The Limitless Travel Playbook

The Definitive Guide to Points Hacking, Industry Secrets, VIP Rewards Strategies, and More!

Imagine being able to fly around the world in business class — for almost nothing out of pocket — at pretty much any time your heart desired. Sounds like a dream, right?

For many, it is a dream, but contrary to popular belief, it’s actually easier than you might think to get a free business class ticket to destinations like New York City, Paris, Hong Kong — or pretty much anywhere you’d like to go!

Collecting airline miles, hotel points, and transferable rewards points is relatively easy to do and can take you almost everywhere in the world. These have changed the game for travelers worldwide and given the “average Joe” easy access to the world.

Oh, and don’t worry — amassing huge reward balances is no longer reserved for people who fly full-time for work. In fact, in 2024, it’s easier than ever to earn miles and points without ever stepping foot on a flight or staying a night in a hotel room.

In this guide, we will bring you, the average traveler, the full rundown on how to travel for just the cost of taxes and fees (and yes, even in business or first class if you choose!).

We’ll also touch on things like gaining free access to airline lounges and obtaining hotel status and even show you how to redeem your miles for a few specific trips.

Does that sound good to you? Let’s get started!

Chapter 1: Getting Started With Earning Points and Miles

Historically, travelers have earned airline miles flying on 1 airline all of the time.

This meant free first class airfare was generally restricted to those traveling for work or people already paying for premium tickets. On top of this, even if you were earning points by only flying a particular airline, you were usually restricted to a single airline alliance when it came to redeeming the earned miles.

Then, we saw the introduction of co-branded airline credit cards. These allowed travelers to earn airline-specific miles on their everyday purchases, so everything from a quick trip to the corner store for milk to a down payment on a new car could earn valuable points and miles.

But what type of credit card should you get? And more importantly, how do you travel for free if you don’t spend a ton of money on your credit card each month?

These are good questions and are exactly what we’ll answer in this chapter. We’ll start by discussing which types of reward credit cards are on the market, dive into the wonderful world of welcome bonus offers, and look at some specific credit cards you can start with.

The 3 Types of Award Credit Cards

Currently, there are 3 different types of rewards-earning credit cards:

• Cards that earn transferable points (like American Express Membership Rewards points)
• Cards specific to a certain airline or hotel (like United Airlines)
• Cards that earn cash-back for purchases

Below, you’ll find an overview of each of these different credit card types, along with a discussion of their merits and best uses.

Transferable Points Credit Cards

Transferable points cards are generally issued by banks. The award points accrued from using these cards can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners or redeemed for credit toward paid flights or merchandise.

However, transferring points to airline partners to book international business class seats generally provides the most value. There are several transferable points programs, though the 4 main issuers are Chase, American Express, Citi, and Capital One.

Each bank issues its own points currencies for these cards:

• Chase issues Ultimate Rewards points
• American Express issues Membership Rewards points
• Capital One issues Capital One miles
• Citi issues ThankYou Points

All 4 of these issuers offer multiple credit cards you can use to earn these points. Each card has different benefits, different points-earning structures, and different annual fees. So, picking out the right credit card for you and your purchasing habits can be difficult.

Don’t worry; we’ll talk more about transferable points later in this chapter!

Airline- and Hotel-Specific Credit Cards

Alternatively, you can choose a co-branded card from an airline or hotel loyalty program of your choice.

Nearly all major U.S. airlines and hotel chains offer co-branded cards, which often have specific benefits for the airline or hotel chain that issues the card.

For example, a co-branded airline credit card may provide perks such as airline or hotel elite status, free checked bags, priority boarding, or other benefits just by holding the associated credit card.

However, unlike transferable points cards, your points usually cannot be transferred out of the loyalty program you’re earning with. This means you’ll be subject to devaluations and have limited flexibility in how you redeem your points.

Cash-Back Credit Cards

Finally, you can also use a cash-back rewards credit card to get no-frills cash-back on your purchases. These rewards are usually awarded in the form of a statement credit or a bank transfer, and the amount of cash-back you’ll earn depends on the card you have.

Which Type of Credit Card Is Best?

At Upgraded Points, we’ve always been partial to transferable points cards, and we highly recommend using these types of cards for your everyday purchases.

Our reasoning behind this is simple: with transferable points cards, you’re not tied to 1 specific airline or hotel loyalty program. Instead, you have the freedom to transfer to several different airlines and hotel chains, giving you maximum flexibility and protecting you from program devaluations.

Transferable point currencies consistently rank at the top of our points and miles valuations.

