Airbnb charges code as lodging, not travel, so most Chase cards do not earn bonus points on it

When you book an Airbnb, the charge appears in the lodging category on your credit card statement, not under travel. This matters because most Chase rewards cards—including the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve—earn bonus points only on purchases coded as "travel," which typically means airlines, hotels, car rentals, and booking sites like Expedia or Kayak. Airbnb does not fall into that bucket.

You will earn the base earning rate instead. On the Sapphire Preferred, that is 1 point per dollar. On the Sapphire Reserve, it is also 1 point per dollar on lodging (though the Reserve earns 3 points per dollar on other travel categories). A few Chase cards do earn bonus points on lodging specifically, and those will reward your Airbnb stay—but you need to check your card's category breakdown to know for certain.

Key Takeaways

  • Airbnb transactions are coded as lodging, not travel, so they do not trigger the travel bonus on most Chase cards.
  • The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve both earn 1 point per dollar on Airbnb stays, which is their base rate, not a bonus.
  • Some Chase cards do offer bonus points on lodging; check your card's benefits guide to see if yours is one of them.
  • Booking through a travel portal like Expedia or Chase's own travel portal may earn bonus points, but the Airbnb booking itself will not.

How Chase categorizes Airbnb and other lodging

Chase divides rewards categories into distinct buckets: travel, dining, groceries, gas, and catch-all categories. When a merchant processes a transaction, they assign it a merchant category code (MCC). Airbnb's code is lodging, which sits outside the travel category on most Chase cards.

This is a real distinction. The travel category on Chase cards typically includes airlines, hotels, car rentals, parking, tolls, taxis, rideshare, trains, buses, and booking sites. Lodging—which includes hotels, motels, and Airbnb—is sometimes bundled with travel for bonus purposes, but often it is not. You have to read your specific card's terms to know which applies to yours.

Which Chase cards earn bonus points on Airbnb

The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve both earn 1 point per dollar on Airbnb, but that is their standard earning rate, not a bonus. Neither card offers a higher rate for lodging or travel purchases. If you are looking for a Chase card that does reward Airbnb at a bonus rate, your options are limited.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, including Airbnb, with no category restrictions. That is higher than the Sapphire cards' base rate, but it is not a category-specific bonus—it applies everywhere. The Chase Freedom Flex rotates bonus categories quarterly (sometimes including travel), but Airbnb is not may provide to fall into those categories.

If you hold a business card like the Chase Ink Preferred, you earn 3 points per dollar on travel purchases, but again, Airbnb lodging does not count as travel. You would earn 1 point per dollar instead.

Using Chase's travel portal to book Airbnb

You cannot book Airbnb directly through the Chase travel portal. The portal includes hotels, flights, car rentals, and some vacation rental sites, but Airbnb is not one of them. If you want to use your Chase points to "pay" for an Airbnb stay, you would need to transfer points to a travel partner (if your card offers that option) or redeem them for cash back and pay out of pocket.

Some Chase cards do allow you to transfer points to airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio, which can sometimes offer better value than redeeming points directly. However, Airbnb is not a Chase transfer partner, so this route does not help you with Airbnb bookings specifically.

Why Airbnb is coded as lodging instead of travel

Merchant category codes are assigned by payment networks and are based on the primary business of the merchant. Airbnb is classified as a lodging provider because it sells short-term residential accommodations. Hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfasts all fall into the same category. The distinction between "lodging" and "travel" exists because credit card companies treat them as separate spending categories for rewards purposes.

This coding is not something Airbnb or you can change. It is determined by the payment processor and the merchant category code system. Even if you book a flight through Airbnb (which you cannot), the transaction would still be coded based on Airbnb's primary business classification.

Strategies to maximize rewards on Airbnb bookings

If you want to earn more than 1 point per dollar on an Airbnb stay, use the Chase Freedom Unlimited, which earns 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases. Over a $1,000 Airbnb booking, that is 500 extra points compared to the Sapphire Preferred.

Another option is to check whether your Airbnb booking qualifies for any rotating bonus categories on the Chase Freedom Flex. While Airbnb itself is unlikely to be listed as a bonus category, some quarters include "travel" broadly, and it is worth checking your card's current categories before you book.

If you have a business card, the Chase Ink Unlimited earns 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, matching the Freedom Unlimited's rate. The Chase Ink Preferred earns 3 points per dollar on travel, but Airbnb will not may have access to for that bonus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my Chase Sapphire Preferred earn 2 points per dollar on Airbnb?

No. The Sapphire Preferred earns 2 points per dollar on flights, hotels, and other travel purchases, but Airbnb is coded as lodging and earns only 1 point per dollar. If you want higher earning on Airbnb, use the Chase Freedom Unlimited instead.

Can I book Airbnb through Chase's travel portal?

No. Airbnb is not available through the Chase travel portal. The portal includes hotels, flights, and car rentals, but not Airbnb. You would need to book directly on Airbnb's website.

Does the Chase Ink Preferred earn bonus points on Airbnb?

No. The Ink Preferred earns 3 points per dollar on travel purchases, but Airbnb is classified as lodging, not travel. You would earn 1 point per dollar on an Airbnb booking with this card.

What if I book an Airbnb experience instead of a stay?

Airbnb Experiences are activities and tours, not lodging. They may be coded differently, but most Chase cards do not have a specific bonus category for activities or experiences. Check your card's terms or contact Chase to confirm how Experiences are categorized on your account.

Is there a Chase card that earns bonus points on Airbnb?

Not directly. The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, including Airbnb, but that is a flat-rate bonus, not a category-specific one. No current Chase card offers a higher bonus rate specifically for Airbnb lodging.