I'm planning to go to Japan in March, so I looked up flight tickets on several sites. Round trip prices vary by up to $900 depending on location. Woof!
Here's the twist
One place I checked was credit card rewards sites. You also get points and benefits, so it's no problem at all, right? It's not that fast. If you do a little research, you may find that it's not a bigger, better deal.
Many credit card companies offer fancy reservation tools as a perk to justify the high annual fee, but that's not always the case. perky You guessed it.
Simply put, rates through credit card companies are often higher than booking directly.Airlines and hotels aim to encourage customers to book theyTherefore, you have a much higher chance of getting a deal through your site.
No, it's not “free”
You are probably ton The amount needed to earn those points in the first place. When you think about it that way, it doesn't seem that free. And even if you don't have enough points to cover your entire trip, you'll still have to pay cash to settle your bill.
Pro tip: I often cash out my credit card points for gift cards at places where I've already shopped or where I'm planning on buying a gift for someone.
Pricing woes
Credit card companies do not set prices for hotel rooms or flights through their portals. Most companies have no control over travel booking functions at all.
- Expedia is behind American Express' travel site.
- The popular Hopper tool manages Capital One's products.
Please also note that hotel and flight prices fluctuate and the website does not update prices at the same time. If you don't check carefully, you could end up paying older, more expensive rates.
If you have loyalty points at a particular hotel chain, use them up. (you Can not You can redeem hotel loyalty points through third-party sites so you can book directly. ) Depending on your status, you may receive additional benefits such as spa discounts or early check-in. worth it!
Want to convert those points into cash?
- First and business class tickets typically offer the best value for points and miles. Redeem your money and enjoy the bougie experience.
- Credit card companies often offer special discounts on vacation packages to cardholders, so look for deals.
- Traveling in a large group? Extended stay properties often require a portion of the points required for luxury options.
- Planning a trip during the busy season? Use points to save money.
Wondering what day of the week to book those flights?
It's Sunday. Save up to 15%. How many days in advance for domestic or international flights? Check out my site for even more insider travel tips. We linked to the print version of the page, so no ads will be displayed. you're welcome.
🤣 I once asked the flight attendant to change my seat because my baby was crying next to me. Turns out you can't do that if the baby is yours.
