Avid travelers normally have travel credit cards. We get these cards because of the many benefits that come from them when we travel. It makes a lot of sense to have one, but right now no one is traveling. So what’s the point of having the card if you can’t use the travel benefits?
Well the answer to that question depends on what credit card you have. Of course, many people are just closing their accounts. But before doing this, there are ways you may be able to still get value from those cards. If you have American Express, Citi, or Chase Sapphire, don’t close that account quite yet! Read on to find out what new travel credit card benefits have been added due to COVID-19.
American Express CC Benefits
Welcome Bonus is Extended: If your card was approved from December 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020, for which you are eligible for a welcome offer, the period to make eligible purchases to earn your welcome bonus will be extended for an additional 3 months.
Receive Uber and streaming service credits on the AMEX Platinum card in the US:
You receive $15 in Uber Cash for rides every month plus a bonus $20 in December. That’s up to $200 for Uber rides annually. And you can also use this uber credit towards Uber Eats orders (support small businesses!).
Newly added: You can receive up to $20 per month worth of credit towards select streaming services AND $20 per month towards wireless telephone services.
Eligible Streaming Services include: Amazon Music Unlimited, Apple Music, Apple TV+, AT&T Now, Audible, CBS All Access, Disney+, ESPN+, Fubo TV, HBO Now, Hulu, iHeartRadio, Kindle Unlimited, Luminary, MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, Netflix, NHL.TV, Pandora, Prime Video, Showtime, Sling TV, SiriusXM Streaming and Satellite, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube Music Premium, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV
Eligible wireless telephone services provided in the U.S. are the following:
- T-mobile
- AT&T
- Sprint
- Verizon
This is an overview of the newly added benefits to AMEX credit cards due to COVID-19. Compare the benefits of all other AMEX credit cards here.
Citi CC Benefits
Extended Welcome Bonus: If you opened a Citi account between Dec. 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020 and were eligible for an intro offer on any Citi credit card, an extra three months is added to the original deadline. The new date is added to your account automatically.
Citi Prestige folks get a nice replacement bonus for the $250 travel statement credit. You can now apply this credit to your purchases made at supermarkets and restaurants, including takeout, between May 1 and December 31, 2020.
This is an overview of the newly added benefits to Citi credit cards due to COVID-19. Compare the benefits of all other Citi credit cards here.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits
Grocery and Meal Delivery Service Rewards: Between May 1 and June 30, 2020, you earn 5x points per dollar spent on up to a maximum of $1,500 per month in eligible grocery purchases.
Eligible grocery stores: 99 Ranch Market, Albertsons, Aldi, Grocery Outlet, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Vons and Whole Foods
Eligible Meal Delivery Services: HelloFresh and Home Chef, and many grocery delivery services including Amazon Fresh, Fresh Direct, Instacart, and Thrive Market.
Let’s talk annual fees.
If your renewal date falls between April 1 and July 1, 2020, you’ll receive an automatic $100 credit at the same time your annual fee is billed.
Extended intro offer: If you were eligible for an intro offer on any Chase credit card, you get three more months to hit that spending requirement.
Grocery Bonus isn’t only for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Members!
The offer isn’t the exact same though. From May 1 through June 30, 2020, cardholders will earn bonus points or miles per $1 spent on groceries, on up to $1,500 per month — no additional activation required.
The above offer is eligible for the following accounts:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: 3x points
- Disney Premier Visa: 3 Disney dollars
- IHG Rewards Club Premier: 3x points
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card: 3x points
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card: 3x points
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card: 3x points
- United Explorer Card: 3x miles
- United MileagePlus: 3x miles
- United Club Infinite Card: 5x miles
- World of Hyatt: 3x points
This is an overview of the newly added benefits to Chase credit cards due to COVID-19. Compare the benefits of all other Chase credit cards here.
Other Travel Benefits
Check out the benefits post from Wirecutter, if you want to learn more about the status of your credit card’s hotel benefits and airline loyalty benefits.
Source: Most of the information related to newly added credit card benefits are sourced from the Wirecutter.
The post Travel Credit Cards Add New Benefits Due to COVID-19 was published on Coworkaholic.