JetBlue is offering $25 off one-way flights and $50 off round-trip flights for travel this fall. All you have to do is use the promo code FALLSALE to get this discount.
The deal is only valid on nonstop flights, and you can’t apply it to previously purchased tickets. It’s also not valid on transatlantic flights or on Mint tickets.
The sale ends July 26, so book as soon as you can.
Deal basics
Airlines: JetBlue
Routes: Between any U.S. destinations where tickets cost more than $50
How to book: Directly on JetBlue’s website with promo code FALLSALE
Travel dates: Sept. 7 through Nov. 16
Book by: July 26 at 11:59 p.m. EST
Blackout dates: Excludes Friday and Sunday travel
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Sample flights
Head to JetBlue’s website, and click on the promotional window.
It’ll take you to the booking page and automatically enter the code. From there, you can choose your dates and destination.
Make sure you’re not trying to book on a Friday or Sunday, as these dates are excluded from the sale. Know, too, that this discount code won’t work if your flight is less than $50.
The below Monday flight to Los Angeles from New York is discounted $25, from $137 to $112.
The same discount is applied to the return flight, making it $50 off both tickets.
When you get to your shopping cart, you’ll see the discount applied in the price summary.
These tickets are for JetBlue’s Blue Basic fare category, which does not include a carry-on or checked bag. To check a bag, you’ll have to pay $35 each way. Passengers cannot cancel without paying a fee and will be the last to board.
Maximize your purchase
Use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases. Frequent JetBlue flyers can use the JetBlue Plus Card for 6 points per dollar spent on eligible JetBlue purchases, the JetBlue Card for 3 points per dollar spent on eligible JetBlue purchases or the JetBlue Business Card for 6 points per dollar spent on eligible JetBlue purchases.
Or, you could use The Platinum Card® from American Express for 5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year); the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve, both of which award 3 points per dollar spent on airfare; or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for 2 points per dollar spent on travel.
The information for the JetBlue Plus, JetBlue Business and JetBlue Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
If you’re planning to travel somewhere in the U.S. this fall, these discounted JetBlue flights are a perfect option.
Book fast, as tickets will sell out quickly before the sale ends tomorrow.
Flight cancellations are the worst, and they seem to be happening more and more frequently these days. That’s why frequent and not-so-frequent travelers should be aware of their options and know what to do if their flight gets canceled at the last minute.
Here’s what you need to know about the Breeze Airways cancellation policy and Breeze Airways customer service.
Why are Breeze flights canceled
There are plenty of reasons a Breeze flight, just like a flight on any other airline, might be canceled. In addition to bad weather and equipment issues, problems like staff shortages or scheduling snafus can also arise. Sometimes the cancellation is the result of a decision made by air traffic control.
While the reason the flight is canceled doesn’t ultimately matter when it comes to refunds and rebooking, it may matter when it comes to other travel-related reimbursements that the airline offers.
What is Breeze Airways’ cancellation policy?
If your flight is canceled, Breeze will offer the option to rebook you on the next available flight or cancel your flight for a refund.
Breeze Airways cancellations may also result in an apology credit from Breeze in the form of BreezePoints. On a recent trip, I received $150 worth of BreezePoints (15,000 points) when my flight was canceled.
But it’s not just canceled flights that Breeze lets you opt out of. If your flight is canceled or delayed for longer than two hours, you can change your flight to a new date any time in the next 14 days or cancel any flight segments not flown for a full refund.
The airline may also offer reimbursement for hotel accommodations if the flight is delayed overnight or rescheduled for the following day — but only if the cancellation or delay was due to the airline’s failure, not for things like air traffic control decisions or weather.
You will have to submit receipts for reimbursement via the Breeze Hotel Reimbursement Request Form within six days to receive payment.
You will have to fill out a Breeze Transportation Reimbursement Request Form online to do so.
What to do if Breeze cancels your flight
If Breeze cancels your flight, you have a few options:
Let the airline rebook you on the next available flight.
Cancel one leg of your flight and get a refund.
Cancel your entire round-trip booking.
There is no Breeze Airways phone number to call, so your only options to get in touch are:
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), if your flight is canceled and the airline is unable to rebook you on an acceptable flight — or you choose to cancel your travel as a result of the flight cancellation — you’re entitled to a full refund of any untraveled portion of your booking as well as extra fees like seat selection and checked luggage.
How to rebook
If you’d like to rebook, you can chat with a gate agent at the airport or rebook yourself online.
To do so, sign in to the My Trips section of the Breeze website, find your canceled reservation, select “View Options” and select a new flight. You can rebook your Breeze flight any time in the 14 days following your canceled flight. The new flight just has to be to and from your original departure and arrival destinations.
How to get a refund
Refunds look a little different. If you only want a refund for one leg of your flight — say if it was your return flight that was canceled — you can request a refund via Breeze’s Refund Request form, which is available online. There will likely be a link in your email, too, if you opted to receive flight updates that way. Keep in mind that refunds may take up to a week to process.
If you want to cancel your whole trip and request a refund for the entire journey, you can do so online or in the Breeze app. Just find your canceled flight under the “My Trips” section, then scroll down to “refund trip.”
Once you confirm your choice to cancel, you’ll receive a credit to your original form of payment for the cost of the ticket. That means if you paid with a credit card, you’ll get money credited back to that card. If you booked with BreezePoints, you’ll get your refund in the form of points.
Credit card and travel insurance that can get your money back
The Breeze cancellation policy doesn’t cover other travel expenses that you may have already booked or prepaid for, like accommodation, rental cars or tour tickets. If you’d like to be reimbursed for these expenses, you’ll want to consider travel insurance.
There are travel insurance policies available for every type of trip, and many will cover the entire cost of your trip if your flight gets canceled.
Some credit cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, also provide travel insurance as long as you pay for bookings with the card. However, coverage may not be as comprehensive as a full travel insurance policy, so read the fine print and know what’s covered before you count on it to protect your investment.
Breeze Airway cancellations recapped
Having your flight canceled is always frustrating, but the Breeze cancellation policy, coupled with the DOT’s refund requirement, means you’ll definitely get a refund for canceled travel if you choose not to rebook.
