Airbnb Does Not Earn Travel Points on Chase Sapphire Preferred
Airbnb bookings do not earn the higher travel category points on Chase Sapphire Preferred. When you book through Airbnb, the charge codes as a general purchase, earning 1 point per dollar spent instead of the 2 points per dollar you would get on travel purchases. This applies whether you book a room, an entire home, or any other Airbnb listing.
The reason comes down to how the card network categorizes the merchant. Chase's system looks at the merchant category code — a classification assigned to every business by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. Airbnb's code does not fall under the travel category that triggers the higher earning rate, even though you are using it to book lodging for a trip.
This matters because the difference between 1 and 2 points per dollar adds up quickly on accommodation costs. A $1,500 stay earns you 1,500 points at the standard rate but would earn 3,000 points if it coded as travel.
Key Takeaways
- Airbnb purchases earn 1 point per dollar on Chase Sapphire Preferred, not the 2 points per dollar that travel category purchases earn.
- Hotels, airlines, rental car companies, and traditional travel booking sites do earn the 2x rate because of how they are classified by the card networks.
- The merchant category code assigned to Airbnb by Visa or Mastercard determines the earning rate, not what you are actually buying.
- You can earn the travel rate on Airbnb bookings only if you use a different card that earns bonus points on general purchases or shopping categories.
How Chase Categorizes Merchants for Bonus Points
Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 2 points per dollar on travel, but only on merchants that the card networks classify as travel. This classification system is called the merchant category code, or MCC. Every business that accepts credit cards gets assigned an MCC based on what it primarily sells.
Hotels, airlines, rental car companies, parking services, tolls, taxis, and ride-sharing services all have MCCs that fall under the travel umbrella. Airbnb does not. Instead, Airbnb's MCC places it in a broader category that earns the base rate.
This system can feel arbitrary from a customer's perspective — you are clearly booking travel — but it reflects how the payment networks categorize the merchant's business type, not the purpose of your purchase. Chase cannot override this classification on its own; it must follow the MCC assigned by the card network.
What Does Earn the 2x Travel Rate on Chase Sapphire Preferred
The 2 points per dollar rate applies to bookings made directly with airlines, hotels, car rental companies, and cruise lines. It also covers travel agencies, travel booking websites like Expedia and Booking.com, parking, tolls, taxis, rideshare services, trains, buses, and ferries.
The key is booking directly or through a site that codes as a travel merchant. If you book a hotel through Expedia, you earn 2x. If you book the same hotel directly on the hotel's website, you still earn 2x. But if you book an Airbnb stay through Airbnb's platform, you earn 1x because Airbnb itself does not carry a travel MCC.
Some travel booking sites do include Airbnb listings alongside traditional hotels. If you book an Airbnb through one of these third-party platforms, the earning rate depends on how that platform codes — not on Airbnb itself. You would need to check with the booking site to know for certain.
Why Airbnb Is Classified Differently Than Hotels
Airbnb is classified as a marketplace or general retailer by the payment networks, not as a lodging provider. This reflects the fact that Airbnb is a platform connecting hosts and guests, rather than a traditional hospitality business that owns and operates properties.
The merchant category system was built before short-term rental platforms existed, and the networks have not reclassified Airbnb into the travel category despite its clear travel purpose. This is a common frustration for cardholders — the MCC system does not always match how people actually use their purchases.
Airbnb has the same MCC issue across most rewards cards, not just Chase Sapphire Preferred. Most premium travel cards will earn only their base rate on Airbnb bookings, though some cards with broader categories (like "dining and travel" or "shopping") may earn bonus points depending on how they define their categories.
Cards That Do Earn Bonus Points on Airbnb
Some cards earn bonus points on Airbnb even though Chase Sapphire Preferred does not. The American Express Platinum Card earns 5 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel, but Airbnb bookings made directly do not earn this rate. However, the Amex Platinum does earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, the same as Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Cards with broader bonus categories may work better for Airbnb. For example, some cards earn bonus points on "shopping" or "all travel purchases" without relying on merchant category codes. You would need to check the specific card's terms to see whether Airbnb falls into its bonus category.
If Airbnb bookings are a regular part of your travel, comparing cards based on their Airbnb earning rate is worth doing. A card that earns 2 or 3 points per dollar on all purchases might serve you better than Chase Sapphire Preferred, which earns only 1 point on Airbnb despite being a premium travel card.
Whether to Book Airbnb Through a Third-Party Site
Some travel booking platforms like Expedia and Booking.com list Airbnb properties alongside hotels. Booking through one of these sites instead of directly through Airbnb might earn you the travel rate on Chase Sapphire Preferred, depending on how the third-party site codes.
The trade-off is that booking through a third party often costs more. Airbnb's pricing on its own platform is usually lower than what you will see on reseller sites, and you may lose access to Airbnb's host messaging and cancellation policies. Before booking through a third party for the sake of earning points, calculate whether the point value makes up for the higher price.
Contact the third-party booking site directly if you want to know whether they code as a travel merchant. They can tell you whether the purchase will trigger the 2x rate on your Chase Sapphire Preferred. This varies by site and may even vary by the specific property or booking method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I call Chase and ask them to code Airbnb as travel?
No. Chase cannot override the merchant category code assigned by Visa or Mastercard. The MCC is set by the payment network based on how the merchant is classified, not by the card issuer. You would need Airbnb or the payment networks themselves to request a reclassification, which is unlikely to happen.
Does Airbnb earn points on any Chase card?
Airbnb earns the base rate (usually 1 point per dollar) on most Chase cards. Cards with broader bonus categories — like those that earn bonus points on "all purchases" or "shopping" — may earn more, but you would need to check the specific card's terms. Chase Sapphire Preferred's travel category does not include Airbnb.
What if I use a different payment method, like PayPal, to book Airbnb?
The earning rate depends on what card you link to PayPal, not on the payment method itself. If you use your Chase Sapphire Preferred linked to PayPal to book Airbnb, you still earn 1 point per dollar because the charge still codes as an Airbnb purchase. The payment method does not change the merchant category code.
Do I earn points on Airbnb service fees?
Yes. Airbnb's service fees are part of the total charge and earn the same rate as the nightly rate — 1 point per dollar on Chase Sapphire Preferred. There is no way to separate the fees from the base price for earning purposes.
Will this change in the future?
It is possible but not likely in the near term. Merchant category codes change slowly, and Airbnb would need to request a reclassification from the payment networks. If it does happen, Chase would automatically explore the new rate to future Airbnb bookings without any action needed on your part.