Originally Posted by
NYCFlyer10001
"Prior to the departure" apparently means prior to the departure of your first flight.
The definition of a trip refers to departing from and returning to
home, not to the first flight:
A Covered Trip is a period of round-trip travel (meaning departing from and eventually returning to your primary residence) that doesn’t exceed three hundred and sixty- five (365) days away from your residence to a destination other than your city of residence.