No credit card required
Browse credit cards from a variety of issuers to see if there's a better card for you.
I got the JetBlue Plus airline card for its elevated points on JetBlue purchases and the free checked bag. It also has benefits like enhanced trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance and travel accident/baggage delay. I also have the Hilton AMEX Aspire that comes with an airline incidental credit that I'd like to assign to JetBlue.
If I purchase a flight with the JetBlue Plus card, then come back and purchase seats with the AMEX to trigger the airline incidental credit does that negate the aforementioned airline card benefits? Refering to the insurance, the guide to benefits indicates that we are insured "provided the entire cost of the passenger fare(s), less redeemable certificates, vouchers or coupons, has been charged to your MasterCard Card account." Another place in the guide to benefits indicates that this "travel insurance plan is provided to MasterCard cardholders automatically when the entire cost of the passenger fare(s) are charged to a MasterCard account while the insurance is effective." (The term "fare" is not separately defined in the guide to benefits.)
Do you know if seat assignments or seat upgrades are considered part of the "passenger fare" under this definition? Thanks!
The underlying fare would qualify you for coverage in those cases. Airlines that charge for seat selection, baggage fees, upgrades, in-flight purchases, etc. are not part of the fare itself. Seat selection fees will generally sub-code as "additional collection" purchases on airlines with their own MCCs, and who actually charge for that.
Thanks, @K-in-Boston !
Not addressing the question of how trip insurance works, but I don't think the purchase of a seat upgrade using an AMEX Platinum nor AMEX Hilton Aspire will trigger the airline fee reimbursement.
@NRB525 wrote:Not addressing the question of how trip insurance works, but I don't think the purchase of a seat upgrade using an AMEX Platinum nor AMEX Hilton Aspire will trigger the airline fee reimbursement.
Paid upgrades do not, as that is just a difference in fares. Fees to choose "more preferable" seat selections (closer to front, exit row) or to even choose an advance seat assignment for some airlines would be covered as incidentals as long as they are charged separately from the ticket purchase. My understanding was that OP was planning to pay a seat fee separately and not upgrade to a higher fare code.
Yes, that's correct. Thank you both for your info!