Booking Flights - Debit or Credit Card?

[Deleted User]

Hello Moneysavers.

I'm wondering if anyone can help me.

My boyfriend and I are planning on going to NYC for Christmas. We have money saved too book the flights but I'm not quite sure how to book them. The total cost for flights is going to be around £1000 so I want to make sure we're protected should anything go wrong. I've heard that flights should be booked by credit card as you have protection on spends over £100 and I've seen the below advice from Martin but I'm wondering if anyone can explain this to me further?

The main problem is I have never had a credit card. Should I apply for one to book the flights with (how long does it take to get one?) or should I go ahead and just book them on the debit card?
Similar question question I suppose for the hotel, should I book this on credit or debit card?

Any advice will be much appreciated.

Kind Regards

Gem

Card company refunds
If you paid for your holiday on a credit card or Visa card, the plastic provider may offer you a refund but only for the part(s) of your trip funded by that card, if you didn't receive that service.

• Credit card payments. If you paid over £100 per person, per component of the holiday, under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, credit card firms are jointly liable with retailers if something goes wrong (see the Section 75 Refunds guide).
  
  
• Visa payments. The card issuer operates a chargeback scheme, where it gets your cash back from the retailer's bank if something goes wrong, regardless of the amount spent. This is not a legal requirement, but a customer service promise.
  
  You must notify your card company within 120 days (see the Visa Chargeback guide).

Doshwaster

Well, a credit card will give you more protection but since you've never had a one before you may only get a small limit to start with which might not be enough to cover the flights and hotel.

Credit cards are also useful for stopping in hotels. Even if the room is prepaid, hotels usually take a "swipe" of a card for a pre-authorised charge to cover any additional spending (or damage!) while you are stopping there just in case you leave without paying. If you use a debit card then a certain amount will be pre-authorised against your balance which may take a while to clear. This is a less of a problem if you use a credit card.

As long as you use them wisely, credit cards are very useful travel tools.

[Deleted User]

Doh! Forgot all about the small matter of a credit limit!
Cheers Doshwaster!