Gift of Travel: Way to get a gift card that works for any airline, but only airlines?











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I would like to get a family member a gift card or something similar that they can use to help pay for an airplane ticket to visit.



Certainly I could get a gift card for any given airline, but airfare prices change all the time, so knowing which airline to get the card for is impossible. I've seen a generic debit card like Vanilla Visa recommended but then there is no guarantee the recipient will use it for a flight as it can be used on anything. If possible I would like to ensure the gift is eventually used for what it was intended for.



Is there any method for giving someone funds to use for flights that works on any airline, but can only be used for plane tickets?










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  • If you can't trust the recipient to use the money for a plane ticket, how would you specifically trust the recipient to use the money to visit. Even if what you wanted existed, they could just as easily use it buy a plane ticket to go somewhere else or buy a plane ticket for someone else in exchange for cash.
    – Zach Lipton
    49 mins ago










  • @ZachLipton: In this case the recipient is simply not very good at saving. If I give a liquid asset they will "plan" to use it as intended, but life happens and they get short of funds and use it with the intent to save the money back later, but it never happens. If such a product is available I'd prefer the peace of mind knowing it will be used as I wanted. :)
    – Nathanael
    10 mins ago















up vote
1
down vote

favorite












I would like to get a family member a gift card or something similar that they can use to help pay for an airplane ticket to visit.



Certainly I could get a gift card for any given airline, but airfare prices change all the time, so knowing which airline to get the card for is impossible. I've seen a generic debit card like Vanilla Visa recommended but then there is no guarantee the recipient will use it for a flight as it can be used on anything. If possible I would like to ensure the gift is eventually used for what it was intended for.



Is there any method for giving someone funds to use for flights that works on any airline, but can only be used for plane tickets?










share|improve this question







New contributor




Nathanael is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.




















  • If you can't trust the recipient to use the money for a plane ticket, how would you specifically trust the recipient to use the money to visit. Even if what you wanted existed, they could just as easily use it buy a plane ticket to go somewhere else or buy a plane ticket for someone else in exchange for cash.
    – Zach Lipton
    49 mins ago










  • @ZachLipton: In this case the recipient is simply not very good at saving. If I give a liquid asset they will "plan" to use it as intended, but life happens and they get short of funds and use it with the intent to save the money back later, but it never happens. If such a product is available I'd prefer the peace of mind knowing it will be used as I wanted. :)
    – Nathanael
    10 mins ago













up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











I would like to get a family member a gift card or something similar that they can use to help pay for an airplane ticket to visit.



Certainly I could get a gift card for any given airline, but airfare prices change all the time, so knowing which airline to get the card for is impossible. I've seen a generic debit card like Vanilla Visa recommended but then there is no guarantee the recipient will use it for a flight as it can be used on anything. If possible I would like to ensure the gift is eventually used for what it was intended for.



Is there any method for giving someone funds to use for flights that works on any airline, but can only be used for plane tickets?










share|improve this question







New contributor




Nathanael is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











I would like to get a family member a gift card or something similar that they can use to help pay for an airplane ticket to visit.



Certainly I could get a gift card for any given airline, but airfare prices change all the time, so knowing which airline to get the card for is impossible. I've seen a generic debit card like Vanilla Visa recommended but then there is no guarantee the recipient will use it for a flight as it can be used on anything. If possible I would like to ensure the gift is eventually used for what it was intended for.



Is there any method for giving someone funds to use for flights that works on any airline, but can only be used for plane tickets?







usa payment-cards






share|improve this question







New contributor




Nathanael is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question







New contributor




Nathanael is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question






New contributor




Nathanael is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 2 hours ago









Nathanael

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New contributor




Nathanael is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Nathanael is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Nathanael is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












  • If you can't trust the recipient to use the money for a plane ticket, how would you specifically trust the recipient to use the money to visit. Even if what you wanted existed, they could just as easily use it buy a plane ticket to go somewhere else or buy a plane ticket for someone else in exchange for cash.
    – Zach Lipton
    49 mins ago










  • @ZachLipton: In this case the recipient is simply not very good at saving. If I give a liquid asset they will "plan" to use it as intended, but life happens and they get short of funds and use it with the intent to save the money back later, but it never happens. If such a product is available I'd prefer the peace of mind knowing it will be used as I wanted. :)
    – Nathanael
    10 mins ago


















