Rhonda Stewart, WalletHub Loans Analyst
@rhonda
Transactions that qualify as travel-related purchases for the Costco Credit Card include airfare, hotel bookings, car rentals, and more.
Guide to Costco Credit Card’s Travel-Related Purchases
- Eligible travel-related purchases: This category covers airfare, hotel bookings, car rentals, and cruises. Purchases from Costco Travel and other travel agencies also fall under the Costco Credit Card’s travel category.
- What is not included: There are a number of transactions that are not considered eligible travel for the Costco Credit Card rewards, such as train and commuter travel fares, bed and breakfasts, timeshares, campgrounds, and rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft.
Also, travel-related purchases not categorized with the appropriate merchant category code (MCC) for travel, will earn only 1% cash back. - Rewards earned: Cardholders will get 3% cash back on all Costco Credit Card eligible travel purchases with no limits on earnings, including transactions made through the Costco Travel portal.
In addition to travel, qualifying dining purchases also earn 3% cash back. The cash back earnings are received once a year as a reward certificate, redeemable at U.S. Costco locations.
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Nancy Stratham, Member
@nancy_stratham
When it comes to the Citi Costco travel purchase eligibility, quite a few types of purchases are considered "travel". The basic ones are (obviously) airfare, hotels, car rentals, travel agencies and cruise lines.
As far as Uber and Lyft are concerned, they are indeed considered travel purchases.
Are purchases on Emirates/Qatar, eligible to earn 3% cashback? Citi and Emirates both couldn't confirm.
I just spent 18 minutes in the phone with Citibank customer service while they researched covered travel expenses. Uber classifies their service as taxicab or limousine service. Neither taxicab nor limousine service are eligible for the 3% cashback reward with the Costco Citibank card. Verified non- coverage directly with Citibank.
Kelly McPherson, Member
@Kelamc
Uber is billed as taxicab or limousine service. After an 18 minute phone call with Citibank customer service wherein the agent researched covered eligible travel, I was informed that neither taxicab nor limousine service are eligible for the 3% cashback reward through the Costco Citibank card. Therefore, Uber, Lyft, taxicabs nor limousine service receive the 3% cashback reward.
People also ask
How do travel credit cards work?
Travel credit cards work just like any other rewards credit card, though they tend to reward cardholders more for making travel-related purchases than anything else. Plus, the points or miles that travel credit cards provide are usually worth more when redeemed for travel, compared to other redemption methods.
It is also worth noting that travel credit cards commonly offer features such as travel insurance, no foreign transaction fee, airport lounge access, and reimbursement for TSA PreCheck/Global...
read full answer by Christie Matherne, Credit Card WriterWhat qualifies as a gas purchase for the Costco Visa card?
Transactions that qualify as gas purchases for the Costco Credit Card include those made at Costco and at almost all other gas stations. EV charging purchases are also eligible for the cash back bonus.
Eligible gas stations include any facilities that assign a merchant category code (MCC) for gas and EV charging stations to its fuel purchases. Fuel used for non-automobile purposes as well as gas charges at supermarkets, superstores, and warehouse clubs other than Costco...
read full answer by James Bronzz, WalletHub AnalystWhat counts as travel for Bank of America travel rewards?
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card counts as travel everything from airfare, hotel reservations and car rentals to toll fares, tickets to tourist attractions, and rideshare services. Travel-related goods and services must be categorized with an eligible merchant category code to count as a travel purchase. A merchant category code is assigned by the major credit card networks to each purchase based on the merchant’s or service’s line of business.
What Counts as Travel for Bank of America Travel Rewards?
... read full answer by Chip Lupo, Credit Card WriterDid we answer your question?
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Are the purchases made during a cruise eligible for the 3%??
Do Airbnb purchases count as hotel bookings? Anyone with recent experience on this?
Would money paid for a VRBO rental count for the 3% cash back?