4 Secrets Of Travel Rewards Cards You Might Find In The Fine Print

There are some great travel rewards cards out there like the popular Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express. If you are a frequent traveler then a travel rewards card might be just what you need to keep some cash in your pocket. Travel rewards cards can save you some money on your travels and there are a variety of great cards out there with good rates. Before you blindly jump at the first offer that comes your way, there are some things you should consider. Many travel cards have restrictions in place when it comes to when and how you can use your rewards. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if you’re not expecting such restrictions it can certainly put a damper on your travels. These are some of the things you have to be aware of when you look for a rewards program if you intend to use the travel rewards and below are 4 of those things to watch out for.

1. Book In Advance: It’s common that in order to take advantage of the rewards you have earned you have to make your reservations a certain number of days in advance. Typically, it is about 21 days, although there are some programs out there that let you book 14 days in advance. This pretty much eliminates the option for you to use your rewards for a spur of the moment trip. However, it is true that the further in advance you book a trip the better deal you are going to get on your fares. If you like to schedule your trips at the last minute then you definitely want to find a program that is flexible when it comes to booking in advance.
2. Blackout Dates: Many rewards programs have what they call blackout dates. This means there are certain times that you can’t use your rewards. This can be a huge deal because blackout dates can severely limit your travel options. Certain reward programs and even frequent flier programs have blackout dates. If you want the flexibility of traveling when you want then you should find a program that has no blackout dates. These programs are available so make sure you choose a credit card that allows you to book a flight on any date you choose.
3. Required Saturday Night Stay: Another common restriction is that your stay must include a Saturday night in order to get the special deal. If this is a restriction you don’t want in place then be sure to choose a program that does not have this restriction. Having such a restriction limits the flexibility of the program.
4. Can you book any flight that you want?: Most reward programs are allocated a certain number of seats on certain airlines. Hence, when those seats are taken up, you may not be able to use your reward points even if there are seats available. Some programs allow you to get around this by requiring you to use more points or by allowing you to book whatever flight you want and then using your points to save you the expenses.