Book airfare through credit card portal or direct? Frequent Miler reader Mike wrote in with this question:
American Express Platinum cards give you 5x points for direct bookings to airline flights. However, most airlines give you 3x to 5x for using their own co-branded cards for those same flights. Direct bookings give you more options if things go sideways (e.g., flight cancelations that require a rebooking). Or would prefer 8x Chase Sapphire Ultimate Rewards multiplier? If you use Amex or Chase, you have to deal with an online travel agency to re-book replacement flights. Do you prefer Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, over direct bookings versus that airline’s own co-branded card, and why?
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Just a friendly reminder that (booking direct)on United can use Paze with x10 when paying with some Chase cards
Can you go through the better insurance on the CSR that makes you choose that versus Amex Plat for 4x vs 5x? 6hr bag delay ($100/day up to $500), travel accident insurance ($1m) and emergency medical/dental ($2.5k) look to be the differences? Is the idea that you buy travel medical insurance and just set a $2.5k deductible to lower travel insurance costs?
Realize these are ultimately peace of mind type things, but depending on your situation, not sure these benefits necessarily always tip the scale to CSR, but certainly take the point that if you are spending, say, $10k on airfare a year, the extra 10k MR points is probably only worth ~$150, and lots of ways to earn 10k points.
Another thing to consider is airfare pricing on Chase Travel. Often, it is more expensive than the price that is available elsewhere. In those cases, the extra 4x points are worth less than you think.
The WF Autograph Journey has an annual fee of $95 and earns 4x. Its flight/hotel protection goes up to $15k, which I think might be the highest out there. Depending on what your travel protection priorities are, this might be an alternative.
PS
I think Rove uses something called NDC, which makes flight bookings as if you made it directly with the airline. And, if something comes up, you work directly with the airline and not Rove. But, you do earn Rove points in addition to your airline and credit card points.
Just wanna thank you all for the various deals you share on here. Earlier this year Nick had posted about the Alaska points promo on American Airlines J/F awards to S. America. Took that trip recently and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially for the value proposition.
One airline that, I believe, earns 6x on its credit cards is JetBlue. JetBlue Plus, Business and Premier all offer 6x on JetBlue airfare. Of course, Nick wouldn’t need to worry about this after 25for25!
I recently booked a flight to Europe via Chase. I was able to use a $50 Starwood preferred credit that otherwise would have expired.
Plus, I had the 1.25 multiplier on most of my points
Sapphire, not Starwood!