Citi Premier Pass Elite

I need some advice from others who might currently or in the past been a member of this program? I fly very little, commercially that is (my husband has a small plane and most ff miles I redeem are for other family members), so most of my earned points come from credit card purchases. I currently and in the past have belonged to several airline affiliated credit card programs. Now I am looking at joining a program that is not affiliated with any one particular airline and this City Premier Pass seems pretty good for someone who earns most of their miles from purchases. I am willing to pay the $75 for this card as it will replace one of my other credit cards and as it gets me 1:1 ratio on airline flight miles v. 1:3 using the City Premier Pass program (not Elite). I understand that the only airlines you can not use through this program are Southwest, Alliance and Jet Blue. There are no blackout dates. I assume that if you do not redeem double miles for an unrestricted ticket, that the restricted tickets only allow so many frequent flyers on each plane so you might have some trouble getting a free ticket with restricted, just as you would in any other ff program? It's also my understanding that though they call the different points something different, i.e. flight points for those you earn from flying, purchase points and spend points, that they all go into one pot and can be used in total for flight redemption (I'm always going to have way more purchase points than flight points)? Can you typically redeem for free tickets at no more than 330 days out as most airlines allow? On the complimentary tickets, has anybody had any bad experiences trying to get one? I understand you have to buy the paid ticket first and then contact to see if a complimentary one is available so there must be some limit on the number of those on each flight? Do they have to wait and get permission from that particular airline before you can get the comp ticket? If so, how long has it taken them to get back to you with an answer?

If I'm wrong on any of the above, please let me know. Any advice that anyone can give me on this program would be appreciated. Or suggestions for some similar program that has worked better for you. Thanks.

Hi, I have this card and I love it. So far I have used the miles for 1 roundtrip ticket to Hawaii for my mom and four roundtrip ticket to Puerto Vallarta for my family. I reserved about 7 months out and haven't had a problem getting the flight I want. The best part of this card is the miles you earn from buying airline tickets. If you don't fly much, or if you don't buy too many airtickets then it might not be as good for you. I heard the companion ticket doesn't work as well since it is $299 before tax and fees. They try to find the cheapest flight and it is rarely over $299 for us (we live in the Bay Area).

blr666 said:

Hi, I have this card and I love it. So far I have used the miles for 1 roundtrip ticket to Hawaii for my mom and four roundtrip ticket to Puerto Vallarta for my family. I reserved about 7 months out and haven't had a problem getting the flight I want. The best part of this card is the miles you earn from buying airline tickets. If you don't fly much, or if you don't buy too many airtickets then it might not be as good for you. I heard the companion ticket doesn't work as well since it is $299 before tax and fees. They try to find the cheapest flight and it is rarely over $299 for us (we live in the Bay Area).

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Have you had this card very long? Have you gotten any domestic tickets?
But I do get lots of frequent flyer tickets for family members to meet up with us on vacation and I've been able to do that primarily through purchases on my credit card (I forgot to mention that I always pay my credit card off in full so the interest on these cards isn't an issue). And as you can imagine with a small plane and I commute 400 miles to work every week, I buy a lot of gas and I would be getting double miles for that!! That is pretty amazing if you're finding availability 7 months out to Hawaii and Mexico. Are you using the double miles for unrestricted tickets to find so much availability (i.e. 70K for Hawaii and 60K for Mexico)???? I am assuming that an unrestricted ticket means that you are guaranteed to be able to get a ticket on that flight (there are no restrictions of a certain number of frequent flyer tickets per plane?). Isn't that what an unrestricted ticket in this type of program would mean.
If I buy paid tickets for others, the mileage that they fly does not go into my Citi Premier account does it? (it wouldn't in other situations where every person has to have their own frequent flyer account).
Something I don't understand about your comment on trying to get companion tickets. The companion ticket itself is free right, except for paying the taxes and fees? and in order to get it you have to buy another ticket for minimum of $299 (before taxes and fees). Do you have to purchase your paid ticket through the redemption center also? You don't just go out on the free market and buy your own ticket???? Thanks.