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The Best Capital One Credit Card Offers for Travel

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Much like American Express, Chase and Citi, Capital One offers a few credit cards specifically for travelers. These travel rewards cards , which feature a variety of benefits, allow you to earn miles on your purchases and then redeem them towards things like airfare, hotel stays and other travel costs.

Two of Capital One’s credit cards are travel-focused: the ​​ Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card .

So, what is the best Capital One credit card for travel? Let’s look at the differences between these two cards and help you figure out which one is right for you.

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars and 5 miles per dollar spent on flights.

5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars.

2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases.

Up to $300 when booked through Capital One Travel.

10,000 miles.

Up to $120 every four years.

Unlimited access to Capital One and partner lounges.

Two visits per year.

Up to $800.

A closer look at Capital One travel credit card offers

Welcome bonus.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is currently featuring a welcome offer of: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Meanwhile, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is offering the following: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

It’s not uncommon to see welcome offers change; in this case, the two cards offer an identical amount of bonus miles for the same spend level, leaving them wholly tied.

However, if you’re really looking to focus on earning miles, you may want to consider the ​​ Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card because of its much lower annual fee compared to the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card . More on this next.

» Learn more: How to make the most of your Capital One Venture Rewards Card

There is a significant difference between the two cards’ annual fees. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a mid-tier card and its annual fee reflects as such. You’ll pay just $95 per year to hold the card, though you’ll enjoy correspondingly fewer benefits as a result.

The feature-laden Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , meanwhile, competes with other premium reward credit cards with an annual fee of $395 .

Perks shared by both cards

Bonus miles earned. When not booking travel via Capital One’s travel portal , you’ll earn a flat two miles per dollar spent on all purchases with both cards.

Travel insurance. Both cards come with travel insurance , including rental car insurance and a lost luggage reimbursement. (Benefits may change over time.)

Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. These cards offer a credit of up to $120 towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership, valid once every four years.

No foreign transaction fees. Neither of these cards charges a foreign transaction fee when used overseas.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards might surprise you

Benefits unique to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Featuring a lower annual fee compared to other high-end travel credit cards, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card still comes with a bevy of benefits.

$300 travel credit

Not as generous as the travel credit offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, you’ll still receive up to $300 each year towards travel purchases — as long as they’re booked through the Capital One Travel portal . This is valid for multiple types of travel, including flights, hotels and rental cars.

» Learn more: How to use the Venture X travel credit

Airport lounge access

Capital One has started building its own branded airport lounges, with three already open at Dallas-Fort Worth airport, Washington-Dulles and Denver International. Those who hold the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card receive complimentary unlimited access to these lounges.

In addition, cardholders receive a Priority Pass Select membership, which grants them entry to more than 1,300 airport experiences worldwide. This includes lounges and even massages. Cardholders can also bring up to two guests into the lounge for free.

Finally, you’ll also have unlimited access to the Plaza Premium lounge network , which features more than 100 locations around the globe.

» Learn more: The guide to Capital One lounges

Anniversary bonus

Starting on your first anniversary, those with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card will receive a 10,000 mile bonus, which is worth $100 toward travel through Capital One’s travel portal.

Cell phone insurance

When you pay your cell phone bill with your card, you’ll be eligible for reimbursement of up to $800 if your phone is damaged or stolen. (Benefits may change over time.)

» Learn more: What to know about electronics insurance

Benefits unique to the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has just one unique benefit compared to its higher-end sibling.

As a cardholder, you’ll receive complimentary access to either a Capital One lounge or a Plaza Premium lounge twice per year.

Afterward, you can enjoy these lounges for just $45 per visit.

» Learn more: 5 reasons you should be using airport lounges

Redeeming Capital One Miles

Both cards earn Capital One Miles , which can be used in various ways. This includes redeeming them for statement credits, transferring them to hotel and airline partners or buying gift cards.

Be aware that not all redemptions are created equally. For example, Capital One will allow you to redeem miles at a value of one cent per point towards purchases made within their travel portal. However, these miles are valued at up to 1.2 cents each by NerdWallet , which is made possible by redeeming miles with transfer partners instead.

Capital One’s hotel and airline transfer partners

Capital One has a total of 17 different hotel and airline transfer partners , but not all are created equal. Some are typically a better value than others .

Its partner roster includes airlines from SkyTeam , Star Alliance and Oneworld alliance.

