How to Maximize and Utilize Points for Airbnb

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Airbnb is a popular vacation rental booking service that unfortunately does not participate in cashback portals. Additionally, they do not offer a co-branded credit card, which would help users earn and redeem points more effectively. However, with some effort and strategy, you can maximize your money and points. Here are a few methods to consider.

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Maximizing Airbnb Gift Cards

You can purchase Airbnb gift cards and earn some cash back. Then you use that gift card to pay for your Airbnb reservations.

Saving with Airbnb Gift Cards Discounts

Airbnb gift card discounts are available from several online merchants, such as Amazon, eBay, and Giftcards.com.

Earning 5x Points on Airbnb Gift Card Purchases

Staples carries Airbnb digital gift cards. You can use your Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card to earn 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points or 5% cash back per dollar spent at Staples, which is an office supply store category.

Additionally, keep an eye out for the Chase Freedom 5x quarterly categories, which may include grocery stores or merchant categories where you can purchase Airbnb gift cards. It allows you to earn 5% cash back or 5x bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points for every dollar spent, up to $1,500 per quarter.

Earning Cash Back on Airbnb Gift Card Purchases

You can also purchase Airbnb gift cards online via a cashback portal. For example, Top Cashback offers 2.4% cash back on Airbnb gift card purchases. Moreover, if you are new to Top Cashback, you can also earn extra cash back by signing up for a new account. Here’s what you would do:

Sign up for an account with Top Cashback to earn the new member cashback promotion.
Log in to your Top Cashback account successfully and search for Airbnb.
After that, click on the Airbnb and follow the Top Cashback website pages to buy an Airbnb gift card.

Redeeming Cash Back Rewards for Airbnb Gift Cards

If you are familiar with cashback portals such as Top Cashback, Ebates/Rakuten, etc., you know that you can earn cash back rewards by shopping online. Once you accrue enough rewards, you can redeem them for gift cards, such as Airbnb gift cards.

Redeeming Points for Airbnb Gift Cards

Furthermore, you can also redeem your credit card points for gift cards, such as Airbnb gift cards.

American Express Membership Rewards at a rate of 0.7 to 1 cent per point
Chase Ultimate Rewards at a rate of 1 cent per point
Citi ThankYou Points at a rate of 1 cent per point

Utilizing the Best Credit Card for Airbnb

If you do not want to purchase Airbnb gift cards, another way to really maximize your savings on Airbnb stays is to make sure you use a travel credit card that earns you a good return for vacation rental or travel purchases:

Cards	Airbnb Earnings
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card	3x
Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card	3x
American Express Green Card	3x
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card	2x
Capital One Venture X Credit Card	2x
Capital One Spark Miles Business Credit Card	2x
American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card	2x

Utilizing Credit Card Saving Offers for Airbnb

Banks such as American Express, Bank of America, Citi, and Chase may offer cashback on Airbnb bookings from time to time. You will have to check your card account to see if your account has the targeted offer. Once the offer is added to your card, you can use your card to pay for Airbnb reservations and earn cashback during the offer’s validity.

It’s worth noting that unless the offer calls for Airbnb gift cards, Chase, Citi, Bank of America, and Amex offers for Airbnb generally do not work for Airbnb gift card purchases because a third-party merchant processes those gift card transactions. So keep that in mind.

Using Credit Card Travel Statement Credits

Travel credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card, offer an annual $300 travel statement credit. You can use the Sapphire Reserve card to pay for your Airbnb reservation, and Chase will provide a statement credit of up to $300 to offset that cost.

Covering Airbnb Stay with Credit Card Points

Aside from redeeming credit card points for Airbnb gift cards, some travel credit cards, such as the Capital One Venture X Credit Card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, and the no-annual-fee Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, offer a way to utilize Capital One miles to cover eligible travel purchases, such as the Airbnb, at a rate of 1 cent per mile.

For example, if you pay a $500 Airbnb reservation with a Capital One Venture card, you then can redeem 50,000 Capital One miles to cover that expense.

Earning Airline Miles for Airbnb

Additionally, be sure to use your preferred airline’s portal when making an Airbnb reservation. This will allow you to earn miles in addition to the points and cashback from the methods mentioned above.

Earning Delta Air Lines SkyMiles for Airbnb

Delta partners with Airbnb, allowing SkyMiles members to earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all Airbnb stays.

To earn Delta miles with Airbnb stays:

Go to the Delta Airbnb website.
Click on the Book Your Airbnb button.
Enter your Delta SkyMiles numbers and click on the Continue to Airbnb button when prompted.
Then, make your Airbnb reservations like you normally do, and pay for your reservation with your preferred method of payment to maximize your savings.

Earning British Airways Avios for Airbnb

Like the Delta Airbnb partnership above, British Airways also partners with Airbnb. You can earn 2 Avios per £1/€1/$1 spent on Airbnb stays.

To earn British Airways Avios points with Airbnb stays:

Go to the British Airways Airbnb website.
Click on the Book accommodation on Airbnb button.
You will be prompted to enter your British Airways Club membership number. Then click on the Continue button.
You will be taken to the official UK Airbnb site, where your British Airways Avios earnings will be tracked in the back end.
After that, make your Airbnb reservations like you usually do.
Finally, you can pay for your reservation with your preferred payment method to maximize your savings. However, please note that if you are not in the UK, make sure to use a credit card that does not have foreign transaction fees.

Earning Qantas Frequent Flyer Points for Airbnb

Australia’s Qantas Airlines also partners with Airbnb. You can earn 1 Qantas Point per A$1 spent on Airbnb stays.

To earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points with Airbnb stays:

Go to the Qantas & Airbnb website.
Provide the search parameters and click on the Search Airbnb red button.
Next, enter your Qantas frequent flyer membership number and last name. Then click on the Continue to Airbnb button.
You will be redirected to Australia’s official Airbnb site, and your Qantas points earnings will be tracked in the back end accordingly.
After that, make your Airbnb reservations like you normally do.
Lastly, pay for your reservation with your preferred payment method to maximize your savings. However, please note that if you are not in Australia, make sure to use a credit card that does not have foreign transaction fees.

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Phly Wright

Hi there, my name is Phly (pronounced as Fly). I am a dedicated travel enthusiast with a deep passion for miles and points. Always willing to share my expertise, I possess a wealth of knowledge on miles and points, extensively researching and staying up-to-date with the latest strategies for maximizing travel rewards through credit cards and loyalty program promotions.