Orbitz Card Review: High Rewards, Super-Complex Terms — and Now Unavailable

(THIS CARD HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.) You can earn up to 9% back on eligible hotel bookings with Orbitz — but it depends on how you book. Plus, rewards are redeemable only for hotel stays, and only through Orbitz.

The Bottom Line

3.6

NerdWallet rating

If you prize simplicity in a travel rewards program, forget about this card. But if you're willing to jump through a few hoops to earn high rewards rates — and you're comfortable with prepaying for bookings and redeeming only for hotel stays — maybe give it a chance.

Rates, fees and offers

• Annual fee: $0
• Rewards rate: 2%-9%
• Bonus offer: Receive a $100 statement credit when you spend $1,500 with your Orbitz Rewards® Visa® in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Ongoing APR: 17.49%-26.49% Variable APR
• Cash Advance APR: 28.49%, Variable
• Balance transfer fee: 5%
• Foreign transaction fee: 0%

Pros and Cons

Pros

• High rewards rate
• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fee

Cons

• Rewards only redeemable for hotel stays
• Complex rewards rates

Detailed Review

» This card is no longer available

The Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card was discontinued by the issuer in 2021. If you’re a diehard fan of Orbitz and its loyalty program, the Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card can boost your rewards. But for everybody else, this card’s complex rewards system probably requires too much effort and will lead to frustration.

Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card : Basics

• Card type: Travel
• Annual fee: $0.
• Sign-up bonus: Receive a $100 statement credit when you spend $1,500 within the first 90 days of account opening.
• Interest rate: The ongoing APR is 17.49%-26.49% Variable APR.
• Foreign transaction fees: None.
• Balance transfer fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of the balance transfer, whichever is greater.

Benefits and Perks

High rewards rates

When you use this card to prepay hotel bookings through Orbitz on the mobile app, you'll get an impressive 9% rewards rate: 5% in Orbucks from your card and another 4% from Orbitz's loyalty program. Even if you don't use the card for qualifying Orbitz purchases at all, you still get 2% back in Orbucks on all other purchases.

Drawbacks and Considerations

Complexity and restrictions

Earning the highest tier of rewards — 9% — requires effort. You have to book your hotel stay via Orbitz's mobile app and prepay for your stay.

Limited redemption options

Although you can earn rewards on any purchase, you can redeem rewards only for hotel bookings through Orbitz.

Modest sign-up bonus

The card offers a $100 statement credit for spending $1,500 in the first 90 days. This is modest compared to other travel cards.

How To Decide If It's Right For You

The Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card can offer solid value — but only if you're willing to jump through hoops and accept that you can only redeem for hotel stays.