Capital One devalues price drop and match guarantees through its travel portal

We don't always recommend booking trips through a travel portal, but doing so can come with some benefits.

And one of the perks to going this route is the price drop and price match guarantee you can take advantage of when booking through Capital One's travel portal.

However, the issuer is tightening their benefit terms, as reported by Thrifty Traveler. Here's what you need to know about the changes.

How the benefits have changed

Previously, the travel refunds for price drop and price match guarantees would be given as an automatic refund to your original payment method, usually your credit card.

Now, however, you'll receive the price drop refund as a Capital One travel credit (up to $50). Similarly, a price match difference will now be issued as a Capital One travel credit rather than refunded to your original payment method.

But it's not all bad news. While a travel credit is less desirable than a refund, a Capital One travel credit is far more versatile than a credit with a specific airline or hotel group. Plus, the price drop and price match guarantees still offer advantages to booking through a means without any guarantees.

Related: How to decide between booking directly and using a portal

Booking through the Capital One portal

If you have an eligible Capital One credit card, you can access the Capital One travel portal to book flights, hotels, rental cars and more.

And this isn't just for those with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card cards. In 2022, Capital One expanded their list of cards with travel portal access as a benefit. Chances are, if you have a Capital One card in your wallet, you can use the Capital One travel portal.

Related: How to use the Capital One travel portal

Capital One price drop guarantee

When searching for a flight in the Capital One travel portal, you may notice a recommendation to purchase the flight immediately.

When this happens, the platform predicts that airfare prices will increase in the future and suggests that you lock in the lower price now. In fact, Capital One (in partnership with travel technology company Hopper) is so confident in its algorithm that it will automatically apply price drop protection to that particular purchase.

With price drop protection, Capital One will monitor the price of a flight for ten calendar days after you buy it. The terms of the protection can change based on your exact itinerary and dates, but if the price drops in that time, you’ll get a travel credit for the difference in price (up to $50.)

Related: Save by catching hotel and airline price drops

Capital One price match guarantee

If you book a flight, hotel or rental car through the portal and find a cheaper price within 24 hours of booking, you can file a claim with Capital One and receive 100% of the price difference as a travel credit if your claim is eligible.

Bottom line

Capital One's price drop and price match guarantees now offer travel credits instead of refunds to the original booking payment method. This is disappointing for those who enjoyed the automatic refund peace of mind, but you can still shop through the Capital One travel portal and benefit from its price guarantees.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.