Capital One Travel portal: Ultimate guide

The Capital One Journey portal, launched in 2021, has considerably improved since its beta launch. It now permits Capital One cardholders, together with these with cash-back cards, to immediately use their rewards for journey purchases. The portal additionally options up to date flight search capabilities and the issuer’s resort packages: the Premier Collection and the Lifestyle Collection.

On this information, we’ll cowl all you have to know in regards to the Capital One Journey portal.

Associated: How to save 10% on all hotels and 5% on all flights with Capital One

Many bank card issuers provide journey portals the place cardholders can e-book journey with factors and earn bonus rewards on paid bookings. The Capital One portal is analogous, providing bonus miles when reserving resorts, rental vehicles and generally flights — although the incomes price varies relying on which card you maintain. Or you may pay for journey via the portal along with your Capital One miles at a price of 1 cent per mile.

The Capital One portal differentiates itself by integrating know-how from Hopper, a trusted app for predicting the bottom costs for flights and resorts. The portal affords a number of free customer-friendly options like worth alerts, worth matching and worth drop safety, in addition to paid add-on options like worth freeze safety, flight disruption help and cancel-for-any-reason protection (extra on these in a bit).

This is an inventory of some high Capital One playing cards that provide entry to Capital One Journey:

You’ll be able to entry the portal at capitalonetravel.com.

Associated: Ultimate guide to Capital One airline and hotel transfer partners

Day by day E-newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day publication

Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants

The right way to e-book flights via the Capital One Journey portal

To e-book airfare utilizing the Capital One Journey portal, log in to your account and click on the „Flights“ tab.

In case your dates are versatile, you may make the most of Capital One’s helpful calendar characteristic. It brings in Hopper’s acquainted color-coded interface, permitting you to see which dates provide the bottom costs in economic system class.

When you select your dates, you will see Capital One’s reserving advice and flight choices on the following display. You’ll be able to then slender the parameters by:

• Fare class (cabin)
• Variety of stops
• Airline
• Departure or arrival time
• Worth
• Flight period

And you’ll kind your outcomes by:

• Really useful
• Worth (low to excessive)
• Stops (least to most)
• Length (shortest to longest)
• Arrival time (earliest to newest)
• Departure time (earliest to newest)

There are a couple of different attention-grabbing options price mentioning. Above all of the flight choices, the value prediction device supplies clear messaging on whether or not or not it is a good time to e-book. You’ll be able to click on „View worth prediction“ to see when and by how a lot costs are predicted to fluctuate.

If the location’s algorithms advise you to e-book, that may set off free worth drop safety. If you happen to e-book now and the value drops throughout the subsequent 10 days, you will be refunded as much as $50 of the distinction as a future journey credit score. Or, when you discover a higher worth elsewhere inside 24 hours of reserving, you may make the most of Capital One’s price match guarantee to get the distinction within the type of a journey credit score.

If you happen to’re not able to e-book, you may choose „Watch this journey“ to be notified by e-mail when a greater worth turns into obtainable. Sadly, this characteristic applies to the route and dates you have chosen, not a selected flight, airline or fare class — although you may select to exclude fundamental economic system and connecting flights.

Or, if the value is engaging however you want a bit extra time, you have got the choice to freeze it for a small charge. Once you click on „Freeze worth,“ you can select the precise flight you wish to freeze. You may as well select to freeze the value for anyplace from 12 hours to 14 days. If the value will increase in that timeframe, Capital One will cowl the distinction as much as $500. If the value decreases, you will get to e-book on the new, cheaper price.

Take note of the fare class when reserving flights, as facilities fluctuate significantly between airways. For instance, United Airways doesn’t permit full-size carry-on luggage on basic economy fares, however Delta Air Traces does. Moreover, cancellation insurance policies fluctuate throughout fare lessons.

Capital One has tried to standardize fare lessons throughout all airways on its platform, making it simpler for customers. When looking out via Capital One Journey, you will see the next labels:

• Primary: The most effective-priced choices with restrictive insurance policies and few facilities.
• Normal: Sometimes economic system fares that embody facilities like carry-on luggage and seat choice.
• Enhanced: Seats with further legroom, precedence boarding, and free drinks and snacks.
• Premium: Cradle or reclining seats that include precedence boarding and premium snacks and drinks.
• Luxurious: Sometimes business- or first-class fares that includes reclining seats, customized providers, premium meals and precedence boarding.

Once you click on on a specific fare class, a drop-down supplies an intensive overview of what to anticipate throughout your journey. This consists of detailed info on seat measurements, plane format and onboard facilities like energy shops, recent meals choices and whether or not lounge entry is included. These complete particulars surpass what you usually discover on different journey portals and even when reserving immediately with airways.

The fee aspect is fast and straightforward, too. When coming into traveler info, make sure you embody your frequent flyer quantity (so you will earn miles with the airline) and, if relevant, your Identified Traveler Quantity (as an example, your TSA PreCheck quantity).

