The global economy has rebounded from the devastation of the last recession. As a result, consumers are travelling more than ever. This is great news for merchants in the travel and hospitality industries. Travel agents, who were thought to be extinct, are reporting record profits as clients realize they need agents with expert knowledge and contacts to make their global treks unforgettable. Despite the economic rebound, consumers still love a bargain and can utilize various rewards programs to get the biggest bang for their buck.
When wanderlust strikes, many consumers turn to credit card rewards programs to make travel more affordable. Airplane tickets are never cheap, but those with air miles and rewards points programs can beat the high cost of travel and keep money and awards in their pockets. A growing number of travel credit card programs offer cash back for flights, generally 1 cent per mile. Others give consumers the option to transfer rewards miles to airline loyalty programs, so individuals can spend in miles instead of dollars.
To help residents in the San Francisco Bay Area get more out of their miles, NerdWallet conducted a study on the average cost of flights out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to 20 of the most desirable places in the U.S., to find the routes where rewards miles go farther. The study showed that Las Vegas gave consumers the most rewards. Using rewards programs to travel from SFO to Las Vegas gave consumers almost 4 cents per mile. This coupled with tons of low fares to Sin City make it a top travel option for low point travelers.
Going East? NerdWallet research also suggested that travelers searching for savings look past New York. Although it is one of the busiest hubs in the U.S., there is little to no value in credit card rewards on flights from SFO to New York’s airports. Better value can be found in Boston or D.C.’s Washington Dulles International. Miles average around 2.6 cents and 2.5 cents per mile respectively for these area airports.
Credit card initiatives, a resurgence in the travel industry, and a healthier economy have made it a great time for consumers to travel. eMerchantBroker.com is the number one payment processor for travel agencies. Your business will enjoy a major boost with our payment processing services. We guarantee that your travel agency merchant account will be completely CPI compliant. Contact us today to start your account.