Travel credit cards provide points and miles that can be redeemed for flights, hotels, car rentals and other travel-related purchases. In addition, many come equipped with additional features like trip delay insurance and lounge access.
In order to take full advantage of your travel rewards, it is vital that you understand what constitutes travel according to credit cards. This article aims to clarify which airlines, hotels, car rental agencies and card issuers consider qualifying purchases as travel purchases.
Airline Tickets
To maximize rewards on travel purchases, it pays to understand how different credit card transactions are classified so that you can plan accordingly.
Most card issuers recognize airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises, buses and trains, taxis (including limousine services ), rideshare services as travel-related expenses; however they typically do not include campground or timeshare fees in this category.
Hotels
Most travel cards offer an annual statement credit for purchases that fall into their issuer’s definition of travel, such as airline tickets, hotel stays, car rentals and cruises. Other eligible purchases could include tourist attractions, amusement parks or excursions.
As travel merchant classification codes can differ significantly between credit cards, it is vitally important that one understands which merchant classification codes qualify as travel purchases in order to maximize rewards from them.
Car Rentals
Most credit cards provide rewards for travel-related purchases such as airfare, hotels and car rentals. Some issuers also include bus transit (such as subways), cruise lines, travel agency fees, trains/railroad, taxis/ridshare services like Uber as travel expenses – along with ferry travel expenses as well as campground fees/RV rentals/timeshare fees in this category of expenses.
Bank of America takes an expansive view when it comes to travel expenses. They may be one of the widest-ranging card issuers we surveyed when it comes to their definition.
Buses and Transit
Most routes provide free transfers at the beginning and end of peak travel periods. To secure one, ask your bus driver when paying your fare to reserve one for you.
Most credit cards that offer rewards for travel will include purchases made on buses and transit, along with airfare, hotels, car rental agencies, cruise lines, taxis/limousines/limousines/ferries as part of their definition of travel. American Express stands out as being particularly generous.
Cruise Lines
Though many credit cards offer enhanced rewards for travel-related purchases, their classification varies widely among card issuers. Some obvious examples include airfare and hotel bookings; others might also cover cruise lines (whether oceanic or riveric) or even parking garages.
Credit card issuers do not assign merchant category codes directly, but they do establish which categories count toward earning bonus rewards or redemption offers. Some cards specifically exclude in-flight purchases, duty-free airport purchases and tourist attractions from this metric.
Travel Agency Fees
Travel agencies often face difficulty when it comes to credit card fees. Some card issuers explicitly exclude travel agency purchases while others, like Stripe and Square, list travel reservation assistance and cruises among their prohibited businesses but allow merchants discretion over who can be denied merchant accounts.
Travel agents could miss out on earning rewards or statement credits on these expenses, potentially jeopardizing their chances for earnings or credits on statement.
Trains and Railway
Trains may not seem like the ideal form of transport at first glance, but they offer several distinct advantages that make them a fantastic alternative to driving or flying. Trains may help cut fuel costs, inner city charges and MOT fees substantially compared to these options.
Trains usually stop in the center of cities, meaning you’ll only be minutes from reaching your desired destination.
Taxis/Limo/Rideshares
Most credit cards cover the basics: airlines, hotels and car rental agencies, buses and transit, cruise lines and travel agency fees. In addition, there are some cards that go beyond this, like Capital One covering timeshares while American Express extending coverage to taxis/limos/rideshares/ferry rides etc.
Understanding what card issuers consider travel spending can help you maximize your rewards from credit card issuers.
Ferries
Ferries play an indispensable role in some regions, linking cities and towns across rivers or short stretches of sea. Their services often receive funding through federal-aid highway funds.
Credit card issuers broadly define travel. Beyond airlines, hotels and car rentals, their definition includes payments made for cruise lines, passenger railways, taxicabs/limos/travel agencies/ferries etc. Bank of America takes the broadest view; Citi follows suit.
Campgrounds
Camping grounds can provide an idyllic way to reconnect with nature and get back to basics, but it’s important to note that not all card issuers use the same merchant category code when considering travel – meaning some campground fees might not qualify as eligible travel expenses. There are various campgrounds near NYC offering camping experiences without total primitiveness.