Irrespective of which Capital One card you maintain, you will have the choice to use your miles at a price of 1 cent every towards your flight. (Nonetheless, we’ll discuss why you should not redeem miles this fashion a bit later.) If you happen to’d reasonably pay with money, press „Don’t apply my rewards.“ You should utilize your Capital One bank card to pay on your reservation as a substitute.

Notice that whereas most Capital One playing cards solely earn bonus miles on resorts and rental vehicles booked via the portal, the Venture X card earns 5 miles per greenback spent on flights and trip leases booked via the portal as properly.

Once you try, you may select so as to add flight disruption help (which features a rapid rebooking characteristic) or cancel-for-any-reason protection for an extra price. The price of these options varies, and you will have the choice to pay in money or miles.

Associated: Battle of the credit card travel portals: Which is the best for booking flights?

The right way to e-book resorts via the Capital One Journey portal

There are fewer distinctive options when reserving resorts via the Capital One Journey portal, however the course of is just like the one for flights detailed above. To discover a resort, head to the „Stays“ tab and enter your vacation spot, dates and variety of vacationers.

You should utilize the color-coded calendar to see which dates are most cost-effective. Some dates might not present a colour, however this does not imply they don’t seem to be obtainable — you may nonetheless click on them.

After selecting your dates, you will see an inventory and map view of resort choices. You’ll be able to filter your search by score, sure facilities or cancellation coverage, or click on „All Filters“ to set a most worth per night time or enter a selected property identify. You may as well kind the listings by really useful, worth (low to excessive) or star score (excessive to low).

The itemizing for every resort reveals the nightly worth, in addition to the full on your keep (not together with taxes and charges) in each money and miles. Nonetheless, this worth might change once you click on on the resort — as an example, the value on the Warwick Denver dropped by over $100. If you happen to’re fascinated with a resort, at all times click on via to double-check the value. You will additionally be capable to see extra info on the resort and up to date buyer evaluations.

Then scroll all the way down to the „Select Room“ part to see which room varieties can be found. You’ll be able to see a room’s dimensions and facilities by clicking „View Particulars and Facilities.“ Usually, every room can have a number of charges obtainable with totally different cancellation insurance policies.

The fee course of for reserving resorts is identical as for flights. You’ll be able to redeem your Capital One miles for the journey or pay in money along with your Capital One card. The latter stands out as the higher possibility right here, as a number of playing cards provide bonus rewards on resorts booked via Capital One Journey:

• Enterprise X and Enterprise X Enterprise: 10 miles per greenback spent
• Enterprise, VentureOne and Spark Miles: 5 miles per greenback spent
• Savor, Quicksilver and Spark Money Plus: 5% money again

Nonetheless, understand that when you e-book a resort in a serious loyalty program — like Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors — via Capital One Journey, you probably will not obtain resort factors or take pleasure in any elite standing perks. That is as a result of Capital One Journey is actually an online travel agency.

Some cardholders have entry to Capital One Journey’s boutique resort collections. The Premier Assortment, which is on the market to Enterprise X and Enterprise X Enterprise cardholders, consists of advantages like an on-property expertise credit score of as much as $100, every day breakfast for 2 folks, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The Life-style Assortment is on the market to a broader group, together with members with the Enterprise X, Enterprise X Enterprise, Venture Rewards or Spark Miles playing cards.

Since Capital One has added vacation rentals to each collections, cardholders have much more choices for incomes and redeeming miles.

Associated: A comparison of luxury hotel programs from credit card issuers: Amex, Capital One, Chase and Citi

The right way to e-book rental vehicles via the Capital One Journey portal

The method for reserving rental vehicles on Capital One Journey is easy. Begin by clicking „Rental Vehicles“ on the high and coming into your search standards.

You will obtain an inventory of choices that may be filtered by automobile sort, worth per day, rental automobile firm and different specs. In contrast to with resorts and flights, there is not any choice to kind the outcomes — however they’ll robotically be proven from lowest to highest worth.

You’ll be able to reserve your automobile after a couple of clicks utilizing both money or miles. Earlier than reserving, scroll all the way down to see extra info on the pickup and drop-off location, the cancellation coverage, and different particulars.

With some companies — Hertz, Thrifty and Greenback — you may add your rental car rewards quantity to the reserving and certain benefit from the related advantages. The choice so as to add your loyalty quantity usually will not seem for different firms.

Reserving via the portal is especially interesting for Venture X cardholders, as you may earn 10 miles per greenback spent on rental automobile bookings and nonetheless benefit from the complimentary Hertz President’s Circle standing* that is included on the cardboard.