For example, we value Chase Ultimate Rewards points — one of the most popular award currencies — at 2 cents apiece, meaning that 50,000 of these points are worth a whopping $1,000! This is an incredible value and another reason why you should consider starting with transferable points.

Comparing American Express, Capital One, Chase, and Citi

As discussed earlier, 4 banks issue transferable points credit cards: American Express, Capital One, Chase, and Citi.

Each program has unique transfer partners that make it easy to redeem points and miles across airlines in all 3 major airline alliances: Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam.

Each issuer’s list of transfer partners can be found in their respective articles (Chase, American Express, Capital One, and Citi).

Chase and American Express are generally considered as the most valuable transferable points currencies. This is because they offer the most valuable transfer partners with the best redemption rates.

We’re not going to dive too deep into redemptions in this chapter, though. Chapter 3 contains in-depth guides on redeeming points to popular destinations worldwide.

Start With Chase Cards First

You’re familiar with all of the major transferable points programs, and now you’re probably wondering, “What card should I get first?”

At Upgraded Points, we recommend that most people start with Chase Ultimate Rewards earning- credit cards — and for good reason. This is because every bank has application rules you must follow in order to maximize your earnings potential.

Chase has one of the strictest in the industry, known as the “Chase 5/24 rule.” This unpublished rule prevents you from getting new Chase cards if you’ve opened 5 credit cards (regardless of issuer) in the last 24 months. Although 5 credit cards may seem like a lot, for many, this rule is restrictive.

If you’ve been approved for fewer than 5 cards in the last 2 years, we highly recommend starting with the Chase strategy we’ll detail below. After all, if you don’t do it now, who knows when you’ll be able to apply for Chase cards again?

This tried-and-true approach is how most of the Upgraded Points team (including the author of this book and founder of Upgraded Points) got into the miles-and-points game themselves!

Our Favorite Starter Card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

We highly recommend starting with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. This mid-tier card is perfect for those just getting started with award travel.

First, and perhaps most importantly, the card offers an enticing welcome bonus offer to get you started. It also has some fantastic bonus categories to help you rack up points on your everyday spending.

LAST CHANCE

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

But the perks don’t stop there. Cardholders also receive a $50 annual hotel statement credit when they book a hotel through the Chase Travel portal. You’ll also earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has no foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent card for purchases abroad.

Plan on renting a car on your journey? The Chase Sapphire Preferred card also offers primary auto rental insurance on all car rentals you pay for with the card. This benefit provides reimbursement for damage or theft of the vehicle for up to the actual cash value of most rental vehicles. And since it’s primary insurance, you don’t need to file a claim with your own auto insurance if anything happens to your rental car.

Given that the card offers great bonus categories, earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, has numerous perks and benefits, and has an annual fee of just $95, it’s a no-brainer for our favorite starter travel card.

Which Card Should I Get Next?

With so many credit card options out there, it can be confusing to decide which cards you should get and in what order. Assuming you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card as your starter travel rewards card, where should you go from there?

Well, due to the Chase 5/24 rule, we highly recommend you apply for other Chase cards. Fortunately, several excellent options are available.

After you’ve exhausted your Chase card options, you can easily move on to cards from other issuers. However, because of 5/24, the same isn’t true for those who get cards with other credit card issuers and then move to Chase.

So, which cards come next? Below, we outline a few example scenarios depending on what you’d like to maximize.

Hot Tip: Want personalized advice about what credit card makes sense for your needs? Join our Level UP Travel Facebook group to receive tips and helpful information from fellow award travelers!

Chase Personal Cards

Chase offers several personal credit cards, many of which are great options. However, we generally recommend other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards.

There are 2 great options here: the Chase Freedom Unlimited^® and the Chase Freedom Flex^®. Although both are technically cash-back cards, the Ultimate Rewards points earned with them can be combined with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card for huge travel savings.

The Freedom Unlimited card has a $0 annual fee and the Freedom Flex card also has a $0 annual fee. The bonus categories on both cards will complement your Chase Sapphire Preferred card nicely. Both cards earn 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, plus 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases.

The primary difference between the 2 cards is that the Freedom Flex card earns 5% cash-back on up to $1,500 spent on quarterly bonus categories, while the Freedom Unlimited card earns an uncapped 1.5% cash-back on all non-bonus purchases.

Occasionally, this card offers an additional cash-back amount as part of a welcome offer, so you could earn even more cash-back.

Chase Business Cards

Chase also offers quite a few business cards, 3 of which rank among our favorite business cards in the industry: the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card, Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card, and Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card.

