Maximize your points
Points and miles can unlock business class flights, luxury hotel stays, and experiences that might surprise you with what they cost in points versus cash. There are two sides to making that happen — earning and redeeming — and getting both right is where the real value is. Here are the basics.
The basics
Earning points
Points accumulate in two main ways:
Credit cards that earn transferable currencies. Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou, Wells Fargo Autograph, and Capital One Miles are the major ones. These are the most flexible because they can move to a range of airline and hotel partners.
Directly through loyalty programs. These points live in that program and are redeemed within it and are earned by flying an airline or staying with a hotel brand.
Redeeming points
There are several ways to redeem:
Transfer to a partner. Moving points from a credit card program to an airline or hotel partner typically delivers the highest value — often 3 to 5 cents per point or more on premium cabin flights.
Book through a travel portal. Convenient, but points are generally valued at around 1 cent each. Fine for simplicity, not the best for value.
Redeem directly within a loyalty program. Works well for programs like Hyatt, where the value can be significant.
Tools to help you get started
If you want to start tracking and optimizing on your own, these are worth considering. I may get compensated for links used.
Point.me
Finds award flight availability across 150+ airlines in real time so you can see exactly what your points can get you.
10% discount on the annual subscription when you use the coupon code elizabethflosznikfora
Book directly with Point.me and use my email address: elizabeth.flosznik@fora.travel
Award Wallet
Tracks all your balances and expiration dates across 600+ programs in one place.
Max Rewards
Automatically activates card offers and tells you the best card to use at any merchant, so every purchase earns as much as possible.
Your next card
If you’re looking to build or optimize your earning, these are the cards with the strongest intro bonuses and everyday value.
Need help?
Whether you need help figuring out which cards are worth carrying or want to find the best use of points you’ve already accumulated, there are two ways to work together:
Points strategy session — $25. A review of your current balances and yourbest redemption options, clearly laid out.
Full research and booking strategy — $200. Everything in the session plus a complete search and step-by-step booking plan. The $25 session fee is credited toward this.