Notice that these automobile leases earn rewards on the identical price as resorts booked via Capital One Journey:

• Enterprise X and Enterprise X Enterprise: 10 miles per greenback spent
• Enterprise, VentureOne and Spark Miles: 5 miles per greenback spent
• Savor, Quicksilver and Spark Money Plus: 5% money again

*Upon enrollment, accessible via the Capital One web site or cellular app, eligible cardholders will stay at that standing degree via the period of the provide. Please word, enrolling via the conventional Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment course of (e.g., at hertz.com) is not going to robotically detect a cardholder as being eligible for this system, and cardholders is not going to be robotically upgraded to the relevant standing tier. Further phrases apply.

Associated: Stacking rental car perks with Hertz and the Venture X

The right way to e-book trip packages via the Capital One Journey portal

Capital One Journey just lately added a brand new trip bundle characteristic. By deciding on the „Packages“ tab on the search web page, you may seek for each flights and resorts on your desired vacation spot. Costs are per traveler, so you will have to enter the variety of folks within the search bar. You may as well choose your required fare class and select to incorporate nonstop flights solely.

Then, the portal will stroll you thru selecting your resort, room and flights. These are similar to the processes we described above, besides you will pay for every thing collectively on the finish with both money or miles.

Some trip packages on Capital One Journey might provide financial savings, however others truly price greater than reserving your flights and resort individually. This instance bundle in Orlando price $1,450 for 2 folks. After we searched for a similar flights and resort individually, they added as much as a complete of $1,354 after taxes and charges — virtually $100 cheaper than the bundle worth.

Generally, it’ll make extra sense to e-book your flight and resort individually. This offers you extra flexibility and lets you e-book immediately with the airline, resort or each (extra on the advantages of reserving immediately within the subsequent part). Nonetheless, if it can save you cash by reserving a bundle via Capital One Journey, it may very well be price it. Be sure you evaluate the bundle worth to reserving your flight and resort individually via the portal, in addition to reserving elsewhere, earlier than you determine to go this route.

Associated: When plans go wrong: Your guide to booking refundable travel

Additional issues to contemplate in regards to the Capital One Journey portal

Capital One Journey packs a punch for cardholders, however there are a couple of extra issues to recollect.

It’s possible you’ll wish to e-book immediately

First, think about checking different platforms like Google Flights for higher costs or alternate routings earlier than reserving via Capital One. Bank card portals generally have larger costs and do not at all times present all obtainable flight or resort room choices, so be sure to’re not paying extra for a similar itinerary. And if you have to change your flight, reserving your ticket immediately with the airline is commonly simpler.

As famous, resort and automobile rental reservations via Capital One Journey probably will not be eligible for perks within the firm’s loyalty program. If elite standing is essential to you, it is advisable to e-book immediately with main chain resorts and most automobile rental companies. Nonetheless, when you’re reserving independently owned resorts or elite standing is not a priority, the Capital One Journey portal could also be a greater possibility.

The most effective methods to redeem miles

Keep in mind, you may offset the money worth of journey purchases by redeeming your Capital One miles. It is best to at all times e-book immediately with the journey supplier (whether or not it is an airline, resort or automobile rental firm) and use the miles to cowl that buy reasonably than reserving with miles via the Capital One Journey portal. This ensures you get all the advantages of booking directly whereas redeeming your miles at precisely the identical redemption value of 1 cent each.

Additionally, Capital One affords over 15 travel partners the place you may switch your miles, often at a 1:1 ratio. Earlier than reserving via the portal, evaluate costs towards the award charges of Capital One’s switch companions. As an example, a $150 United Airways flight will price 15,000 Capital One miles via the portal, otherwise you would possibly be capable to get the identical flight for simply 7,500 Avianca LifeMiles (plus minimal taxes and charges). On this occasion, it makes extra sense to switch your Capital One miles to LifeMiles and e-book via Avianca.

Journey credit and affords

Lastly, do not forget that Enterprise X cardholders enjoy $300 in annual credits for bookings made through Capital One Journey. Because of this, even when you’d reasonably e-book flights, resorts or automobile leases immediately with journey suppliers, you must nonetheless spend at the very least $300 in your Enterprise X via Capital One Journey every year to maximise this profit. Proper now, the Venture Rewards card is offering a similar credit as a part of the welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening, plus a $250 Capital One Journey credit score within the first cardholder yr.

Any journey credit you have got will present up within the journey affords part of your account. You’ll find them by clicking „View journey affords“ on the search web page. This will even present you another obtainable offers. These are typically very particular, but when they suit your journey plans — or when you’re versatile and on the lookout for inspiration — you will not wish to miss out.

Associated: The top 11 credit cards with annual travel statement credits

Capital One has made important developments within the journey house, together with improved switch companions, the introduction of a premium card and the opening of a number of airport lounges.

Capital One Journey affords a user-friendly interface for reserving flights, resorts and rental vehicles, with useful options like a color-coded fare calendar to assist it stand out. With its detailed pricing and fare class info and extra options like worth freeze and worth drop safety, it is particularly helpful for reserving flights. You may as well earn bonus rewards for a lot of Capital One Journey purchases throughout many of the issuer’s card portfolio, making it an incredible possibility as you propose upcoming journeys.