Why You Shouldn’t Book Your Ticket Using ThankYou Points

Share with a friend

When you have a card with flexible points like the Citi ThankYou card, Citi Premier® Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card you can use those points to book travel.

There are lots of great benefits to booking through a portal, but there’s also a downfall. Keep reading to find out why you shouldn’t book your ticket using Thankyou points or other travel portal.

Why You Shouldn’t Book Your Ticket Using ThankYou Points

Photo courtesy: Shifaaz Shamoon via Unsplash

When you book using a portal, it’s quick and easy. Just like booking on an airline website. Many of us book our flights this way because you save money, earn miles, are eligible for upgrades, and can earn elite status faster.

You save money because you can use your points instead of paying cash. You can even use a combination of points and miles.

Tickets booked through portals earn miles. Even if you pay for your flight with points.

Yep, tickets bought with points (or a combination of cash and points) through a booking portal like the ThankYou Portal or Amex Travel earn airline miles. Unlike tickets purchased with airline miles.

The difference is that you’re redeeming your points through a portal, and the issuer is paying cash for your airline ticket. It’s like using a Groupon or Living Social coupon.

You’ve paid an upfront price for your purchase and now you’re redeeming your points.

These tickets are treated just like booking on the airlines’ websites, except for one crucial difference.

Disadvantage

But there is a downfall if you book through a portal. If you need help changing your ticket because of a flight delay, the airline can’t help you. You have to contact your travel agent, or in this case, the booking portal.

I recently flew to Beijing and booked my ticket through the Citi ThankYou portal. Because my flight to Beijing was delayed four hours, I could have canceled my ticket for a full refund.

But because I had booked through the portal, they had to process the refund. Saturday morning at 6:30 am PST, I couldn’t reach them. 🙁

So I had to take my flight. But it turned out well because I got upgraded to Business Class and enjoyed a night at the Grand Hyatt Beijing.

Conclusion

There are lots of benefits to using points to buy airline tickets through a portal like Citi ThankYou.

You save money, earn airline miles, are eligible for upgrades, and earn elite status faster. But it’s not all rainbows and sunshine.

If you have to change or cancel your ticket, you have fewer options. Only the issuing agency can make changes to your ticket. When booking through a portal, they are the issuing agency.

This means that the airline can’t touch your ticket. You have to contact the travel portal. If they’re closed or you can’t reach them because you’re traveling, you’re out of luck.

Pin this to your travel, travel hacks, or travel tip board:

Comment, tweet, or share this post.

Get the best credit card bonuses.

Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

Got a question? Or want help, suggestions, travel tips, learn how to travel for free, find out about travel deals, and maximize your miles and points? Use the subscription box below to sign-up and get post updates by email.

Miles and Points Strategy Consultations

Need help with your miles and points? You can book a miles and points consultation. Whether you're learning how to use travel rewards or have been in the game, this consultation is personalized for your needs. We can discuss credit cards, loyalty programs, anything and everything miles and points related.

 

Includes a summary and a written plan with recommendations on how to achieve your miles and points goals sent within 24 hours after consultation.

 

Note: This is a consultation not an award booking service.

 

Schedule your miles and points consultation now.

---

Traveling Well For Less has partnered with Your Best Credit Cards for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and YBCC may receive a commission from card issuers.

Capital One Venture X Business

With the Capital One Venture X Business the welcome offer is 150,000 mile bonus after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are free Capital One Lounge access, earning 2X points on all purchases, and transferring miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs.

 

Learn more about the Capital One Venture X Business and how to apply

---

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.You can get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel value: the 60k points are worth $750 when booked through the Chase Travel portal. And you get up to $300 in statement credits on travel booked through the Chase portal your first year.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining, $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.

 

Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and how to apply