Credit Cards that Consider MFs "Travel"

[Arimaas]

This may have been covered before, but I am wondering which credit cards consider the Wyndham maintenance fees in the "travel" category? My United Explorer card by Chase counts the MFs as travel, therefore, earning double millage. I will be closing that account soon, however, so looking to see if any other cards offer this as the "travel" category. Anyone try the Costco VISA card by Citibank? They have a 3% travel category.

 

[Jan M.]

Our Costco Citi Visa doesn't classify our maintenance fees as travel.

Someone said they contacted their credit card company, sorry I don't remember which one or who said it, to challege that and got it changed. I've been meaning to call Citi because i figure it doesn't hurt to ask, but haven't done it yet.

A friend has Chase Sapphire and I think they might classify the Wyndham maintenance fees as travel.

 

[chapjim]

Navy Federal Credit Union's Flagship Rewards VISA calls maintenance fees travel and gives triple points.

 

[Arimaas]

Our Costco Citi Visa doesn't classify our maintenance fees as travel.

Someone said they contacted their credit card company, sorry I don't remember which one or who said it, to challege that and got it changed. I've been meaning to call Citi because i figure it doesn't hurt to ask, but haven't done it yet.

A friend has Chase Sapphire and I think they might classify the Wyndham maintenance fees as travel.

Yeah, I get it with the Chase United, so Chase must classify Wyndham timeshares as travel.

 

[Huskerpaul]

Chase Ink Preferred gets 3x on travel and my MF has counted in the past. So does Interval spend. It is a business card, so you need a side hustle.

 

[echino]

Depends on which MCC codes are considered travel by the credit card issuer. For example, here are Visa MCC codes for various maintenance fees:

Hyatt: 7012: Timeshares
Vistana / Westin / Sheraton: 7012: Timeshares
Marriott: 3509: Lodging / Marriott
Hilton: 3504: Lodging / Hilton Hotels

Even though there are separate MCC codes for Haytt / Westin / Sheraton hotels under lodging, the maintenance fees are not charged under those, but instead are charged under "Timeshares". For Marriott and Hilton it's different: maintenance fees are charged under the respective hotel lodging MCC code, not under "Timeshares". Not sure about Wyndham. So if Wyndham is registered as "Timshares" MCC code with Visa or MasterCard merchant network, and your credit card issuer considers "Timeshares" as a travel expense, then you will get the extra points.

 

[Arimaas]

Depends on which MCC codes are considered travel by the credit card issuer. For example, here are Visa MCC codes for various maintenance fees:

Hyatt: 7012: Timeshares
Vistana / Westin / Sheraton: 7012: Timeshares
Marriott: 3509: Lodging / Marriott
Hilton: 3504: Lodging / Hilton Hotels

Even though there are separate MCC codes for Haytt / Westin / Sheraton hotels under lodging, the maintenance fees are not charged under those, but instead are charged under "Timeshares". For Marriott and Hilton it's different: maintenance fees are charged under the respective hotel lodging MCC code, not under "Timeshares". Not sure about Wyndham. So if Wyndham is registered as "Timshares" MCC code with Visa or MasterCard merchant network, and your credit card issuer considers "Timeshares" as a travel expense, then you will get the extra points.

My guess is Wynhdam is coded for timeshare, and Chase considers timeshares travel, becuase ony on my Chase card do I get the travel bonus. My Citi card does not consider it. And the replies to this topic seems to support my hypothesis.

 

[dioxide45]

Depends on which MCC codes are considered travel by the credit card issuer. For example, here are Visa MCC codes for various maintenance fees:

Hyatt: 7012: Timeshares
Vistana / Westin / Sheraton: 7012: Timeshares
Marriott: 3509: Lodging / Marriott
Hilton: 3504: Lodging / Hilton Hotels

Even though there are separate MCC codes for Haytt / Westin / Sheraton hotels under lodging, the maintenance fees are not charged under those, but instead are charged under "Timeshares". For Marriott and Hilton it's different: maintenance fees are charged under the respective hotel lodging MCC code, not under "Timeshares". Not sure about Wyndham. So if Wyndham is registered as "Timshares" MCC code with Visa or MasterCard merchant network, and your credit card issuer considers "Timeshares" as a travel expense, then you will get the extra points.

