History&Wine Posted June 28, 2023 #1 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Can You believe this? I got a new card from US Bank since it pays 4X points on travel. Cruises are considered travel. However, Crystal is evidently neither a travel company or a cruise line. Crystal identifies as "CRYSTAL CRUISES USA, L 800-3237308 IL TRAVEL AGENCIES AND TOUR OPERATORS" US Bank considers cruises as travel, but not travel agencies or tour operators. Buyer Beware! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Stickman1990 Posted June 28, 2023 #2 Share Posted June 28, 2023 1 hour ago, History&Wine said: Can You believe this? I got a new card from US Bank since it pays 4X points on travel. Cruises are considered travel. However, Crystal is evidently neither a travel company or a cruise line. Did you contact them about it? It may be just a case of them needing to adjust their vendor categorisation. What was their response? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitob Posted June 28, 2023 #3 Share Posted June 28, 2023 I had an issue with a vendor categorization on my Sapphire Reserve. I called and it got fixed. Definitely worth a call Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Embowaf Posted June 28, 2023 #4 Share Posted June 28, 2023 At least in the past, Crystal, including all onboard charges, were coded as travel when I used a CSR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Txcotn Posted June 28, 2023 #5 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Yes but this is a new company and may not be on their radar. I would call them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
History&Wine Posted June 28, 2023 Author #6 Share Posted June 28, 2023 I did contact them. Transcript below. BTW, when I say Buyer Beware I'm talking about credit card companies...specifically US Bank....and not Crystal. One would thing that "Cruise" "Travel agency" and "tour operator" signifies travel.....; 1:30 PM Your agent will be with you shortly. You have been connected to live agent Aluke Aluke 1:30 PM Thank you for contacting cardmember service. My name is Aluke, how may I assist? Dwight Sent at1:31 PM I made a charge of 10,000 dollars to Crystal Cruises, which is of course a travel company. My card is supposed to pay 4X points on travel with no limit. But I see I was only credited with 1X points...10,000. Should be 40,000 points. Aluke 1:32 PM Got it! I can help with this. One moment please while I access your account. Aluke 1:34 PM U.S. Bank does not control how individual merchants or purchases are categorized. Aluke 1:34 PM Third party booking doesn’t qualify for the accelerated earn. EXAMPLES: priceline.com, hotels.com, etc. Dwight Sent at1:35 PM It is NOT a third party! It is directly with the cruise line! Aluke 1:36 PM 06/26/23 $10,000.00 CRYSTAL CRUISES USA, L 800-3237308 IL TRAVEL AGENCIES AND TOUR OPERATORS Aluke 1:36 PM U.S. Bank does not control how individual merchants or purchases are categorized Aluke 1:36 PM They identify their business as TRAVEL AGENCIES AND TOUR OPERATORS Dwight Sent at1:36 PM A Tour operator is travel. Travel agency is travel. Aluke 1:37 PM If it identified as Cruise line it would apply, but they identify themselves as TRAVEL AGENCIES AND TOUR OPERATORS Aluke 1:38 PM I am sorry. U.S. Bank does not control how individual merchants or purchases are categorized Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Txcotn Posted June 28, 2023 #7 Share Posted June 28, 2023 That's awful. Sounds like you need a new cc company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitob Posted June 28, 2023 #8 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Do you use a travel agent? You might have the TA write a letter Even better -- escalate to s supervisor. The basic rep can only spout the rules -- cannot take any independent action I cannot believe this wont be rectified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted June 28, 2023 #9 Share Posted June 28, 2023 I have had similar issues with Citibank as well. Credit card companies just follow the merchant code, which apparently is set by the merchant. I think only Crystal can fix this [and should – it costs them nothing for us to get these credit card rebates] 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmycruiser Posted June 29, 2023 #10 Share Posted June 29, 2023 No issue with my chase sapphire reserve cc. Received 3% plus 1.5% bonus when I charged my Crystal deposit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare May B Posted June 29, 2023 #11 Share Posted June 29, 2023 We certainly can’t say you didn’t try, Dwight. Really annoying, isn’t it! Now I’ll have to watch to see what my AAA credit card thinks Crystal is. I recently made an $8000 payment, actually putting me over the limit for the bonus for my travel spending for this calendar year. Good luck getting your own quest resolved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmycruiser Posted June 29, 2023 #12 Share Posted June 29, 2023 11 hours ago, Jimmycruiser said: No issue with my chase sapphire reserve cc. Received 3% plus 1.5% bonus when I charged my Crystal deposit. I should have added that it is not a Crystal coding issue if my cc recognized it as a travel category and only gives the 3% rebate on travel and dining and 1% on other. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctjon Posted June 29, 2023 #13 Share Posted June 29, 2023 Not sure if it is relevant but I thought the new company was Crystal and not Crystal Cruises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
