Citi recently implemented a massive wave of changes to its flagship Prestige card. Most of these were announced last year year but did not become effective until this week. Just ahead of the July 23rd implementation, Citi announced some meager positive changes to put a positive spin on things. While most of these recent developments are barely worth mentioning, there is one legitimate bit of good news: the sign-up bonus on the Citi Prestige card has gone up to 75k points.
If you’re a frequent flyer who’s on the lookout for the best values in travel, you should watch for new service from all the airlines. Why? Award availability is usually quite good during the first few weeks a new route or flight is added to any airline’s reservation system. That’s why you should take a look at British Airways’ new flights between London and Las Vegas; London and Seattle; and London and San Jose.
Though it’s not as widely known and publicized as the Air France-KLM partnership, British Airways and Iberia merged back in 2011. They are technically one airline, even though they operate under separate brands.
Most co-branded airline cards offer two (or more, for more expensive cards) miles per dollar spent on their own airline, but they pretty much universally offer just one mile per dollar on all other purchases.
Though an extra quarter of a point doesn’t sound like much, over the course of the year, a 25 percent bonus on earning can go a long way. Combine this with the high value of Avios, and you’ve got a potent card that’s valuable for any traveler, whether you primarily fly domestic or international.
British Airways Avios can be a difficult reward currency to maximize, with a distance-based award chart and massive fuel surcharges overseas. You can certainly get value out of short-haul awards on partner carriers, but what if you’re more interested in international travel?
One of my favorite things about amassing miles and points is the ability to say yes.
Have friends getting married in a foreign locale? No problem.
Iberia Plus is a reward program that many casual awards travelers don’t consider, but should. Iberia and British Airways are actually one and the same. But like the Air France/KLM/Delta relationship, Iberia/British Airways operate their flights and their frequent flyer programs somewhat independently.
Bermuda is a small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean off the Eastern Seaboard. Because it has a subtropical climate, many people think it is part of the Caribbean. But it actually lies north of those islands. This British territory is perfect for a short getaway from east coast departure points. It’s just a two-hour flight from New York. Late spring or early fall are the best times to enjoy this archipelago.