Similar to the cards we’ve discussed, the Ink Business Preferred card is a premium Ultimate Rewards-earning card with access to transfer partners, similar to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

The other 2 Ink business cards are technically cash-back cards. However, similar to the Freedom cards, the rewards earned can be combined with a premium Ultimate Rewards-earning card. This means that rewards earned from these 2 cash-back cards can be combined and transferred to Chase’s travel partners.

Small business owners are eligible to apply for all 3 of these cards, depending on their business needs.

Another major benefit of applying for Chase business cards is that these cards do not add to your 5/24 total. In other words, if you’re 3/24 and are approved for the Ink Business Preferred card, you’ll still be 3/24 afterward.

Hot Tip: If you’re interested in one of the major Chase business credit cards but are uncertain about which card is right for you, read through our ultimate Chase business card comparison guide to help you make that decision.

Airline-Branded Cards

Airline credit cards are an excellent way to receive more value from airlines that you fly with frequently. With these cards, you’ll usually receive perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, inflight purchase discounts, and more.

Chase has several airline partners and offers several co-branded airline credit cards, including those issued for Air Canada, British Airways, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, among others. If you fly frequently with any of these airlines, it’s probably worth adding your preferred program’s card to your wallet.

For instance, if you frequently fly with United, it might make sense to add The New United Quest℠ Card to take advantage of the free checked bags, and the 25% discount on inflight purchases.

If you’re a Southwest flyer, on the other hand, you might prefer the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card for its 4 annual upgraded boarding certificates, a $75 annual travel credit, and 7,500 anniversary points each year you hold the card.

Hotel Cards

As with airline cards, adding a co-branded hotel card for a chain you frequent is a fantastic way to get more value out of your hotel stays.

These cards usually offer some sort of automatic elite status with the chain, which won’t just help you earn more points during stays but can also grant you perks like early check-in and late checkout, room upgrades, free breakfast, and free night certificates.

Chase offers hotel credit cards for 3 major chains: Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott. If you stay at any of these chains with any sort of frequency, you’ll likely get plenty of value by holding that chain’s credit card.

Best of all, since these programs are also Chase Ultimate Rewards partners, you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to these hotel programs.

Bottom Line: Chase offers many great credit cards, and depending on your travel habits, some might make sense. You don’t necessarily need to get any of these cards in any particular order, but we highly advise using your 5/24 slots with Chase cards before moving on to other issuers.

Which Cards To Get After Chase Cards

After you’ve exhausted the Chase credit card options that make the most sense for you, you can move on to other issuers like American Express, Citi, and Capital One, depending on what type of rewards and bonus categories you’re trying to optimize for.

One great option would be to add a premium card that functions like a perks-based rewards card for travelers. We certainly have 1 in mind.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express Is an Excellent Premium Card

When it comes to premium rewards cards, the Amex Platinum card stands out among the rest. Despite its hefty annual fee, it is absolutely loaded with excellent perks and credits that any frequent traveler is sure to love.

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel^® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel^®.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• With American Express Global Lounge Collection^® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion^® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club^® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express^® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
• A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID – this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card^®.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
• $695 annual fee.¤
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

For starters, it’s the best card on the market for airport lounge access, offering cardmembers access to several different airport lounge networks, including Priority Pass lounges (upon enrollment), Centurion Lounges, and 10 visits to Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta) with the ability to unlock unlimited visits through spend, among others.

However, the perks and benefits don’t stop there. The Amex Platinum card also provides complimentary elite status with 2 major hotel chains: Gold elite status (upon enrollment) with both the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy programs.

Need hotel benefits elsewhere? You can book through the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts program and receive room upgrades, daily breakfast for 2, late checkout, a $100 experience credit, and more.

The Amex Platinum card also provides additional perks such as cell phone protection, car rental loss and damage insurance, trip delay and trip cancellation insurance, purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty protection.

As far as annual credits go to help offset the annual fee, this card has plenty (note that some benefits require enrollment):

That’s over $1,500 worth of annual credits that you’ll receive each and every year in exchange for the card’s $695 annual fee (rates & fees), so most cardmembers who use these perks will come out ahead before even factoring in the card’s other awesome benefits.

Now, Meet That Minimum Spend!

No matter which card you apply for, the most valuable part is the welcome offer. With that in mind, make sure you plan to hit the minimum spend required to earn that bonus, usually within 3 to 4 months of being approved.

Just make sure to have a plan so that you don’t have to spend more than you usually would just to earn the bonus. Luckily, you can earn points for virtually all of your spending, including cell phone, cable, utility, insurance, and other bills. And don’t forget streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, and Hulu, as well as rideshare options like Uber and Lyft!

