How good is the Travelocity credit card? [Originally Mastercard, now Amex]
#31
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Programs: DL DM 2MM, AA LTP, Hyatt Globalist, FB Plat
Posts: 826
The redemption process allows for 4% back as a statement credit when you use the card to purchase flights and/or hotels on Travelocity.com, according to this redemption scheme:
http://svc.travelocity.com/info/info...LEVELS,00.html
http://svc.travelocity.com/info/info...LEVELS,00.html
Terms for new card w/ $69 fee is https://www.juniper.com/app/japply/l...req=CCMWC21188
e) As a Cardmember you may redeem Travelocity Points for the following Account statement credits when they purchase travel, services, and products on Travelocity.com:
Redeem 5,000 Travelocity Points for a $50.00 statement credit, or
Redeem 7,500 Travelocity Points for a $100.00 statement credit, or
Redeem 20,000 Travelocity Points for the cost of an airline ticket or Flight + Hotel Package up to a maximum credit of $400.00.
Clearly states flight + hotel package. So hotels would fall in the 7500 = $100 but could you use 30000 = $400 for a max of 3% return?
Of note, the website and some of the papers that accompany the card are very confusing, describing the 3/2/1% earnings feature of the other Travelocity card. I emailed CS to make sure my acct was set up properly and got a statement in writing that it was, and I have been receiving the number of points I expected.
I had to stop before hitting "confirm" because I am not ready to make travel plans yet, and once redeemed the points are nonrefundable.
Just wanted to share my experience and observations so far, as this card is very much out of the radar and it's difficult to find information.
Just wanted to share my experience and observations so far, as this card is very much out of the radar and it's difficult to find information.
I hope so. Regardless, this card has great potential.
#32
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Delta Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 362
The rolled eyes were not meant for you, it was for the many clueless CSR's I have dealt with. I can see that my message may have been unclear about that and sorry if you interpreted it that way. No offense to you intended. I find flyertalk info to be much more reliable than many credit card program CSR's.
Here is a quote from this month's statement, and yes it is from Barclay's bank:
Reward travel on your Travelocity
MasterCard starts at just 5,000 points!
Even better? Redeem points for any
air, car, hotel, or package on
Travelocity with no black-out dates or
seat restrictions.
You are correct that I have not accum. enough of a balance yet to confirm that you can go over the $400 credit. However, the redemption site allows me to pull up the statement credit menu from that 2006 link, and choose how many points I want to redeem.
I have tried to book a hotel room and can request a statement credit for that too.
So while I cannot confirm 100% that this is going to work as I anticipate it will, because I have not actually hit "confirm" and seen it done, from everything I have seen, it appears to be as I've described. If anyone else has more to add, I too am all ears.
Here is a quote from this month's statement, and yes it is from Barclay's bank:
Reward travel on your Travelocity
MasterCard starts at just 5,000 points!
Even better? Redeem points for any
air, car, hotel, or package on
Travelocity with no black-out dates or
seat restrictions.
You are correct that I have not accum. enough of a balance yet to confirm that you can go over the $400 credit. However, the redemption site allows me to pull up the statement credit menu from that 2006 link, and choose how many points I want to redeem.
I have tried to book a hotel room and can request a statement credit for that too.
So while I cannot confirm 100% that this is going to work as I anticipate it will, because I have not actually hit "confirm" and seen it done, from everything I have seen, it appears to be as I've described. If anyone else has more to add, I too am all ears.
#35
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 32
Be careful
Just a word of advice--make SURE you apply for the right card. I did a phone app and the CSR put me in the "lower tier" program (no annual fee, but the 3/2/1 rewards scheme) and I have been trying for two weeks to get moved into the rewards program I originally asked for. This better be worth it....
#36
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 84
A few notes
I've had this card for a little over a month now. There's a few interesting details I've discovered:
Points for purchases are immediately available for use after the purchase posts. You don't have to wait for a statement to close.
I have over 25k points right now, so I did some test bookings. When booking a $500 hotel-only trip, I was given the option of redeeming up to $450 in points, including 20k for $400 and 25k for $450. The $400 "Free Flight" tag line is just a tag line. It seems to simply be 20k = $400 in travelocity credit. I did not complete the reservation, but I'm certain that if I had both the 20k and 25k reward options would have been available to me.
I also had my account placed on hold for a week at one point because I made payments on two consecutive days. They didn't like that for some reason. My credit limit is only 8k, so I need to make semi-monthly payments to get the most out of it.
Oh, and the CSRs are horrible. I've yet to be able to get them to forward me to anyone outside of the main CSR call center.
Points for purchases are immediately available for use after the purchase posts. You don't have to wait for a statement to close.
I have over 25k points right now, so I did some test bookings. When booking a $500 hotel-only trip, I was given the option of redeeming up to $450 in points, including 20k for $400 and 25k for $450. The $400 "Free Flight" tag line is just a tag line. It seems to simply be 20k = $400 in travelocity credit. I did not complete the reservation, but I'm certain that if I had both the 20k and 25k reward options would have been available to me.
I also had my account placed on hold for a week at one point because I made payments on two consecutive days. They didn't like that for some reason. My credit limit is only 8k, so I need to make semi-monthly payments to get the most out of it.
