What Charges Triggers The City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite $250 Airline Credit?

Reader Oleg asked if I’d create a page letting people know what has/hasn’t triggered the City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite $250 airline credit. Before we get started, two important things to keep in mind:

• Authorized users also get this credit
• This benefit may be subject to taxation and/or Form 1099 reporting

The Full Fine Print

The full fine print for this benefit can be found on P56 of the guide to benefits. Here is what is important to know:

• Based on a calendar year (must post to your account during the calendar year, e.g before December 31st, 2016. This is different to the Chase Sapphire Reserve benefit as that requires it to post to your account before your December statement closes).
• They give the following examples of what is considered an incidental charge: incidental airline fee transactions made at eligible US Domestic Airline Carriers and include: ticket change/cancellation fees, checked baggage fees, inflight entertainment, onboard food and beverage charges, airport lounge membership fees and day passes, onboard wireless charges (excluding Gogo Wireless), and TSA Pre✓^®membership application fee

What Triggers This Benefit?

Make sure you contribute to this section in the comments to make it more useful for everybody. Changes were made to this benefit on April 1st, 2016 so we are only including data points after that date. In general lower value fees/taxes seem to be reimbursed and others aren’t, but YMMV. American Airlines eGiftcards also seem to be a safe choice ($50 denomination).

• Alaska:
  • Taxes: 1
• American Airlines:
  • Award fees: 1 ($5.6)
  • eGiftcard: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,
  • Redeposit Fees: 1
  • Upgrade certificates: 1
• JetBlue:
  • Award Fees: 1
• Southwest:
  • Award: 1 ($67), 2 ($65)
  • Early bird check in fees: 1
  • Fees: 1, 2
  • Taxes: 1
  • Ticket: 1 ($53.95)
• United:
  • Award fees: 1  ($48.66)

What Doesn’t Trigger This Benefit?

• Alaska:
  • Gift cards: 1
• American Airlines:
  • Physical gift card: 1 (dp of it working here)
• MPX: 1
• United Airlines:
  • Gift registry: 1 (report of it working here and here if it’s under $75), 2
• Southwest:
  • Fees: 1
  • Giftcard: 1 ($50), 2