If you need a boost to hit the minimum spend, you can use services such as Plastiq to pay bills that otherwise don’t accept credit cards. There’s a small service fee to use the service, but it can be worth it to earn the initial welcome offer. You can use Plastiq to pay rent, a mortgage, a student loan, and more.

Hot Tip:

Carrying a balance and overspending on credit cards is never a good idea and negates the value of any rewards you earn. It’s imperative to be responsible when using your credit cards by refraining from buying unnecessary things and paying your bill off in full each month.

Our Favorite American Express, Capital One, and Citi Cards

After you’ve worked your way through the best Chase cards, chances are you’ll want to look into other transferrable points programs. These include American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Rewards, among others.

Doing this will let you further diversify your points portfolio and earn points for even more trips in the future. But the question remains: Which cards from the other major issuers are best?

Best American Express Membership Rewards Card

On the American Express side, we highly recommend the American Express^® Gold Card. It earns 4x points per dollar spent on U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 annually, then 1x) and at restaurants (up to $50,000 annually, then 1x), 3x points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com, and 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

While the card has a $325 annual fee (rates & fees), it’s largely offset by the card’s dining credits and Uber Cash each year. Enrollment is required for these credits.

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

We value Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents apiece, the highest of any single transferable rewards currency. This makes 60,000 Membership Rewards points worth an astounding $1,320. If the bonus is higher, that’s even more value.

Best Capital One Miles Card

Next up, we have Capital One Miles, another incredibly valuable program thanks to certain travel partners.

We recommend the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. The card earns 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and offers many options for redeeming points. Plus, it comes with a highly valuable welcome offer.

The best way to redeem Capital One miles is to transfer them to any of Capital One’s transfer partners. These include major airline loyalty programs like Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, Cathay Pacific “Cathay,” and more.

LAST CHANCE

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Apply Now(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.

75,000 miles + $250 travel credit

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,600

Annual Fee

$95

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Capital One miles are lower on our valuations list, but we still give them a healthy valuation of 1.8 cents per mile. This means that we value 75,000 Capital One miles at $1,350.

Best Citi ThankYou Rewards Card

Moving onto Citi, we highly recommend checking out the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card for your first Citi ThankYou Point-earning card.

The Citi Strata Premier card earns 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com and 3x points on air travel and other hotel purchases at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations.

Plus, the Citi Strata Premier offers a $100 annual hotel credit off a single hotel stay of $500 or more booked through the Citi ThankYou portal.

Like all the other transferable points currencies, you can transfer Citi ThankYou Points to any of its travel partners.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome Offer

For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
• 3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
• $100 annual hotel benefit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.
• Earn 10X points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
• Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Of course, there are other awesome American Express, Capital One, and Citi cards on the market, too, each with its own set of benefits. For more info on these, check out the Credit Cards page on our website.

Chapter 2: Hacks for Getting VIP Treatment at Little or No Cost

Next, we’ll look at how to get treated like royalty at the airport. By that, we mean showing you how to get awesome airport perks like access to airport lounges, free access to Global Entry and TSA PreCheck lanes, and how to avoid paying checked bag fees.

Each of these perks can make or break the airport experience. After all, who wants to wait at the terminal when they can hang out in a swanky airport lounge and drink complimentary cocktails instead?

Accessing VIP Airline Lounges Without Airline Status

Simply put, airline lounges are awesome. They give you a comfortable place to relax before and in between flights and often have complimentary food, drinks, newspapers, Wi-Fi, and sometimes even showers.

Traditionally, airport lounges have been reserved for the most frequent flyers and those who paid a hefty sum for an airline lounge pass. However, these days, several credit cards will give you lounge access as a perk of the card.

As mentioned above, our favorite card for lounge access is the Amex Platinum card, as it gives you access to 6 different lounge networks: Amex Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, Aspire Lounges, and 10 visits to Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta) with the ability to unlock unlimited visits through spend.

Picture this: You’re at the airport, and you’ve just made it through security. You’ve got some time to kill before your flight begins to board. What do you do? Most people would just sit at their gate or at the food court eating overpriced, bland meals or meander through the duty-free shop.

Those with airport lounge access can relax in a comfortable seat and enjoy premium food and cocktails as they wait for their flight. Lounge guests can charge devices, work in a quiet space, shower in private rooms, and even receive complimentary spa services!

It’s worth noting that different airport lounges will have different amenities. Some will feel very luxurious and posh, while others will have just the basics. But no matter which lounge you find yourself in, you’ll have free food and beverages and a nice(r) place to relax before your flight.

There are a number of popular credit cards that offer some variation of airport lounge access.

