring points on teh statement and it does show where the points are expiring from. Are you saying that if I get a Citibank checking account and enroll in TYN, I can avoid not being able to purchase a fixed price ticket with my Professional points after 4-15?
Or...
Are all points earned with non-qualifying cards (Professional) going to be invalid for fixed purchase after 4-15 no matter what?
If it is the latter, I might as well just cash the points in for some gift cards.
fixed point redemption allows you to spend a fixed 20K points on flights valued at $400 or less. under variable point redemption, a $400 ticket would cost you 40K TY points.
lhendricks92 said:slc39 said:Fixed points will be available for Expedia customers and Citibank checking customers enrolled in ThankYou network.
So you only need to link your Expedia account to ThankYou and no worries?
I don't know if this one will survive, either.
As a word of caution, if you make an Expedia account and link it to your existing ThankYou account, you will not be eligible for fixed point redemption. Don't ask me why, but you have to make a new Expedia account with a new ThankYou number, then call in and have a Supervisor merge the two accounts to be eligible - it makes no sense, and the CSR thought the same.
Keyboard said:Perfect time to consider adding the Citi Plat AMEX. Great card (5 TY Everyday/3 everything else) and will keep the better redemptions. + 15K sign-up bonus + annual fee waived first year + some free airport lounge access.
This is an awesome card, and I already have it - by far the best deal on any credit card, anywhere. However, it is not eligible for fixed point flight redemptions by itself.
4. I am eligible for fixed flight option Travel Rewards. What are the current prices and destinations?
Point levels are subject to change; please contact a ThankYou Network Travel Specialist for the most current point pricing. COACH Flights Starting Points Ticket Value (in Dollars) Continental US & Alaska and Canada 20,000 Up to $400 in value Mexico and Central America 45,000 Up to $900 in value Hawaii and Caribbean 50,000 Up to $1,000 in value Europe 60,000 Up to $1,200 in value Puerto Rico to US (48 States) 40,000 Up to $800 in value Middle East and Africa 80,000 Up to $1,600 in value Asia 80,000 Up to $1,600 in value South America 60,000 Up to $1,200 in value Australia and South Pacific 100,000 Up to $2,000 in value
BUSINESS CLASS Flights Starting Points Ticket Value (in Dollars) Continental US & Alaska and Canada 90,000 Up to $2,700 in value Mexico and Central America 120,000 Up to $3,600 in value Hawaii and Caribbean 140,000 Up to $4,200 in value Europe 180,000 Up to $5,400 in value Puerto Rico to US (48 States) n/a n/a Middle East and Africa 200,000 Up to $6,000 in value Asia 240,000 Up to $7,200 in value South America 180,000 Up to $5,400 in value Australia and South Pacific 180,000 Up to $5,400 in value
You pay taxes and fees if you use the fixed point option. You do not pay taxes and fees on the variable point option.
Also, they do not charge a fee for calling for the fixed point reservation, but they do charge one if you call in for a variable point one.
This is an awesome card, and I already have it - by far the best deal on any credit card, anywhere. However, it is not eligible for fixed point flight redemptions by itself.
Interesting. Glad I also have PP Elite. As I understand it, that counts.
Anyone know how this affects PremierPass and PremierPass Elite cards? It would make sense to me if those cards managed to retain fixed point redemption... But, citi seems to be on the warpath when it comes to TYP perks nowadays...
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