History&Wine Posted June 29, 2023 Author #14 Share Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, Jimmycruiser said: I should have added that it is not a Crystal coding issue if my cc recognized it as a travel category and only gives the 3% rebate on travel and dining and 1% on other. Thank you for that. I would welcome others' experiences of positive results of travel card benefits with other banks when booking with New Crystal. Edited June 29, 2023 by History&Wine add Crystal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted June 30, 2023 #15 Share Posted June 30, 2023 5 hours ago, Jimmycruiser said: I should have added that it is not a Crystal coding issue if my cc recognized it as a travel category and only gives the 3% rebate on travel and dining and 1% on other. Or, your bank includes travel agents in its "travel" category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted June 30, 2023 #16 Share Posted June 30, 2023 10 hours ago, ctjon said: Not sure if it is relevant but I thought the new company was Crystal and not Crystal Cruises For the Credit Card purposes t does show up as Crystal Cruises, Downers Grove, IL Travel Agency. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLMSLL Posted June 30, 2023 #17 Share Posted June 30, 2023 Can someone confirm that NC charges on Amex Green are generating 3 Membership Reward points for each dollar charged? …Or does Amex consider the Crystal Cruises Travel Agency to be a third party, such that the charge would not be eligible for the bonus points according to their terms and conditions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmycruiser Posted June 30, 2023 #18 Share Posted June 30, 2023 16 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said: Or, your bank includes travel agents in its "travel" category. Correct. It is still a cc issue not a Crystal coding issue. Booking with a travel agent has always been considered a travel category at least with Chase Sapphire reserve and I assume AE as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Stickman1990 Posted June 30, 2023 #19 Share Posted June 30, 2023 18 minutes ago, Jimmycruiser said: It is still a cc issue not a Crystal coding issue. Booking with a travel agent has always been considered a travel category The payment is typically made to Crystal direct az opposed to via the TAs account. My TA never has access to my funds but I give them the CC details to be charged by Crystal or other cruise line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Txcotn Posted June 30, 2023 #20 Share Posted June 30, 2023 35 minutes ago, Stickman1990 said: The payment is typically made to Crystal direct az opposed to via the TAs account. My TA never has access to my funds but I give them the CC details to be charged by Crystal or other cruise line Our AE charge always says Crystal Cruises not xxxxtravel agency. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare goldengatecruisers Posted June 30, 2023 #21 Share Posted June 30, 2023 If I am not mistaken American Express (Gold, Platinum, Centurion) pays 5X for airline ticket purchases either with Amex Travel or booked directly with the airline. For all other travel related bookings my understanding is 1X point per dollar spent. Not familiar with the Amex Green as noted by RLMSLL in comment #17. I just checked my statements and for all cruise bookings it shows Crystal Cruises and I did not receive a bonus - just the standard 1X point per dollar spent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
History&Wine Posted June 30, 2023 Author #22 Share Posted June 30, 2023 Well folks...just got off a call with US Bank. The rep said they would escalate the issue since cruises do qualify. IF resolved the bonus should appear after four weeks. Four weeks?? My final payment is due July 21. Not putting any more charges on that card! I guess I should have charged a few hundred to Crystal upon receipt of the card just to make sure I would get the bonus. live and learn.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted July 1, 2023 #23 Share Posted July 1, 2023 3 hours ago, History&Wine said: Well folks...just got off a call with US Bank. The rep said they would escalate the issue since cruises do qualify. IF resolved the bonus should appear after four weeks. Four weeks?? My final payment is due July 21. Not putting any more charges on that card! I guess I should have charged a few hundred to Crystal upon receipt of the card just to make sure I would get the bonus. live and learn.... Is that the US Bank Altitude GO card? I only use it for Restaurants, with a 4% rebate (worldwide). I use the Citi Costco Visa for travel, with a 3% rebate – but I might run into the same coding problem you did with Crystal since I don't think travel agents are covered [I don't know since I never have a payment direct to any travel agent]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
History&Wine Posted July 1, 2023 Author #24 Share Posted July 1, 2023 @Host Jazzbeau It is the Altitude Connect card. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitob Posted July 2, 2023 #25 Share Posted July 2, 2023 On 6/30/2023 at 3:42 PM, History&Wine said: Well folks...just got off a call with US Bank. The rep said they would escalate the issue since cruises do qualify. IF resolved the bonus should appear after four weeks. Four weeks?? My final payment is due July 21. Not putting any more charges on that card! I guess I should have charged a few hundred to Crystal upon receipt of the card just to make sure I would get the bonus. live and learn.... I think it will resolve in your favor. It does not matter how they categorize it; it matters what it is -- it is clearly travel. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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