Capital One's recent unveiling of its rapid rebooking service: a guide
Title: Capital One's 'Rapid Flight Rebooking' Explained: Save Your Time (and Sanity) During Flight Mishaps
Guide Kyle Olsen Email
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When Capital One acquired free flight insurance program Freebird a couple of years back, we expected seamless integration of Freebird's flight protections with Capital One travel portal.
Now, they've blended a version of Freebird's popular rebooking service with something termed "rapid rebooking."
You can add rapid rebooking when checking out for your flight on eligible flight bookings through Capital One Travel. Being a lifesaver for travelers dealing with delayed or canceled flights on the day of travel, our Thrifty Traveler team was more than eager to test its functionality – booking a quick round-trip flight from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), a place synonymous with delays.
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Here's what you need to know about Capital One's rapid flight rebooking feature.
A Simple 10% Extra for Peace of Mind
Rapid rebooking isn't available on all flights. You'll find it as an add-on just before the final checkout page if it's available for yours, but don't be fooled by Capital One's "cancel for any reason" option, which might appear as an add-on as well.
In this $292 round-trip American Airlines flight to Phoenix, the rapid rebooking service cost an additional $26, or roughly 2,600 Capital One miles (worth around $48 according to our valuations[2]).
You must purchase your ticket at least 24 hours prior to departure to have the rapid rebooking option. Our tests found that the service is usually only available on non-stop flights; however, Capital One assures us that Rapid Rebooking is also available on connecting flights. One Thrifty Traveler reader found the rapid rebooking service for just an additional $5 or 500 Capital One miles on a $57 Spirit Airlines flight between Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and Portland International Airport (PDX). This perk is often available on cheaper tickets for under $10, so it might be particularly worthwhile when purchasing low-cost tickets on budget carriers.
Miles can also be used to purchase rapid rebooking for a rate of 1 cent per mile, which matches the value you receive when using Capital One to cover travel expenses.
Rebook or Refund?
If your flight is disrupted on the day of travel, your pre-purchased rapid rebooking protection kicks in. According to Capital One, "A disrupted flight means your flight is delayed by more than 2 hours, is canceled by the airline, or you are at risk of missing a connecting flight due to a delay."
Assuming your disruption meets one of these criteria, you may access the Capital One travel portal and pick a same-day or next-day flight up to $5,000 on any airline. Our test flights did not experience any disruptions tragic enough to trigger rapid rebooking, but in case they did:
- The new ticket must have the same origin and destination airports.
- The fare class must remain the same, which means you can't bump to first class if your original ticket was for economy.
- You'll need to re-check any luggage and confirm the status of your return flight.
- Capital One won't cover upgrades or baggage fees.
- You're allowed to use this service for only one flight disruption.
Passengers preferring not to be rebooked can opt for a full refund of their ticket's base fare and taxes. In such cases, you can still travel on the delayed flight.
No Need to Contact Airlines Directly
When airlines face widespread delays, reaching a representative can be next to impossible – and that's where the real value of rapid rebooking lies. You can change your flights or request a refund through the Capital One travel portal without filling out airline forms or talking to airport reps. You can also call Capital One's rapid rebooking hotline at 833-265-4540 to get your flight rebooked or request a refund if you've experienced a disruption.
** Related: How Thrifty Travelers Beat Long Hold Times and Get Airline Support Quickly**
It Stacks with Airline Compensation
According to Capital One, "Receiving a refund through Capital One Travel does not affect your eligibility for compensation or accommodations from the airline."
Although the U.S. doesn't have a rule like EU261 that mandates airlines to offer passengers compensation for delays and cancellations, most airlines try to make it right with customers[5].
For instance, during the recent Southwest Airlines meltdown, Southwest issued passengers refunds, status extensions, future travel credits, and Rapid Rewards points. If you purchase the rapid rebooking service and your flight qualifies, you can receive the rapid rebooking benefits from Capital One Travel and potential compensation from your airline.
** Related: All airlines' flight delay and compensation policies from DOT's customer service dashboard**
Exceptions to the Rule
Capital One's rapid rebooking service is not insurance, but it does cover some scenarios. If you pay for a flight with a Visa Signature card like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you receive trip cancellation and interruption coverage that can cover up to $2,000 per person for you and immediate family members for eligible prepaid, non-refundable tickets[6]. Adding Capital One's rapid rebooking service to your flight won't void this insurance benefit.
Related: How to Use the Capital One Travel Portal – Now with More Cards and New Rewards
Bottom Line
Capital One's rapid rebooking service saves time and stress if your flight gets canceled, delayed for more than 2 hours, or would cause you to miss your connection. The service lets passengers rebook themselves on new flights in the same or lower class for a same-day or next-day flight or receive a refund from Capital One Travel[7].
While delays didn't disrupt our test flights, if they had, we could have potentially rebooked our flight on another airline with Capital One covering the new ticket cost, up to $5,000.
We probably wouldn't pay more than $10 or $15 for this service for flights without any disruptions or delays. In case of frequent flyers, or tickets prone to delays, Capital One's rapid rebooking service can be a smart choice when booking through Capital One Travel.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the listed benefits may be provided by Visa or Mastercard and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
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[1] "Airlines' change fees and how to avoid them," Brian Kelly, TPG, 2021-03-29.[2] "Valuing Points, Miles & Cashing Out," TPG, 2021.[3] "Southwest Airlines Delay and Cancellation Compensation," TPG, 2021-06-02.[4] "Capital One Travel services and fees," Capital One, 2021.[5] "Airline compensation policies in the United States," The Points Guy, 2021.[6] "Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Benefits and How to Maximize Them," TPG, 2021-08-19.[7] "Capital One's rapid flight rebooking feature review: Is it worth it?," Thrifty Traveler, 2021.
- Capital One Travel now offers a rebooking service called Rapid Flight Rebooking, which can be added when checking out for flights on eligible bookings.
- This service is particularly beneficial for travelers dealing with delayed or canceled flights on the day of travel, offering a convenient way to change flights or request a refund without filling out airline forms or talking to airport representatives.
- Rapid Flight Rebooking is available on non-stop flights and often on cheaper tickets for under $10, making it worthwhile for budget carriers and frequent travelers.
- The service allows passengers to rebook themselves on new flights in the same or lower class for a same-day or next-day flight or receive a refund from Capital One Travel if their flight is disrupted due to delays or cancellations.
- The new ticket must have the same origin and destination airlines, and the fare class must remain the same; however, passengers are allowed to use this service for only one flight disruption.
- Capital One's rapid rebooking service can be a smart choice when booking through Capital One Travel, especially for frequent flyers or tickets prone to delays.
