Earn Points Booking an Airbnb
A common question we get in the ToP Facebook group is how do I book an Airbnb with my points? The long answer is there really isn't any good valued way to use points to cash in for an Airbnb booking. Sure, you could potentially cash out points at a subpar rate (around 1 cent per point), but often we are trying to avoid that. You could book a Vacasa using Wyndham points as well, but Vacasa is quite limited in its reach and value. Instead, we often recommend travelers looking to book an Airbnb to see it as a points earning opportunity rather than a points burning opportunity. In this guide we will discuss a few options you have to earn points booking an Airbnb.
Related: Why Vacasa Still Has a Place in my Award Travel Toolkit
Use a Card with a Welcome Offer
In order to earn points on your booking, you want to be sure to use the right card. Unfortunately, there really are not many cards that earn large multipliers for Airbnb. The most surefire way to earn the maximum amount of points is to use a card with a welcome offer. This is because the spend on that new card is earning a large bonus. That bonus can also be seen as a large multiplier. For example, if you get a welcome offer of 60,000 points for $4,000 in spend, that is effectively earning you 15x per dollar on the initial spend. If you are not sure which card to grab next, feel free to ask us in the ToP Facebook group. Or pick one yourself from our current ranking of the best welcome offers.
Use a Card With a Travel Multiplier
Ideally, working on a welcome offer is the best. On the other hand, if you are not working on a welcome offer using a card with a high multiplier on travel is your best bet. Historically, Airbnb has coded as travel with credit card processors. That means a Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Ink Business Preferred would serve you well at 3x on travel. If you prefer earning Citi Thank You Points, the Citi Premier would be a good choice at 3x earnings. Finally, an American Express Green card would net you 3x Membership Rewards if that is your desired currency.
Use an Airline Portal
Beyond just using a credit card with the highest multiplier, you can stack your card earnings with a cash back portal. Most cash back portals such as Rakuten and American Airlines shopping portal do not include Airbnb. However, there are two portals that currently do support Airbnb. These two portals are Delta and British Airways. I will include links to both below. With Delta you earn 1 mile per $1 spent with Airbnb. With British Airways you can earn 2 Avios per £1 spent with Airbnb.
British Airways Shopping portal
Using Gift Cards and a Note of Caution
Another popular option you will see suggested is purchasing Airbnb gift cards at a store where you can earn a high multiplier. This could be a fair option to increase your earnings. You will want to weigh this opportunity with the fact that you may be foregoing travel insurance protections. Beyond just that risk, I do want to mention that purchasing gift cards means that you are locked in to Airbnb. With your funds tied up in Airbnb gift cards, you now may have a considerable sum tied up in Airbnb credit.
As an Airbnb host myself, I can honestly say reservations get cancelled a fair amount from both the host and the guests end – and it would not be ideal to have a big stash of gift cards as opposed to cold hard cash back in your pocket. Further, if your plans change and you decide to stay at a hotel, your funds may be limited to Airbnb.
I also want to mention that they have some of the worst rules for the consumers in the gift card business. Check out Mark's article on some of the downsides of Airbnb gift cards here.
If you decide to purchase gift cards, be aware of these risks and potential pitfalls.
ToP Thoughts: How to Earn Points Booking Airbnb
Booking into an Airbnb can provide an ideal travel experience. Some of the appeal of Airbnbs include a more local experience, provide access to desired locations, and having access to a larger space. Award travelers that are hoping to earn more points on an Airbnb booking can do so by using the right card. By stacking with an airline portal, you can earn some miles on the backend. Further, you can consider utilizing gift cards purchased to earn a higher multiplier, although be wary of the potential downfalls. Are you using any of these ToP Tips to book an Airbnb? Let us know over in the ToP Facebook Group!