(Note: The best personal card is the Amex Platinum card, and on the business side, it’s The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express.)

* Enrollment required
** When lounge participates in Priority Pass
*** Once per calendar year
**** 10 visits to Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta) with the ability to unlock unlimited visits through spend

Get Your Global Entry (or TSA PreCheck) and CLEAR Fees Reimbursed

Global Entry is a program operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It allows for expedited access through border checks when returning to the U.S. (provided users pass a background check).

When approved for Global Entry, you’ll be able to use automated kiosks to clear customs when returning to the U.S. from abroad. Additionally, you’ll be given a Known Traveler Number that — when added to your plane tickets — will give you access to TSA PreCheck security lanes at the airport.

Similarly, CLEAR connects certain biometric features (e.g., fingerprints, iris) to your personal identity, making it possible for you to speed through both airport and sporting venue security checks using only your eyes, replacing the standard ID, ticket, and boarding pass.

With CLEAR, you don’t need to remove your wallet from your purse or pocket. After verifying your identity using your biometrics, a CLEAR Ambassador will escort you through the dedicated CLEAR lanes to the front of the TSA PreCheck or standard security line.

While many cards offer a Global Entry credit, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, The New United℠ Explorer Card, or Capital One Venture card, only 1 widely available personal card on the market offers both a Global Entry and CLEAR credit: the Amex Platinum card.

Of course, each credit card has different rules for redeeming the benefit, so check with your credit card issuer on how to do it properly to ensure you’re reimbursed. Some programs require prior enrollment.

Earning Hotel Status With Credit Cards

Hotel elite status can provide many benefits like complimentary room upgrades, bonus points on paid stays, better in-room internet, and maybe even free breakfast, depending on the chain and status level. It makes your hotel stays just a little bit (okay, we’ll admit it: a lot) more enjoyable.

Typically, you would need to spend a large number of nights at hotels to earn elite status — however, it has become significantly easier. You can now get hotel elite status by carrying the right credit card.

For example, co-branded credit cards — like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card* include complimentary elite status within their respective programs.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$750

Annual Fee

$550

APR

20.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

---

Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
• 7x points per $1 on select travel and at U.S. restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other eligible purchases

Cons

• High annual fee of $550

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership
• Earn 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio
• Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible travel purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
• Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
• Earn 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for other eligible purchases on your card
• Enjoy up to $400 in Hilton Resort Credits (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) on your card each anniversary year when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio
• Enjoy complimentary Diamond status
• $550 annual fee

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

However, our favorite card for complimentary hotel elite status is — you guessed it — the Amex Platinum card. Upon enrollment, the card provides cardholders with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite members receive many nice benefits, including room upgrades (when available), late checkout, free enhanced internet, 25% bonus points, a welcome amenity, and more.

Hilton Honors Gold Elite members also receive several benefits, including room upgrades (when available), late checkout, 80% bonus points, and a food and beverage credit.

You can activate your complimentary elite status at the Benefits tab on the American Express website (as with many other Amex Platinum card benefits). Search through the list of benefits, find the hotel status benefits, and click the Enroll button. Then, you’ll be asked to provide a Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors number, and you’ll be instantly enrolled.

*The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Here’s How To Avoid Paying for Bags

Hate paying checked-bag fees? So do we. And we’re here to tell you that it’s possible to never pay them again.

The easiest way to do this is to have a credit card with the airline you fly the most. Often, airline co-branded credit cards give flyers 1 free checked bag whenever they fly that airline.

Currently, several major U.S.-based airlines offer co-branded credit cards that provide free checked bags on domestic flights. These include popular airlines such as Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, and United Airlines.

It’s worth noting that each card has different requirements for using the benefit, so check with your credit card issuer for more information.

Alternatively, you can use a card with an airline credit to cover your checked bag fees. Some cards with this benefit include the Amex Platinum card and the Hilton Aspire card.

Hot Tip: Hate paying baggage fees? Check out our article “Do I Need to Pay With My Airline Credit Card to Get Free Checked Bags and Perks?” and our ultimate guide to avoid paying baggage fees, including tips for over 30 different airlines!

Chapter 3: Redeeming Points and Miles: A Crash Course

Now comes the fun part. Let’s refer back to the earlier example in which you’ve been approved for and earned the welcome offer from the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

When it comes time to use your Ultimate Rewards points, you could simply redeem them to cover the cost of a paid ticket through Chase Travel, however, we highly recommend staying away from this option.

Why? It’s simple: you’ll only receive a flat rate of 1.25 cents per point towards any paid flight. This means that 100,000 points are worth $1,250 when redeemed this way, which, frankly, won’t get you anywhere near an international business class ticket.