Aeromexico (1:1 ratio).

Air Canada (1:1 ratio).

Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).

Avianca (1:1 ratio).

British Airways (1:1 ratio).

Cathay Pacific (1:1 ratio).

Emirates (1:1 ratio).

Etihad (1:1 ratio).

EVA (2:1.5 ratio).

Finnair (1:1 ratio).

Qantas (1:1 ratio).

Singapore Airlines (1:1 ratio).

TAP Air Portugal (1:1 ratio).

Turkish Airlines (1:1 ratio).

Accor (2:1 ratio).

Choice Privileges Hotels (1:1 ratio).

Wyndham Rewards (1:1 ratio).

It’s important to note that while most of these transfer at a 1:1 ratio, which means one Capital One mile becomes one hotel or airline point, there are a few exceptions. Capital One miles transfer to ALL - Accor Live Limitless at a 2:1 ratio and to EVA Air Infinity MileageLands at a 2:1.5 ratio.

» Learn more: The guide to Capital One transfer partners

If you’re considering a Capital One credit card …

Capital One’s two Venture cards aim to serve various travel customers. Those who aren’t interested in a high annual fee can opt for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , while those who’d like a more premium travel experience may enjoy the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card .

Before picking the card that’s right for you, consider how you’ll make use of the card. How often do you travel? Do you enjoy spending time in airport lounges? Will you benefit from an annual travel credit? Answering these questions can help steer you toward the right Capital One card for your needs.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

2x-10x Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

1%-8% Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Terms apply.

$200 Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

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• Capital One Venture Rewards Card

Full List of Travel Insurance Benefits for the Capital One Venture Card [2024]

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Table of Contents

Basic card information, travel insurance coverage, how coverage compares, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card remains one of the best travel rewards credit cards in the world. Even though this card has existed for many years, its relatively recent (and seemingly meteoric) rise to the top of the rankings has been attributed to Capital One Miles’ new transfer partnerships with airlines and hotels.

In the past, the Capital One Venture card’s rewards could only be used for a fixed value for redemptions, such as statement credits and gift cards. Now, the card has the ability to help its cardholders achieve outsized value . It also has an impressive earning structure (especially if you’re into simplified rewards instead of bonus categories), a series of neat benefits, and, of course, travel insurance.

The Capital One Venture card offers great travel insurance, especially at its price point. In this guide, we’ll walk you through all of the travel insurance benefits offered by the Capital One Venture card.

Let’s get into it!

Travel insurance is just one suite of benefits offered by the Capital One Venture card . Before we dive deep into this card’s travel insurance coverage, let’s touch on the other reasons why you’d want this card in your wallet.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Capital One Miles

Travel insurance offered by your credit card is one of the most important ways you can protect yourself against unforeseen incidents, accidents, or other inconveniences while traveling.

Most of the travel insurance coverage that comes with the Capital One Venture card is due to its status as a World Elite Mastercard. While we’ve summarized the highlights of what to expect, the exact benefits you’re entitled to can be found in the Capital One World Elite Mastercard Guide to Benefits . Make sure to check the full guide for the detailed terms and conditions.

MasterRental Insurance

The Capital One Venture card provides an auto rental collision damage waiver as a benefit for covered trips. As long as you decline the car rental agency’s collision damage coverage and use your card to pay for the rental, you receive:

• Secondary coverage for collision damage and theft on U.S. domestic car rentals
• Primary coverage for collision damage and theft if you have no other insurance or your insurance does not cover you in territories or countries outside of the United States

There are a few requirements for this to kick in:

• You must be the primary cardholder.
• Only you, as the primary renter, and any additional drivers listed on your auto rental agreement are covered .
• Your rental period must not exceed 31 consecutive days in the U.S. or 31 days outside of the U.S.
• Coverage is not available in countries where it is prohibited by that country’s laws or the coverage terms are in conflict with the laws of that country.

The benefit provides reimbursement for up to the value of the vehicle, but there are a few exclusions:

• Expensive or exotic automobiles
• Antique automobiles
• Trailers, motorbikes, and other vehicles with fewer than 4 wheels
• Trucks and vans, including sport utility trucks

Hot Tip: Remember, rental car insurance from credit cards does not offer liability coverage at all. That means that if you are deemed at fault for the incident, you are 100% liable for charges.

To get coverage, you need to put the entire car rental transaction on your Capital One Venture card and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver . After that, you’re good to go!

