MasterCard Teams with Expedia to Offer Free Gas

If you like to travel, but gas prices are getting you down, you might want to take a look at a new deal offered by Expedia and MasterCard which have partnered to provide a nice summer promo.

If you use your MasterCard to book a two-night stay or vacation package at a qualifying hotel through Expedia, you'll receive a $25 prepaid gas card. And if you book for three nights or more, you'll receive a $50 prepaid gas card. In order to take advantage of this promotion, you must book your trip between June 6 and July 4. The trip must be completed by 8/31/11. If you are planning to travel to another city, this reward could help pay a good portion of the cost of the fill-up.

Other Perks

Other perks that Expedia is offering to help motivate travelers to plan a trip and pack their bags this summer go beyond the prepaid gas cards. Expedia is also giving away gift cards for restaurants and grocery stores and even gift cards for local entertainment and activities. Expedia has also negotiated hotel rates that are 30% lower than normal at 11,000 properties with which it has relationships.

Incentives with Rules

Credit card companies and travel businesses are smart in thinking that if they provide incentives, they may actually spark some additional travel revenue from consumers. With sky-high gas prices and an economy in economic turmoil, many consumers are still cutting back on their travel expenses.

While the incentives look enticing, credit and financial experts warn, however, that consumers also need to be aware of the rules, terms and conditions that come along with these incentives. Always read the fine print in the “terms and conditions” section of the offer to know what is expected of you and what exclusions apply. For example, in the Expedia-MasterCard offering, many hotels are excluded and will not qualify for the prepaid gas card. The excluded hotels are part of IHG, Starwood & Wyndham, and Red Lion properties.

Some of the general rules to be aware of with promotions include:

• How to earn rewards and incentives
• When and how to redeem your incentives
• Expiration dates or periods of time when you can earn bonus incentives
• Forfeiture of the rewards because of your actions

When you know what the rules are, it shouldn’t be that difficult to qualify for your $25 or $50 worth of free gas. Just be aware that the prepaid gas MasterCard won’t be coming in the mail for eight to twelve weeks after completion of your travel.

Bryant Park

Bryant Park is a financial consultant for one of the companies listed on Wall Street. He writes on a variety of topics ranging from credit cards to different loans that can be availed by consumers. He holds a bachelor degree in Financial Services from Dartmouth College.