With the notable exception of American Express, most banks haven’t done an awful lot for their premium cardholders during this Covid-19 pandemic. That’s led many members to think twice about renewing- why shell out ~$500 when you can’t use most of the travel-related benefits?
Well, Citibank has finally made a positive concession for its Citi Prestige cardholders, where the airport limo benefit is concerned.Â
Citi Prestige cardholders can now bring forward airport limo entitlements
| Qualifying Spend | Rides per Qualifying Spend | Maximum Rides |
| S$12,000 per quarter | 2 | 8 per year |
As it stands, Citi Prestige cardholders who spend at least S$12,000 in a calendar quarter will receive two complimentary airport limo rides. These rides normally need to be used within the same calendar quarter they were earned:
For the avoidance of doubt, cardmembers cannot bring forward their entitlements or accumulate their spend beyond the Programme Period. Cardmembers must make the Qualifying charges and utilize their entitlement(s) within the same quarter.
Since none of us are heading to the airport anytime soon, Citi has updated these T&Cs to allow Citi Prestige customers to carry forward limo rides. The clause now reads:
Cardmembers can bring forward their unused qualifying entitlement(s) from each quarter and utilize their qualifying entitlement(s) within the year in which the qualifying entitlement is given.
In other words, any limo rides earned from now till 31 December are valid till the end of the calendar year. Do note that they still need to be consumed within the calendar year they were earned, or else they’ll be forfeited.Â
I’m confirming with Citibank whether this policy applies retroactively, i.e to limo rides earned in Q1 2020. My guess is it doesn’t, but I’ll update this post when I get official confirmation.Â
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Update: A Citi spokesperson has provided the following response: “In light of the current travel situation, we have extended the airport limousine privilege for Citi Prestige cardholders to carry forward their qualifying entitlement within the calendar year. With the recent T&Cs change, customers will be able to carry forward unused qualifying entitlements (earned when they meet a minimum spend criteria of S$12,000 in that quarter) from Q1 2020 onwards, to be utilized within 2020 until 31 Dec 2020.” |
Who else is extending concessions?
Citibank isn’t the first to allow cardholders to accumulate limo rides. Back in April, OCBC VOYAGE extended the validity of all limo rides earned this year to 31 December 2020 or three months after earning, whichever comes later.Â
Unfortunately, there’s no concession (yet) for other cards, which still adopt a “use-it-or-lose-it” approach.Â
| Card | Qual. Spend (QS) |
Rides per QS |
Cap | Carry Forward? |
 UOB PRVI Miles AMEX |
S$1K FCY per quarter | 2 | 2 per quarter | No |
 HSBC Visa Infinite |
S$2K per month | 1 | 24 per year | No |
 Maybank Visa Infinite |
S$3K per month | 2 | 8 per year | No |
 OCBC VOYAGE |
S$5K per month | 1 | 2 per month | Yes |
 Citi Prestige |
S$12K per quarter | 2 | 2 per quarter | Yes |
Conclusion
This is the second improvement that Citibank has made to the Citi Prestige limo benefit this year, after reducing the qualifying spend from S$20,000 to S$12,000 in February. It’s hardly a reason to go out and get the card now, but at least there’s some benefit for existing cardholders.Â
Do remember that Citi PayAll also counts towards the minimum spending requirement, so a big tax payment now may be a way of earning limo rides for later this year.Â