Covered losses include:

• Physical damage and/or theft of the covered rental vehicle
• Valid loss-of-use charges imposed and substantiated by the auto rental company
• Reasonable and customary towing charges to the nearest qualified repair facility for covered theft or damage

Here are some examples of exclusions :

• Injury of anyone or damage to anything inside or outside the rental vehicle
• Loss or theft of personal belongings
• Personal liability
• Theft or damage from intentional acts, or from the driver or drivers being under the influence of alcohol, intoxicants, drugs, or contraband or partaking in illegal activities
• Wear and tear, gradual deterioration, or mechanical breakdown
• Damage from off-road operation of the rental vehicle

Filing a Claim

To file an auto rental collision damage waiver claim, follow these steps:

• Visit www.mycardbenefts.com or call 877-288-6784 to open a claim. You must report it no later than 60 days after the incident.
• Your benefit administrator will advise on the next steps to file a claim.
• Collect all of your documentation, including accident report forms, auto rental agreements, repair estimates and itemized repair bills, police reports (if obtainable), and so on.
• All documents must be submitted within 180 days of the date of theft or damage.
• Claims are typically processed within 15 days, and your benefit administrator will work with you to substantiate your claim.

Lost or Damaged Luggage

Losing luggage while traveling seems to be every traveler’s worst nightmare. While lost luggage reimbursement doesn’t make up for the inconvenience of having to replace clothes and toiletries in the event of a loss, it should soften the emotional and monetary blow.

With the Capital One Venture card, you can get lost or damaged luggage insurance. To qualify, you must pay for the entire cost of your plane ticket using your card and report the loss to the airline first .

You and your immediate family members, which include your spouse and legal dependent children under age 18 (or under age 25 if enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited institution) are covered.

Currently, you are covered for up to $1,500 per incident . You are limited to a maximum of 2 claims per 12-month period, and this coverage is supplemental to any existing baggage insurance or reimbursement you may have from another source.

So if you lose $1,500 worth of luggage on an American Airlines flight and the carrier reimburses you for $500, you could be eligible for the difference through this benefit, which would be $1,000.

To file a claim for lost luggage reimbursement, you must:

• Immediately notify the common carrier or airline to begin their claims process .
• Visit www.mycardbenefts.com or call 877-288-6784 to open a claim. You must start the claim process within 60 days from the date the luggage was lost or stolen.
• Your benefit administrator will send you a claim form. Follow all of the directions to file a claim and furnish the appropriate documentation to complete your claim.
• Submit the claim with all necessary documentation within 180 days from the date the luggage was lost or stolen.

Master RoadAssist ® Roadside Service

The Capital One Venture card offers a roadside dispatch service , which is a 24/7, pay-per-use program for roadside assistance.

Although the roadside dispatch service that comes with the Capital One Venture card is not complimentary , it may still come in handy because fees for many services (such as jump-starts, towing, gas delivery, and tire changes) are prenegotiated and billed directly to your Venture card.

All you need to do is call 877-288-6784 to make a service call.

Travel Accident Insurance

The last thing you want to happen is for you or a loved one to be involved in a serious or life-threatening incident.

The Capital One Venture card offers travel accident insurance, which could cover you, your spouse or domestic partner, and dependent children for up to $1 million if there’s an accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech, or hearing while traveling on a common carrier.

To get this insurance, you need to put the entire cost of the fare onto your Capital One Venture card. Note that terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to the guide to benefits for more details. Travel accident insurance is not guaranteed; it depends on the level of benefits you get at the time of application.

If you ever need to file a claim, follow these instructions:

• Obtain a claim form within 20 days after the event occurrence by contacting the Claim Administrator at 877-288-6784.
• The claim administrator will send you the claim forms within 15 days.
• Within 90 days after the date of the loss, submit the completed claim form and all associated documentation.

Travel Assistance Services

It’s impossible to predict what will happen while you’re traveling, especially if you’re visiting a place you’ve never been before.

To help combat this uncertainty, the Capital One Venture card offers certain travel and emergency assistance services, which are available 24/7, 365 days per year.

These services are offered to you, your spouse or domestic partner, and dependent children and are for assistance and referral only , which come at no additional charge. However, you are responsible for any other services provided, including medical, legal, transportation, or cash advance services.

To use the travel and emergency assistance benefits, call 877-288-6784.

