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As expensive as concert tickets are, and as mind-numbingly high the ticket processing fees can be, you still might end up paying more to travel to the event than you do to get into it. That’s especially true as fans continue to turn concerts into full-on trips, or “gig tripping” — hopping cities (or even countries) to see their favorite artists.
But with the right credit card rewards, you don’t have to overpay for travel; you can book flights and hotels for a fraction of what you would otherwise pay. You’ll have the best chance of successfully utilizing your rewards if you plan ahead, but if you’re scrambling to find affordable last-minute travel, you have options.
How to travel to concerts with your credit cards
The simple (last-minute) strategy
If you’ve put off booking flights for concerts this summer, you may get stuck paying more than you’d like. While you may find last-minute award deals, that’s not a reliable way to use miles to book flights; the reward flights you want may not be available at affordable prices.
This is especially true when you can’t be flexible with the days you fly. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to use your credit card rewards.
Many travel rewards programs offer statement credits or similar cash back redemptions at a rate of 1 cent per point. While you may be able to squeeze more value out of your points when you transfer them to an airline to book flights, this option is a consistent path for savings on last-minute travel.
It’s also extremely simple. You could even open a new credit card, use your concert expenses to help earn the welcome bonus and then offset those costs with the rewards you’ll earn.
For example, you could open a travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and purchase your flights. Although both cards allow transfers to airlines and hotels, you won’t receive the welcome bonus rewards right away. That means you’ll have to earn the bonus and redeem your rewards after booking your travel.
The Sapphire Preferred offers 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. You can redeem those points for a $750 statement credit or a $750 deposit into a Chase bank account.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase’s travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost – each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The Capital One Venture Rewards card offers a 75,000-mile bonus after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. You can use Capital One miles to offset travel purchases made in the previous 90 days at a rate of 1 cent per mile, so this bonus is worth $750 in travel.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.
- Valuable welcome offer worth at least $750 in travel
- You can transfer miles to over 15 Capital One partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- No foreign transaction fees
- Lacks ongoing travel benefits such as statement credits or lounge access
- Limited bonus spending category that only applies to certain Capital One Travel bookings
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fee
The main caveat to consider with this approach is that it may take you several months to qualify for the bonus, which means you’ll need to have the funds upfront to pay for the flights. Otherwise, the interest you’d pay from carrying a balance could wipe out any rewards value.
Plan ahead (and be flexible) for more value
By earning and using airline miles, you can unlock outsized value from your credit cards.
Most U.S.-based airlines have dynamically priced awards, which means the miles you need to fly from one city to another change based on a variety of factors, such as demand. If you have a little flexibility with when you travel, you can book cheaper awards and potentially get more for your miles.
You can accumulate airline miles by transferring points from a travel rewards program, and all of the major domestic airlines partner with at least one travel program:
However, there are advantages to having an airline credit card. Some airline cards offer award flight discounts, such as the United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees) and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.
Certain United Airlines credit cards, like the United Explorer Card, offer a 10% award flight discount and expanded access to lower-cost awards. Plus, if you have elite status with United, the award discount increases to 15%.
The United℠ Explorer Card is worth it even if you only fly with United Airlines once or twice a year because you can take advantage of two United Club℠ passes per year when the primary cardmember or authorized user is traveling and you can receive free checked bags.
- No annual fee for the first year
- Unlocks upgrades for elite members on award flights
- Two free United Club airport lounge passes every year
- Valuable United Airlines perks, such as in-flight purchase discounts and the ability to earn elite status credit through credit card spending
- First checked bag free benefit requires you to pay for the flight with the card
- United Airlines has a dynamic award chart which can limit the value and flexibility of your miles
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- NEW! 9x total miles on eligible United flights and 3x miles on all other eligible United®purchases
- 2x miles ondiningand hotel stays when booked with thehotel. 1x mile on all other purchases.
- Free first checked bag – a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.Plus, priority boarding on United®flights.
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year – over a $100 value
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- NEW! Save at least 10% when booking flights with miles. Premier members earn even more.
- Member FDIC
Most Delta credit cards provide a 15% Delta award flight discount called TakeOff 15. This works just like the United credit card discount and reduces the number of miles you need to book a flight.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has the right mix of benefits if you occasionally fly with Delta, such as free checked bags, priority boarding and discounts.
- Earn up to $300 in travel credit every year
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on eligible flights
- Discounts on eligible in-flight purchases and on Delta award flights (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees).
- Annual fee after the first year
- Delta flight credit benefit has a high spending requirement to earn
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
- When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights and save up to $70 per person on a round-trip Delta flight.
- Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
- Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees.
Don’t forget about hotels
Using hotel points is more straightforward than redeeming airline miles. You simply log in to the hotel’s site, search for the city and dates you need a room and book what’s available. You don’t have to think about booking through partner programs or other complicated ways to boost the value of your points.
If you have additional rewards or are willing to open a credit card specifically to book your hotels, you can save hundreds of dollars a night. And some of the best hotel credit cards provide free night certificates as an ongoing perk.
This feature is most common with premium travel cards, such as the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. It offers a Free Night Reward in your first year and every year after you renew the card. Plus, you can earn up to two additional Free Night Rewards: one after spending $30,000 in purchases on the card and a second after spending $60,000 in purchases on the card (both in a calendar year).
These free nights are exceptionally valuable because they apply to almost any Hilton property (excluding these locations), regardless of the price. As long as a standard room is available, you can use your Free Night Reward.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card grants you complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status and a Free Night Reward every year.
- Earn up to $889 in statement credits every year
- Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status
- Free Night Reward every year
- High annual fee
- Additional Free Night Rewards have high spending requirements
- Some credits are only earned quarterly or semi-annually, which makes them more complicated to fully maximize
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Enjoy an Annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal.
- Card Members can earn 14X Points on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants.
- Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
- $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That’s up to $400 back annually.
- $200 Flight Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with airlines or via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: You can receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your eligible Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you can earn an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend an additional $30,000 (for a total of $60,000) in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
- $100 Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts properties when you book a 2 night minimum stay with your Card at HiltonHonorsAspireCard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page, or call Hilton Honors at 855-292-5757 with the proper booking reference.
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
- Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Global Assist® Hotline is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Other terms and conditions apply.
- Points don’t expire while your Hilton Honors American Express Card is active and in good standing.
- $550 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card also comes with a Free Night Award every year after your account anniversary. This award is valid at hotels that cost up to 35,000 points, and you can top off the award with up to 25,000 points.
Plus, you can currently earn up to four Free Night Awards with this card’s welcome offer. You earn three Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of account opening and a fourth Free Night Award after spending $4,000 in total eligible purchases within four months of account opening. These Free Night Awards are valid at hotels costing up to 50,000 points per night and can also be topped off with 25,000 additional points.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is useful if you’re working toward higher levels of Marriott status because of its bonus elite night credits and the elite credit you can earn from spending with the card.
- Annual free night award every year after your account anniversary
- 15 elite night credits each calendar year and you can earn additional elite night credits through spending
- Valuable welcome bonus
- Complicated application restrictions
- Bonus rewards on grocery, dining and gas purchases have an annual limit
Rewards
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 spent
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card
Balance transfer fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
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For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click here.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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