Originally Posted by
progapanda
Unfair perhaps, but also explicitly made clear in their T&C that online booking agencies are not included in the travel bonus spend category:
Two points (1 base point plus 1 bonus point) are earned per $1 spent on qualifying net purchases made directly at retailers whose Merchant code for Mastercard is classified as Travel: airlines, hotels, motels, resorts, cruise lines, and car rental agencies (bus lines, passenger railways/trains, taxicabs and limousines, rideshares, ferries, timeshares, travel agencies, online travel sites, real estate agents, vacation rental platforms (e.g. VRBO, Airbnb), campgrounds, boat lease/rental, motor home/recreational vehicle rental, toll bridges and highways, parking lots, and garages are not included).
Yes, that's true. But naturally you would think online booking agencies would be included. And it is mostly the case for other cards. So this is a bit of a surprise. From the perspective of client, and not T&C, I am making a travel purchase regardless the business that sells it to me. As you said, "Perhaps unfair"...
On the side note, I don't really understand why would they want to do that? Does it really save them that much? IMO, it drops more shade on them than helps save anything. Yet, still, the card is unbeatable since it allows me to pay rent! This is supercool, without a doubt.