How to Save on Holiday Travel with Credit Cards: Fly for Free Using Points and Miles (2025)

Strategy 2: Use 0% APR Cards to Finance Holiday Travel

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If you don't have enough points saved up, a 0% intro APR card lets you spread holiday travel costs over several months without paying interest.

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How it works:

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1. Apply for a card with 0% intro APR on purchases
2. Use it to book holiday flights and hotels
3. Pay off the balance during the promotional period (typically 12-21 months)
4. Make at least the minimum payments on time to keep the 0% rate

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Best 0% APR Cards for Holiday Travel

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Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

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Why it's great for holidays: One of the longest 0% APR periods available, giving you maximum time to pay off travel expenses.

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[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "3351", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Large Purchasers", "headerHint": "0 Annual Fee"} ]]

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Best for: People who need maximum time to pay off expensive holiday trips without interest.

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "497", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Cash Back Seekers", "headerHint": "Fantastic Cash Back Card"} ]]

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Best for: People who want flexibility to either use points for travel or finance purchases without interest.

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Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card

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[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "7443", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Cash Back Seekers", "headerHint": "1.5% on Everywhere"} ]]

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Best for: Bank of America customers who can maximize Preferred Rewards benefits.

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Citi Simplicity® Card

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Why it's great for holidays: Longest balance transfer intro period, perfect if you've already charged travel to another card.

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[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "563", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Less Credit Interest Seekers", "headerHint" : "No Fee for Balance Transfers" } ]]

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Best for: People who need to transfer existing holiday travel debt and want maximum payoff time.

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Important considerations:

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• You must pay at least the minimum due each month

• The standard APR applies after the intro period ends

• Late payments can void your 0% rate

• Plan to pay off the balance before the promo ends

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This strategy makes sense if you:

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• Need to book expensive last-minute holiday flights

• Don't have enough rewards points saved

• Can commit to a payoff plan within the intro period

• Have good enough credit to qualify for 0% offers

Fly on the Actual Holidays to Save Money

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Haven’t booked your holiday flights yet? Here's a counterintuitive tip: flying on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day often costs less than surrounding days.

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Why this works:

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• Most people want to arrive before the holiday and leave after

• Airlines lower prices on less desirable travel days

• Airports are actually less crowded on the holidays themselves

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TSA's busiest days are typically:

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• Sunday after Thanksgiving

• Days before Christmas (December 20-23)

• December 27-30 (return travel after Christmas)

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TSA's quietest days during the season:

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• Thanksgiving Day itself

• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

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If your family is flexible about timing, flying on the actual holiday can save significant money and stress.

Essential Credit Card Travel Protections for Holiday Travel

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Holiday travel faces higher risks: weather delays, flight cancellations, lost luggage, and overbooked planes. Many credit cards include travel insurance that activates automatically when you book with the card.

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Key Protections to Look For

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Trip Delay Reimbursement covers meals, hotel, and essential purchases if your flight is delayed beyond a certain threshold (typically 6-12 hours). This is incredibly valuable during winter weather disruptions.

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Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance reimburses nonrefundable travel costs if you must cancel or cut short your trip for covered reasons (illness, injury, severe weather, etc.).

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Baggage Delay Insurance reimburses emergency purchases (toiletries, clothing) if your checked luggage is delayed, typically by 6+ hours.

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Lost Luggage Reimbursement Covers repair or replacement costs for baggage that's lost, damaged, or stolen during travel.

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Rental Car Collision Coverage provides secondary or primary coverage for rental car damage or theft, potentially saving $20-30 per day on rental insurance.

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Emergency Medical Coverage reimburses emergency medical or dental treatment while traveling, especially valuable for international trips.

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24/7 Travel Assistance: Get help with emergency travel arrangements, lost document replacement, medical referrals, and more.

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How to Activate Travel Insurance

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Most card issuers require you to:

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1. Pay for the entire trip with the card offering protection
2. Decline airline/rental insurance if coverage is secondary
3. Keep all receipts for reimbursement claims
4. File claims promptly (usually within 30-90 days)

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Important: Read your card's terms before traveling. Coverage varies significantly between cards, and understanding benefits beforehand prevents stress during emergencies.

Your Federal Rights as a Holiday Traveler

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The U.S. Department of Transportation provides specific passenger rights, which are especially important during the chaotic holiday season:

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When You're Entitled to Refunds

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Flight cancellations: Full refund if the airline cancels your flight and you choose not to travel, regardless of ticket type.

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Significant delays: Refund if there's a major schedule change or delay and you opt not to fly. "Significant" is determined case-by-case but generally means 3+ hours domestic or 6+ hours international.

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Involuntary downgrades: Refund of fare difference if moved to a lower class of service than booked.

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Unused optional services: Refund of fees for services you couldn't use (seat upgrades, WiFi, etc.) due to cancellations or delays.

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Lost baggage: Refund of checked bag fees if the airline loses your luggage.

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Fully refundable tickets: Full refund if you don't use your ticket, no questions asked.

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How to claim refunds: Request in writing from the airline or ticket agent. Document everything with confirmation numbers, receipts, and correspondence.

