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Finding cheap flights can be a challenge, particularly when travel demand has soared with no signs of stopping. But one of the best ways to simplify your search is to use a travel portal, which aggregates flights across various airlines and dates.
Unfortunately, not all travel portals are built the same, and it’s hard to know if you’re really getting the lowest price available. But, Capital One has launched a new travel portal in late-2021 — and it’s a step in the right direction. Known as “Capital One Travel,” the service uses technology from Hopper, analyzing billions of data points to predict the lowest flight prices possible.
What is Capital One Travel?
Capital One Travel is an online portal that offers flights, hotels, and rental car bookings. It’s not only visually appealing and easy to navigate but it’s packed with unique features designed for deal-hunters.
For instance, you can turn on price alerts and you’ll be notified via email of the best time to book your flight. And with price drop protection, Capital One will reimburse you up to $50 of the difference if your fare happens to decrease within 10 days after booking. Last but not least, Capital One Travel is among the first to offer “cancel for any reason” flight coverage for a small surcharge. That way, you can opt-in and ensure peace of mind if you need to cancel your trip at a moment’s notice.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR19.99% - 29.49% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$95
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Sign Up Bonus
75,000Capital One Rewards Miles
Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel Dollar Equivalent: $1,350 (75,000 Capital One Rewards Miles * 0.018 base)
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a lot of value to both beginner and expert travelers. The upfront bonus and high ongoing rewards rate aren’t easy to beat, making the card a solid option for a large audience. Where it really shines is with the flexibility of the redemption process, though. You can redeem miles to cover past travel expenses, book travel through Capital One or transfer miles to any of Capital One’s airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Overview
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a lot of value to beginner and expert travelers alike. The card’s big upfront bonus and high ongoing rewards rate aren’t easy to beat, making it a solid option for a large audience. Where it really shines, though, is with the redemption process. When it comes to travel credit cards, it can be really challenging to find a way to use your rewards in the way you want.
With hotel and airline credit cards, for instance, you’re basically stuck redeeming your points or miles with the co-branded hotel or airline partner. And with some general rewards programs, you might get less value if you use your points or miles to book a flight versus a rental car or hotel.
With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, though, you’ll get a lot of flexibility. Here are some of the top redemption options that are available: redeem miles to cover past travel expenses, book travel through Capital One or transfer miles to any of Capital One’s multiple airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Perks
- Receive an application fee credit for TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry every four years
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to premier culinary events, must-see music events and major sporting events
Pros
- Simple rewards and earning structure
- Ability to earn transferable points to use with travel partners
- Relatively modest $95 annual fee
- Application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
Cons
- Other travel cards offer higher rewards rates on certain spending categories
Who can access Capital One Travel?
You may not have even heard of Capital One Travel or have used the portal just yet. That’s largely because it has only been available to those with the issuer’s credit cards that earn miles.
That all changed recently with expanded access to all of Capital One’s rewards credit cards. If you have a cash-back card in any of the issuer’s following product suites, you now have access to Capital One Travel here:
If you carry any of these Capital One cards, you can now earn an unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. In addition, you can redeem your cash-back rewards for travel bookings at checkout. The math is simple: $1 of rewards equaling $1 toward travel.
Bottom Line
With Capital One Travel, the issuer starts to rival its long-standing competitors, American Express and Chase. Not to mention, Capital One Travel is just one of many new launches in the last year. Capital One also debuted its first luxury travel card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, with up to a $300 annual travel credit, access to 1,300+ Priority Pass airport lounges and a lot more. Finally, here are a few more announcements from the issuer’s front that also take into effect today:
Featured photo courtesy of Qantas.
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Marielle Lee
Marielle Lee is a digital nomad, working as a freelance writer in personal finance and travel rewards. Her first job was as a tour guide in France for several years, specializing in the country's great wine regions. After that, Marielle continued on to travel to more than 40 countries, all made possible by leveraging the 10-plus credit cards in her wallet.