This is what our Chase Bonvoy card shows for Wyndham.

 

[Arimaas]

This is what our Chase Bonvoy card shows for Wyndham.
View attachment 117714

Thanks. So chase considers timeshares travel.

 

[Sloane S]

Thanks. So chase considers timeshares travel.

Yes, I have always received UR points from Chase with Wyndham maintenance fees regarded as travel (and also counted toward the $300 per year travel credit with the Sapphire Reserve card).

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Chase Sapphire Reserve recorded Vistana under Hotels 4x under their new rules and listed category as "Timeshares" They now officially only count Hotels and Air booked direct.

 

[aams]

Seems like chase will trigger 300 travel credit for wyndham club payments but will grant only 1x points and NOT 4x even thoug category is listed as Travel and coded as timeshare

 

[dioxide45]

Seems like chase will trigger 300 travel credit for wyndham club payments but will grant only 1x points and NOT 4x even thoug category is listed as Travel and coded as timeshare

Chase has a Merchant Type and a Category. For Chase the Merchant Type is Timeshare and the Category is Travel. Category is a field that the card holder can modify for each transaction.

 

[paxsarah]

Seems like chase will trigger 300 travel credit for wyndham club payments but will grant only 1x points and NOT 4x even thoug category is listed as Travel and coded as timeshare

Using Chase Sapphire Preferred I get 2x on maintenance fees (which is the rate for all non-Chase travel with that card). But it looks like Reserve is 4x specifically on hotels and flights, which timeshare is not.

 

[ausman]

Bank of America Rewards (no annaul fee) card gets 3% on timeshare MF's classified as travel. Must nominate Category travel for reward points but it is sticky and doesn't need to be changed again.

Wells Fargo Autograph and Journey cards both get 3% on timeshare MF's classified as travel. The Autograph card has no annual fee while the Journey card has a $95 fee.

 

[jules54]

Chase Ink counts my Wyndham monthly fees on points credits. 2x miles. My Barclay counts all maintenance fees, exchange fees or extra vacations and getaways from both RCI and Interval.
Chase Ink and Chase Shappire let you transfer points to some FF programs. United and Southwest which are the airlines I use most often.
Chase Shappire gives you 3X points for all dining out. Which includes fast food drive up.

Last week I used my Chase Shappire points to get 2 one way first class tickets from San Jose Del Cabo, Mx to Lincoln, Ne. on United. The tickets were 33,500 pts each which also include the taxes which were 105.00. Great deal. I always figure points are worth 1 cent a point. Which means those tickets were 335.00 each which is unheard of for 1st class.

Capitol One Venture counts all those fees plus campground fees and all charges made at resorts and hotels for 2X miles. Capitol One give 2X points on all purchases. To redeem those fees you go to redeem and click on travel credit money.

Capitol One usually has a 75,000 or more sign up bonus. Let me know if you have interest if a cardholder refers you we both get points which is nice also.

I love my point credit cards which is why I have a few. Pay my balance in full every month and the points I get pay for tons of things and are definately worth the yearly fee. If you don’t want to pay a yearly fee than cancel after the first year. Make certain you use all your points before you cancel.

My saying with credit cards points is you’ll be spending the money anyway so get something extra and FREE IS FREE.

 

[vanillabean]

Here's a link on what merchant codes fall under rewards categories for Chase Visa/Mastercard credit cards:
https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/rewards-category-faq

Under the category "Travel"

RCI fees and Club Wyndham payments (fees and monthly maintenance) have all coded as Travel when I used my Chase cards. With the ink Business Preferred I received 3x points, and with the Sapphire Preferred I received 2x points.

 

[Panzerman45]

The Wyndham Credit card through Barclays considers my monthly Wyndham maintenance fee as travel and gives me the extra points.