As we discussed earlier, we recommend transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to one of Chase’s many airline and hotel partners. This will allow you to maximize your points and redeem them for award tickets worth far more than $1,250.

It’s worth noting that when we’re breaking down redemption options, many programs have travel transfer partners that overlap, allowing you to book certain awards with multiple award currencies. This can get confusing quickly, so we’ve created our transfer partner calculator tool to help you quickly see which points can be transferred where.

In this chapter, we’ll show you how to redeem points and miles for trips to major vacation hotspots worldwide.

The Best Ways To Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are one of the most popular — and lucrative — points currencies available.

Of course, there are multiple ways to get great value out of your points. However, you will typically get the most value when transferring to Chase’s transfer partners. Let’s take a look at what transfer partners are available, and then we’ll break down some of our favorite redemption methods for Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Chase Transfer Partners

Here’s a look at the long list of Chase transfer partners, starting off with airlines:

Meanwhile, here’s a look at Chase’s hotel transfer partners:

As mentioned, you can get more value with one transfer partner over another. For example, United MileagePlus and Air France-KLM Flying Blue are both Chase airline transfer partners — however, when it comes to award redemptions, your Chase Ultimate Rewards will provide much more value when transferred to Flying Blue.

The same is true for hotel chains: transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards to World of Hyatt will almost always provide more value than transferring those same points to IHG One Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy.

For example, you could transfer 85,000 to 100,000 points to Marriott Bonvoy to book a free night at a top-tier hotel. While that sounds incredible, you could book 3 free nights at a top-tier Hyatt hotel for roughly the same amount of points.

With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the best ways to redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Fly Singapore Airlines First Class

Singapore Airlines offers one of the best first class cabins in the world, whether you are flying in Singapore Suites on the Airbus A380 or Singapore First Class on the Boeing 777.

Not only will you enjoy a luxurious and spacious cabin, but you’ll also receive caviar service, premium Champagne, and food that’s more akin to a fine dining experience on the ground than a typical airplane meal. When you’re flying in a cabin like this, getting to your destination is (more than) half the fun!

Unlike most airlines, Singapore Airlines only lets you book its first class through its KrisFlyer program. Booking this world-class experience is expensive, even in points, but it’s definitely worth it!

The Singapore KrisFlyer program has a zone-based award chart with 2 tiers of awards: Saver awards (which are generally the cheapest and can be extremely difficult to book due to award space) and Advantage awards (which are easier to book but much pricier).

Hot Tip:

Singapore KrisFlyer is also a transfer partner of American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Stay at Hyatt Hotels

The World of Hyatt program is a favorite among award travelers thanks to the quality of its hotels and fantastic award chart. This gives travelers incredible value when using points to stay at Hyatt hotels. Plus, when you book a hotel stay using points, you won’t pay any taxes or fees, saving you even more money.

Although most hotel programs have moved towards dynamic pricing, Hyatt still has an award chart. Award pricing at Hyatt hotels depends on whether the night is off-peak, standard, or peak.

Here is the award pricing for standard rooms per hotel category:

Need some inspiration? Say no more! Take the luxurious Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, which offers breathtaking views from your overwater villa. The hotel is a Category 7 World of Hyatt property, which means that standard rooms can be booked for as few as 25,000 points per night (on off-peak dates).

If you have 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you could book up to 4 free nights at this world-class property in one of the world’s most desired destinations.

Hyatt is also our favorite hotel chain for traveling families because Hyatt allows you to book suites online using your points just as easily as if you were booking a standard room. Of course, redemption rates will be slightly higher.

Hot Tip:

Check out our detailed guide on the best ways to redeem World of Hyatt points for maximum value.

Fly Short-Haul Flights Within the U.S. on American or Alaska Airlines

The British Airways Club is another fantastic Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner that can provide excellent redemption options.

Thanks to the program’s distance-based award chart, you can use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book short-haul awards within the U.S. with American or Alaska Airlines (British Airways’ Oneworld partners) for fewer miles than each program typically charges.

Here’s the British Airways award chart for flights within North America. Prices are shown in Avios — the name of the currency British Airways uses:

Here’s a sampling of flights you could book for these low prices:

• Boston (BOS) to Orlando (MCO) for 16,000 Avios one-way
• Chicago (ORD) to Los Angeles (LAX) for 18,000 Avios one-way
• New York (JFK) to Miami (MIA) for 16,000 Avios one-way
• Seattle (SEA) to San Diego (SAN) for 16,000 Avios one-way

Bottom Line: Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of our favorite point programs thanks to its flexibility and the incredible redemptions you can make. For more redemption ideas, read through our guide on the best ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points!