Examples of services include:

• Medical referral assistance , which will provide medical monitoring, referral, and follow-up.
• Legal referral assistance , which can arrange contact with English-speaking attorneys, U.S. embassies, and consulates if detained by local authorities, or if you need legal assistance.
• Emergency transportation assistance , which can help make necessary arrangements for emergency transportation home or the nearest medical facility.
• Emergency ticket replacement , which can help you get replacement tickets if your original carrier’s ticket is lost.
• Lost luggage locator service , which can help you find and arrange shipment of lost luggage through the common carrier’s procedures.
• Prescription assistance and valuable document delivery arrangements , which can help manage your prescription medication needs and transport critical documents that you left at your home or elsewhere.
• Pretrip assistance , which can help you learn about ATM locations, currency exchange rates, necessary immunizations, required passport visas, weather reports, and more in your destination before you leave.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Normally, foreign transaction fees on most credit cards are in the ballpark of 3%. But if you hold the Capital One Venture card, you won’t be hit with any foreign transaction fees at all ( rates & fees ).

So if you spent $1,000 on purchases while traveling abroad, you’d save $30 in fees.

Now that we’ve highlighted all of the Capital One Venture card’s travel insurance coverages in detail, let’s take a look at how it fares relative to other options.

We’ll start with other credit cards. After that, we’ll touch on travel insurance policies that are purchased outright.

Other Credit Cards

Different credit card issuers like Chase and American Express offer unique sets of travel protections and benefits.

In this section, we’ll examine what other issuers offer. We’ll do our best to compare credit cards in the same tier as the Capital One Venture card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card is the card that draws the most comparisons with the Capital One Venture card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers better travel insurance benefits than the Capital One Venture card . To be specific, it offers:

• Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Primary auto rental collision damage waiver

American Express

Although Amex doesn’t necessarily offer a card in the same tier, some compare the Capital One Venture card to the American Express ® Gold Card . For a full breakdown of coverage by card, explore our Amex travel insurance benefits in-depth guide .

Because the Capital One Venture card doesn’t offer trip delay insurance, we give a slight edge to American Express cards.

Capital One

The Capital One Venture card’s travel insurance benefits pale in comparison to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card .

The Capital One Venture X card is a Visa Infinite card, so it offers a variety of other travel protections , such as:

• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance

That said, the Capital One Venture X card also has a higher annual fee, so keep that in mind.

Citi credit cards generally don’t offer anything in the way of travel insurance, so the Capital One Venture card is significantly better.

Bank of America

Similar to Citi, Bank of America’s main cards for travel rewards generally don’t offer travel insurance or protections.

Travel Insurance Policies

Travel insurance from your credit card will never be a full replacement for a comprehensive travel insurance policy, full stop.

That said, comprehensive travel insurance policies are often much pricier than you think (even though it can be worth it in an era of increasingly uncertain travel).

For example, if you have a $10,000 tour, it may cost $1,000 in travel insurance to fully cover that expense with a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

The best way to decide whether or not you want to purchase a separate travel insurance policy is to read through the benefits guide of your Capital One Venture card closely. Depending on your risk appetite or tolerance, you might find it unnecessary to buy a travel insurance policy.

The Capital One Venture card offers a variety of travel protections to its cardholders. Thanks to this card, you can travel with significant peace of mind if something goes awry while traveling.

Remember that having travel insurance doesn’t guarantee you’ll get reimbursed when anything happens — you need to confirm that the event that occurred is eligible for coverage. You also need to follow the appropriate procedures at all times, including notifying your benefit administrator of all incidents in a timely fashion.

Overall, the Capital One Venture card provides decent travel insurance, but this  will not replace a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the American Express ®  Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa ® or Mastercard ® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here .

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Crunching the numbers: Is it more expensive to book flights through a credit card travel portal?

Editor's Note

Many top travel rewards cards offer bonus rewards when you book flights, hotels and rental cars through their travel portal.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ but just 2 points per dollar spent on other travel, including flights booked directly with airlines.

So, you might consider booking flights through a credit card travel portal when you plan your next trip. However, many travelers believe you'll often pay more for flights when booking through a credit card travel portal. Plus, you can earn bonus rewards on select airline credit cards if you use them to book directly with the airline.

But are flights actually more expensive when you book through a credit card travel portal? We collected and then crunched over 750 data points to find out.

What data did we collect?