Additionally, Breeze offers compensation in the way of BreezePoints when it’s at fault, which may help take the sting out of the situation.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
It’s wise to periodically look at the credit cards you hold and gauge the value they provide. Sometimes, cards you may have opened for specific benefits stop being useful. And other times, bonus categories can become less (or more) valuable if there’s a shift in your spending habits. If you’re paying an annual fee, a card you no longer use may not be worth keeping.
However, before you make a final decision to cancel or downgrade as your card renewal approaches, you should talk to a customer representative to see if you can score a retention offer that makes the card worth keeping for another year.
Here’s what you need to know about these valuable incentives to hold onto your top credit cards.
What are retention offers?
Once a credit card issuer has spent hundreds of dollars (with a welcome bonus in cash back, points or miles) to entice you to open a card, it needs to find a way to recoup that investment. If you close your card after only a year or two — especially if you aren’t using it regularly — the issuer will likely lose money on you.
So some (but not all) issuers will extend targeted retention offers to encourage customers to keep a card open longer. These offers can take the form of bonus points, statement credits, reductions or outright waivers of an annual fee — anything that helps persuade you to keep the card open (and, in the issuer’s eyes, keep spending on the card).
For example, multiple cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express have reported the $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) being partially waived with a statement credit, or they were offered a points bonus when they call or chat using the app to tell a representative that they are considering canceling. One TPG reader has told us they got an offer for $95 credit after spending $95 on the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees).
While you’re not guaranteed a retention offer just because you ask for one, it’s not uncommon to receive one when you know how to do it.
Related reading: Here’s why you should never close your credit cards before the one-year mark
How to ask for a retention offer
One common misconception about retention offers is that you can only get them if you’re trying to close a card. Indeed, you’ll generally have the most success asking for a retention offer right around the time your annual fee posts (since that’s when many people decide to cancel a card), but you can try your luck at any time.
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Related reading: My Amex Platinum retention bonus: 20,000 Membership Rewards points
With more companies using automated systems, how you phrase your request is very important. Instead of saying, “I’d like to close my credit card” and hoping the agent makes you an offer, you need to say, “I’m considering closing my card,” or, “I’m not sure I want to keep paying the annual fee on my card.” I’ve heard horror stories of people who said they wanted to close their card, and the automated system shuttered the account before they could ever speak to a human being about it.
Each issuer handles retention offers differently. Some, like American Express, have a dedicated retention department to which you can ask to be transferred. You can also use the chat feature online or on the mobile app with Amex. For other cards, a front-line customer service representative might be able to help you. You can adapt the script to suit your own needs, but my calls or online chats usually go something like this:
“Hi, I noticed that the annual fee on my ______ card just posted, and I’m really not sure I can justify paying it for another year. I really like (insert your favorite benefits), but I’m just not sure about this annual fee. I was wondering if you could check if there were any retention offers available on my account that might help me make up my mind?”
At this point, you can expect the corporate marketing to kick in, and the agent will read you some talking points about why the card is so great and worth keeping. You’ll need to deflect, which you can do by bringing the discussion back to the annual fee you don’t want to pay.
Try mentioning that you have other cards with similar perks (especially if you have multiple Marriott, Delta or Hilton cards, for example), or consider saying that you don’t find yourself spending much on the card. Remember, at no point should you actually say, “I want to close the card” — only that you’re thinking about it.
This is purely anecdotal, but I’ve found American Express to be the most generous with retention offers. I’ve received retention offers on three Amex cards in the past year. Chase rarely gives them out (though it’s more common on cobranded Chase cards than the issuer’s Ultimate Rewards-branded cards). As a data point, I was denied a retention offer on my Chase Sapphire Reserve and decided to downgrade it. Other card issuers may do so, but much less frequently.
What types of offers are there?
Depending on the issuer, there are three different offers you might receive:
Annual fee reduction or waiver: Depending on the card, this can be as good as cash. Even if you don’t plan to use the card much, if you get an annual fee waiver, you can keep the card open for another year, which could boost your credit score. When you factor in perks like statement credits or elite status, an annual fee reduction may be enough to push the card past its break-even point.
Bonus points or miles: Sometimes you’ll be awarded points for agreeing to keep the account open, though more often than not it will be an offer similar to an initial welcome bonus: spend a certain amount of money in a specified period to earn bonus rewards.
Statement credits: Same as above, sometimes applied directly to the account but more often come with a spending requirement.
It goes without saying that the more you spend on a card, the more likely you are to receive an offer. Issuers want to keep their most valuable customers. Sometimes you might even be given a choice between a statement credit or bonus points, in which case you can quickly pull up TPG’s monthly valuation series and decide which offer is better.
As an example, I recently received a retention offer on my Amex Platinum after saying I didn’t feel like I was receiving good value from all of the benefits to justify the high annual fee. I was given the choice between 40,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the next three months, a $400 statement credit for $3,000 in spending or a $150 statement credit with no spending requirement. TPG values those 40,000 points at $800, so it was a no-brainer for me to pick the 40,000 points.
Some TPG staffers also shared some retention offers they’ve received recently:
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: “I got an offer of 20,000 points for $2,000 in spending in three months — was hoping for a bit more since I was on the fence about keeping the card but decided to keep it for one more year!” — Becca Manheimer, senior director of marketing and communications
The Platinum Card® from American Express: “Renewal came up, and they offered a $150 statement credit.” — Tom Grahsler, director of video
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: “I was given the option to earn a $200 statement credit for adding an authorized user and spending $2,000 on the card in the next six months — effectively a return of 10%.” — Nick Ewen, director of content
The Platinum Card® from American Express: “I had just one offer, which was 50,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the next three months, so I immediately jumped on it! — Danyal Ahmed, credit card writer
Bottom line
Every time an annual fee hits on one of your cards, you have to make the decision to keep it open, downgrade or cancel it. Even if you think you know what you want to do, you can’t be sure until you have all the information in front of you.
Spending five to 10 minutes on the phone might net you enough points for a one-way flight to Europe or South America on a card you already wanted to keep open. In terms of pure return on time, there aren’t many deals better than that.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, please click here.
Additional reporting by Danyal Ahmed, Ethan Steinberg and Madison Blancaflor.
Airline credit cards typically offer standard benefits, like bonus miles on airfare purchases, free checked bags and priority boarding. But one of the most valuable perks any airline credit card can offer is a companion ticket that can cut your cost of travel in half.