The Best Ways To Redeem Amex Membership Rewards Points

American Express Membership Rewards points are also exceptionally valuable. Similar to Chase Ultimate Rewards, there are numerous excellent ways to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points.

American Express Transfer Partners

As expected, there is a long list of airline and hotel Amex transfer partners. Here’s a look at Amex’s long list of airline transfer partners:

Meanwhile, here’s a look at Amex’s hotel transfer partners:

With so many transfer partners, there are many ways to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points. Here are some of our favorite ways to redeem Membership Rewards points:

Round-Trip Business Class Tickets With ANA

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club has one of the best award charts around when it comes to booking round-trip business class flights — plus, you get a stellar seat and service to boot!

ANA has several award charts depending on whether you’re flying domestically, internationally on ANA, or internationally on a Star Alliance partner airline.

During the low season, you can book round-trip business class tickets with ANA between the U.S. and Japan for just 100,000 points plus taxes and fees.

Want to fly to another Asian city? You can do so for additional points. Here’s a look at regular-season pricing for some round-trip business class awards:

• Chicago (ORD) to Seoul (ICN) for 112,000 points round-trip
• Houston (IAH) to Singapore (SIN) for 132,000 points round-trip
• New York (JFK) to Tokyo (HND and NRT) for 105,000 points round-trip
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Hong Kong (HKG) for 112,000 points round-trip

These flights often cost several thousands of dollars — but not when you use your points and miles!

Would you prefer to fly to Europe instead of Asia? You can still use the ANA Mileage Club program to book round-trip business class tickets with a Star Alliance partner airline for just 100,000 points.

Here are some example routes to inspire your imagination:

• Chicago (ORD) to Milan (MXP) for 100,000 points round-trip
• Los Angeles (LAX) to London (LHR) for 100,000 points round-trip
• New York (JFK) or Newark (EWR) to Paris (CDG) for 100,000 points round-trip
• Seattle (SEA) to Frankfurt (FRA) for 100,000 points round-trip

Better yet, you can also add a stopover within the same award region — as long as your itinerary doesn’t depart from Japan — for no additional cost.

This would allow you to book a round-trip ticket, for example, from New York to Athens, with a stopover in Prague, for the same 100,000 points.

As you can see, the ANA award chart offers incredible value for those looking to fly business class without spending a large amount of miles.

Flying Air France-KLM Business Class to Europe

Flying Blue, Air France-KLM’s loyalty program, is excellent for award redemptions. It offers some of the best award pricing for business class redemptions between the U.S. and Europe. Although the program uses dynamic pricing (i.e., no set award chart), there is standardized saver-level pricing.

One-way business class flights between the U.S. and Europe can be booked for as few as 60,000 miles one-way or 120,000 miles round-trip. However, these are the starting rates and awards can be priced much higher. Still, if you’re flexible in your travel plans, finding this award pricing is not too difficult.

Here are some examples of routes you can book with this award pricing:

• Atlanta (ATL) to Paris (CDG) for 120,000 points round-trip
• Detroit (DTW) to Amsterdam (AMS) for 120,000 points round-trip
• New York (JFK) to Rome (FCO) for 120,000 points round-trip

Hot Tip:

It’s easy to earn Flying Blue miles as the program is a transfer partner of nearly every major transferable rewards currency.

Score Round-Trip Tickets to Hawaii

Hawaii is easily one of the most popular destinations for U.S. travelers, but it’s very expensive to get there. That’s where your points and miles come in!

One of our favorite uses of Membership Rewards points is to transfer them to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer to book round-trip flights on Alaska Airlines to Hawaiian islands like Maui or Kauai for as few as 24,000 KrisFlyer miles — an incredible price considering cash fares to the islands can be quite expensive.

You can find the entire KrisFlyer award chart for flights on Alaska Airlines here. For the most part, flights from most major West Coast gateways can be booked for 24,000 miles round-trip, while flights from the Midwest or East Coast will cost slightly more at 25,000.

Here’s a look at some round-trip flight options:

• Chicago (ORD) to Kona (KOA) for 25,000 miles round-trip
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL) for 24,000 miles round-trip
• San Francisco (SFO) to Kauai (LIH) for 24,000 miles round-trip

Hot Tip:

Fortunately, there are numerous ways to get to Hawaii. Check out our detailed guide on the best ways to fly to Hawaii with points and miles.

