Negative Change To Citi Prestige Trip Delay Insurance

Cti Prestige has probably the best trip delay insurance out of all credit cards. As long as your flight has been delayed by 3 hours of more, you’re eligible to file a claim. Unfortunately Citi is no longer approving claims if you miss a connection unless your first flight was delayed by three hours or more. This means that if your first flight was delayed less than three hours, but you miss a connection and are delayed for more than three hours on your second flight you are not eligible for trip delay insurance.

I can see why Citi would make this change, you don’t want to encourage people to book risky connections that they are likely to miss only to receive reimbursement. I guess the best way to avoid this is to make sure to have more than three hours between connections, but for a lot of people that will be too much of a time sunk. The other option would be to use another card to book, but the next best card is the Chase Sapphire Reserve and that requires a delay of 6+ hours. As far as I am aware they also do not cover claims due to miss connections.

Again I don’t really have an issue with Citi (really their insurance provider) denying these claims, but the terms could use an update to specifically call out that missed connections are not covered unless the first flight is delayed by more than three hours.

Hat tip to /r/churning, Flyertalk & VFTW

 

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Etrader83
Etrader83 (@guest_569640)
March 13, 2018 15:38

Greetings,

I have two questions:
1. Does Citi Prestige cover claims if I used it to pay for taxes and fees for an points redemption ticket?
2. Which other cards offer trip delay/interruption coverage when paying just taxes and fees for a points redemption ticket?

Thanks!

Kool Stone
Kool Stone (@guest_569552)
March 13, 2018 11:03

Why they don’t set up term that the connection flight must be more than 1 or two hours? Just to make sure the cardholders can make the flight.

This will make this insurance useless…

Bill
Bill (@guest_569384)
March 12, 2018 23:27

I’m not sure if I am missing something here but isn’t the recently released PenFed Amex pathfinder card identical w trip delay insurance now then?! They have no AF, and they have 6 hour trip delay insurance. Honestly for a regular user with no premium rewards cards this is much more important than a minuscule difference in cashback percentage

Josh
Josh (@guest_639147)
September 5, 2018 17:26

Could someone please confirm or deny this? That sounds like a great deal…

CHEAH
CHEAH (@guest_569380)
March 12, 2018 23:13

IDK why many people keep thinking about the claim. Dont try to take advantage off this.If your first flight is delayed less than three hours and missed the connection flight, aint the airline will arrange you the other flight? or people just trying to get the $500 free money?

CongestionCharge
CongestionCharge (@guest_569393)
March 12, 2018 23:36

They will, but you may incure expenses while your flight is delayed, including possibly an overnight stay. Which depending on the cause of delay airline may not cover.

Julien
Julien (@guest_569299)
March 12, 2018 20:43

What would be the incentive for anyone to book tight connections only to get reimbursed ? You still paid for the second flight, you only get reimbursed if you miss it. There is no profit for anyone in doing so.

Chucks
Chucks (@guest_569334)
March 12, 2018 21:49

As I understand it, you’re able to be reimbursed for incidentals. So ideally you pick up stuff that’ll be useful to you later- shirts, dress shopping, electric toothbrush etc.

HoKo
HoKo (@guest_569650)
March 13, 2018 15:47

It’s also not necessarily a question of profit. It’s a question of risk-taking because you know someone else is on the hook if the risk doesn’t work out.

For example, lets say you have no trip delay protection coverage whatsoever. You are comparing two itineraries that cost the exact same amount of money, the only difference is how long of a layover you take. Itinerary #1 has a layover of 1 hour and Itinerary #2 has a layover of 7 hours. It’s an annoying situation because 1 hour is gonna be really tight and you’re cutting it close, itinerary #2 is too long and you’re wasting time in the airport.

If it’s your own money then maybe you book itinerary #2 cuz you don’t wanna risk getting screwed. But if you have trip delay coverage then you say “screw it, i’ll take the 1 hour layover cuz even if I miss it then my credit card will cover me.” The credit card insurance company doesn’t want to incentivize this sort of risk-taking.

Charlie
Charlie (@guest_569294)
March 12, 2018 20:33

Seems to me that this policy change primarily affects those who connect to a different airline. If the connection is to the same airline on the same ticket, the airline, not Citi, is responsible for the compensation. Am I mistaken?

HoKo
HoKo (@guest_569643)
March 13, 2018 15:41

Depends on the cause of the delay. If it’s weather related the airline is not required to compensate you

Andrew
Andrew (@guest_569225)
March 12, 2018 18:51

Comment about the CSR coverage. Slightly different card, but Ink Preferred may or may not cover missed connections, but it specifically mentions overnight as a covered condition — which puts it way ahead of the Prestige. I would assume it’s the same for CSR and CSP. I’m not going to care so much about a meal at the airport, but the overnight hotel stay is what matters.

Andrew
Andrew (@guest_569224)
March 12, 2018 18:50

Comment about the CSR coverage.

Slightly different card, but Ink Preferred may or may not cover missed connections, but it specifically mentions overnight as a covered condition — which puts it way ahead of the Prestige. I would assume it’s the same for CSR and CSP. I’m not going to care so much about a meal at the airport, but the overnight hotel stay is what matters.

Biggie F
Biggie F (@guest_569139)
March 12, 2018 16:47

3 hrs between connections?

I literally, yesterday, picked Citi Prestige for a $2300 ticket because of the insurance … and the connection — which missed last year — is 1h45m.

May see if I can still cancel tonight with AA, or swap out card. Ticks me off.

Lrdx
Lrdx (@guest_569160)
March 12, 2018 17:27

You’re still covered with the old rules, unless you already have got a mail from them about this change..

Michael H
Michael H (@guest_569118)
March 12, 2018 15:55

I’m sorry, I am new to the travel protection though I just recently picked up the Prestige because of the protections is offered. I really hate to sound like a noob, but I don’t understand. If anyone could clarify for me with a couple of examples, I would appreciate it.

Example A: I have a flight with a 3.5 hour layover in the middle. The first flight is delayed 3.25 hours but I make the second flight and arrive on time. Can I make a claim?

Example B: I have a flight with a 3.5 hour layover in the middle. The first flight is delayed 4 hours and I miss the second flight. I have to wait for the next available flight with puts me at least 4+ hours late to my final destination. Can I make a claim?

Example C: I have a flight with a 1 hour layover in the middle. The first flight is delayed 2 hours, and the second flight ends up delayed for 2.5 hours. I ultimately arrive only 3.5 hours late. Can I make a claim?

Biggie F
Biggie F (@guest_569140)
March 12, 2018 16:49

I’ll try: No, Yes, No

CongestionCharge
CongestionCharge (@guest_569142)
March 12, 2018 16:52

Agreed

Michael H
Michael H (@guest_569182)
March 12, 2018 17:58

Thanks for the clarification. I appreciate you taking the time to answer me.

Frank
Frank (@guest_569197)
March 12, 2018 18:18

It is actually yes, yes, no. As long as you meet the 3-hour requirement, go for a fine dinner and grab something for your personal use.

Biggie F
Biggie F (@guest_569322)
March 12, 2018 21:33

Are you guys sure? I thought the insurance pertained to a trip, not to a particular plane flight. I mean, if you grabbed that dinner, and made yourself miss that next flight, sure. But the question as posed suggests OP arrives at final destination on time.