Thanks to its high welcome bonuses, earning structure and airfare discounts, the British Airways Visa Signature Card has long been considered one of the best credit cards from a foreign airline offered in the U.S., especially when you consider British Airways’ extensive U.S. route network. But it also comes with one of the most interesting companion travel benefits: the Travel Together Ticket.
The rules around redeeming this perk have recently been improved, and it is now easier to use and more valuable than ever.
Here are the details on this companion deal and how to maximize it.
How to earn the British Airways Travel Together Ticket
U.S.-based British Airways Visa Signature Card cardholders who spend $30,000 on their card in a calendar year can earn a Travel Together Ticket (posted within 4-6 weeks). The voucher is valid for outbound travel up to 24 months from the issue date (the return flight can be after that).
The British Airways Visa Signature Card offers 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 in the first three months and exclusive offers when flying the carrier, such as a 10% discount on British Airways flights originating in the U.S., up to $600 in statement credits for award flight taxes and fees every year and earns 3 Avios per $1 spent with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Level. The annual fee is $95.
Only the main cardholder with a registered address in the U.S. is eligible to earn the Travel Together Ticket; additional cardholers are not. Only one voucher can be earned each calendar year, even if the cardholder spends more than $30,000 on the card.
Rules for redeeming The Travel Together Ticket
The Travel Together Ticket comes with several conditions worth considering when it comes time to redeem it, some of which are positive and some negative.
Previously, these vouchers could only be applied to award bookings using British Airways Avios and on British Airways-operated flights. However, this rule has recently been relaxed, so they can now be redeemed on flights operated by Aer Lingus and Iberia, though note you must still book your flight(s) through British Airways Executive Club.
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The Travel Together Ticket differs from other companion tickets, which are more like a two-for-one paid deal. In this case, you’re getting a two-for-one award redemption but are still responsible for the taxes and other carrier-imposed charges on your ticket (which can be substantial). This also means you’ve got to find two awards open on the same itinerary in the same cabin. If you wish to travel in first class, two award seats on the same flight can be tough to come by.
For solo travel, you can redeem it for 50% of the Avios required for one passenger, which is a handy perk if you would rather travel alone and save Avios.
Previously, the voucher could only be used on round-trip itineraries originating in the United States. However, this rule has also recently been relaxed, so voucher holders can now commence their itinerary anywhere in the world that British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus operates from (provided there is Avios availability).
Your companion must be booked in the same cabin on your itinerary (unless you redeem it for solo travel). So if you book a business-class award for yourself, you must find a second one for your companion on the same itinerary. Stopovers are allowed.
Though the terms are not explicit, you should plan to have your card open and in good standing at the time your want to use your Travel Together Ticket.
Related: How to avoid fuel surcharges on award travel
When it makes sense to redeem the Travel Together Ticket
Now we come to the real question: Is it worth using the Travel Together Ticket? The answer depends on how you plan to redeem it.
British Airways awards are notorious for high taxes and surcharges on flights through London. While this generally makes economy awards a bad value, it can still be worth paying less than $2,000 per person to fly in business or first class as part of an award ticket compared to shelling out the cash fare, which will be many thousands of dollars, especially with premium fares across the Atlantic as high as they currently are.
BA introduced a new option in 2022 called Reward Flight Saver to use more Avios to reduce the cost of the taxes and surcharges on Avios redemptions.
British Airways award availability between the U.S. and Europe tends to be much better than what U.S. and other European carriers make available. So if you want to book an award, your chances of finding it are good.
The other key benefit is that British Airways has retained an award chart, so you can be confident of how many Avios you will need on any day — no 400,000 points per flight pricing with this program.
Related: Dynamic pricing vs. fuel surcharges — which is the lesser of two evils for your next redemption?
Now, let’s take four scenarios and compare the cost of using the Travel Together Ticket compared to purchasing airfare to determine whether this is a good deal.
To make things simpler, we’ll look at a single route from Atlanta (ATL) to London Heathrow (LHR) over a single set of dates in November since award availability was open across all four cabins offered by BA on these flights (these are off-peak dates). The taxes and fees are typical examples of what you would expect to pay, both for two people traveling together and solo travelers, given the ticket can also be redeemed for solo travel.
First up, economy. A round-trip award on this itinerary for two people using the lowest surcharge Reward Flight Saver option would cost 120,000 Avios plus 300 British pounds ($393) in taxes/fees.
If you were using this as a Travel Together Ticket, you’d still be paying 60,000 Avios plus $393 for two tickets. This is because you would only be charged the Avios for one passenger but the fees, taxes and surcharges for both. Compare that to the regular economy fare on the same dates of around $1,000 per person for non-stop flights and this would be a great way to use Avios to save hundreds of dollars.
If you are a solo traveler, you can redeem the Travel Together Ticket for 30,000 Avios plus $196 in fees, taxes and surcharges, saving over $800 on the cash fares for the same flight.
Related: A review of British Airways’ A350 in economy from London to Dubai
Now for premium economy. Here’s a sample award from the same week that would cost 190,000 Avios plus 660 British pounds ($864) for two passengers.
A paid fare on the same dates would be $1,813 per person, so $3,626 for two passengers. With a Travel Together Ticket for two passengers, you would be charged 95,000 Avios plus $864, saving you thousands off the cash ticket.
Solo travelers could redeem 45,000 Avios plus pay $432 in taxes and surcharges, another excellent way to save big on the $1,813 cash fare.
Related: Is British Airways premium economy worth it on the Boeing 777-300ER?
In business class, British Airways will charge 360,000 Avios plus 900 British pounds ($1,179) in taxes and surcharges for two passengers at the Reward Flight Saver rate.
With the 50% reduction in Avios with the Travel Together Ticker, you would still be charged a huge 180,000 Avios plus the full $1,179 co-payment. However, with cash fares on these dates close to $4,000 each roundtrip in business class, you would still save thousands of dollars using the voucher.
For solo travelers, just 90,000 Avios plus under $600 in taxes and fees saves versus $4,000 for a cash ticket is a great deal.
Related: British Airways’ Club Suites don’t disappoint: On board a retrofitted 777 from London to New York
Reward Flight Savers are not offered in first class, so while you’ll only need marginally more Avios than the business class rates above, you must pay the full fees, taxes and surcharges. For two passengers using a Travel Together Ticket this would be 170,000 Avios roundtrip plus an eye-watering 3,263 British pounds ($4,279).