For this story, we collected 785 data points to determine whether flights are more expensive on average when you book through a credit card travel portal. Specifically, we collected fares across 157 round-trip flight itineraries.

For each itinerary, we defined the specific flight numbers, travel dates and cabin class — basic economy, main cabin economy, premium economy or business class — and then asked TPG staffers to collect fares across the following booking methods as quickly as possible (always within a four-hour window):

• Directly with the airline
• American Express Travel portal
• Capital One Travel portal
• Chase Travel portal
• Citi Travel portal

Half of the travel dates for our itineraries were about two months out, while the other half were about six months out. Almost all of the itineraries we considered originated in the U.S., with 40% of our data points being domestic flights and 58% being flights within North America. Now, let's dive into what we found.

Related: How to decide when to use cash or miles for buying airline tickets

Key takeaways

If you're only interested in the highlights, here's a summary of the most important takeaways:

• Not every itinerary is bookable through each credit card travel portal.
• Chase Travel sold the highest percentage of the itineraries we searched; Amex Travel sold the lowest.
• Compared to booking directly, fares are, on average, slightly less expensive through Chase Travel, slightly more expensive through Capital One Travel and Amex Travel and much more expensive through Citi Travel.
• Capital One Travel returns the same fare as booking directly more than half the time. Amex Travel and Chase Travel return the same fare as booking directly less than half the time, while Citi Travel rarely returns the same fare as booking directly.
• To get the best flight price, you should check each portal you can access and compare these rates with what the airline charges for direct bookings.

We learned plenty more interesting things while analyzing our data. So, read on for more statistics and a deeper analysis of what we learned.

Related: 11 strategies to find cheap airfare

Is it more expensive to book flights through a travel portal?

Booking flights through a credit card travel portal is sometimes more expensive but sometimes cheaper. The only portal that was often more expensive to book flights through compared to booking directly was the Citi Travel portal.

We crunched data from 157 round-trip itineraries and calculated the average difference between each portal's pricing and booking directly. Here's what we found:

• Amex Travel portal : 1.19% more expensive than booking directly
• Capital One Travel portal : 0.05% more expensive than booking directly
• Chase Travel portal : 0.44% less expensive than booking directly
• Citi Travel portal : 9.32% more expensive than booking directly

Here's a look at the number of itineraries that were equal to, more expensive than or less expensive than what you could book directly with the airline.

As you can see, the Chase Travel portal — the only credit card portal we considered that performed better on average than booking directly in our experiments — also featured the most itineraries where we found less expensive fares through the portal than booking directly.

Meanwhile, fares for 74 itineraries were more expensive through the Citi Travel portal than booking directly. In 26 instances, the Citi Travel portal returned prices more than 10% higher than you'd get booking directly. One such itinerary involved flying All Nippon Airways in economy between Los Angeles and Tokyo in December. The cost for this itinerary through Citi Travel was about $5,300 while booking directly would cost about $1,400.

Now, let's discuss some of these metrics when looking at subsets of our data set. In particular, we'll discuss domestic, international and economy flight trends.

Related: The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare

Trends for domestic flights

The average difference between each portal's pricing and booking directly for the 61 round-trip domestic itineraries we considered is as follows:

• Amex Travel portal : 2.68% less expensive than booking directly
• Capital One Travel portal : 0.37% more expensive than booking directly
• Chase Travel portal : 0.07% more expensive than booking directly
• Citi Travel portal : 0.22% more expensive than booking directly

Here's a look at the number of domestic itineraries that were equal to, more expensive than or less expensive than what you could book directly with the airline.

In our tests, domestic fares through the Amex Travel portal were an impressive 2.68% less expensive than booking directly, with three fares even being 10% less expensive. One of these fares was for a round-trip itinerary from Los Angeles to New York in December with nonstop flights in both directions. For this itinerary, we could book through Amex Travel for $612. Meanwhile, Capital One Travel wasn't selling the itinerary, and booking directly or via Chase Travel or Citi Travel carried fares of roughly $762.

Some TPG staffers reported seeing Insider Fares for some of the Amex itineraries we searched, but because Insider Fares only apply when you redeem Amex points for your entire fare , we did not include Insider Fares in the rates we collected for these itineraries.

