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Labor Day weekend is almost here, and travelers will face higher costs for airfare and hotels (and potentially gas) compared to last year, according to AAA. If you haven't booked your Labor Day vacation or lodging yet, it's time to start making a plan.
Comparing options and price shopping are important first steps for booking last-minute travel, even if your options may be limited. Your credit card also offers several ways to provide relief for your travel budget. You may even be able to open a new rewards credit card and use its welcome bonus to offset travel expenses.
Senior reporter Jason Stauffer can answer your questions about how to make the most of your credit cards in his weekly Points Pro column. Submit yours here.
How to use credit cards to save on last-minute travel
Cash-back redemptions for anything
The easiest credit card rewards to use and understand are cash-back rewards. If you have or earn cash back, you aren't restricted by award availability or blackout dates. Plus, with cash back, you don't need to have a large enough balance to cover the entire cost of the trip. You can redeem rewards to pay for any portion of your travel.
If you don't have a stack of cash rewards sitting in your account, cards like the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offer generous welcome bonuses. While you aren't likely to be able to earn the welcome bonus before you need to book summer travel, you can pay for your trip with a new card. That will make qualifying for the welcome bonus easier, and you can reimburse yourself later.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the most rewarding options for earning cash back in categories such as entertainment and dining without paying an annual fee. Plus, you can combine its rewards with Capital One's travel cards to convert them into transferable miles.
- One of the most rewarding cash back cards for entertainment and streaming services
- No annual fee
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
- High APR
- Requires a good to excellent credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.74% - 28.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
Introductory fee of 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 12 months that your account is open. After that, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that we may offer you at any other time.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a low-fee card with generous cash-back rewards and useful ongoing benefits, such as a monthly Disney Bundle credit. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High cash-back earnings for U.S. supermarkets and streaming services
- Intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee for the first year
- It's less rewarding after the first year because of the annual fee
- Bonus rewards for U.S. supermarkets are capped
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $300 cash back* after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $3,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don't have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you'll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
Tip: If you're applying for a new credit card at the last minute, try calling the issuer and asking for expedited card delivery. Or, if you already bank with the issuer, you may be able to get a card more quickly by visiting a branch in person.
Bonus rewards and underutilized perks
Before you fill up the tank for your road trip or book your last-minute flight or hotel, check which credit card is the most rewarding for your purchase. Earning 3X or 4X on gas or airfare instead of 1X gives a good boost to your rewards balance.
But if you only maximize what you earn on purchases, you're leaving a lot on the table. Many of the top travel credit cards come loaded with credits, discounts and other ways to save.
Travel credits, discounts and fee waivers
Most of the major banks feature a rotating list of card-linked offers that provide rebates or rewards for specific purchases. You need to log in to your account to activate these deals before you make the purchase. These savings are available with Amex cards, Chase cards, Citi cards and other card issuers.
If you have or open a premium credit card, you likely have a long list of credits to use. These cards feature general travel credits, like the $300 annual travel credit available with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) or merchant-specific offers, like the $200 annual Splurge credit available with the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees), which is valid for purchases at 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training and Live Nation.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with luxury perks including, hotel credits, complimentary hotel elite status, travel credits, dining credits, rideshare and delivery benefits and much more.
- Access Priority Pass lounges, including unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club locations.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
- Complicated list of benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card offers luxury travel benefits and heightened rewards on travel and restaurant purchases — while still earning 1.5X points on all other purchases.
- Exceptional rewards rate on travel booked through cititravel.com
- Earns flexible points that transfer to popular airline and hotel partners, like American Airlines
- Features roughly $1,500 in value through statement credits, airport lounge access and more
- High $595 annual fee
- $75 annual fee for each authorized user
- Limited rewards categories
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Balance transfer fee
Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
You also might find worthwhile savings with co-branded hotel and airline cards. For example, many airline credit cards provide a fee waiver for your first checked bag. Several Delta credit cards go even further and offer your first two checked bags for free on domestic Delta flights, including the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. With airline baggage fees increasing, it's possible to save $90+ per round-trip flight with this perk.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has the right mix of benefits if you occasionally fly with Delta, such as free checked bags, priority boarding and discounts.
- Earn up to $300 in travel credit every year
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on eligible flights
- Discounts on eligible in-flight purchases and on Delta award flights (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees).
- Annual fee after the first year
- Delta flight credit benefit has a high spending requirement to earn
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer: As High As 80,000 Bonus Miles + Earn a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount. Offer ends 11/04/2026.
- Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: With your $120 Rideshare Credit, earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after your first Card renewal when you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
- When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.
- Check your first bag for free on Delta flights worldwide and get your second bag free when flying domestically.
- $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
- Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- Send money, split purchases, and focus on the moments that matter – with Send & Split®. Powered by Venmo and PayPal. Enrollment Required. Terms apply.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a good fit for anyone who wants Delta elite status and isn't interested in airport lounge access.
- Up to $390 in statement credits annually (Enrollment required)
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- 15% Delta award flight discount (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.)
- High annual fee
- Delta dynamically prices award flights, which makes it more difficult to redeem miles for higher values
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer: As High As 90,000 Bonus Miles + Earn a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount. Offer ends 11/04/2026.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Resy Credit: Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card for eligible purchases.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: With your $120 Rideshare Credit, earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment Required.
- Check your first bag for free on Delta flights worldwide and get your second bag free when flying domestically.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee every 4 years, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.§
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $350 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Travel insurance
If you're renting a car, booking prepaid travel or a flight with a connection, using the right credit card with travel insurance can help you save and protect you when things go wrong. But these perks are easy to undervalue or overlook.
You can save $15+ a day when renting a car if your card offers primary collision coverage. Other protections like trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay and trip cancellation/interruption coverage can free you from needing to purchase third-party insurance at checkout. On top of those upfront savings, you may also be protected when things go wrong.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) offers all of these protections, even primary rental car insurance, for a $95 annual fee. The card was recently overhauled and now offers emergency evacuation and transportation coverage, as well.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections, flexible rewards and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- Annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation and more
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Hidden gem point redemptions
Using points and miles to book your flights or hotels is often the best way to use credit cards to save on travel. The issue with last-minute travel is that using points isn't always an option. You may not be able to find award seats when you need to fly, or that conveniently located hotel may be charging severely inconvenient prices for an award night.
Although last-minute point redemptions are a reliable way to use credit card rewards, it's always worth seeing what's available. Many airlines and hotels have dynamic pricing. The downside of this is reward prices can be criminally high. However, you can also find stunning deals. I've personally rebooked award travel last-minute for half the miles it originally cost. Also, if you're willing to travel mid-week, you'll have a better chance of securing a good deal.
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Read more
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