  • If you can't trust the recipient to use the money for a plane ticket, how would you specifically trust the recipient to use the money to visit. Even if what you wanted existed, they could just as easily use it buy a plane ticket to go somewhere else or buy a plane ticket for someone else in exchange for cash.
    – Zach Lipton
    49 mins ago










  • @ZachLipton: In this case the recipient is simply not very good at saving. If I give a liquid asset they will "plan" to use it as intended, but life happens and they get short of funds and use it with the intent to save the money back later, but it never happens. If such a product is available I'd prefer the peace of mind knowing it will be used as I wanted. :)
    – Nathanael
    10 mins ago
















If you can't trust the recipient to use the money for a plane ticket, how would you specifically trust the recipient to use the money to visit. Even if what you wanted existed, they could just as easily use it buy a plane ticket to go somewhere else or buy a plane ticket for someone else in exchange for cash.
– Zach Lipton
49 mins ago




If you can't trust the recipient to use the money for a plane ticket, how would you specifically trust the recipient to use the money to visit. Even if what you wanted existed, they could just as easily use it buy a plane ticket to go somewhere else or buy a plane ticket for someone else in exchange for cash.
– Zach Lipton
49 mins ago












@ZachLipton: In this case the recipient is simply not very good at saving. If I give a liquid asset they will "plan" to use it as intended, but life happens and they get short of funds and use it with the intent to save the money back later, but it never happens. If such a product is available I'd prefer the peace of mind knowing it will be used as I wanted. :)
– Nathanael
10 mins ago




@ZachLipton: In this case the recipient is simply not very good at saving. If I give a liquid asset they will "plan" to use it as intended, but life happens and they get short of funds and use it with the intent to save the money back later, but it never happens. If such a product is available I'd prefer the peace of mind knowing it will be used as I wanted. :)
– Nathanael
10 mins ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
2
down vote













Indirectly. You can give them a voucher that tells them you will buy them a plane ticket of their choosing up to a given amount.



Far more personal too than simply handing some precharged card.






share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    2
    down vote













    First, to be useful for purchasing flights, this card should work on plenty of merchants. This would include not only the airlines themselves, but also travel agencies. Those include both brick-and-mortar stores and online merchants like Priceline or Orbitz. They generally use the same merchant ID for all their bookings (flight, hotel, cruise, car rental etc), so filtering by merchant ID is not feasible.



    Second, even airlines themselves sometimes use 3rd party processors; for example Blue Air uses "maxitours.be" for processing their credit card purchases.



    Thus I doubt what you'd like to do is even theoretically possible using the suggested avenue (prepaid gift card).



    The only method I can think of would be by invoking a third party. For example you can provide the money to a travel agency (or travel agent) you trust, and specify that those could only be used to purchase flights.






    share|improve this answer





















    • It doesn't necessarily have to be a gift card, that's just what I hand in mind. In the end I'd like to help the recipient pay for a trip at a later date, and something I can gift and have the funds already reserved/set aside for them for that specific purpose would be preferred.
      – Nathanael
      3 mins ago













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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    2
    down vote













    Indirectly. You can give them a voucher that tells them you will buy them a plane ticket of their choosing up to a given amount.



    Far more personal too than simply handing some precharged card.






    share|improve this answer

























      up vote
      2
      down vote













      Indirectly. You can give them a voucher that tells them you will buy them a plane ticket of their choosing up to a given amount.



      Far more personal too than simply handing some precharged card.






      share|improve this answer























        up vote
        2
        down vote










        up vote
        2
        down vote









        Indirectly. You can give them a voucher that tells them you will buy them a plane ticket of their choosing up to a given amount.



        Far more personal too than simply handing some precharged card.






        share|improve this answer












        Indirectly. You can give them a voucher that tells them you will buy them a plane ticket of their choosing up to a given amount.



        Far more personal too than simply handing some precharged card.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 58 mins ago









        jwenting

        6,25911523




        6,25911523
























            up vote
            2
            down vote













            First, to be useful for purchasing flights, this card should work on plenty of merchants. This would include not only the airlines themselves, but also travel agencies. Those include both brick-and-mortar stores and online merchants like Priceline or Orbitz. They generally use the same merchant ID for all their bookings (flight, hotel, cruise, car rental etc), so filtering by merchant ID is not feasible.



