Starting May 15, 2016, you’ll get improved trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay protection, car rental insurance, and more when you use Citi’s credit cards.
And Citi is more than doubling the yearly price protection coverage with its Citi Price Rewind program.
These benefits come with Citi credit cards at no additional cost! I’ll explain what’s changing!
Travel Benefits for You and Covered Travelers, Even If You Pay With Points
Link: New Citi Protection Benefits Guide
The updated Citi credit card protection benefits will apply to purchases made with your Citi card and/or ThankYou Points on or after May 15, 2016.
One of the biggest changes is that trip protection benefits apply to all covered travelers, which includes:
- You
- Your family members, including:
- Children
- Spouse
- Fiancée
- Domestic partner and their children
- Adopted children and step-children
- Legal guardians
- Siblings or siblings-in-law
- Son-in-law or daughter-in-law
- Parents or parents-in-law
- Grandparents or grandchildren
- Aunts or uncles
- Nieces or nephews
- All traveling companions for whom you have paid to travel on your trip
You will have to pay for your covered travelers trip with your Citi card in order for them to be eligible for coverage.
Previously, coverage was limited to you and authorized users, your spouse or domestic partner, and dependent children.
Here is a summary of the most important protection benefits and coverage.
- Trip Cancellation & Interruption – Coverage for up to $5,000 per covered traveler if your trip is cancelled for an eligible reason
- Trip Delays – Get up to $500 per covered traveler when your trip is delayed for more than 12 hours
- Baggage Delay – Get up to $100 per covered traveler if your checked baggage doesn’t get to your destination within 6 hours of your arrival
- Lost Luggage – Luggage or items inside are lost or damaged for up to $3,000 per covered traveler ($2,000 per bag for New York residents)
- Car Rental – Coverage up to $100,000 toward a covered accident or theft
Most benefits now apply as long as you use your card or Citi ThankYou points to pay for all or part of your trip. Car rental coverage requires you to pay the entire cost with your card or points.
If you pay for only part of your trip with a card or ThankYou points, you’ll only be covered up to the amount paid for (not the maximums as stated above).
Trip cancellation, baggage and trip delay, and lost luggage coverage is secondary if you have other insurances for your trip. Car rental coverage in the US is always secondary when you use your Citi card. Secondary coverage will cover only unreimbursed amounts that another source does not.
Real-Life Travel Examples
1. You cancel your trip after purchasing an American Airlines flight with Citi ThankYou points through the Citi ThankYou Travel Center using your Citi Prestige card.
You will be eligible to receive a refund of your Citi ThankYou points you used to purchase this flight.
2. You cancel your trip after you transferred Citi ThankYou points to Singapore Airlines to book a round-trip coach flight to Hawaii and used your Citi card to pay ~$11 in taxes and fees.
I called Citi benefits specialists to ask about this situation but have not yet received a definitive answer. Initially, they said because you used your Citi card and Citi ThankYou points, you’d receive a refund of your ThankYou points and ~$11 in taxes and fees.
However, the Terms & Conditions do NOT explicitly address ThankYou points transfers to airline partners.
I’ll provide an update once I hear back from Citi in writing!
Citi Price Rewind
Link: Citi Price Rewind
Link: My Review of Citi Price Rewind
Did you know you can get money back if you buy an item with your Citi credit card and the price later drops?
Citi is increasing the maximum refund to $500 per item and $2,500 per calendar year, up from $300 per item and $1,200 per calendar year.
With Citi Price Rewind, you could more than make up for the annual fee on cards like the Citi Prestige, Citi ThankYou Premier Card, and Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard!
Additional Purchase Protection Benefits
In addition to the travel benefits, Citi credit cards also offer protection for everyday shopping to cover your purchases when things go wrong.
