As the sharing economy continues to rise in popularity, more and more people are turning to services like Airbnb for their travel accommodations. But when it comes to earning rewards on these types of stays, there can be some confusion as to whether or not they qualify as “travel” for credit card purposes.
One card that is particularly popular among travelers is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This card offers a wide range of rewards including double points on all travel and dining purchases, but what exactly counts as “travel” under this definition? And does Airbnb fit into this category?
First off, let’s take a look at how Chase defines “travel.” According to their terms and conditions, eligible travel purchases include:
– Airlines
– Hotel/Motel
– Timeshares
– Car Rental Agencies
– Cruise Lines
– Travel Agencies/Tour Operators
– Discount Travel Sites
Nowhere in this list does it explicitly mention homestays or vacation rentals such as those offered through Airbnb. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that these types of accommodations don’t count towards earning valuable rewards.
In fact, many consumers have reported being able to earn double points on their Airbnb stays when using the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. So why might this be?
Well first off, it’s important to note that while Chase has a specific list of qualifying purchases for its bonus categories (including travel), merchants ultimately determine how they want their business categorized in relation to credit card transactions.
This means that just because an accommodation provider isn’t explicitly listed under the travel category doesn’t mean they won’t be coded by Visa or Mastercard – the payment processors behind most credit cards – as belonging there.
In other words: even if you’re not sure if your AirBnb rental will qualify you should still use your Cards with Rewards so you don’t miss out!
Furthermore, one could argue that renting an entire home or apartment for personal use falls into the same category as booking a hotel room. Both provide a place to stay while traveling, so why should one be considered travel and the other not?
Ultimately, whether or not an Airbnb stay will earn rewards under the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (or any other travel-focused credit card) may depend on how the merchant codes their business. However, many consumers have reported success in earning bonus points when using this card for homestay accommodations.
Of course, it’s worth noting that there are additional factors beyond reward earning potential that may affect your decision to book through Airbnb rather than more traditional lodging options. For example:
– Safety concerns: While Airbnb has put policies and measures in place to ensure safety for both guests and hosts alike, some travelers might still feel that staying with someone who is essentially a stranger carries more risk than booking through a hotel.
– Amenities: Depending on what you’re looking for in an accommodation (i.e., pools/gyms/spas), hotels might offer more comprehensive amenities packages than most Airbnbs.
– Consistency: With chain hotels, you generally know what you’re getting no matter where you’re traveling.
So while using the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to earn double points on your Airbnb stays may be enticing from a rewards perspective – especially if it ends up counting as “travel” – it’s important to weigh all of your options before making a final decision about where to lay your head at night while exploring new destinations.
The sharing economy has transformed the way people travel and has led to the rise of services such as Airbnb. While these accommodation options are gaining in popularity, there is still some confusion as to whether they qualify for rewards on credit cards. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular choice among travelers due to its double points on all travel and dining purchases, but it can be unclear whether or not renting through Airbnb counts under this category.
Chase defines eligible travel purchases as airlines, hotel/motel stays, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies/tour operators and discount travel sites. The list does not include homestays or vacation rentals such as those offered through Airbnb.
However many consumers have reported earning double points on their Airbnb stays when using the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. But why might this be?
It’s crucial to remember that even though Chase’s bonus categories have specific qualifying purchases listed; ultimately merchants decide how they want their business categorized in relation to credit card transactions.
So even if AirBnb isn’t explicitly listed under ‘travel’, you should still use your Cards with Rewards so you don’t miss out!
It could also be argued that renting an entire home or apartment for personal use falls into the same category as booking a hotel room since both provide a place to stay while traveling.
When choosing between booking through traditional lodging options versus Airbnb it’s important weigh factors beyond reward earning potential:
– Safety concerns: while policies are frequently been put in place by various companies like AirBnb , some travellers might still feel that staying with someone who is essentially a stranger carries more risk than booking through a hotel.
– Amenities: Hotels tend offer packages with pool/gyms/spas which may outweigh most Airbnbs
– Consistency: With chain hotels you generally know what you’re getting no matter where your travels take you
Ultimately whether or not an Airbnb stay qualifies for rewards under the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card will depend on how the merchant codes their business. However, many customers have had success in earning bonus points when using this card for homestay accommodations which is great news for frequent travellers looking to earn valuable rewards!