Related: 9 things to consider when choosing to book via a portal vs. booking directly

Trends for international flights

The average difference between each portal's pricing and booking directly for the 96 round-trip international itineraries we considered is as follows:

• Amex Travel portal : 3.02% more expensive than booking directly
• Capital One Travel portal : 0.52% more expensive than booking directly
• Chase Travel portal : 0.75% less expensive than booking directly
• Citi Travel portal : 13.72% more expensive than booking directly

Here's a look at the number of international itineraries that were equal to, more expensive than or less expensive than what you could book directly with the airline.

Citi Travel, by far, had the fewest itineraries for which the fares through the portal were equal to those found directly with the airline. The Citi Travel portal also showed fares at least 10% more expensive through the portal compared to booking directly for 25 itineraries, which is 26% of the international itineraries we considered.

Meanwhile, Chase Travel featured fares for the international itineraries we considered that were 0.75% less expensive, on average, than booking directly. Out of all the international fares that were less expensive through Chase Travel than booking directly, each fare was at least 1% less expensive. For example, round-trip WestJet flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver, British Columbia, on two different dates cost $431 through Chase Travel but $459 through every other booking method we considered.

Related: What you need to know about direct versus third-party travel bookings

Trends for economy flights

The average difference between each portal's pricing and booking directly for the 109 round-trip economy itineraries we considered is as follows:

• Amex Travel portal : 0.70% less expensive than booking directly
• Capital One Travel portal : 0.16% more expensive than booking directly
• Chase Travel portal : 0.66% less expensive than booking directly
• Citi Travel portal : 7.15% more expensive than booking directly

Here's a look at the number of economy itineraries that were equal to, more expensive than or less expensive than what you could book directly with the airline.

Economy fares through Chase Travel and Amex Travel were around 0.7% less expensive than booking directly. Thirty economy itineraries, or about 28% of the economy itineraries we considered, were less expensive through the Chase Travel portal than booking directly. Meanwhile, 17 economy itineraries were less expensive through the Amex Travel portal than booking directly.

Compared to other credit card travel portals, Citi Travel featured the fewest economy itineraries with the same fare as booking directly and more than double the next-worst portal's number of economy itineraries that were more expensive when booking through the portal. Fifty-one of the economy itineraries — 47% of the economy itineraries we considered — were more expensive through the Citi Travel portal than booking directly with the airline.

Related: 6 key tools and tips to find the cheapest airfare

What is the best credit card travel portal for booking flights?

There isn't one best credit card travel portal for booking flights. However, I appreciate the Capital One Travel portal's price drop protection on flights for which the platform recommends booking immediately, and I've gotten value from Amex's International Airline Program.

Our data showed Amex Travel was, on average, less expensive than booking directly for domestic itineraries. Meanwhile, Amex Travel and Chase Travel were both, on average, less expensive than booking directly for economy itineraries. Chase Travel was, on average, less expensive than booking directly for international itineraries, too.

Citi Travel featured higher fares, on average, than those available when booking directly with the airline. Specifically, 47% of itineraries were more expensive through Citi Travel than booking directly. Compare this to the other travel portals, where only 21% were more expensive through Chase Travel, 17% were more expensive through Amex Travel and 15% were more expensive through Capital One Travel.

Bookable itineraries

The main drawback of Amex Travel is that it does not have every itinerary you could book directly; this is more frequently the case with Amex Travel versus the other portals we considered. Across the 157 round-trip itineraries we considered, 36 weren't available through Amex Travel, 26 weren't available through Capital One Travel, 25 weren't available through Citi Travel and 20 weren't available through Chase Travel.

In some cases, this was due to the portal not supporting a specific airline. For example, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Viva Aerobus flights were only bookable through the Capital One Travel portal, and we only found Southwest flights bookable through the Chase Travel portal .

In other cases, the portal only showed some itineraries for airlines it otherwise supports. While the Chase Travel portal included every American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines itinerary we searched, Amex Travel didn't show options to book 14 of the 89 itineraries we searched for these airlines. Additionally, Capital One Travel didn't show six of these itineraries, and Citi Travel didn't show two of these itineraries.

Related: Planning a trip abroad? Use your points and miles to book these popular international flights

Earning rates and card benefits

It is also worth considering the extra earnings you can earn when booking through credit card travel portals with select rewards credit cards . For example, I'll sometimes book flights through Capital One Travel with my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to use my card's $300 annual Capital One Travel credit and earn 5 miles per dollar spent on the part of my fare that the credit doesn't cover.