Here are some of the benefits and changes taking place on May 15, 2016:
- Extended Warranty – Up to 24 months (previously 12 months) beyond the manufacturer’s warranty for certain items
- 90 Day Return Protection – Within 90 days (previously 60 days) of purchase, receive up to $500 per item and $2,500 per year if you try to return a like-new item and the merchant won’t take it back
- Damage & Theft Protection – Coverage up to $10,000 per item if it is damaged or stolen within 120 days (90 days for New York residents) of purchase (restrictions apply)
Citi Versus Chase Sapphire Preferred
Here’s a quick comparison of the coverage you get when using your Citi and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards.
| Coverage | Citi Cards | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase Protection | • Covered up to 120 days from the date of purchase in the event of theft, damage, or involuntary and accidental parting with property • Up to the amount charged to your card, with a maximum of $10,000 for each claim and no more than $50,000 per calendar year • See the Citi Benefits Guide for more details | • Covered up to 120 days from the date of purchase in the event of theft, damage, or involuntary and accidental parting with property • Up to the amount charged to your card, with a maximum of $500 for each claim and no more than $50,000 per account • See the Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits Guide for more details |
| Extended Warranty | • 2 extra years added to warranty (not to exceed 84 months) • Up to the amount charged to your card less shipping and handling fees, with a maximum of $10,000 per item • See the Citi Benefits Guide for more details | • 1 extra year added to warranty of 3 years or less • Up to the amount charged to your card less shipping and handling fees, with a maximum of $10,000, and no more than $50,000 per account • See the Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits Guide for more details |
| Primary Rental Car Insurance | • Cardholders and authorized designated drivers covered when you rent a car with your card and decline the car rental agency’s collision damage waiver • Coverage is secondary in the US and primary elsewhere • See the Citi Benefits Guide for more details | • Cardholders covered when you rent a car with your card and decline the car rental agency’s collision damage waiver • See the Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits Guide for more details |
| Delayed Baggage | • If your baggage is delayed for more than 6 hours, you could be reimbursed for emergency purchases of essential items (i.e. clothing, toiletries, cell phone charging cables, and more • Up to $100 maximum • See the Citi Benefits Guide for more details | • If your baggage is delayed for more than 6 hours, you could be reimbursed for emergency purchases of essential items (i.e. clothing, toiletries, cell phone charging cables, and more) • Up to $100 per day for a maximum of 5 days • See the Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits Guide for more details |
| Lost Luggage | • Covers the cost to repair or replace lost luggage and personal items inside • Up to $3,000 per person each trip • See the Citi Benefits Guide for more details | • Covers the cost to repair or replace lost luggage and personal items inside • Up to $3,000 per person each trip with a limit of $500 for items such as jewelry and electronics • See the Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits Guide for more details |
| Trip Delay Protection | • If your trip is delayed for more than 12 hours, you could be reimbursed for up to $500 per ticket for reasonable expenses (meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal use items) • See the Citi Benefits Guide for more details | • If your trip is delayed for more than 12 hours, you could be reimbursed for up to $500 per ticket for reasonable expenses (meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal use items) • See the Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits Guide for more details |
| Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance | • Up to $5,000 per person per trip • See the Citi Benefits Guide for more details | • Up to $10,000 per person per covered trip (maximum $20,000 per occurrence). If you pay for your trip with points you’ll get a value of 1 cent per point • No more than $40,000 per 12 month period • See the Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits Guide for more details |
Make sure you read the terms carefully, so you know what is and isn’t covered on your card.
Which Card Should You Use?
If you are purchasing a big ticket item, you might want to use your Citi card because you’re covered up to $10,000 if the item is damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase. If you pay with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you’d only be reimbursed for up to $500. And this might not cover your costs.
When it comes to booking travel, it will depend on how many people you are paying for. For example, if you are traveling with one other person, you might want to use your Chase Sapphire Preferred, because you’re covered up to $10,000 per person (maximum $20,000 per trip) for trip cancellations or interruptions.
If you pay with your Citi card, you’re covered up to $5,000 per person with no trip maximum.
Renting a car in the US? Use your Chase Sapphire Preferred because it provides primary rental car coverage. Citi coverage is always secondary in the US.
Bottom Line
Effective May 15, 2016, Citi card benefits will improve for travelers and shoppers including:
- More folks included in travel coverage
- Improved trip delay, interruption, and cancellation benefits
- Increased purchase protection and longer warranty
- Higher Citi Price Rewind Limits
The Chase Sapphire Preferred provides similar coverage. The best card to use depends on your purchase, where you’re renting a car, and how many folks are traveling with you.
Have you filed a claim with Chase Sapphire Preferred or Citi? I’d love to hear about your experience!