Citi Prestige removes unlimited lounge access, hikes annual fee by 20%

From 1st July 2025, Citi will be making significant changes to its Prestige credit card in Singapore, including the removal of unlimited airport lounge access and a 20% increase in the card’s annual fee, in what must mark the most significant devaluation of the product in years.

This change will no doubt frustrate many Prestige cardholders who rely on the card’s unlimited lounge access when flying in non-eligible cabins, with low-cost carriers, or on airlines where they hold no status.

Lounge access capped at 12 visits

For many cardholders, the main draw of the Citi Prestige card has long been the unlimited Priority Pass lounge access for both the primary cardholder and one guest, a benefit rarely matched among Singapore credit cards.

Unfortunately, that perk is being heavily cut back.

From 1st July 2025, Citi Prestige cardholders will be limited to just 12 complimentary visits per calendar year, shared between themselves and their guests.

This means a solo traveller can make 12 lounge visits per year, but if you always bring a guest, you’ll effectively only get six visits in total.

Additional visits beyond the 12 annual allowance will be chargeable at the prevailing Priority Pass rate, currently set at US$35 (~S$45) per visit.

If you don’t use all 12 of your complimentary lounge visits within the calendar year, they will sadly not roll over into the following year – you’ll just get a top-up to 12 visits again loaded on 1st January.

One benefit for groups or families

There is a small upside for families or groups under Citi’s new lounge visit system.

Right now, the unlimited Priority Pass benefit with Citi Prestige only allows the cardholder plus one guest per visit. Any additional guests are charged US$35 (~S$45) each.

From 1st July 2025, however, you’ll be able to use all 12 of your complimentary lounge visits in any combination you like – even all at once.

For example, a family of four could access an airport lounge together three times a year, using up all 12 visit entitlements (4 people x 3 visits), without paying anything. That kind of group access isn’t possible under the current one-guest-per-visit rule, without paying additional fees.

Annual fee increases to S$651.82

Adding to the downgrade, Citi is also hiking the Prestige card’s annual fee by 20%, from the current S$545.00 to S$651.82.

This change applies to both new cardholders and existing cardholders renewing their membership, from 1st July 2025 onwards.

That pushes the card’s fee into the same ballpark as the HSBC Visa Infinite and UOB Visa Infinite Metal, though unlike those cards, Citi has not announced any significant enhancement to its perks to help justify the increased cost.

There is a small silver lining — instead of 25,000 miles on renewal with the S$545 fee, the new S$651.82 fee will come with 32,000 miles, an increase of 7,000 miles.

Those extra 7,000 miles are therefore effectively costing 1.53 cents each – not a terrible rate on its own. However, it’s unlikely to make up for the significant loss of unlimited lounge access.

Looking at the overall picture, you’re now paying S$651.82 for 32,000 miles on renewal, which equates to 2.04 cents per mile – still a poor deal if you don’t place any value on the card’s other perks.

FAQs

For more details about these lounge access and annual fee changes, you can refer to Citi’s FAQs document here.

No changes to miles earn rates

There are currently no announced changes to the Citi Prestige card’s miles earn rates:

• 1.3 mpd on local spend
• 2 mpd on overseas spend

These rates aren’t too competitive for general spend these days, even if you have a long-term relationship with the bank, with your actual miles earning rates including the relevant bonuses shown below.

Even with a long-term relationship bonus, earn rates never exceed 2.12 mpd overseas – lagging behind entry-level cards like the Citi PremierMiles, which now earns 2.2 mpd on FCY spend from day one, leaving the Prestige card somewhat exposed as a poor option.

With such a significant devaluation to lounge access and a higher annual fee, many cardholders may begin to re-evaluate the Citi Prestige card’s value proposition, especially those who don’t consistently make use of the card’s fourth night free hotel stay benefit or golf privileges.

Credit cards that still offer unlimited lounge access

Luckily the Citi Prestige is not the only card on the market in Singapore that offers unlimited lounge access. There are still eight cards that boast this perk, even when this one sadly no longer does from July 2025 onwards.

Singapore miles-earning credit cards
with lounge access benefits

For more details, see our full guide here, which still reflects the current deal for the Citi Prestige card through to 30th June 2025.

With unlimited lounge access removed and the annual fee jumping by 20%, the Citi Prestige card is losing much of the appeal that once made it a top-tier choice for frequent travellers in Singapore.

While some niche perks like the fourth night free hotel benefit and golf privileges remain, the card’s miles earn rates are no longer all that competitive (even the Citi PremierMiles gets a better FCY rate!), and the downgrade to just 12 lounge visits per year will hit many hard – especially those who fly regularly in Economy Class, on low-cost carriers, or without airline status.

For light lounge users who still find value in the card’s lifestyle perks, Citi Prestige may continue to justify its place in your wallet, but for frequent flyers who relied on its generous lounge access, this significant devaluation could be a dealbreaker – and it may be time to explore better alternatives.

(Cover Photo: Plaza Premium)