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RIP: Citi removes most travel and shopping protections

Sept. 22, 2019
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6 min read
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RIP: Citi removes most travel and shopping protections
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If you're a Citi cardholder, you've likely had September 22, 2019, marked on your calendar. And now, the date is finally here.

Citi announced positive changes today: the start of being able to transfer cash back earned on the Citi® Double Cash Card to ThankYou points at a $1 to 100 ThankYou points ratio. But, don't let this positive announcement overshadow the negative changes: the loss of travel and shopping protections on most Citi cards.

Back when we first learned of the removal of shopping and travel protections, we compiled the following table showing which benefits would be removed on which cards:

Benefit RemovedCiti Prestige® Card Citi Premier® CardCiti® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®Citi DividendCiti® Double Cash CardAmerican Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ CardAT&T Access

Card
Worldwide Car Rental Insurance
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Trip Cancellation & Interruption Protection
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Worldwide Travel Accident Insurance
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Citi® Price Rewind
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
90 Day Return Protection
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Trip Delay Protection
x
x
x
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Baggage Delay Protection
x
x
x
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Lost Baggage Protection
x
x
x
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Roadside Assistance Dispatch Service
x
x
x
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Travel & Emergency Assistance
x
x
x
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Damage & Theft Purchase Protection
x
x
Extended Warranty
x
x
Medical Evacuation
x
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Missed Event Ticket Protection
x
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum card, Citi Prestige, Citi Dividend, AT&T Access, has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

So, it's not surprising that when I log into my Citi Dividend account, I only see "Guide to Protection Benefits effective prior to 9/22/19" -- there's no current guide to benefits.

And, when I go to the Card Benefits FAQs page for my Citi Dividend, I see the following:

Likewise, when I log into my Citi Prestige account and download the new guide to benefits effective September 22, 2019, the table of contents is very short compared to the previous version:

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Previous guide to benefits table of contents for the Citi Prestige on the left, current table of contents on the right

In the Frequently Asked Questions section for my Citi Prestige Card, Citi provides the following answer to the "Why did Citi make these changes?" question:



Citi continuously evaluates our products to ensure that associated benefits best meet the needs of our customers. As such, we will no longer offer select protection benefits on your card so we can continue providing key benefits that our customers use and value most at no additional cost. As a cardmember, you will continue to receive a range of valuable card benefits including FICO Credit Score, Citi Identity Theft Solutions, and Citi Entertainment.

With Citi removing most travel and shopping protections from its cards, you may want a new go-to card for travel and shopping protections. Personally, I'm switching my travel spending to the Chase Sapphire Reserve and will use the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card for purchases where I might want price protection, extended warranty protection or purchase protection.

Here are links to our guides to various types of protections, which we'll soon be updating:

  • Primary car rental coverage
  • Trip cancellation and interruption protection
  • Travel accident and emergency evacuation insurance
  • Trip delay reimbursement
  • Baggage delay reimbursement
  • Price protection
  • Extended warranty protection
  • Purchase protection

However, you don't necessarily need to use one of the best cards for travel protections when purchasing airfare in order to be protected. Instead, when purchasing airfare you could purchase travel insurance and then use a card like the Citi Prestige Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, which offers 5x earning on select airfare purchases but doesn't offer travel protections.

Related: When to Buy Travel Insurance Versus When to Rely on Credit Card Protections

How do these changes alter what card you'll use for travel and shopping purchases?

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, please click here.

Featured image by THOMAS BARWICK/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.