7 Expert Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Travel

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1. Review TSA Rules Before Packing

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TSA rules rarely change, but a quick review prevents issues at security:

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• Liquids: One quart-sized bag with containers 3.4 oz or smaller in carry-ons

• Batteries: Portable chargers and power banks must go in carry-on bags

• Food: Most solid foods allowed in carry-on, but spreads and liquids follow liquid rules

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2. Download Essential Travel Apps

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Must-have apps:

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• Airline apps (Delta, Southwest, American, United) for real-time flight updates

• Hotel apps (Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, IHG) for mobile check-in and digital keys

• Banking apps (Chase, Capital One, etc.) for managing finances on the go

• Google Maps for navigation (or Waze for driving routes)

• Uber/Lyft for rideshare transportation

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Turn on push notifications for your airline app to get immediate alerts about gate changes, delays, and cancellations.

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3. Add All Required Travel Information

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Before your trip:

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• Passport numbers for international travel

• Known Traveler Number (KTN) for TSA PreCheck on boarding passes

• Frequent flier numbers to earn miles (even on paid tickets)

• CLEAR membership details if you have access

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Note: Having a KTN doesn't guarantee TSA PreCheck on every flight, but you'll get it most of the time.

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4. Schedule Transportation in Advance

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Don't wait until travel day to figure out airport transportation:

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• Friend/family rides: Confirm pickup times a day before

• Rideshare: Schedule ahead when possible or allow extra time for surge pricing

• Public transit: Check holiday schedules (some run on reduced service)

• Parking: Reserve airport parking online for better rates and guaranteed spots

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Always have a backup plan in case your primary transportation falls through.

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5. Review Your Card's Travel Benefits

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Before your trip, check which cards offer:

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• Airport lounge access at your departure airports

• Free checked bags with specific airlines

• Complimentary WiFi on certain carriers

• Travel insurance coverage and requirements

• Rental car benefits like elite status or insurance

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Knowing these perks in advance lets you maximize value and avoid unnecessary fees.

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6. Understand How to Use Travel Insurance

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Credit card travel insurance only works if you follow the rules:

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• Book with the right card (the one offering the coverage you need)

• Keep all receipts from delayed/cancelled trips

• File claims within deadlines (usually 30-90 days)

• Meet coverage requirements (e.g., delay must exceed 6 hours)

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Review specific terms before traveling, not during an emergency.

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7. Travel Light to Reduce Stress

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Carry-on-only travel offers major advantages:

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• No waiting at baggage claim

• Zero risk of lost luggage

• Faster through airports

• No checked bag fees

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Even if you can't avoid checking bags, minimize what you bring to reduce hassle.

Bonus Strategy: Consider Road Trips for Regional Travel

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For destinations within 4-6 hours, driving might beat flying during the holidays:

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Advantages of driving:

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• No flight delays or cancellations

• No TSA lines or airport hassle

• More luggage flexibility

• Often cheaper for families

• Complete schedule control

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Disadvantages of driving:

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• Time in the car vs. flight time

• Fuel and toll costs

• Parking fees at destination

• Winter weather driving risks

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Credit card perks for road trips:

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• Use cards with gas station bonuses (3-5x points)

• Get rental car insurance coverage if needed

• Earn dining rewards at restaurants along the route

Frequently Asked Questions

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What are the busiest holiday travel days?

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According to TSA data, the busiest travel days in late 2024 were:

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1. December 1: 3,088,836 passengers
2. December 27: 2,848,156 passengers
3. December 20: 2,845,856 passengers
4. December 2: 2,829,000 passengers
5. November 30: 2,811,101 passengers

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The Sunday after Thanksgiving and the week after Christmas are consistently the busiest periods.

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Are airports open on Christmas Day?

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Yes, major airports operate on Christmas and all major holidays. In fact, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve are often less busy than surrounding days, making them potentially better travel dates.

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Is travel insurance worth it for holiday trips?

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Travel insurance is generally worth it if you have expensive, nonrefundable bookings during a high-risk period like the holidays. Winter weather causes more delays and cancellations than other seasons.

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If you don't want to pay for standalone insurance, use a travel credit card with built-in protections and book your entire trip with that card.

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How do I avoid foreign transaction fees?

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Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Most travel cards eliminate this 3% charge, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Capital One Venture cards, and American Express travel cards.

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Should I book holiday travel now or wait for deals?

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For peace of mind and seat selection, book 2-3 months in advance for most routes. For flights on peak days (Wednesday before Thanksgiving, December 23), consider booking even earlier.

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Set up price alerts and book refundable or no-change-fee flights if you want the option to rebook if prices drop.

The Bottom Line: Start Planning Holiday Travel Now

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Holiday travel doesn't have to be expensive or stressful. With the right credit card strategy, you can:

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• Save hundreds or thousands by booking flights with points

• Earn 5-10x rewards on holiday travel purchases

• Get automatic protections against delays, cancellations, and lost bags

• Access airport lounges to escape holiday travel chaos

• Receive annual credits that effectively reduce card fees

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Action steps to take today:

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1. Calculate how many points you need for your holiday flights
2. Choose a card that aligns with your earning and redemption goals
3. Set up flight price alerts for your travel dates
4. Review your existing cards' travel benefits
5. Book early (or on the holidays themselves) for the best prices

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The holidays should be about spending time with loved ones, not stressing about expensive flights. Start your credit card strategy now to make 2025's holiday travel your most affordable yet.