While this would represent a decent saving on the cash fares of almost $6,000 per person, given the thousands of dollars of surcharges you must pay for a first class redemption, using the voucher for business class instead would be a much better deal.
How to earn Avios
If you want to use a Travel Together Ticket but don’t have enough British Airways Avios in your Executive Club account, British Airways is a transfer partner of Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making Avios one of the easiest currencies to earn.
Points transfer from Chase, Bilt and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (in addition to occasional transfer bonuses of up to 40%), while Marriott points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, you’ll get a 5,000-Avios bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.
The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you could easily convert to Avios:
American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. Terms apply.
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Check to see if you’re targeted for a 125,000-point welcome offer through CardMatch (offer subject to change at any time). Terms apply.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: (see rates and fees) Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: (see rates and fees) Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Bottom line
The British Airways Visa Signature Card’s Travel Together Ticket can save you thousands of dollars on British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus flights from anywhere in the world by allowing two passengers to travel together, in any cabin with award availability and only pay the Avios required for one passenger. The spending requirement to earn the perk is high, though.
Following last years Reward Flight Saver rollout to allow passengers to reduce the notorious BA carrier-imposed surcharges by paying more Avios, this voucher is a valuable credit card perk for economy, premium economy and business class flights. However, the savings are less in first class as the Reward Flight Saver option is not available.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
As you load your cart in celebration of Amazon’s annual Prime Day event this July 11-12, make sure you’re maximizing your purchases by paying with a credit card that earns rewards on top of your killer savings.
However, determining which card is right for you for Amazon purchases requires looking beyond just points-earning rates and considering other factors, such as rewards currencies, purchase protection and extended warranties. In some cases, you might even want to consider different cards depending on the specific purchase. Additionally, your best option may vary based on whether you’re a Prime member and what other cards you already carry.
And even if you don’t actually use a participating card, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 50% on your purchase by applying just 1 American Express or Chase point to your purchase.
With all those things in mind, here’s a look at the best credit cards to use when shopping at Amazon.
Best credit cards for Amazon purchases
The information for the Prime Visa and Discover it Cash Back card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Prime Visa
At first glance, Amazon’s own Prime Visa appears to be the most exciting option — and for most people, it probably is. The Prime member-exclusive card, which should not be mistaken for the basic Amazon Rewards Visa Signature, does not charge an annual fee (though you do need to pay for Prime membership, obviously).
It offers an impressive 5% cash back on all Amazon and Whole Foods purchases; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores; and 1% back on all other purchases.
Plus, cardholders will enjoy bonus earnings on Prime Day this year. On July 11-12, Prime Visa cardholders will earn 6% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market.
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The biggest drawback is that the high return on spending is all this card really has to offer. While it comes with purchase protection (it covers items up to $500 in value if they’re damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase) and extended warranty protection, it doesn’t include important purchase benefits like price protection and return protection, so it’s not ideal for large purchases.
The other drawback is that you need a Prime membership ($139 per year) to qualify. Although with so many U.S. households already subscribed to Prime, that’s probably not much of an issue for the card’s target demographic.
For more details, check out our full review of the Prime Visa.
Capital One Venture X and Venture cards
If you want transferable points on your Amazon purchases, a pair of cards from Capital One could be good options. That’s because both the Venture X Rewards card and the Venture Rewards card offer 2 miles per dollar spent on everyday purchases — including Amazon.
Based on TPG’s most recent point valuations, that’s a very respectable 3.7% return (valuations are an estimate and not provided by the issuer).
Beyond that, both cards offer identical sign-up bonuses (75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening).
Check out our comparison of the two Venture cards for additional details.
Official application links: Capital One Venture X and Capital One Venture, each with 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 in the first three months.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
If you’re not a Prime subscriber and still want a solid return on your spending from a card with no annual fee, your best bet may be to go with the Chase Freedom Unlimited. The Freedom Unlimited provides 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, and 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining. All other purchases will earn 1.5% cash back.
While that’s a solid return on its own, you could potentially double the value of your rewards by pairing the Freedom Unlimited with a Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.
By doing so, you can convert your cash-back points into full-fledged transferable Ultimate Rewards points, worth 2 cents each based on TPG’s monthly points valuations.
Related: The power of the Chase Trifecta: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Preferred and Freedom Unlimited
Additionally, the Freedom Unlimited also offers 120-day purchase protection and extended warranty protection that extends eligible manufacturer’s warranties by an additional year. Like the two Amazon cards, this one does not have an annual fee.
For more details, check out our full review of the Freedom Unlimited.
Official application link: Chase Freedom Unlimited with an additional 1.5% back on all purchases up to $20,000 spent in the first year.
Discover it Cash Back
Amazon’s Prime Visa isn’t the only card to offer 5% cash back on purchases — the no-annual-fee Discover it Cash Back does, too (on rotating categories, up to $1,500 each quarter you activate, and 1% cash back after that) — and this one doesn’t require you to be a Prime member. However, this earning rate is typically only available on Amazon purchases just one quarter out of the year, and even that isn’t guaranteed to come around every year.
The most recent times Amazon was a rotating category were in the last quarter (Q4) of 2021 and 2022.
Keep in mind that while this card is great for Amazon purchases during any quarter when Amazon is among the retailers that count toward bonus earning, it isn’t the best card to use year-round. When Amazon is not a part of the quarterly cash-back bonus category, your purchases will only receive 1% back.
However, what makes the card shine is that Discover will match your rewards at the end of your first cardmember year, so you could get up to 10% back on Amazon.com purchases from a quarter when it’s a bonus retailer.
Unfortunately, the card has discontinued other benefits, including extended product warranty, return guarantee, purchase protection and price protection.
For more details, check out our full review of the Discover it Cash Back.
American Express® Gold Card
This card is a good choice for those who make many high-value purchases on Amazon.
With the Amex Gold Card, you’ll earn 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar on Amazon purchases, yielding a return of 2% based on TPG’s valuations. Unless there’s an Amazon deal available through Amex Offers, this won’t be the best card from an earning perspective.
