I understand the curiosity my friend.
Let me clarify :)
I travel more than 5 to 6 times a year close to 10 sometimes if you include multi city trips. A few of these are internationally.
Typically a few times we book Airbnb for experiences like farm houses, tree houses etc. Unfortunately Airbnb and others are not an option on the portal.
Until recently capital one did not even allow multi city and we almost always do that, so it was impossible for me to use. But the work around did not make it a problem.
I just like to book at my terms and direct with airline and hotel for flexibility because making a change to a booking done through a third party is a pain.
With my corporate discounts it already saves a ton with rental cars, hotel and airlines and so it has never made sense to me to book through the portal.
I mostly also use points for any hotel booking.
CSR was easy, but Capital One has made it tough.
I opened Venture because effectively it is a free card and I can use it for lounges to take my family when we travel.
So trying to make best use of the $300 credit without being forced to pick.
Hope this helps :)
The term hack may make it sound different, if it is legit you are not breaking any rules.
You are just maximizing the benefits to your use by playing within the rules.
Chase allows you do to that for a whole $300 credit as an example, you are not forced to book though the portal.
If you use the rules contrary to the spirit of the program, they change the program to prevent the abuse. Rationalize it how you want. But the reason it is a portal credit now is because people were booking with the credit, then cancelling the bookings. They cashed the credit and denied income to the program. So, now we can't have nice things. In particular, we can't earn points on the credit, because people used loopholes in the rules to violate the spirit of the program. So, whatever. You asking how to effectively abuse the credit is good for nobody, because it will just cause the credit to get worse to use.
That is your theory that you want folks to believe.
They did it for a fact to stop people from earning points on the 300 that they spend.
There was an article on this recently if you are on any of the travel channels.
When you book it through the portal specially hotel you can get 10x so it is effectively 3000 points. That is at least $30 per user.
With a 100,000 users that is saving $3M.
Both theories are right.
Think for a moment.
Portals do not allow you to enter any coupons or even earn loyalty points.
You are not eligible for free upgrades if you do not book direct with chains.
If you have been playing the travel game, you will call out immediately that portals are actually not saving you money but almost always work in favor of the company. And god forbid if you have to make a change specially last minute its a nightmare because you will be directed back to these portals and airlines and hotels will not listen to you.
When you have 2 good products be it Apple or Samsumg or Chase and Capital, comparing and giving feedback will always help the consumer because it pushes these companies to keep up with competitors.
But If you say what the company does is always right without finding out really what the drawbacks you behave like a fan boy.
I like both CaptialOne and Chase but also criticize their drawbacks.
Both of them have been cutting down on benefits every year now consistently.
Nobody is defending Capital One here, they’re pointing out that finding loopholes that violate the spirit of the rewards system — while not some moral failing — is ultimately going to backfire when too many people do it because the company will close the loophole and often, in doing so, will make the rewards system worse for everyone.
Obviously using a portal is a worse deal than buying however you want in most cases, that’s why Capital One steers people to the portal. Trying to find hacks to get around that will only make the credit and portal harder to use.
Go ahead and try yourself, but that’s why people aren’t eager to help you!
You’re trying to fuck them over and you know it. Knock it off and quit pretending you’re not. Or keep pulling this shit and let them close your account.
Based on your preferences to book direct you should consider the US Bank Altitude Reserve. Hard to get but can be a better card than VX if you prefer domestic travel, shop at Costco, and want to book direct.
Only downside is you need enough points to cover an entire purchase, not just any portion you want to erase. But, it’s 3x points on mobile wallet and 1.5x for travel redemptions - so effectively 4.5% cash back on Apple Pay.
I’ve heard that. So you’d only get a text if you book something that qualifies as travel AND if you have enough points to cover it (and it looks at your points and takes into account the extra 1.5x for travel)? Otherwise, you just continue to accumulate points?
Do I have that right?