            Second, even airlines themselves sometimes use 3rd party processors; for example Blue Air uses "maxitours.be" for processing their credit card purchases.



            Thus I doubt what you'd like to do is even theoretically possible using the suggested avenue (prepaid gift card).



            The only method I can think of would be by invoking a third party. For example you can provide the money to a travel agency (or travel agent) you trust, and specify that those could only be used to purchase flights.






            share|improve this answer





















            • It doesn't necessarily have to be a gift card, that's just what I hand in mind. In the end I'd like to help the recipient pay for a trip at a later date, and something I can gift and have the funds already reserved/set aside for them for that specific purpose would be preferred.
              – Nathanael
              3 mins ago

















            up vote
            2
            down vote













            First, to be useful for purchasing flights, this card should work on plenty of merchants. This would include not only the airlines themselves, but also travel agencies. Those include both brick-and-mortar stores and online merchants like Priceline or Orbitz. They generally use the same merchant ID for all their bookings (flight, hotel, cruise, car rental etc), so filtering by merchant ID is not feasible.



            Second, even airlines themselves sometimes use 3rd party processors; for example Blue Air uses "maxitours.be" for processing their credit card purchases.



            Thus I doubt what you'd like to do is even theoretically possible using the suggested avenue (prepaid gift card).



            The only method I can think of would be by invoking a third party. For example you can provide the money to a travel agency (or travel agent) you trust, and specify that those could only be used to purchase flights.






            share|improve this answer





















            • It doesn't necessarily have to be a gift card, that's just what I hand in mind. In the end I'd like to help the recipient pay for a trip at a later date, and something I can gift and have the funds already reserved/set aside for them for that specific purpose would be preferred.
              – Nathanael
              3 mins ago















            up vote
            2
            down vote










            up vote
            2
            down vote









            First, to be useful for purchasing flights, this card should work on plenty of merchants. This would include not only the airlines themselves, but also travel agencies. Those include both brick-and-mortar stores and online merchants like Priceline or Orbitz. They generally use the same merchant ID for all their bookings (flight, hotel, cruise, car rental etc), so filtering by merchant ID is not feasible.



            Second, even airlines themselves sometimes use 3rd party processors; for example Blue Air uses "maxitours.be" for processing their credit card purchases.



            Thus I doubt what you'd like to do is even theoretically possible using the suggested avenue (prepaid gift card).



            The only method I can think of would be by invoking a third party. For example you can provide the money to a travel agency (or travel agent) you trust, and specify that those could only be used to purchase flights.






            share|improve this answer












            First, to be useful for purchasing flights, this card should work on plenty of merchants. This would include not only the airlines themselves, but also travel agencies. Those include both brick-and-mortar stores and online merchants like Priceline or Orbitz. They generally use the same merchant ID for all their bookings (flight, hotel, cruise, car rental etc), so filtering by merchant ID is not feasible.



            Second, even airlines themselves sometimes use 3rd party processors; for example Blue Air uses "maxitours.be" for processing their credit card purchases.



            Thus I doubt what you'd like to do is even theoretically possible using the suggested avenue (prepaid gift card).



            The only method I can think of would be by invoking a third party. For example you can provide the money to a travel agency (or travel agent) you trust, and specify that those could only be used to purchase flights.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 56 mins ago









            George Y.

            18.6k13076




            18.6k13076












            • It doesn't necessarily have to be a gift card, that's just what I hand in mind. In the end I'd like to help the recipient pay for a trip at a later date, and something I can gift and have the funds already reserved/set aside for them for that specific purpose would be preferred.
              – Nathanael
              3 mins ago




















            • It doesn't necessarily have to be a gift card, that's just what I hand in mind. In the end I'd like to help the recipient pay for a trip at a later date, and something I can gift and have the funds already reserved/set aside for them for that specific purpose would be preferred.
              – Nathanael
              3 mins ago


















            It doesn't necessarily have to be a gift card, that's just what I hand in mind. In the end I'd like to help the recipient pay for a trip at a later date, and something I can gift and have the funds already reserved/set aside for them for that specific purpose would be preferred.
            – Nathanael
            3 mins ago






            It doesn't necessarily have to be a gift card, that's just what I hand in mind. In the end I'd like to help the recipient pay for a trip at a later date, and something I can gift and have the funds already reserved/set aside for them for that specific purpose would be preferred.
            – Nathanael
            3 mins ago












            Nathanael is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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