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Crunching the numbers: Is it more expensive to book flights through a credit card travel portal?

Nov. 05, 2025
18 min read
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Editor's Note

This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Many top travel rewards cards offer bonus rewards when you book flights, hotels and rental cars through the issuer's travel portal.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) offers 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ but just 2 points per dollar spent on other travel, including flights booked directly with airlines.

So, you might consider booking flights through a credit card travel portal when you plan your next trip. However, many travelers believe you'll often pay more for flights when booking through a credit card travel portal. Plus, you can earn bonus rewards on select airline credit cards if you use them to book directly with the airline.

But are flights really more expensive when you book through a credit card travel portal? We collected and then crunched over 800 data points to find out.

What data did we collect?

For this story, we collected 804 data points to determine whether flights are more expensive on average when you book through a credit card travel portal. Specifically, we collected fares across 134 round-trip flight itineraries.

For each itinerary, we defined the specific flight numbers, travel dates and cabin class, and then asked TPG staffers to collect fares across the following booking methods as quickly as possible (always within a four-hour window):

Half of the travel dates for our itineraries were about two months out, while the other half were about six months out. All the itineraries we considered originated in the U.S., with 37% of our data points being domestic flights and 52% being flights within North America. Now, let's dive into what we found.

Related: What you need to know about direct versus third-party travel bookings

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Key takeaways

If you're only interested in the highlights, here's a summary of the most important takeaways:

  • Not every itinerary is bookable through each credit card travel portal.
  • Capital One Travel sold the highest percentage of the itineraries we searched; Amex Travel sold the lowest.
  • Compared to booking directly, fares are, on average, about the same through Capital One Travel, slightly more expensive through Bilt and Chase Travel, somewhat more expensive through Amex Travel, and much more expensive through Citi Travel.
  • Capital One Travel returns the same fare as booking directly more than half the time. Bilt, Chase Travel and Citi Travel return the same fare as booking directly less than half the time. Amex Travel returns the same fare as booking directly less than a fifth of the time.
  • To get the best flight price, you should check each portal you can access and compare these rates with what the airline charges for direct bookings.

We learned plenty more interesting things while analyzing our data. So, read on for more statistics and a deeper analysis of what we learned.

Related: 11 strategies to find cheap airfare

Is it more expensive to book flights through a travel portal?

Booking flights through a credit card travel portal is sometimes more expensive, but sometimes cheaper. We crunched data from 134 round-trip itineraries and calculated the average difference between each portal's pricing and booking directly. Here's what we found:

  • Amex Travel portal: 10.32% more expensive than booking directly
  • Bilt travel portal: 6.50% more expensive than booking directly
  • Capital One Travel portal: 0.76% more expensive than booking directly
  • Chase Travel portal: 5.94% more expensive than booking directly
  • Citi Travel portal: 14.59% more expensive than booking directly

Here's a look at the number of itineraries that were equal to, more expensive than or less expensive than what you could book directly with the airline.

The number of itineraries that had ...Amex TravelBilt travelCapital One TravelChase TravelCiti Travel
The same fare through the portal and when booking directly2657815035
A more expensive fare through the portal compared to booking directly6147264260
A fare at least 1% more expensive through the portal compared to booking directly5637203653
A fare at least 10% more expensive through the portal compared to booking directly412992634
A less expensive fare through the portal compared to booking directly1613191624
A fare at least 1% less expensive through the portal compared to booking directly14511817
A fare at least 10% less expensive through the portal compared to booking directly33549

As you can see, the Capital One Travel portal featured the most itineraries with the same price as booking directly. The number of itineraries at least 1% more expensive through the Capital One Travel portal, compared to booking directly, was similar to the number of itineraries at least 1% less expensive. Plus, we found itineraries through the Capital One Travel portal were on average just 0.76% more expensive than booking directly.

Meanwhile, fares for 61 itineraries were more expensive through the Amex Travel portal than booking directly. In 41 instances, the Amex Travel portal returned prices more than 10% higher than you'd get booking directly. One such itinerary involved flying Air Canada in economy between New York and Toronto in December. This itinerary through Amex Travel costs $382, while booking directly would cost $210.

Now, let's discuss some of these metrics when looking at subsets of our dataset. In particular, we'll discuss domestic, international and economy flight trends.

Trends for domestic flights

The average difference between each portal's pricing and booking directly for the 50 round-trip domestic itineraries we considered is as follows:

  • Amex Travel portal: 6.10% more expensive than booking directly
  • Bilt travel portal: 4.00% more expensive than booking directly
  • Capital One Travel portal: 0.05% less expensive than booking directly
  • Chase Travel portal: 4.14% more expensive than booking directly
  • Citi Travel portal: 2.77% more expensive than booking directly

Here's a look at the number of domestic itineraries that were equal to, more expensive than or less expensive than what you could book directly with the airline.

