Synchrony CheapOair & OneTravel Credit Card Reviews

Synchrony and Fareportal (CheapOair & OneTravel) have just launched new credit cards, they are offering three different cards:

  • Visa signature
  • Visa
  • Store card

You apply using the same link and the card you receive is dependent on your credit worthiness.

Card Basics

  • Purchases of $399 or more (after discounts) give access to special financing for six months
  • Sign up bonus of a $50 statement credit after $500 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening (excludes any purchases with special financing)
  • Card earns at the following rates:
    • 6x points on CheapOair.com and OneTravel.com purchases
    • 4x points on dining purchases
    • 2x points on all other purchases

Keep in mind that you’ll add the 6x points in addition to the points you normally earn. The rates for that is as follows:

  • Airline tickets: 1 point per $1 spent
  • Hotel rooms: 3 points per $1 spent
  • Rental cars: 3 points per $1 spent
  • Trip Extras: 1 point per $1 spent

fareportal

Keep in mind that the store card will only earn 6x points on CheapOAir/OneTravel purchases as it can’t be used outside of this.

onetravel-cheapoair

How Much Are Points Worth?

Points can be redeemed for hotel bookings or redeeming them for gift cards. Both programs give you 500 points for joining. Thanks to reader Dov we know that points are worth 0.5¢ each when redeemed for airfare or CheapOair/OneTravel gift cards. A $10 third party gift card will cost you 4,000 points (0.25¢ per point).

Our Verdict

As points are worth a maximum of 0.5¢, the card realistically looks like this (and this is a best case scenario):

  • 3% on CheapOAir/Onetravel purchases
  • 2% on dining purchases
  • 1% on all other purchases

There are better cards for dining purchases and every day purchases and 3% back on travel isn’t exactly exciting either. We originally posted this on September 30th, 2016, we are reposting because the cards are now live.

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14 Comments
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Elo Marc
Elo Marc (@guest_1612463)
May 5, 2023 06:08

This company is nothing but a joke all around. They did not charge my card on the due date. I got several notifications my payment was late. I had to call them 5 times. Oh They do not have 24-hour customer service or chat. Then they asked me something about my card I could not find the card then they suggested me to cancel the card and request another one, Then the nightmare got even worse. They charged me a late fee and , they reduced my credit line without notifying me from 3k to 450 dollars. I owed them only 180 dollars. and for months I did not owe them anything. So they do not value their customers at all. I have 14 cards with a total credit limit close to 90k and my credit utilization is 8% and this stupid company claimed I owe too much debt I mean. I did not even use half of the credit they gave me 180 dollars??? are you serious??? Learn from Amex and Discover this company can not be taken seriously. Avoid as much as you can

Beezer
Beezer (@guest_531760)
December 6, 2017 23:13

I got $1100 SL with a FCO-8 of 640. Likely the private label store card though.

Robert Smith
Robert Smith (@guest_508868)
November 4, 2017 21:08

My FICO score 8 classic is 740 and Synchrony Bank said about my CheapOair card application: NO.

c
c (@guest_494078)
October 14, 2017 22:02

so you think with fico score of TU 609 EX 579 and other one 616 i have chance

Adriana Inamagua
Adriana Inamagua (@guest_456526)
August 10, 2017 10:27

This is the worst credit card ever. The terms and disclosures are not clear. When you call they tell you 6 month 0% interests and it is actually deferred and if you don’t pay in full within the six months they change you all the backdated interest at once. Customer service is the worst. Would not recommend it.

LC
LC (@guest_809457)
September 12, 2019 18:37

i wouldnt recommended paying interest… ever.

Roseyk
Roseyk (@guest_345033)
January 28, 2017 09:46

No prior experience with CHEAPO Air, apped, got 5K, no signature, TU score 730, interest rate 26%. Booked a couple of days at a hotel, advertised cancellation at no charge. Found the hotel cheaper without booking through CHEAPO….had to fight to avoid a cancellation fee with CHEAPO. The customer service rep was shady and going back and forth about charging a fee. Once I told her that the hotel indicated there was no cancellation fee up to 24 hours prior to arrival, after a long hold, indicated no charge. It took 2 weeks for the charge to be removed from my card. Definitely will be closing this card!

Ivan X
Ivan X (@guest_314773)
November 13, 2016 14:51

I have no interest in this card, but the one thing CheapOAir has going for them as opposed to any other online broker I have found is that you can split a ticket purchase across multiple cards. This would allow you, say, to put a small portion of a ticket on a Citi Prestige for the insurance benefits, while putting the remainder on the card you want to actually earn points on.

With that said, all the horror stories I’ve read about them with regard to ticket changes, upsell, and awful service makes me think I shouldn’t chance it.

TomT
TomT (@guest_314607)
November 12, 2016 11:13

40,000 points for a $10 third party gift card? Typo?

Dov
Dov (@guest_302547)
October 2, 2016 11:02

Points are worth 0.5 for hotel and chepoair gift cards

Maximum that could be redeemed towards chepoair gift card is $100 20K points at a time

Merchant gift cards is $10 for 4K

This new card is a 3.5% back in travel card on chepoair or one travel

It’s a weak rewards travel card considering the fact that chepoair usually adds huge (hidden) fees to every ticket that is booked through them

Also there is no real 24 hour Cancellation period they give you 4 hours to cancel and after that it’s $25 up to 24 hours

WayLo
WayLo (@guest_302178)
October 1, 2016 10:31

Has anyone had good experiences with OneTravel/CheapoAir. Booked tickets twice with them, they were supposed to be cheaper than other websites, got a call the next day saying the tickets have not been issued; but I had an option of buying a higher priced ticket!