Citibank Citi PremierMiles credit card is the oldest credit card in my wallet. I’ve been using this card for more than 10 years now and I really feel that I have benefited a lot from using this credit card.
I’ve used it locally and internationally. I was able to redeem my miles for a plane ticket and I’ve had access to airport lounges for free (and for a fee) because of this card.
However, recently, with the increasing number of similar credit cards in the market, I’m wondering if I should still keep this card. I’m asking myself if this is still the right card for me.
If you are thinking of getting a travel credit card, check out below my Citibank Citi PremierMiles credit card review after 12 years of use. Please note that this is my personal experience and might differ from your experience.
Also, this is not a sponsored post. Part of my content strategy is to share my reviews and thoughts about the products and services that I personally use.
Note to Readers: Please be advised that the information written here is valid as of the time of writing but may have been updated by the time you see/read this post. Please check the Citibank website to check the updated information.
Table of Contents
Advantages of Owning a Citibank Citi PremierMiles Credit Card
High Credit Limit
This advantage is not exclusive though to Citi PremierMiles credit card. A lot of my friends also have other Citibank credit cards and we often find the credit limit to be higher than the other credit cards being offered in the Philippines. Even when I first got the card, my credit limit was higher than what my other colleagues had with their credit cards.
And over the years, they kept on increasing my credit limit. If I remember this correctly, I think I only made a request once. Sometimes, they also have a promotion wherein they will increase your credit limit if you avail of their loan facility.
I availed of their Click for Cash (now known as Speed Cash) a few years back and I got a significant credit increase. Of course, the amount of your credit limit increase will vary depending on your usage, credit card standing, and other factors determined by Citibank.
Non-Expiring Miles
The miles that you’ve earned do not expire. I have accumulated a lot over the years and I have transferred those miles to various frequent flyer miles accounts such as Skymiles, Asia Miles, and more.
Earn Miles Fast
You can earn one mile for every P30 spent. It’s one of the lowest in the market thus making PremierMiles card owners earn miles faster than the others.
Update: The ratio of the miles has been downgraded to 1.6 PremierMile = 1 mile (Effective December 20, 2020). It used to be 1:1. But now, you can also redeem cash credits (5 PremierMiles = 1 PHP) that you can use to offset your next purchase.
Airport Lounge Access
If you have a Citi PremierMiles credit card, you’ll get two complimentary lounge access at select airports every DragonPass membership year. The DragonPass membership year starts from the time that you register for your DragonPass account.
I’m putting this as part of the advantages since not all credit cards have this benefit.
Responsive Customer Service
I don’t frequently call Citibank because I barely had any issues with them but whenever I call, I get to talk to a representative right away.
If you have credit cards with other major banks in the Philippines you know that there are certain banks that have a very long wait time before you get to talk to someone.
I’m not sure if it’s because there are only a few people taking the calls or there are just so many customers calling them. But with Citibank, I’ve never experienced waiting on the phone for a long time.
A Lot of Additional Benefits
Aside from earning miles and having access to airport lounges, owning a PremierMiles credit card also gives the cardholder travel insurance protection of up to PHP 1 million in insurance coverage when you charge your travel tickets to Citi PremierMiles and also a free 30-day purchase protection.
Please be aware that just like all credit cards, you have to read the terms and conditions so you’ll be aware of the details of these benefits.
Citibank is also one of the cards that give you access to a plethora of discounts and freebies. This is a benefit that can be enjoyed not only by PremierMiles cardholders but also by other owners of various Citibank cards.
This is actually one of my favorite perks since I like to eat out a lot, I get to take advantage of discounts in various hotels and restaurants in the Philippines.
Access to Speed Cash
Again, this is a product that is also available to other Citibank credit cards. It used to be called, Call for Cash and Click for Cash but now they call this Speed Cash.
It’s like a loan that is available to cardholders and the amount is dependent on your credit limit. I have used this facility twice and the service is very fast. I also got to avail myself of the low interest back then.
Income Requirement
As of the time of writing, the annual income requirement is P360,000. Actually, I remember it being a bit higher than that and I’m not sure why they lowered the income requirement. Perhaps, in order to attract more customers.
Disadvantages of Owning a Citibank Citi PremierMiles Credit Card
The only and the main disadvantage that I know of is the Annual Membership Fee. It has been continuously increasing and now it’s at P5,000. The thing is, there are other cards that could offer similar travel-related benefits to cardholders than Citibank PremierMiles.
If you, however, frequently use your credit card, and if your main priority is to earn miles, then the annual fee might be of no concern since it might be justified by the number of miles that you will earn from this card.
Will I keep my Citibank Citi PremierMiles card?
I’ve been with this card for more than 12 years and it has some sort of sentimental value to me. Another reason why I want to keep this card is that my credit limit is so high and I can make a loan using my credit limit if ever I want to boost my business.
The interest that they charged me for the loans I’ve taken in the past was also quite low in comparison with their competitors.
My other option is, to downgrade to another Citibank card as long as I can keep my credit limit intact. I will probably decide on this before my card anniversary comes. (Update: I applied for the Citi Simplicity in case I change my mind about keeping my Citi PremierMiles Card).
Should you try it?
The P5,000 Annual Fee is definitely pricey for most people (including myself) and may deter a lot of prospective customers. I suggest that before you sign up, list down your usual monthly expenses and see which card best suits your needs.
This card is geared towards people who frequently travel so if you belong to this category, you can also compare this with other travel credit cards before making a decision.
By the way, please read the terms and conditions before you sign up so you’ll get to know the details of this promotion.
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Do you also have a Citibank PremierMiles Card? Feel free to share your tips and recommendations in the comment section below.
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