Experienced travelers savvy in the ways of finding cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms as well as discount travel packages are increasingly receiving new premium credit card offers specifically designed to appeal to travelers. Citi has introduced two new cards with additional travel perks and benefits.
In additional to the cash equivalent points earned for every dollar spent, the ThankYou Premier Card which comes with an annual fee of $125 for the primary member offers several attractive benefits not commonly offered by other credit cards:
An annual free companion coach class ticket for travel within the 48 contiguous states. Taxes and fees must be paid by the credit card holder for this ticket.
15 percent discount on any coach or first class domestic or international air ticket.
Up to $1,500 in trip cancellation insurance for travel charged to the card as well as up to $3,000 for luggage lost by an airline.
No fees will be charged for foreign transaction charges for this card. Most U.S. issued credit cards charge users 3 percent on local currency and U.S. dollar charges made outside the U.S.
The premium version of the ThankYou Prestige Card has an annual fee of $500 for the primary member and comes with the following additional travel benefits:
The annual companion ticket can be redeemed for international travel as well as domestic.
Gold level membership in Hiltons HHonors frequent guest program.
Right to use personalized concierge service for airline tickets and other travel needs.
Membership in the Priority Pass a worldwide airport lounge program.
There are some fine print restrictions that travelers should be aware of before signing up for either of these credit cards:
Users are required to purchase their tickets through Spirit Incentives, a promotional company that oversees this program for Citi.
Neither discount nor companion tickets can be made on an airline that does not list its fares through a Global Distribution System, such as Sabre.
In order to take advantage of the 15 percent discount offer on airline tickets the user must agree to allow Spirit Incentives to select the airline, routing and schedule.
The discount is not good for business class or premium economy tickets.
Companion tickets on foreign airlines often result in large fuel surcharges (up to $500 each way) that credit card holders will be responsible for.
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