If you want to redeem rewards when booking flights through a credit card travel portal, consider the redemption rates of each portal:

• Amex Travel portal : 1 cent per point toward flights with most American Express Membership Rewards cards
• Capital One Travel portal : 1 cent per mile
• Chase Travel portal : 1.5 cents per point with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , 1.25 cents per point with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and 1 cent per point with other Chase Ultimate Rewards cards
• Citi Travel portal : 1 cent per point

Finally, remember that some credit cards offer travel protections when you use them to book flights. These protections are available regardless of whether you use your card to book directly with the airline or via a credit card travel portal.

Related: Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights

Bottom line

On average, the Citi Travel portal was almost 10% more expensive than booking directly. However, the Chase Travel, Capital One Travel and Amex Travel portals offered similar fares, on average, when compared to booking directly.

This doesn't mean you should pick one booking method and avoid checking other options, though. I was surprised by how much prices varied between the portals — and when compared to the airline's website — while collecting data for this story.

Now that I've processed the data and written this story, I realize more than ever the importance of checking each credit card travel portal you have access to and the airline's website before booking a flight.

So, next time you need to book a flight, start on Google Flights to assess your options. If you have transferable rewards , you may also want to open up your favorite award search tools , which for me are Point.me and Seats.aero . Then, if you decide to book a paid fare, open up all the credit card travel portals you have access to via your rewards cards and search for the flights you want. Finally, compare the rates across the portals with booking directly with the airline to determine which will offer the best value.

Related reading:

• 7 of the best starter travel credit cards
• Should I book my flight through my cruise line?
• Are flights cheaper last minute? Here's what expert flyers have to say
• The highs and lows of using Capital One Travel to book flights while abroad
• Here's what you should know about booking a flight for the first time

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Should you send a credit card travel notice?

April 25, 2024 | 3 min read

There was a time when credit card issuers and banks requested travel notices so they’d know when you’d be using your card while you were away from home. But that’s generally a thing of the past.

However, it’s still helpful to double-check that your contact information is up to date in case you need to be reached while traveling. 

Key takeaways

• A travel notice can help your credit card issuer or bank know when any transactions are made while traveling.  
• You may not need to notify your bank or credit card issuer of your travel plans, thanks to improvements in fraud detection technology and security. 
• You don’t need to alert Capital One of your travel plans, and your credit card is covered for unauthorized purchases if your card is lost or stolen. 1  
• It’s a good idea to make sure your contact information is up to date in case your bank or credit card issuer needs to reach you during your trip. You might want to also have your credit card’s contact information saved so you can easily refer to it if you need it.

Earn 75,000 bonus miles

What is a credit card travel notice.

A credit card travel notice is a way for you to alert your credit card company about your upcoming travel plans. An advance notice tells your credit card company to expect charges from another city, state or country . But it’s not as common as it used to be to set a travel alert before you use your credit card abroad or somewhere different. 

Do credit card companies require a travel notice?

Many credit card companies, including Capital One, no longer request travel notices. They’re generally not necessary these days due to improvements in fraud detection technology and the added security of EMV chips and contactless cards . But if you need to contact your credit card issuer, you might want to make sure you have the contact information saved somewhere so you can easily refer to it.

How to notify a bank or issuer about your travel plans

If your bank or card issuer requires you to set a travel notice, you might do it online, over the phone or through an app. Check with your bank or card issuer to learn how it handles travel notices.

Capital One travel notices

There’s no need to tell Capital One about your travel plans—even if you’re traveling abroad. Just make sure the contact information associated with your account is up to date. That way, Capital One can contact you if there are any issues with your card.

Traveling with a Capital One credit card

If you’re a Capital One cardholder and your card is lost or stolen, you can instantly lock your credit card to prevent it from being used for purchases. 2 And if you find it, you can unlock it just as easily to use your card again. The card lock feature is simple to use and takes just a few taps on the Capital One Mobile app . 3

You’re also covered by Capital One’s $0 liability for unauthorized charges policy. If your card is lost or stolen, you won’t be responsible for charges you did not authorize. 1

Want even more peace of mind? Add your mobile phone number to your account to automatically get alerts if Capital One notices potential suspicious activity. Capital One will message you from the same number every time so you can be confident it’s Capital One texting you. 4

These are just some of Capital One’s credit card security features .

