CNB Crystal Visa Infinite Guts Their Program – A Catastrophic Loss of Value

CNB Crystal Visa Infinite Guts Their Program

Starting next year, the CNB Crystal Visa Infinite Card will be much less valuable. Today we learned of a long list of perks that are being devalued or going away altogether. Plus there’s some language added in the terms against those that might increases their spending artificially.

The airline fee credit which was a huge benefit, is being gutted. You will now get about a third of the value. $100 Visa Infinite discount is going away completely. Priority Pass lounge access is also taking a hit, as guests will have to pay. You will no longer earn 3x on gas and groceries either. It’s all happening on January 1, 2020.

Airline Incidental Fees Credit

Under the Airline Incidental Fees Statement Credit benefit, cardholders under the Crystal Visa Infinite Card Account may receive a statement credit of up to $350 per Account per calendar year for Qualifying Airline Purchases (as defined below) charged to the Account.

That’s a total of $350 annually, down from $1,000 or even $1,250. It is now possible to get $250 for the primary cardholder and each additional user. You can add up to 4 or 5.

Visa Infinite Discount

The Visa Infinite Discount Air Benefit is being discontinued. Accordingly, the section of the Guide to Benefits entitled “Visa Infinite Discount Air Benefit” is deleted in its entirety.

So that’s another $100 in value going away.

Priority Pass Membership

We are revising the Guide to Benefits (a) to change the Priority Pass Select program membership eligibility, enrollment, renewal and change processes and procedures; and (b) to reflect that we will no long cover the access charges for visits by accompanying guests of Members; instead, the Member’s Crystal Visa Infinite Card will be charged $32 per guest, per visit.

Guests were previously free, and now will have to pay $32 per visit to access Priority Pass lounges.

Gas/Groceries No Longer Earn 3x

We are removing net purchases made at merchants that are classified as gasoline stations or groceries from the category of net purchases that accrue 3 Points for each one dollar spent.

That was probably the best way to earn points with this card, and both categories are going away. You still earn 3x Points on airlines, hotels, taxis, limousines, rental cars, trains, buses, restaurants, and fast food and takeout food dining establishments, and 1x Point on all other net purchases.

Improper Use of the Program

And then there’s this. If you engage in improper use of the Program, we reserve the right, among other things, to take the following actions:

• Suspend or cancel your participation in the Program without notice
• Suspend or close your Account
• Stop you from earning Points
• Reverse any Points that have accrued and cause you to forfeit Point
• Seek to recover Awards redeemed using Points earned as a result of improper use of the Program and to recover our monetary losses including litigation costs and damages
• Refuse to open additional or new Accounts for you in the future

Conclusion

You really don’t need me to tell you that this is a catastrophic loss of value. You are losing about $700 or more in value with airline credits. Another $100 with Visa Infinite airfare discount. Guests have to pay to access Priority Pass lounges. And it’s harder to earn points.

There’s not much left beside a $350 airline fee credit, a gutted Priority Pass membership and free TSA PreCheck which most of you already have. Is that worth a $400 annual fee anymore?

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