10/01/2022
The Citi PremierMiles Card is designed to reward its holders with a comprehensive suite of benefits, particularly for those who frequently travel or make significant purchases. Understanding the intricacies of its Terms and Conditions is crucial to maximising its value. This article provides an in-depth look at what you need to know, from how you earn points to enjoying complimentary lounge access and travel insurance.
- General Terms and Conditions: The Foundation
- Points Accumulation and Redemption: Earning Your Rewards
- Mileage/Hotel Points Redemption: Flying High and Staying in Style
- Complimentary Airport Lounge Access: Travel in Comfort
- Free Travel Insurance: Peace of Mind on Your Journeys
- Priority Pass Membership: Global Lounge Access
- Frequently Asked Questions
General Terms and Conditions: The Foundation
Before delving into specific benefits, it's important to grasp the overarching rules that govern the Citi PremierMiles Card. These general terms ensure a smooth and fair experience for all cardholders.
- Eligibility: The offers and benefits are typically extended to both principal and supplementary cardholders of the Citi PremierMiles Card issued by Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited.
- Citibank ThankYou Rewards: For all point-related offers, the Citi ThankYou Rewards Terms and Conditions apply. You can find detailed information on the official Citibank website.
- Exclusivity of Offers: Offers cannot be combined with other promotions, discounts, or coupons, nor can they be exchanged for cash.
- Availability and Acceptance: The availability of offers is subject to the discretion of Citibank and the respective merchants, and may depend on your account status.
- Product Information: Product photos, specifications, and prices are for reference only.
- Citibank's Liability: Citibank is not responsible for any issues related to the products or services provided by merchants. Merchants are solely responsible for their offerings.
- Amendments: Both Citibank and participating merchants reserve the right to amend these Terms and Conditions without prior notice.
- Regulatory Compliance: Citibank may suspend or deny transactions to comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, and government directives.
- Dispute Resolution: All matters and disputes are subject to the final decision of Citibank and the respective merchants.
- Language Precedence: In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese versions of the Terms and Conditions, the English version shall prevail.
Points Accumulation and Redemption: Earning Your Rewards
The core of the Citi PremierMiles Card's appeal lies in its points system, which allows you to earn miles for your spending. Understanding the earning rates and redemption rules is key.
Earning Rates:
Cardholders are rewarded with points for their transactions, with different rates for local and overseas/online foreign currency spending.
- Base Rate: You'll typically earn 12 Points (equivalent to 1 mile) for every HK$8 spent on local transactions.
- Enhanced Overseas/Online Rate: When your total eligible transactions reach HK$20,000 or more in a single statement cycle, you'll earn 12 Points (1 mile) per HK$3 spent on overseas and online foreign currency transactions.
- Standard Overseas/Online Rate: If your total eligible transactions are below HK$20,000, you can still enjoy 12 Points (1 mile) per HK$4 spent on eligible overseas and online foreign currency transactions.
Eligible Transactions: What Counts?
It's crucial to know which transactions contribute to your points. Generally, most retail purchases count, but certain transactions are excluded:
- Faster Payment System (FPS) services
- Cash advances and balance transfers
- Installment programs (e.g., FlexiBill, PayLite, Quick Cash)
- Payments to the Inland Revenue Department
- Online bill payments or utilities via internet banking
- Insurance transactions
- Charity donations/non-profit organisations
- Mutual fund payments
- Fees and charges
- Casino transactions
- Dynamic Currency Conversion transactions
- Unposted, cancelled, or refunded transactions
Citibank reserves the right to update this list of ineligible transactions at its discretion. Overseas and online foreign currency transactions are defined as those settled in currencies other than Hong Kong Dollar, Renminbi, or Macau Patacas.
Points Redemption: Turning Points into Perks
- Point Accumulation: Points earned by principal and supplementary cardholders are consolidated under the principal cardholder's account.
- Redemption Eligibility: Generally, only principal cardholders are eligible for points redemption.
- Point Expiry: Points earned on the Citi PremierMiles Card are evergreen, meaning they do not expire as long as your account is active.
- Cancellations/Refunds: If a transaction is cancelled or refunded, the points earned for that transaction will be deducted or cancelled.
Mileage/Hotel Points Redemption: Flying High and Staying in Style
The PremierMiles card excels in its transferability to airline and hotel loyalty programs. You can convert your earned points into valuable miles or hotel points.
Airline and Hotel Partners:
Points can be converted to miles/hotel points with a variety of prestigious partners, including:
- Cathay (Asia Miles)
- British Airways Executive Club
- Emirates Skywards
- Etihad Guest
- EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
- Flying Blue
- IHG Rewards Club
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Conversion Rate:
The standard conversion rate is 12 PremierMiles Points to 1 mile or hotel point. This conversion is done for free via Citi ThankYou Rewards.
Redemption Minimums and Requirements:
- Minimum Conversion: A minimum of 1,500 miles/hotel points is required for conversion to most partner programs.
- Membership Requirement: Principal cardholders must be members of the respective frequent flyer or hotel privilege programs and provide their valid membership number during the redemption process.