Credit card travel notices in a nutshell

Your credit card company or bank may not need to be notified before you take a trip. That’s because of improvements in fraud detection technology and security. If you choose to set a travel alert, you can usually do it over the phone, online or in your bank’s or credit card issuer’s mobile app. But it’s a good idea to check with your bank or card issuer to see if it’s necessary to set a travel notice. 

Are you looking for a card with travel benefits, security features and no travel notices required? A Capital One travel credit card could be right for you. Compare Capital One’s travel rewards cards today. 

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7 tips for using a credit card internationally

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Why Hiking In Sweden’s Stockholm Archipelago Is Set To Boom In 2025

A new long-distance hiking trail links 21 of the islands in Stockholm’s sprawling archipelago and is set to encourage sustainable tourism outside the peak summer season.

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The forests of Grinda are just one highlight of the new long-distance hiking trail through the Stockholm Archipelago.

The Stockholm archipelago is not exactly an unknown travel destination. For a few weeks every summer, this vast network of islands east of Sweden’s capital city fills with visitors.

A mix of locals spending a month or more in their vacation cottages and day-trippers enjoying boat trips and beaches fills the islands with life.

For the rest of the year, many of the islands are almost deserted, but that is set to change as the archipelago finds its way on to keen hikers’ bucket lists.

The reason? The launch of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail (SAT), a 168-mile hiking trail that links 21 islands, along with the existing network of inter-island ferries, of course.

Enhancing The Hiking Experience

Hiking on the islands has always been possible. Some of the trails were made by humans, others made by animals, and some have been used for hundreds of years.

The problem for visiting hikers is that some trails lead somewhere, while others lead nowhere, or back to the starting point, causing confusion especially among international guests.

The SAT project is the result of a coordinated effort to link up existing hiking trails, improve pathways where necessary, and ensure everything is linked up by ferries to other islands and/or the mainland.

The new Stockholm Archipelago Trail is mostly made up of existing trails.

Although digital maps are available to help hikers plan their trip, the use of distracting cell phones to track progress isn't necessary.

Trail markers in a distinctive blue and yellow ribbon are used as waypoints, and they become more numerous in sections where the trail direction is less obvious. A thin reflective band on the ribbon helps hikers using headlamps or flashlights find their way when the night draws in.

Sustainability In Focus

Although the trails have been improved with excellent signage and benches at scenic viewpoints, the environmental impact of the SAT project has been minimal.

The entire length of the trail consists almost entirely of existing trails, so no forest clearance or other disruption has been required. Trail markers have been attached to trunks using removable bands, causing no lasting damage to trees.

The SAT project will also help educate visitors about the " right to roam " policy in force in the archipelago, and across all the Scandinavian countries. This allows hikers—among other things—free access to nature and the right to camp, under certain conditions.

A Boost For Tourism

At present, much of the archipelago’s tourism occurs between late June and early August. The hiking season in Scandinavia extends from early May to as late as October, meaning the islands could see a boost in tourism numbers in the shoulder seasons.

Supporters of the SAT project also believe there’s potential within the archipelago to better distribute the region’s tourist numbers away from the Stockholm core.

The wonderful coastal landscape of Utö island is a highlight of the trail for experienced hikers.

In 2022, Visit Stockholm conducted a survey that found just one-quarter of international visitors take a boat trip out to the archipelago, despite it often being listed as one of the prime things to do in Stockholm.

The hiking trail project clearly promotes the region as a destination for walkers, but those it attracts will also discover the joys of beautiful, remote beaches, kayaking across sheltered bays, and overnighting in rustic cabins with only the sounds of nature for company.

Highlights Of Stockholm Archipelago

Few people are likely to undertake the entire trail, so the SAT project has created ten sections that work well as standalone hikes, integrated with ferry transport.

For relative beginners, the Rånö section is ideal. The island Rånö is known as a family-friendly destination with shallow waters and sandy beaches. Much of the trail takes place on a gravel road with slight inclines every so often, but there’s optional detours into beautiful forests if you decide you want to extend the trip.

Utö is an island also known for its beaches, but the trails here are more challenging with rocky outcrops, wetlands, gravel roads, but the wonderful views along the eastern coast make it worthwhile for experienced hikers.

The island is home to a small community and you can expect a bustling summer vibe at the handful of accommodations and seafood-focused eateries. A summer-only ferry from downtown Stockholm doubles as a wonderful 3.5-hour sightseeing trip through the southern archipelago.

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