Earn More Points with New Cards, Bonuses, and Challenges in 2025 - All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life Recap
Podcast: All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life
Published: 2025-08-13
Duration: 56 min
Summary
This episode dives into the latest changes in credit card offerings, focusing on new cards, elevated bonuses, and unique points challenges for 2025. Listeners are provided insights on how to navigate these changes effectively to maximize their rewards.
What Happened
In this episode, Chris Hutchins breaks down a plethora of recent credit card changes, including the launch of Citibank's new premium travel card, which comes with a $595 annual fee. The card offers enticing earning rates, such as 12X on hotels and a complex 6X on dining, but only during specific hours on weekends. Hutchins highlights the potential confusion this could cause for users, especially those traveling internationally, due to time zone differences.
Alongside the new card details, Chris discusses various benefits tied to the Citi premium card, including hotel booking credits and a unique splurge credit. While these credits can provide value, he expresses skepticism about their practicality, especially the Black Lane credit, which he finds comparable to Uber in terms of cost. He notes that while the initial welcome bonus of 80,000 points is appealing, those seeking even higher value may find success with links offering up to 100,000 points. Ultimately, Chris concludes that this card may not be worth keeping long-term for most users, except for those who frequently book travel through Citi or dine out extensively during the designated hours.
Key Insights
- Citibank's new premium travel card offers unique earning rates and benefits.
- The 6X dining rewards are limited to specific hours, creating potential confusion.
- Citi's credits may not provide as much value as they seem, particularly for casual users.
- The welcome bonus presents an attractive opportunity, especially with potential higher offers available.
Key Questions Answered
What are the key features of the new Citibank premium travel card?
The new Citi premium travel card features a $595 annual fee and offers 12X points on hotels and 6X on flights booked through Citi Travel. However, the 6X on dining applies only on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern, which could confuse users, particularly those traveling across time zones.
What dining rewards can you earn with the Citibank card?
The card offers 6X points on dining during specific hours, but otherwise, it provides only 3X. This limited earning timeframe makes it less appealing for those who dine out frequently outside of these hours. Chris Hutchins suggests that this is not a compelling enough reason to hold onto the card long-term.
How valuable are the credits associated with the new Citibank card?
Chris Hutchins assesses that the credits associated with the card could be valued around $500 to $600, which could offset the annual fee. He highlights the hotel booking credit as straightforward to use, while the splurge credit and other perks may not provide as much value depending on personal usage.
What should you consider before applying for the Citibank card?
Before applying, consider whether you will frequently book travel through Citi Travel or if you dine out during the specific hours for 6X points. Chris emphasizes that while the welcome bonus is attractive, ongoing value for casual users may not be sufficient to justify the card's annual fee.
What are the best strategies for maximizing points in 2025?
Listeners are encouraged to explore various elevated offers available across different credit cards and consider participating in unique points challenges that could yield significant rewards. Chris provides insights on what's worth pursuing and what to avoid, particularly in light of the evolving credit card landscape.