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Many credit cards are now offering limited-time perks designed to encourage cardholders to use (and renew) their — even if they're due to .
Issuers have announced the following limited-time perks:
In many cases, these . But, we've received a few questions about how these new limited-time perks apply to . Let's take a closer look.
Travel credits that can now be used for other purchases
greeYou may be able to use your travel credits on restaurant take-out orders. (Photo by Prostock-Studio/Getty Images)Select offer that will normally reimburse travel purchases up to a set amount. But, with many cardholders and uncertain about , some issuers have begun allowing these travel credits to be used for other purchases. For example:
The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
As with the normal travel credits for these cards, authorized user spending counts toward these travel credits. But authorized users don't get additional credits on top of the credits provided for the primary cardholder's account. For example, the information page for the 's limited-time perks notes:
And, the terms and conditions for the normal up to on the note:
Select normally offer statement credits for travel-related purchases charged to the card. For example, the offers up to $100 in statement credits towards while offers bi-annual (up to $100 per calendar year).
Since cardholders aren't able to put these benefits to use, American Express is offering new limited-time statement credits for non-travel purchases.
The Platinum Card from American Express
cardholders get up to $160 in statement credits on select U.S. streaming subscriptions (up to $20 per month) and up to $160 in statement credits on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers (up to $20 per month), with both offers running from May through Dec. 2020.
Platinum cardholders who renew their card between April and Dec. 2020 will also get up to toward purchases that will be valid between Aug. 2020 and Dec. 2021. The card comes with a $550 annual fee (see ).
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
From May through Dec. 2020, cardholders get up to $160 in statement credits on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers (up to $20 per month) and up to $160 in statement credits on U.S. purchases for shipping (up to $20 per month).
American Express Green Card
Cardholders of the get up to $80 in statement credits on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers (up to $10 per month) from May through December 2020.
Does authorized user spending count?
Authorized users don't get their own credits, but their spending does count toward the limited-time credits offered to the primary account holder.
Bonus earnings at grocery stores and supermarkets
Credit cards are expanding their category bonuses to better accommodate cardholders who are stuck at home and spending more on household expenses. Many credits cards are now offering for a limited time. For example:
Purchases made by authorized users also earn elevated bonus points on eligible purchases for a limited time. As is normal on credit cards that offer capped earning for purchases in select categories, the cap is per account, not per cardholder. For example, the for the note:
Lots of provide a . But, for a limited time, select credit cards will allow you to earn additional credits towards status via credit card spending.
Hilton credit cards
Bonus points earned through eligible purchases on the , and will be considered base points and count towards elite-tier qualification and . Points must post to the cardmember's Hilton Honors account between May and Dec. 2020.
American Airlines credit cards
Net purchases on that post to your AAdvantage account between May and Dec. 2020 (including category bonuses).
United Airlines credit cards
Eligible cardholders can on select cards in 2020.
As is normally the case, authorized user spending during these limited-time promotions will count toward the primary cardholder's status and points or mileage balance. So, authorized users will help the primary cardholder reach the primary cardholder's desired status instead of working toward their own status.
Bottom line
In short: Spending by counts the same as spending by the primary cardholder when it comes to these limited-time perks. Specifically, authorized users don't get their own benefits when it comes to statement credits. Instead, authorized user spending counts toward the same cap as the primary cardholder.
Featured image by Georgijevic/Getty Images.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click .
Many credit cards are now offering limited-time perks designed to encourage cardholders to use (and renew) their — even if they're due to .
Issuers have announced the following limited-time perks:
- Limited-time
- Up to for select Chase cardholders
- Extra for select Citi cardholders
- 6x for select Marriott cardholders
- up to $200 for select Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders
In many cases, these . But, we've received a few questions about how these new limited-time perks apply to . Let's take a closer look.