The biggest benefit of using the card is its generous purchase protection policy. While many cards include a similar perk, the Amex Gold Card provides an astounding $10,000 in protection per incident and up to $50,000 for all incidents in a calendar year.*
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Related: Best credit cards for purchase protection
The Amex Gold Card has a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees), but its benefits — including up to $120 in dining credits each calendar year at participating restaurants/locations and up to $120 in Uber Cash each year ($10 monthly credits) — make the card worthwhile. The card must be added to your Uber account to receive the Uber Cash benefit. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Gold.
Official application link: American Express Gold Card with a 60,000-point welcome offer after spending $4,000 in the first six months of card membership. However, you may be targeted for a higher welcome bonus through the CardMatch tool (offer is subject to change at any time).
Bottom line
As you can see, picking a card for Amazon purchases isn’t as simple as going with the one at the top of this list.
The best rewards credit card for you depends on your personal habits and priorities. So, while the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card offers a high return on Amazon purchases, it’s not everyone’s best option, as it’s only available to Prime members and lacks key shopping protections, which you’ll want for larger purchases.
Card benefits such as return protection have proved extremely valuable and may be worth sacrificing 2%-3% in rewards in the long run. Additionally, if you’ve been saving up transferable points for a specific redemption, it may make sense to earn rewards in that currency rather than cash back so that you can top off your account and book that award trip you’ve been dreaming about sooner.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.
Additional reporting by Emily Thompson, Ryan Wilcox, Stella Shon and Benét J. Wilson.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
You’re about to buy a flight and you have a credit card with that airline’s name stamped on the front. That’s the best card to use for this purchase, right? Or would you be better served if you used some other credit card?
You have options for earning extra points and miles when you pay. Conversely, there are options for enjoying additional perks during your flight. And some credit cards can give a mix of both.
Let’s take a look at the best credit card to use for United flights so you can see your options.
Comparing credit cards for United Airlines flights
Aside from using a United Airlines credit card, you could also pay using an all-around travel rewards card that earns transferable points on travel purchases, including your next flight reservation with United Airlines. Here are some cards you might pay with and what you could get when using these cards:
Card name
Earning rate on United flights
Value of the rewards earned*
United-related benefits from the card
Annual fee
United Club Infinite Card
4 miles per dollar
4.4 cents
Visit lounges regardless of what cabin you’re flying in (but you must be on a same-day flight with United or a partner)
Premier Access with check-in, security, boarding and checked baggage delivery wherever these services are available
First and second checked bags free for you and a traveling companion (but you must pay for the flights with this card to receive the benefit)
25% back on inflight purchases and premium drink purchases in the United Club
10% discount on saver award redemptions for economy seats on United and United Express flights in the continental U.S. or between the continental U.S. and Canada
500 Premier qualifying points (PQPs) for each $12,000 spent on the card (up to 8,000 PQPs in total; only valid up to Premier 1K)
$525
United Quest Card
3 miles per dollar
3.3 cents
Up to $125 in statement credits to reimburse United purchases each cardmember year
5,000 miles back in your United MileagePlus account (starting after the first cardmember anniversary) if you make an award reservation with United or United Express — available up to two times each account anniversary year
First and second checked bags free for you and a traveling companion (but you must pay for the flights with this card to receive the benefit)
25% back on inflight purchases and premium drink purchases in the United Club
500 PQPs for each $12,000 spent on the card (up to 6,000 PQPs in total; only valid up to Premier 1K)
$250
United Explorer Card
2 miles per dollar
2.2 cents
Two one-time passes to the United Club each cardmember year
First checked bag free for you and a traveling companion (but you must pay for the flights with this card to receive the benefit)
25% back on inflight purchases and premium drink purchases in the United Club
500 PQPs for each $12,000 spent on the card (up to 1,000 PQPs in total; only valid up to Premier 1K)
$0 introductory annual fee, then $95
United Gateway Card
2 miles per dollar
2.2 cents
25% back on inflight purchases and premium drink purchases in the United Club
$0
The Platinum Card® from American Express
5 points per dollar (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
10 cents
None, but you can choose United as your preferred airline to cover up to $200 per year in airline incidental credits for things like checked baggage or preferred seat fees (enrollment is required)
$695 (see rates and fees)
Chase Sapphire Reserve
3 points per dollar (or 5 points per dollar if booked via the Chase travel portal)
6 cents (or 10 cents)
None
$550
American Express® Green Card
3 points per dollar
6 cents
None
$150 (see rates and fees)
Citi Premier® Card
3 points per dollar
5.4 cents
None
$95 (see rates and fees)
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
2 miles per dollar (or 5 miles per dollar if booked in the Capital One Travel portal)
3.7 cents (or 9.25 cents)
None
$395 (see rates and fees)
* Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer.
Which card should you use for United Airlines flights?
Typically, earning transferable points (which you can use in many ways, not just with United) is probably your best approach. And if you use a card that earns Ultimate Rewards points — such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card — you would be able to transfer these points to United Airlines later on if you want to make a redemption through the MileagePlus program.
But what if you need to check a bag? Do you get free checked luggage in some other way, due to flying in a premium cabin or having status with United? If not, paying with a United card might make sense.
Unlike holding a Delta Air Lines credit card — where the checked baggage benefit is attached to your loyalty program number — you must pay for your United flight with your United credit card to use the free checked baggage benefit. Simply having the United Club Infinite card or United Explorer card in your wallet doesn’t confer this benefit.
There are other benefits that require paying with your United credit card. These include earning bonus PQPs through credit card spending, receiving 25% back (as a statement credit) for inflight purchases with United Airlines and getting up to $125 in statement credits each year for United purchases made with the Quest card.
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Related: United Airlines baggage fees and how to avoid paying them
A credit card that has annual travel credits can also help to offset your checked bag fees. If you don’t need to check a suitcase, consider whether you’re losing out on other benefits. Have you used your Quest card’s $125 in United credits so far this year, for example? If you aren’t losing out on benefits like this, aim for the card that will give you the best return on your spending through miles and points.
If you choose to pay with your Amex Platinum Card to earn 5 Membership Rewards points for each dollar, you’ll earn more value (in terms of rewards) on the money you spend but won’t get free checked bags — even if you have a United credit card in your wallet.
Related: The ultimate guide to earning elite status with United cards
Some benefits exist regardless of which credit card you actually use to pay for your flights. These include eligible visits to the United Club lounges, priority boarding and priority check-in benefits, getting 5,000 miles back in your account if you make an eligible mileage award redemption while holding the Quest card, and gaining access to saver award bookings with a 10% discount thanks to the Club Infinite card.