Oh, and the CSRs are horrible. I've yet to be able to get them to forward me to anyone outside of the main CSR call center.
#37
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Programs: DL DM 2MM, AA LTP, Hyatt Globalist, FB Plat
Posts: 826
Thanks budblab and jdstecker. I am going ahead and applying. Will transfer my Airtran line of credit over as I did with my Usair card. This could be better than any other card.
#38
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 32
I heartily agree. My solution was to stop calling the number on the card-try calling 1-866-408-4064. It is the application number, but when you call, just ask to be transferred to customer service, and you will get the US customer service center, rather than the dreadful overseas one.
#39
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: East Coast
Programs: All major Airlines, Hotel Chains, Credit Cards and Car Rentals
Posts: 1,263
Like others, I have to admit that this is a very tempting offer. Only if Barclays not be rejecting our applications in the past. I no longer feel comfortable risking a hard pull when I am not confident that the application will be approved.
Too bad as they could get really good business out of me and I too would have gained excellent returns from them. Very unfortunate!
Too bad as they could get really good business out of me and I too would have gained excellent returns from them. Very unfortunate!
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Like others, I have to admit that this is a very tempting offer. Only if Barclays not be rejecting our applications in the past. I no longer feel comfortable risking a hard pull when I am not confident that the application will be approved.
Too bad as they could get really good business out of me and I too would have gained excellent returns from them. Very unfortunate!
Too bad as they could get really good business out of me and I too would have gained excellent returns from them. Very unfortunate!
#41
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: Onepass Plat, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Silver, Starwood
Posts: 54
For those interested I posted this in another forum:
The ambiguity is over. I have about 100k Travelocity points in my account and linked to Travelocity. I can book anything on Travelocity and take it right up to the confirm page. It asks me how many points I want to use. You can mix cash and points at your leisure.
So for example if I book a flight to Hawaii at $820 I have the ability to use 40,000 points and pay the $20 in cash. It works. I could also use only 20k points for a $400 credit and pay the rest. Very flexible.
The ambiguity is over. I have about 100k Travelocity points in my account and linked to Travelocity. I can book anything on Travelocity and take it right up to the confirm page. It asks me how many points I want to use. You can mix cash and points at your leisure.
So for example if I book a flight to Hawaii at $820 I have the ability to use 40,000 points and pay the $20 in cash. It works. I could also use only 20k points for a $400 credit and pay the rest. Very flexible.
#42
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 84
I have over 50k now and can confirm this. At 4 cents per $1 spent, this card has become my #1 option. That 4 cents goes a long way too, since you can shop around and apply it to the best available rates on airline or hotel on travelocity (and earn rewards for your purchases).
#43
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Programs: Hilton Gold, SPG & IHG Plat, & every airline program that I can join
Posts: 2,279
Just a word of advice--make SURE you apply for the right card. I did a phone app and the CSR put me in the "lower tier" program (no annual fee, but the 3/2/1 rewards scheme) and I have been trying for two weeks to get moved into the rewards program I originally asked for. This better be worth it....
Did you get your issue straightened out? And does everyone have the palm tree card who is charged the annual fee? I think they screwed up!
JudyJFLA
#44
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Delta Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 362
I just received my card today and it is the one with the gnome on it. I applied online for the annual fee card and received the one that is shown for the free card. I have a cardmember agreement that shows the annual fee and all other items list the 1 point per dollar. I sent in an email to customer service since I know I applied for the $69 card for the 4% which is the only way for value. The Balance transfer went through, so hopefully I can get the 5000 points plus 5000 opening and not the 2500.
Did you get your issue straightened out? And does everyone have the palm tree card who is charged the annual fee? I think they screwed up!
JudyJFLA
Did you get your issue straightened out? And does everyone have the palm tree card who is charged the annual fee? I think they screwed up!
JudyJFLA
#45
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 32
I just received my card today and it is the one with the gnome on it. I applied online for the annual fee card and received the one that is shown for the free card. I have a cardmember agreement that shows the annual fee and all other items list the 1 point per dollar. I sent in an email to customer service since I know I applied for the $69 card for the 4% which is the only way for value. The Balance transfer went through, so hopefully I can get the 5000 points plus 5000 opening and not the 2500.
Did you get your issue straightened out? And does everyone have the palm tree card who is charged the annual fee? I think they screwed up!
JudyJFLA
Did you get your issue straightened out? And does everyone have the palm tree card who is charged the annual fee? I think they screwed up!
JudyJFLA
They did eventually fix everything (it took about a month), but at one point, when they switched my program to the one I originally wanted, they deleted all the Travelocity points I had already accumulated! Eventually they put those back as well, but it has been an experience.
If you were put in the wrong program, the best solution I found is to NEVER call the customer service number on the website or on the card. The overseas CS people are clearly locked into a very narrow script. Call 1-866-408-4064 and asked to be connected to customer care. They will connect you to CSRs based in the US that clearly have more flexibility in terms of what they can do for you.
PS:I can also confirm the amazing flexibility for this card--I just used 45k points to pay for my parents to go on a cruise for their anniversary with no hassles whatsoever. Now I just need to get my credit limit upped so I can stop making bi-weekly payments!