AmEx Announces Additions and Cuts to Side Perks in 2020
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American Express is making adjustments to secondary benefits across its portfolio of cards as of Jan. 1, 2020, adding new perks, tweaking others and eliminating some entirely.
"This is part of our effort to offer our card members the benefits they value most," an AmEx spokesperson said in a statement to NerdWallet.
Although you shouldn't choose a card based solely on the extras, it's helpful to know how your card may or may not have you covered. Here's what lies ahead for American Express' cards.
What's being added
1. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
This feature will allow eligible cardholders to be reimbursed for a nonrefundable trip purchased with their eligible card up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per account per consecutive 12-month period. Terms apply.
Which cards are getting it?
Consumer cards:
The Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates and fees).
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (see rates and fees).
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (see rates and fees).
Business cards:
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates and fees).
American Express Corporate Platinum Card.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (see rates and fees).
2. Trip delay insurance
This feature will allow cardholders to be reimbursed for certain "reasonable" unexpected expenses resulting from a trip that's delayed for an extended period of time, including meals, lodging and other personal use items, for up to two claims per covered card in a 12-month consecutive period. The round trip must be paid for entirely with your eligible card, and the delay must be due to a covered reason. Terms apply.
Which cards are getting it?
Coverage for eligible delays of more than six hours; reimbursement up to $500 per trip:
The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
American Express Corporate Platinum Card.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Coverage for eligible delays of more than 12 hours; reimbursement up to $300 per trip:
American Express® Gold Card (see rates and fees).
American Express® Business Gold Card (see rates and fees).
American Express® Green Card (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. (see rates and fees)
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (see rates and fees).
Terms apply.
What's being axed
Travel accident insurance and roadside assistance
These benefits, which are offered on all American Express cards, will no longer be available starting in 2020.
"These two benefits were not popular with our card members and utilized by less than 1%," said an AmEx spokesperson in an email to NerdWallet.
What's changing
Purchase protection
Currently, all American Express cards provide purchase protection on eligible items bought with their card for up to 120 days from the date of purchase if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. Beginning Jan 1, 2020, that protection will drop to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express confirmed to NerdWallet that items purchased before that date will still have 120 days of purchase protection. Terms apply.
Extended warranty
Under its current terms, American Express can provide up to two extra years to an original U.S. manufacturer's warranty of five years or less when you use your card on new eligible purchases. This perk currently applies to all American Express cards. Starting Jan 1, 2020, the extended warranty will drop to one year. Terms apply.
Although the extended warranty benefit currently applies to all American Express cards, it will no longer be offered on these no-annual-fee consumer cards:
Blue from American Express®.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (see rates and fees).
Return protection
All American Express cards currently offer return protection for 90 days from the date of purchase of an eligible item. If the merchant won't take back your purchase, American Express may refund the full purchase price (excluding shipping and handling), up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per card account per calendar year based on the date of purchase. Terms apply.
Starting January 1, 2020, these will be the only cards to offer return protection:
Consumer cards:
The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (see rates and fees).
Business cards:
The Plum Card® from American Express (see rates and fees).
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
Terms apply.
What's staying the same
All American Express cards will continue to offer car rental loss and damage protections and global assistance via the American Express Global Assist Hotline. It should be noted that car rental insurance coverage plans may differ depending on the card used to make the reservation. Terms apply.
All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The American Express® Green Card is no longer available through NerdWallet. To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, see this page. All information about The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express is no longer available through NerdWallet.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Plum Card® from American Express, see this page.
All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet. To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page.
Insurance Benefit: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance
Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance
Up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Insurance Benefit: Return Protection
With Return Protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won't take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Insurance Benefit: Purchase Protection
When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase with their Eligible Card, Purchase Protection can help protect their Covered Purchases for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Insurance Benefit: Extended Warranty
When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty§ can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Insurance Benefit: Return Protection
With Return Protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won't take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
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