Travel credits that can now be used for other purchases
greeYou may be able to use your travel credits on restaurant take-out orders. (Photo by Prostock-Studio/Getty Images)Select offer that will normally reimburse travel purchases up to a set amount. But, with many cardholders and uncertain about , some issuers have begun allowing these travel credits to be used for other purchases. For example:
- cardholders can now use their $250 annual travel credit at and through the end of 2020
- Cardholders of the can use the up to at U.S. restaurants from June through Aug. 2020
- Cardholders of the can use the up to $250 Hilton resort credit at U.S. restaurants from June through Aug. 2020
The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
As with the normal travel credits for these cards, authorized user spending counts toward these travel credits. But authorized users don't get additional credits on top of the credits provided for the primary cardholder's account. For example, the information page for the 's limited-time perks notes:
And, the terms and conditions for the normal up to on the note:
Additional statement credits for select purchases
Select normally offer statement credits for travel-related purchases charged to the card. For example, the offers up to $100 in statement credits towards while offers bi-annual (up to $100 per calendar year).
Since cardholders aren't able to put these benefits to use, American Express is offering new limited-time statement credits for non-travel purchases.
The Platinum Card from American Express
cardholders get up to $160 in statement credits on select U.S. streaming subscriptions (up to $20 per month) and up to $160 in statement credits on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers (up to $20 per month), with both offers running from May through Dec. 2020.
Platinum cardholders who renew their card between April and Dec. 2020 will also get up to toward purchases that will be valid between Aug. 2020 and Dec. 2021. The card comes with a $550 annual fee (see ).
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
From May through Dec. 2020, cardholders get up to $160 in statement credits on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers (up to $20 per month) and up to $160 in statement credits on U.S. purchases for shipping (up to $20 per month).
American Express Green Card
Cardholders of the get up to $80 in statement credits on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers (up to $10 per month) from May through December 2020.
Does authorized user spending count?
Authorized users don't get their own credits, but their spending does count toward the limited-time credits offered to the primary account holder.
Bonus earnings at grocery stores and supermarkets
Credit cards are expanding their category bonuses to better accommodate cardholders who are stuck at home and spending more on household expenses. Many credits cards are now offering for a limited time. For example:
- Cardholders of the , , and can earn 4x Delta miles at U.S. supermarkets from May through July 2020
- Cardholders of the can earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on up to $7,500 spent at U.S. supermarkets from May through July 2020
- Cardholders of all personal co-branded Marriott credit cards earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points at U.S. supermarkets from May through July 2020. Amex cardholders earn 6x on up to $7,500 spent and Chase cardholders earn 6x on up to $5,000 spent
- Cardholders of the and can earn 12x Hilton Honors points at U.S. supermarkets from May through July 2020
- Cardholders of eligible , including the and , will receive either (on up to $1,500 per month) through June 30, 2020
Purchases made by authorized users also earn elevated bonus points on eligible purchases for a limited time. As is normal on credit cards that offer capped earning for purchases in select categories, the cap is per account, not per cardholder. For example, the for the note:
Spending toward status
Lots of provide a . But, for a limited time, select credit cards will allow you to earn additional credits towards status via credit card spending.
Hilton credit cards
Bonus points earned through eligible purchases on the , and will be considered base points and count towards elite-tier qualification and . Points must post to the cardmember's Hilton Honors account between May and Dec. 2020.
American Airlines credit cards
Net purchases on that post to your AAdvantage account between May and Dec. 2020 (including category bonuses).
United Airlines credit cards
Eligible cardholders can on select cards in 2020.
As is normally the case, authorized user spending during these limited-time promotions will count toward the primary cardholder's status and points or mileage balance. So, authorized users will help the primary cardholder reach the primary cardholder's desired status instead of working toward their own status.
Bottom line
In short: Spending by counts the same as spending by the primary cardholder when it comes to these limited-time perks. Specifically, authorized users don't get their own benefits when it comes to statement credits. Instead, authorized user spending counts toward the same cap as the primary cardholder.
Featured image by Georgijevic/Getty Images.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click .