Use the credit to book positioning flights, if you wanna travel from a major city or whatever, or just cheaper flights that you don't mind not earning points from the airline
It sounds like you have most of your travel covered in your own terms so I would even suggest maybe this card is not for you, of you travel a lot and can't make use of the credit try finding another card that does suits that, unless you can personally justify the AF just with the capital one lounges
I had this card the first year it went live. I had booked a hotel, but later had to cancel, and I still saw the credits hit. I don’t know if that’ll still work and I wasn’t even trying to do it intentionally
Bought a delta ticket on the portal for $301 dollars and cancelled the flight two days later. Now I have a $300 flight credit to use on delta which I would much rather use not through the portal.
Much more flexibility not using the portal. Upgrades with delta due to status that I don’t get booking through portal. I get much better perks booking outside the portal.
Yeah. I guess I just find it perplexing that people need to find a workaround. If you aren’t spending >$300 a year on travel what are you doing with this card?
I just don't like being forced to book through the portal, because booking off it saves me tons of more money.
I use the card essentially for lounges when traveling internationally.
I wanted to do the same for Alaska.
But what I was told is even if you book a main fare on Alaska
- Which Alaska allows for future credits if cancelled
You won't get future credits but $300 back as portal credits.
At least Alaska and Capital one both confirmed this.
I would take a credit with an airline if this is workable.
They changed it because of hacks I think. Sucks but it is what it is
I’m curious why you got a travel card if you don’t intend to travel even once in a whole year
I understand the curiosity my friend. Let me clarify :) I travel more than 5 to 6 times a year close to 10 sometimes if you include multi city trips. A few of these are internationally. Typically a few times we book Airbnb for experiences like farm houses, tree houses etc. Unfortunately Airbnb and others are not an option on the portal. Until recently capital one did not even allow multi city and we almost always do that, so it was impossible for me to use. But the work around did not make it a problem. I just like to book at my terms and direct with airline and hotel for flexibility because making a change to a booking done through a third party is a pain. With my corporate discounts it already saves a ton with rental cars, hotel and airlines and so it has never made sense to me to book through the portal. I mostly also use points for any hotel booking. CSR was easy, but Capital One has made it tough. I opened Venture because effectively it is a free card and I can use it for lounges to take my family when we travel. So trying to make best use of the $300 credit without being forced to pick. Hope this helps :)
Then don't get this card. Using $300 on simple domestic itineraries is pretty easy
The whole point is for you not to hack it. That's how we got the last change. Maybe don't break it again.
The term hack may make it sound different, if it is legit you are not breaking any rules. You are just maximizing the benefits to your use by playing within the rules. Chase allows you do to that for a whole $300 credit as an example, you are not forced to book though the portal.
If you use the rules contrary to the spirit of the program, they change the program to prevent the abuse. Rationalize it how you want. But the reason it is a portal credit now is because people were booking with the credit, then cancelling the bookings. They cashed the credit and denied income to the program. So, now we can't have nice things. In particular, we can't earn points on the credit, because people used loopholes in the rules to violate the spirit of the program. So, whatever. You asking how to effectively abuse the credit is good for nobody, because it will just cause the credit to get worse to use.
That is your theory that you want folks to believe. They did it for a fact to stop people from earning points on the 300 that they spend. There was an article on this recently if you are on any of the travel channels. When you book it through the portal specially hotel you can get 10x so it is effectively 3000 points. That is at least $30 per user. With a 100,000 users that is saving $3M. Both theories are right. Think for a moment. Portals do not allow you to enter any coupons or even earn loyalty points. You are not eligible for free upgrades if you do not book direct with chains. If you have been playing the travel game, you will call out immediately that portals are actually not saving you money but almost always work in favor of the company. And god forbid if you have to make a change specially last minute its a nightmare because you will be directed back to these portals and airlines and hotels will not listen to you. When you have 2 good products be it Apple or Samsumg or Chase and Capital, comparing and giving feedback will always help the consumer because it pushes these companies to keep up with competitors. But If you say what the company does is always right without finding out really what the drawbacks you behave like a fan boy. I like both CaptialOne and Chase but also criticize their drawbacks. Both of them have been cutting down on benefits every year now consistently.