Related: United changes how it shows saver awards online — how to tell if flights are bookable with a partner
Another benefit available to all cardholders — and also available to those with United Airlines elite status — is access to additional award space when redeeming miles for United flights. Plus, those who both have elite status with United and have a United credit card can receive complimentary upgrades to first class when using miles for award flights. That can make holding a United credit card worthwhile even if you also receive numerous benefits as an elite member.
Related: The single reason I’d open a MileagePlus credit card as a United elite
Bottom line
TPG values United miles at 1.1 cents apiece. Even the best-earning option for United credit cards yields just 4.4 cents in value for each dollar spent on United purchases, yet more general travel rewards credit cards can earn at a higher rate. But, you need to pay with your United credit card to take advantage of certain benefits, such as free checked bags and statement credits toward eligible purchases.
Related: The best credit cards for paying taxes and fees on award tickets
Evaluate whether you would be sacrificing benefits to earn more valuable rewards and how important this is to you. Earning fewer points but keeping more cash in your pocket will make sense for most people. For those who don’t need to check a bag, you’re probably free to use whichever credit card has the best earnings on your next United purchase.
And whenever the planned Star Alliance credit card is released, we’ll see if that changes any of these considerations.
Editor’s note: “Points of View” is a series evaluating decisions on which credit card to use. If you’re facing a dilemma about which card is best for an upcoming payment, email us at [email protected].
Also in this series:
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Green card, click here.
If you’re like us, you’re already filling your basket with this year’s Prime Day deals.
And if you’re looking to save even more money this July 11-12, we have great news. There’s a promotion for select and targeted Chase Ultimate Rewards cardholders for 50% off eligible purchases on Amazon when you redeem at least one Chase Ultimate Rewards point towards your Amazon purchase.
We don’t usually recommend redeeming rewards points on Amazon, especially since, in this case, you’ll get well below TPG’s valuation of 2 cents each for your Chase Ultimate Rewards points when cashing them in at Amazon.
However, much like the American Express promotion we highlighted last week, you can redeem this offer by using just 1 Chase point — and we’re certainly “primed” for an easy outlay like that to save up to $60 with just one point.
How to get 50% off Amazon using 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards point
Note that not everyone will be eligible for this promotion. (In fact, only half of the TPG staffers who tried this were eligible to add it to their accounts.)
See if you’re eligible for the promotion
To start, check this link to see if you’re eligible for this promotion.
Although you can add a Chase Ultimate Rewards points-earning credit card such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to your Amazon account now, the message we received gave a 24-hour minimum turnaround before the information would be approved, so it might not show up in time to take advantage of this deal for Prime Day if you don’t already have one linked.
Activate the promotion
If you follow the link and see an “Activate promotion” button — congrats — you can move on to the next steps.
To activate the promotion and apply points to your next order, you must click on the button at this point to receive the promotion credit.
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Start shopping
Now comes the fun part: Just add eligible products that are both sold and shipped by Amazon to your shopping cart (third-party vendors won’t activate the discount). Here are some of the travel-related Amazon Prime sales that have caught our eyes.
One of our TPG staffers went with the ever-popular summer option of self-sealing water balloons and stacked the 50% offer by using 1 Chase point with an Amazon Prime Lightning Deal discount.
You can add as much as you’d like to your cart, but pay attention to the maximum value of your targeted offer. We’ve seen it as high as $60, so in that case, a $120 purchase would maximize the full deal value.
Check out
Once you’ve made your selections, head to your cart and add 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards point at checkout.
You’ll need to cover the rest of your transaction using a Chase credit card, though you can also apply an Amazon gift card balance if there’s one attached to your account. The 50% savings will be reflected on the final order checkout page.
Now you just need to sit back and wait for your half-price water balloons — or whatever it is you ordered — to show up at your door.
Final note: This offer is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. (PDT) on July 13.
Read on for more Amazon-related deals and coverage:
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
One of our favorite online shopping portals is back with its annual Big Stack promotion. From July 10 to 12, Rakuten is offering up to 10 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar (or 10% cash back) at participating retailers.
If you want to get the best deal for your online shopping, click through Rakuten first (yes, that same company with the very fun “Clueless”-themed Super Bowl commercial.).
To use the portal, begin your online shopping trip on the Rakuten website, and search for your desired store. You’ll be redirected to the retailer’s website. After you make your purchase, Rakuten will track your transaction and add bonus rewards to your account — generally within just a day or two.
Better yet, if you’re a new Rakuten shopper, you can also earn a $30 cash bonus when you spend at least $30 on a qualifying purchase within the first 90 days.
Here’s what you need to know about this deal.
Increased cash back with Rakuten
Earning up to 10% (or more) cash back is newsworthy. However, earning up to 10 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar can be even better for those looking to earn transferable points.
TPG values Amex points at 2 cents each when used toward travel. That means you’ll effectively get up to a 20% return on spending when making purchases during this promotion. So if you’re getting your credit cards ready for the upcoming summer holidays, this is the deal for you.
Related: How to use Rakuten to earn bonus cash back or Amex points on your purchases
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Just note that you must update your earning preference from cash back to Amex points in your Rakuten account before completing your purchase. Also, be aware that switching from Amex points back to cash back is permanent, so think carefully before making that change.
Here are some of the stores participating in this promotion:
Bloomingdale’s
Dermstore
Finish Line
Glossier
Indochino
Macy’s
PetSmart
Ray-Ban
ULTA
Viator
At most merchants, you’ll want to pay with a credit card that earns bonus points and miles on everyday purchases. Some good options include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees), which earns 2 Capital One miles per dollar on all purchases, and the Citi® Double Cash Card (see rates and fees), which earns 2% back on all purchases — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill. These rewards can be converted to full Citi ThankYou points if you have a higher-end card like the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees).
However, on Viator purchases, consider using a card that earns well on general travel purchases, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve, which earn 2 and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel purchases, respectively.
And remember that the 10% back (or 10 Amex points) will be in addition to any earnings on the credit card you swipe.
