Orbitz.com has launched a rewards-based credit card for the online travel service’s loyalty program, Orbitz Rewards. The Orbitz Rewards Visa offers a $50 activation statement credit after spending $200 on the card within 90 days and an additional five percent Orbucks when purchasing flights, hotels and vacation packages on Orbitz.com. All other purchases earn two percent in Orbucks. There are no foreign transaction fees and lost luggage reimbursement, hotel burglary recovery and travel insurance are offered. Cardholders are also welcomed into Star status, which comes with hotel upgrades, complimentary hotel amenities and a priority customer service number. There is no annual fee to own the card. Orbucks you’ve earned will not expire as long as you use the card at least once every 12 months.
The launch of the card is seen as the second phase of the Orbitz Rewards program that was launched in October. One Orbuck equals one dollar in savings on Orbitz with no blackout dates. You earn more Orbucks when booking travel through iOS or Android apps, an extra two percent for a total five percent on Orbitz Rewards hotels and an extra one percent for a total two percent when booking flights with an Orbitz app. Packages earn one percent. When you have the card, those numbers are up to 10 percent on hotel bookings, seven percent on flights and two percent on everyday purchases outside of Orbitz.
When you are searching the site for your next trip, you will see the Orbucks you could potentially earn when booking. Visit http://www.orbitz.com/visacard to apply for the card.
Bottom line: Orbitz Rewards currently has two million members and is looking to add to those numbers with the addition of this credit card. To convince people that Orbitz Rewards is lucrative, there is a calculator at the link above that calculates what a person would earn from Orbitz Rewards, compared to Expedia Rewards, Welcome Rewards and Priceline. Not all types of booking on Orbitz are eligible for the extra five percent earned with the card, but they would still get two percent – things like non-qualifying hotels that are paid at checkout instead of in advance, car rentals, event tickets and travel insurance will get two percent. There is no cap on how many Orbucks a member can earn.
Those who prefer airline miles over earning hotel currency and who do not have a favorite hotel chain might be especially drawn to this card.