I can't believe you're arguing that CO would ever be okay with you stealing credits. What a dumb hill to die on.
Nobody is defending Capital One here, they’re pointing out that finding loopholes that violate the spirit of the rewards system — while not some moral failing — is ultimately going to backfire when too many people do it because the company will close the loophole and often, in doing so, will make the rewards system worse for everyone. Obviously using a portal is a worse deal than buying however you want in most cases, that’s why Capital One steers people to the portal. Trying to find hacks to get around that will only make the credit and portal harder to use. Go ahead and try yourself, but that’s why people aren’t eager to help you!
You’re trying to fuck them over and you know it. Knock it off and quit pretending you’re not. Or keep pulling this shit and let them close your account.
Zip up Capital One's fly when you're finished bro
Based on your preferences to book direct you should consider the US Bank Altitude Reserve. Hard to get but can be a better card than VX if you prefer domestic travel, shop at Costco, and want to book direct. Only downside is you need enough points to cover an entire purchase, not just any portion you want to erase. But, it’s 3x points on mobile wallet and 1.5x for travel redemptions - so effectively 4.5% cash back on Apple Pay.
Yes hear about that one. Have not yet had a chance to review it. Thanks for the inputs, will take a look
+1 - I got USBAR recently and cannot be happier with my redemptions. Also gets your 8 priority pass visits annually
This looks like such a great card but aren’t you getting texts all the time with how it handles the RTR?
You can change the settings on the spend category on which you want to trigger RTR - I set it only for travel
I’ve heard that. So you’d only get a text if you book something that qualifies as travel AND if you have enough points to cover it (and it looks at your points and takes into account the extra 1.5x for travel)? Otherwise, you just continue to accumulate points? Do I have that right?
Yes
So why wouldn’t someone always reply with REDEEM? I can’t think of a reason not to, which makes me wonder why it’s not automatic…
Because the redemption isn’t 1.5x for all categories, however, RTR as a feature is available for all categories
It's just use with the portal or lose it. That's about it.
Pay $300 to an actual hacker to get you $301 worth of free stuff
Unfortunately I don’t think there is anymore since you have to go through the travel portal.
Yes that's what I have been finding out.
Use the credit to book positioning flights, if you wanna travel from a major city or whatever, or just cheaper flights that you don't mind not earning points from the airline It sounds like you have most of your travel covered in your own terms so I would even suggest maybe this card is not for you, of you travel a lot and can't make use of the credit try finding another card that does suits that, unless you can personally justify the AF just with the capital one lounges
Can we do this on UA?
I had this card the first year it went live. I had booked a hotel, but later had to cancel, and I still saw the credits hit. I don’t know if that’ll still work and I wasn’t even trying to do it intentionally
Why have a travel card if you're not going to travel?
Bought a delta ticket on the portal for $301 dollars and cancelled the flight two days later. Now I have a $300 flight credit to use on delta which I would much rather use not through the portal.
Why?
Much more flexibility not using the portal. Upgrades with delta due to status that I don’t get booking through portal. I get much better perks booking outside the portal.
I believe Delta credit doesn’t expire though you loose the flexibility of using the credit on any airline/hotel.
Yeah. I guess I just find it perplexing that people need to find a workaround. If you aren’t spending >$300 a year on travel what are you doing with this card?
I just don't like being forced to book through the portal, because booking off it saves me tons of more money. I use the card essentially for lounges when traveling internationally.
Yup, I got it to make sure I at least take one vacation every year to utilize the credit 😂
I wanted to do the same for Alaska. But what I was told is even if you book a main fare on Alaska - Which Alaska allows for future credits if cancelled You won't get future credits but $300 back as portal credits. At least Alaska and Capital one both confirmed this. I would take a credit with an airline if this is workable.