Related: How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value
Stack with credit card offers
Historically, Dell.com has offered bonus points via Rakuten, and it’s one of the participating merchants in the Big Stack promotion. This means now could be a great time to spend your Dell credit from The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
As a reminder, the card provides cardholders up to $400 in annual statement credits per year toward U.S. purchases with Dell in the form of $200 back in January-June and the second $200 from July-December. Enrollment is required in advance.
In addition to computers, Dell sells projectors, laptop bags, headphones, monitors, video games and more.
Alternatively, if you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, you’ll enjoy up to $100 in annual statement credits for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue ($50 from January-June and another $50 from July-December). Enrollment is required in advance. While Saks isn’t participating in this promotion, you can still earn more on your purchase by going through Rakuten.
Related: 11 things you can buy with the Amex Platinum $50 Saks credit
Finally, be sure to see if any of the participating merchants also have offers through your favorite credit cards. You may be eligible for discounts or bonus points through Amex Offers, Chase Offers or Citi Merchant Offers, so it’s worth checking those platforms before making an online purchase.
Bottom line
This week, you can earn up to 10% cash back — or even better, up to 10 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at Rakuten.
Between this excellent earning rate and the $30 new customer bonus, now’s a great time to earn a bunch of points toward free flights to your next vacation spot with surprisingly little effort.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh, Ehsan Haque, Summer Hull, Kyle Olsen and Ryan Smith.
Flight delays are frustrating. Whether it’s because of thunderstorms or an overbooked crew, the result is the same: You don’t get to where you’re trying to go.
It’s never pleasant when things go awry, but if you’re flying on American Airlines, you have some options. Let’s look at American Airlines delayed flight compensation, your rights and other things to know.
What to know about American Airlines delayed flight compensation
1. American Airlines may not owe you anything
Although the Department of Transportation (DOT) has regulations when it comes to flight cancellations and compensation, there isn’t a similar ruling for flight delays.
Recently, airlines have begun to make clearer commitments to the type of compensation you’ll receive during a flight delay with one specific caveat: These apply only to controllable delays.
This means that airlines have only guaranteed to give you compensation when things such as missing crew or maintenance issues arise. It doesn’t apply to air traffic control or weather delays.
2. Your credit card can reimburse you
Even if American Airlines isn’t willing to reimburse you for delays, there’s a good chance your credit card will. Many travel credit cards offer complimentary travel insurance, which includes trip delay insurance, trip interruption insurance, delayed luggage insurance and more.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is among the best for complimentary travel insurance — simply because it provides so many protections. This includes trip delay insurance, which kicks in after a six-hour delay or one that forces you to stay overnight.
The protection caps out at $500 per person and will reimburse you for reasonable expenses incurred as a result of the delay. These expenses can include:
Toiletries.
Medications.
Other personal use items you may need.
Importantly, credit card travel insurance can also cover more than one person. In Chase’s case, this means you, your partners and your legally dependent children up to age 26 are all covered as long as you charge a portion of the fare to your card.
3. There is more than one type of compensation
American Airlines offers more than one type of compensation if your flight is canceled or delayed. If your flight is significantly delayed and you choose not to fly, you’ll be entitled to a refund. However, the DOT has not specifically defined what constitutes a “significant delay,” so this may be difficult to enforce.
For controllable delays, American Airlines has made a variety of commitments to its passengers, including the provision of accommodation and food vouchers.
4. The DOT dashboard outlines your rights
The DOT maintains an up-to-date dashboard for 10 airlines outlining your rights. This provides information as to what American Airlines has committed to providing if your flight is delayed or canceled.
Here is what American Airlines has committed to providing its customers in the event of a controllable delay:
Rebook you on a new flight in the case of significant delays.
Rebook you on a partner airline or an airline with which it has an agreement in the event of a significant delay.
Give you a meal or meal voucher for a delay lasting three hours or more.
Provide you with hotel accommodations for an overnight delay.
Give you ground transportation to and from your hotel for an overnight delay.
5. Delayed EU flights can compensate you
Although the DOT doesn’t have many protections for customers on flights, the European Union does. Thanks to EU261, if your flight to, from or through the EU is delayed for a variety of reasons, airlines are required to compensate you. The amount is based on the amount of the delay and the distance of your flight.
Flight length
Compensation
1,500 kilometers or less
250 euros ($273).
Flights from 1,500 to 3,500 kilometers
400 euros ($437).
Flights longer than 3,500 kilometers
600 euros ($655).
Note that compensation is applicable only for controllable delays. Severe weather or air traffic issues aren’t eligible for reimbursement.
6. You’re owed if you get bumped
Overbooking is a common airline practice. This means that airlines will sell more seats than they have in the hope that some passengers don’t show up. However, sometimes everyone does arrive and airlines are forced to bump passengers. They’ll first ask for volunteers; if there aren’t enough volunteers, they’ll then start bumping people involuntarily.
You have rights if you get involuntarily bumped from your flight. If you arrive within one hour of your originally scheduled arrival time, you won’t get any compensation. Any more than that, however, and the numbers start rising.
Depending on how long you end up delayed, the airline will owe you between 200% and 400% of the fare that you paid (note that there are maximums to this).
You’ll also be eligible for compensation if you were traveling on an award ticket and end up bumped. In this case, your compensation is based on the lowest cash, check or credit card payment charged for a ticket in the same class of service on your flight.
American Airlines delayed flight compensation recapped
There’s no good way to deal with a flight delay. This is true on any airline, American Airlines included.
However, if your flight has been delayed for a controllable reason, you may be entitled to compensation. Do your research, check out the DOT’s dashboard, and make sure you get what you’re entitled to when American Airlines makes you late.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
If you want to save up to 50% on a Disney hotel stay, it doesn’t take a fairy godmother or a magic wand. All it takes is knowing how to rent Disney Vacation Club points.
One of the easiest ways to quickly save a potentially significant amount of money on a Disney vacation — without sacrificing much of anything — is to stay in a Disney Vacation Club villa using rented Disney Vacation Club points.
You can find these villas at Disney resorts such as Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, Saratoga Springs or even Disney’s Aulani Vacation Club Villas in Hawaii.
The best part? You don’t have to be a Disney Vacation Club owner (or even know one) to rent Disney Vacation Club points and save money on a Disney vacation. There are services that match those looking to rent with those who have points up for renting.