The number of domestic itineraries that had ...Amex TravelBilt travelCapital One TravelChase TravelCiti Travel
The same fare through the portal and when booking directly1331362213
A more expensive fare through the portal compared to booking directly181581219
A fare at least 1% more expensive through the portal compared to booking directly16116916
A fare at least 10% more expensive through the portal compared to booking directly117264
A less expensive fare through the portal compared to booking directly80447
A fare at least 1% less expensive through the portal compared to booking directly80416
A fare at least 10% less expensive through the portal compared to booking directly10302

In our tests, domestic fares through the Capital One Travel portal were 0.05% less expensive than booking directly, with three fares even being 10% less expensive. One of these fares was for a round-trip United Airlines itinerary from Los Angeles to New York in December. We could book this itinerary through Capital One Travel for $312.

Meanwhile, booking directly or via Bilt travel carried a fare of $412 and booking via the other portals carried a fare of $427 or higher.

Trends for international flights

The average difference between each portal's pricing and booking directly for the 84 round-trip international itineraries we considered is as follows:

  • Amex Travel portal: 12.89% more expensive than booking directly
  • Bilt travel portal: 8.12% more expensive than booking directly
  • Capital One Travel portal: 1.26% more expensive than booking directly
  • Chase Travel portal: 6.91% more expensive than booking directly
  • Citi Travel portal: 20.35% more expensive than booking directly

Here's a look at the number of international itineraries that were equal to, more expensive than or less expensive than what you could book directly with the airline.

The number of international itineraries that had ...Amex TravelBilt travelCapital One TravelChase TravelCiti Travel
The same fare through the portal and when booking directly1326452822
A more expensive fare through the portal compared to booking directly4332183041
A fare at least 1% more expensive through the portal compared to booking directly4026142737
A fare at least 10% more expensive through the portal compared to booking directly302272030
A less expensive fare through the portal compared to booking directly813151217
A fare at least 1% less expensive through the portal compared to booking directly657711
A fare at least 10% less expensive through the portal compared to booking directly23247

Amex Travel, by far, had the fewest itineraries for which the fares through the portal were equal to those found directly with the airline. The Amex Travel and Citi Travel portals also showed fares at least 10% more expensive through the portal than booking directly for 30 itineraries — 36% of the international itineraries we considered.

Meanwhile, Capital One Travel had by far the most itineraries for which the fares through the portal were equal to those found directly with the airline. The Capital One Travel portal had 18 itineraries more expensive than booking directly and 15 less expensive, with average fares that were just 1.26% more expensive through the Capital One Travel portal than booking directly.

Related: These are the best times to buy an international flight

Trends for economy flights

The average difference between each portal's pricing and booking directly for the 83 round-trip economy itineraries we considered is as follows:

  • Amex Travel portal: 17.14% more expensive than booking directly
  • Bilt travel: 9.92% more expensive than booking directly
  • Capital One Travel portal: 0.14% more expensive than booking directly
  • Chase Travel portal: 8.59% more expensive than booking directly
  • Citi Travel portal: 11.52% more expensive than booking directly

Here's a look at the number of economy itineraries that were equal to, more expensive than or less expensive than what you could book directly with the airline.

The number of economy itineraries that had ...Amex TravelBilt travelCapital One TravelChase TravelCiti Travel
The same fare through the portal and when booking directly633522517
A more expensive fare through the portal compared to booking directly4936152936
A fare at least 1% more expensive through the portal compared to booking directly4633122632
A fare at least 10% more expensive through the portal compared to booking directly362852121
A less expensive fare through the portal compared to booking directly55121117
A fare at least 1% less expensive through the portal compared to booking directly537714
A fare at least 10% less expensive through the portal compared to booking directly13536

Economy fares through Capital One Travel were the same as booking directly 63% of the time. Compared to other credit card travel portals, Amex Travel featured the fewest economy itineraries with the same fare as booking directly and more than triple the best-performing portal's number of economy itineraries that were more expensive when booking through the portal.

Forty-nine of the economy itineraries — 59% of the economy itineraries we considered — were more expensive through the Amex Travel portal than booking directly with the airline.

Related: 6 key tools and tips to find the cheapest airfare

What is the best credit card travel portal for booking flights?

There isn't one best credit card travel portal for booking flights. However, I appreciate the Capital One Travel portal's price drop protection on flights for which the platform recommends booking immediately, and I've gotten value from Amex's International Airline Program.

Fares

Our data showed that Capital One Travel was, on average, the best at providing fares with the least markup compared to booking directly. Capital One Travel offered lower fares for domestic itineraries than booking directly with the airline. The Capital One Travel portal also offered the same fares as booking directly on 60% of itineraries, the highest percentage obtained by any portal we tested.

