Chase, Citi perk up their best rewards cards

Chase and Citi make credit card news this week with enhancements to their credit card rewards and financial management tools.

Citi enhances one of the best airline credit cards

One of the best airline credit cards has just gotten better. Since Apr. 2, the new Citi Platinum Select/AAdvantage Visa Signature Cardhas been offering better rewards and more perks than previously.

Here are the key enhancements: you now get miles for redeeming miles at a rate of 10 percent. In other words, if you book a trip and redeem 50,000 miles, you stand to receive 5,000 bonus miles 6-8 weeks after making your booking. You can only earn up to 10,000 miles in this way each year. Your first eligible checked bag flies free and that applies to you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation. Take advantage of priority boarding with Group 1 privileges* (review the application page of the card for any conditions or limitations). Again, this applies to you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation. If you spend $30,000 or more in qualifying purchases on the card in any one year and renew your card membership, you'll receive a $100 American Airlines Flight Discount redeemable on eligible flights booked through AA.com.

Chase lets you redeem rewards at the Ritz

Chase cardholders can now transfer their Ultimate Rewards points to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company's loyalty program, giving them access to "magnificent luxury at participating hotels worldwide in 25 countries," according to a recent press release. As a result of this move, such points are redeemable with 30 international airlines and 3,400 partner hotels as well as Ritz-Carlton's own properties.

The new program applies to holders of Chase Sapphire Preferred, Ink Plus and Ink Bold Business Card cardmembers.

Citi makes managing business credit cards easier

Many enterprises, large and small, find business credit cards indispensable. But the undoubted benefits come with a headache: making sure employee cardholders don't abuse their company plastic.

Now Citi has launched a web-based Program Audit Tool (PAT) that streamlines that process by flagging up transactions that appear to be inappropriate. In a press release, Manish Kohli, Citi's global head of commercial cards, commented:

Citi's Program Audit Tool provides clients with yet another resource to protect their programs from fraud or card misuse. PAT allows clients to not only proactively identify when cards are being misused, but also to establish internal controls and auditing processes that drive program compliance.

Published 04/06/12 (Modified 01/15/13)