Related: Guide to renting Disney Vacation Club points
Save up to 50% by renting DVC points
Some pretty big online companies essentially act as the middleman between owners of Disney Vacation Club points and those who want to rent them for a specific trip.
These companies will link Disney Vacation Club point owners with prospective renters so they can spend less money when renting anything from a one-room studio to a three-bedroom villa or even an overwater bungalow.
When you do this, you still get all the perks of staying on-site, such as early entry to the parks each morning and the opportunity to buy individual Lightning Lanes starting at 7 a.m. without paying full Disney prices.
We’ve rented Disney Vacation Club points numerous times in the past to save money on our family’s trips to Disney, both from other Disney Vacation Club owners and from a company called David’s Vacation Club Rentals.
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The name implies a mom-and-pop shop (or at least pop). It is a family-owned business, but the new reality is much more advanced; it has a few dozen team members listed on its site and frequent mentions on almost all Disney-related sites.
Here’s how it works: A Disney Vacation Club owner (Disney’s version of a timeshare) can use their points to book a stay for anyone at one of these resorts:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas
Bay Lake Tower At Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel
Disney’s Riviera Resort
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
Disney’s Hilton Head Resort
Related: These are the best hotels at Disney World
If an owner doesn’t plan to use their entire Disney Vacation Club points allotment for the year, they can make some or all of the points available for rent via a service like David’s. David’s Vacation Club Rentals pays a rate to the points owner (often $16 – $18 per point) and then charges more to the renter (often $21 – $23 per point). The company’s profit lies in the difference.
The best way to use David’s Vacation Club Rentals, or any other similar site, is to first familiarize yourself with the Disney Vacation Club points charts; also, familiarize yourself with the online availability search tools to learn how much something costs and whether it is likely to be available on your dates.
Across Disney Vacation Club, rooms start at just 7 points per night and go as high as hundreds of points per night, so there’s a wide spread of points costs.
If you paid $21 per point to rent a room that costs 7 points per night, your costs would be $147 for that night. In fairness, rooms that cost that amount of points are few and far between, but they do exist.
Let’s look at a booking available right now. If you want to stay two nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge in a Kidani Village Studio with a standard view from Dec. 21 – 23, that booking is available for 28 total points. Since that date range is already within seven months, it would cost $21 per point, or $588 total, for the two-night stay if booked with points rented at that rate from David’s Vacation Club. There are no additional taxes or fees due on Disney Vacation Club stays.
If you booked that same room directly from Disney, it’s selling for $589 per night, which is $1,326 for the two-night stay with taxes and fees. That’s more than twice the cost of renting the points.
It’s important to know that some Disney Vacation Club rooms, especially the cheapest ones, can and do sell out well in advance.
You want to book as far in advance as you can. The Disney Vacation Club booking calendar opens 11 months before your check-in date. If you book seven or more months in advance, you may pay a $2 per night “home resort” premium at David’s, as only those owners who own points at a particular resort can make reservations more than seven months in advance. Within seven months, owners can use their points at any of the available DVC resorts (with a few caveats).
Related link: Rent DVC points via David’s Vacation Club
How to use David’s Vacation Club rentals
Once you know where you want to stay and verify there is availability for your dates (here’s the tool I use), it’s time to ask David’s Vacation Club Rentals to make the booking. Note that availability is dynamic, and you don’t want to delay once you know what you want.
To rent using David’s Vacation Club, complete its reservation form and make a $105 deposit that is applied to your final rental price using a Visa, Mastercard or Paypal. (I recommend using a card with no foreign transaction fees since David’s is based in Canada.) If they can’t book what you want, that money is refunded.
Once you submit your request, you wait. It’s not a live availability booking process — it’s manual.
We have waited as little as an hour to be informed via email that our request could be fulfilled. We were then given a link to pay the balance of our reservation (minus the $105 deposit), and then the booking was secured. Within a few more hours, the entire process was complete, and we had a reservation in our names with a Disney confirmation number.
The booking should code as travel, so use a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve that awards a bonus on travel.
This Disney confirmation number you’ll get is a big deal because that’s what you’ll need to link the booking to your Disney account and unlock the perks of staying on the property.
In all of my stays, I have been able to successfully link the reservation to my online Disney account and easily check in under my name. Everything about my stays has been smooth. Once, we lived it up in a three-bedroom Grand Villa within walking distance to The Magic Kingdom for one night, thanks to renting Disney Vacation Club points. You can read our full Disney’s Bay Lake Tower review here.
Most recently, we rented a two-bedroom suite at Disney’s Animal Kingdom via David’s Vacation Club for a total of $840. The two individual bedrooms we would have otherwise needed would have cost more than the points than required to get the whole two-bedroom with the living room and kitchen. That particular resort is inching toward requiring a bit of a renovation to put it on par with some of the resorts more recently spruced up, but that’s true whether you booked with cash or Disney Vacation Club points.
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Downsides to renting DVC points
My experience and other online reviews show that David’s has the Disney Vacation Club rental process down to a science. However, there are downsides.
First and foremost, cancellations and changes are not permitted. This will be a non-starter for some folks. For others, look into travel insurance or be sure to use a credit card with built-in trip protections that might help you as a method of last resort.
Also, know that stays booked via the Disney Vacation Club do not come with full housekeeping (er, “mousekeeping”) the way that standard hotel rooms would (though only deluxe Disney resorts booked with cash get guaranteed nightly housekeeping).
Rooms booked via Disney Vacation Club get “trash and towel” service on the fourth night. If your stay is more than eight days, you get a full cleaning on the fourth night. Housekeeping also inspects rooms daily and may remove trash during that time.
If you want more housekeeping services, you can pay for additional cleaning at rates that range from $30 for a studio villa to $75 for a three-bedroom villa.
Look for last-minute specials
If you like the idea of renting Disney Vacation Club points to save as much money as possible, keep an eye out for last-minute specials where you can save even more. These reservations tied to a specific resort and date are currently available for as little as $16 per point. This can happen when Disney Vacation Club members have points they really need to rent out as soon as possible or risk letting them expire and go to waste.
Bottom line
I’ve rented from David’s Vacation Club Rentals multiple times since 2018. The site has a prompt online chat option for quick questions during working hours, and I’ve had real success renting DVC points to save money over cash rates at Disney World and beyond.
Read on to continue your Disney vacation planning: