LowCards.com

[Greg Hampton]

The "Built-In Card Benefits" Report gave the highest grade, an "A," to American Express for its comprehensive benefits package and communication of benefits to cardholders. User benefits include extended warranties, purchase protection against loss, damage or theft of items within 90 days after their purchase and identity theft assistance.

Citi had the next highest grade, an "A-." It offers car rental discounts at Hertz, air travel trip insurance and lost luggage assistance. Discover followed with a "B" score, and provides emergency travel assistance when trip tickets are purchased with the card.

The report also noted that American Express, Citi and Discover did the best job of providing benefit details to current and potential cardholders.

*Eighty percent of issuers provide extended warranties that add 12 months of coverage onto the original manufacturer's warranty, but restrictions vary.
*Capital One and Citi provide the coverage only when the original warranty lasts a year or less, for example, while American Express will extend coverage on original warranties of up to five years.
*Chase and Citi offer automatic trip cancellation insurance.
*American Express, Citi and Capital One offer price protection, where customers can get rebates for purchased items for sale at a lower price elsewhere
*Wells Fargo, Citi and American Express offer lost or stolen wallet assistance.
*American Express, HSBC and Citi offer theft and breakage protection for a limited time after purchase.
*Seventy percent supply emergency travel support for customers that pay for tickets or hotel stays on their credit card.
*Only three issuers include flight benefits, such as ticket discounts and assistance with delayed flights.
*Four issuers provide compensation and help with delayed baggage.

Story by Leslie McFadden for Bankrate.
http://www.bankrate.com/financing/credit-cards/which-credit-cards-offer-the-best-benefits/