Man making an online purchase at home
XAVIER LORENZO/GETTY IMAGES

The other four portals — Amex Travel, Bilt, Chase Travel and Citi Travel — all offered fares that were, on average, higher than those available when booking directly with the airline.

However, while the difference between booking directly with the airline and using a portal was, on average, less when using the Bilt travel and Chase Travel portals compared to the Amex Travel and Citi Travel portals, the Amex Travel and Citi Travel portals featured higher percentages of itineraries that were less expensive than booking directly by more than 1%.

And, we found nine itineraries through the Citi Travel portal that were less expensive than booking directly with the airline by more than 10%.

So, the Capital One Travel portal is best if you want the best chance of getting a fare close to what you could book directly with the airline. But, our data showed the Amex Travel and Citi Travel portals are most likely to offer a fare that's 1% less than (as well as 1% greater than) booking directly with the airline. It may also be worth checking these portals to see if you can snag a lower rate.

Related: The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare for the holidays

Bookable itineraries

The main drawback of Amex Travel is that it does not have every itinerary you could book directly; this is more frequently the case with Amex Travel versus the other portals we considered.

Across the 134 round-trip itineraries we considered, 31 weren't available through Amex Travel, 25 weren't available through Chase Travel, 17 weren't available through Bilt, 15 weren't available through Citi Travel and seven weren't available through Capital One Travel.

Woman holding a credit card and using her laptop
FG TRADE/GETTY IMAGES

In some cases, this was due to the portal not supporting a specific airline. For example, Amex Travel, Chase Travel and Citi Travel don't offer Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines flights. And Chase Travel is the only portal that offers Southwest Airlines flights (besides the Capital One Business Travel portal, which we didn't test).

In other cases, the portal only showed some itineraries for airlines it otherwise supports.

While the Citi Travel portal included every American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines itinerary we searched, Amex Travel didn't show options to book eight of the 72 itineraries we searched for these airlines. Additionally, Chase Travel didn't show seven of these itineraries and Bilt and Capital One Travel didn't show four of these itineraries.

Related: How far in advance can you book a flight?

Earning rates and card benefits

It is also worth considering the extra rewards you can earn when booking through credit card travel portals with select rewards credit cards.

For example, I'll sometimes book flights through Capital One Travel with my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to use my card's $300 annual Capital One Travel credit and earn 5 miles per dollar spent on the part of my fare that the credit doesn't cover.

Some cards earn rewards at a higher rate when you book flights through the card issuer's travel portal. Here's a look at the earning rates when booking flights with some popular travel cards:

Finally, remember that some credit cards offer travel protections when you use them to book flights. These protections are available regardless of whether you use your card to book directly with the airline or via a credit card travel portal.

Related: The best credit cards for booking flights

Redemption rates

You can also redeem rewards when booking flights through credit card travel portals. Some portals offer low redemption rates, though. Here's the redemption rate you can expect to get when redeeming for flights through the portals discussed in this guide:

  • American Express Travel portal: 1 cent per point
  • Bilt travel portal: 1.25 cents per point
  • Capital One Travel portal: 1 cent per mile
  • Chase Travel portal: 1 to 2 cents per point
  • Citi Travel portal: 1 cent per point

So, the Bilt travel portal and Chase Travel portal are best if you want to redeem your rewards for flights that you book through the portal.

However, remember that TPG's November 2025 valuations peg the value of each of these currencies higher than what you can get when booking through the portal. So, you'll usually want to transfer your rewards to transfer partners instead of redeeming for flights through the portal to get more value from your rewards.

Bottom line

On average, the Capital One Travel portal offered fares closest to what you could book directly with the airline. Meanwhile, the Citi Travel portal was about 14% more expensive on average than booking directly, and the Amex Travel portal was about 10% more expensive.

This doesn't mean you should pick one booking method and avoid checking other options, though. I was surprised by how much prices varied between the portals — and when compared to the airline's website — while collecting data for this story. Processing the data and writing this story made me realize more than ever the importance of checking each credit card travel portal you have access to and the airline's website before booking a flight.

So, next time you need to book a flight, start on Google Flights to assess your options. You may also want to open up your favorite award search tools if you have transferable rewards.

Then, if you decide to book a paid fare, open up all the credit card travel portals you can access via your rewards cards and search for the flights you want.

Finally, compare the rates across the portals with booking directly with the airline to determine which will offer the best value.

Related reading:

Featured image by PIXELSEFFECT/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
4 / 5
Go to review
Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site

Rewards

1 - 4X points
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
3XEarn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
1XEarn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer

As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Annual Fee

$325

Recommended Credit

Excellent to Good
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.
Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
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Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
4 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
3XEarn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
1XEarn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Intro Offer
    You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual Fee

    $325
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.