- Accuracy of Information: It is the cardholder's responsibility to provide accurate membership details. Citibank is not liable for losses due to incorrect information.
- Processing Times: Mileage conversions typically take 5 business days for most partners and up to 14 business days for Etihad Guest and Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus.
Example Redemption Table (Asia Miles):
The table below provides an estimate of spending required to redeem round-trip tickets. Note that mileage information is subject to change, and taxes, fees, and carrier charges always apply.
| Destination | Required Asia Miles |
|---|---|
| Taipei or Kaohsiung | 15,000 |
| Bangkok | 20,000 |
| Tokyo | 25,000 |
| Maldives | 40,000 |
| London | 54,000 |
| Sydney | 40,000 |
| Paris | 54,000 |
Complimentary Airport Lounge Access: Travel in Comfort
The Citi PremierMiles Card offers access to selected Plaza Premium Lounges, enhancing your travel experience.
Complimentary Visits:
Cardholders are entitled to 12 complimentary visits to selected Plaza Premium Lounges per calendar year.
Spending Requirement for Access:
- To qualify for complimentary access, you must meet a spending requirement of HK$5,000 on local or overseas eligible spending within 30 days after the date of lounge access.
- If both principal and supplementary cardholders use the lounge together, their spending is counted collectively. For instance, if two people use the lounge, a collective spending of HK$10,000 is required within 30 days post-access.
Charges for Non-Compliance or Extra Guests:
- If the spending requirement is not met, an entrance fee of HK$250 per cardholder per lounge access will be charged.
- If you exceed your 12 complimentary visits in a calendar year, you will be charged HK$250 for each additional access.
- Accompanying guests will incur an entrance fee of HK$250 per person per access.
- These fees will be debited directly from your Citi PremierMiles Card account within 3 months of the access date.
Transactions Excluded from Spending Requirement:
Similar to points accumulation, certain transactions do not count towards the lounge access spending requirement. These include balance transfers, cash advances, installment programs, cash advances, fees and charges, Inland Revenue Department payments, casino transactions, online bill payments, insurance, charity donations, FPS transactions, and unposted/cancelled/refunded transactions.
Free Travel Insurance: Peace of Mind on Your Journeys
The Citi PremierMiles Card provides complimentary travel insurance, offering protection for your trips.
Period of Validity:
The free travel insurance is valid for journeys between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible, the principal cardholder must have used their Citi PremierMiles Card to purchase or settle:
- Inward/outward bound travel tickets to/from Hong Kong, OR
- Accommodation costs for the entire journey, OR
- A tour package.
Alternatively, if any of these have been acquired using reward program points, any additional costs (including taxes, fuel surcharges, and mandatory local fees) must be paid using the Citi PremierMiles Card.
Coverage Details (Basic Plan):
The Principal Cardholder is entitled to the Basic Plan, which includes:
| Protection Item | Maximum Claim Amount (HK$) |
|---|---|
| Travel Accident Protection | $600,000 |
| Emergency Medical Protection | $200,000 |
| Journey Cancellation Protection | $8,000 |
| Baggage Loss Protection | $8,000 |
| Travel Delay Protection | $3,000 |
Priority Pass Membership: Global Lounge Access
While the Citi PremierMiles Card offers access to Plaza Premium Lounges, Priority Pass membership details are managed separately. To access Priority Pass privileges associated with your card, you typically need to:
- Log on to the Citi Mobile® App to retrieve a unique invitation code. This code is usually found by navigating through offers at the bottom of the screen.
- Complete your registration on the Priority Pass website using this unique invitation code.
- Download the Priority Pass App to manage your membership and access lounges.
Your unique invitation code should be available within 10 working days after your Citi PremierMiles Mastercard is approved. It's important to note that the specific terms and fees associated with Priority Pass membership should be checked directly with Priority Pass and Citibank, as these can vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How do I ensure I get the best overseas spending rate for points?
A1: To earn 12 Points (1 mile) per HK$3 on overseas and online foreign currency transactions, ensure your total eligible spending in a statement cycle reaches HK$20,000 or more.
Q2: Are my points transferable to any airline or hotel program?
A2: Points are transferable to a specific list of airline and hotel loyalty programs as outlined in the Terms and Conditions. Always check the latest list of partners.
Q3: How many complimentary lounge visits do I get per year?
A3: You receive 12 complimentary visits to selected Plaza Premium Lounges per calendar year, provided you meet the spending requirement per visit.
Q4: What is the spending requirement for complimentary lounge access?
A4: You need to spend HK$5,000 on eligible local or overseas transactions within 30 days after your lounge visit to qualify for complimentary access.
Q5: Does the free travel insurance cover my entire family?
A5: The provided information specifies coverage for the Principal Cardholder. For details on coverage for accompanying guests or family members, it's essential to review the full travel insurance policy document provided by Citibank.
By familiarising yourself with these detailed Terms and Conditions, Citi PremierMiles Cardholders can confidently utilise the card's benefits, from earning valuable miles for travel to enjoying comfortable lounge access and essential travel protection.
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