The Best Ways To Redeem Citi ThankYou Points

While not quite as popular as Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards, the Citi ThankYou Rewards program can provide great value to travelers. Like the other programs, Citi offers a large list of transfer partners, giving you several options for redeeming your points.

Citi Transfer Partners

With that, let’s look at a few great ways to use your Citi ThankYou Points!

Short Flights Within the U.S. Using Avianca LifeMiles

There are plenty of great ways to redeem Avianca LifeMiles, but one of the best values is on domestic short-haul flights with its Star Alliance partner United. You can book tickets for as few as 7,500 miles each way.

LifeMiles divides the U.S. into 3 zones. Zone 1 covers most of the East Coast, Zone 2 covers most of the Midwest, and Zone 3 covers the West Coast.

Flights within the same zone are priced at just 7,500 miles one-way in economy. Flights between Zone 1 and Zone 2 are priced at 10,000 miles one-way in economy. Finally, flights between Zones 1 or 2 and 3 are 12,500 miles one-way in economy — reasonable no matter where you’re hoping to fly!

Here are a few routes you could book at these rates:

• Boston (BOS) to Washington, D.C. (IAD) for 7,500 miles one-way
• Chicago (ORD) to Miami (MIA) for 7,500 miles one-way
• New York (JFK) or Newark (EWR) to San Francisco (SFO) for 12,500 miles one-way
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Houston (IAH) for 10,000 miles one-way
• Seattle (SEA) to Los Angeles (LAX) for 7,500 miles one-way

Business Class Between the U.S. and Europe

Alternatively, you can use Avianca LifeMiles to fly between the U.S. and Europe on Star Alliance partners. One-way business class awards between the U.S. and Europe can be booked for 70,000 miles one-way. The best part is that you can fly on many of the best airlines in Star Alliance.

Here are a few routes you could book at these rates:

• Toronto (YYZ) to Paris (CDG) for 70,000 miles one-way in Air Canada business class
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Brussels (BRU) for 70,000 miles one-way in United Polaris business class
• Chicago (ORD) to Zurich (ZRH) for 70,000 miles one-way in SWISS business class
• New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) for 70,000 miles one-way in Lufthansa business class
• Boston (BOS) to Istanbul (IST) for 70,000 miles one-way in Turkish Airlines business class

Flying ANA First Class

ANA’s first class cabin, dubbed “The Suite,” is incredibly sleek, spacious, and private. Plus, it offers an inflight monitor that measures an astonishing 43 inches! When’s the last time your inflight monitor was as large as a proper TV?

Fortunately, thanks to the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club program, you can snag a deal on this bucket-list experience. You can book a round-trip first class ticket between the Western U.S. and Japan for 145,000 points or from the Eastern/Central U.S. for just 170,000 points. While this may seem like a steep cost, it’s worth noting that these tickets regularly cost up to $20,000 each!

Bottom Line:

Like most transferable rewards programs, there are many great ways to use Citi ThankYou Points. Check out out our detailed guide on the best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou points for maximum value.

The Best Ways To Redeem Capital One Miles

Capital One Miles is a valuable program for the same reasons as the other transferable programs we’ve discussed. Here’s a look at all of Capital One’s hotel and airline transfer partners.

Here’s a look at some of our favorite ways to use Capital One miles:

Fly Lufthansa First Class

Lufthansa first class is a bucket-list experience for many award travelers. The cabin itself is luxurious and spacious — and who can forget about the signature rubber duck passengers can take home with them! And, of course, since we’re all points travelers here, we naturally look for a way to book these flights that typically sell for around $10,000 for next to nothing.

Lufthansa first class tickets can be booked through the Avianca LifeMiles program for 130,000 miles each way, and Capital One miles transfer to LifeMiles at a ratio of 1:1, meaning it’s fairly easy to accrue the miles needed to book this top-notch experience.

Here’s a look at some of the flights you can book:

• Chicago (ORD) to Frankfurt (FRA) for 130,000 miles one-way
• New York (JFK) or Newark (EWR) to Munich (MUC) for 130,000 miles one-way

Fly to Europe in Business Class

Another excellent way to travel to Europe is with the Air Canada Aeroplan program. In the past, Singapore Airlines only released long-haul premium cabin award space to Singapore KrisFlyer members. However, you can now book business class awards with partner programs, including Air Canada Aeroplan, a partner program of Capital One Miles.

Aeroplan has a published distance-based award chart for partner redemptions. Award pricing depends on the zones you fly between and the overall distance flown.

You can book a one-way business class flight between many destinations in North America to Europe for 60,000 Aeroplan points. For example, you can take a fifth-freedom flight from New York (JFK) on Singapore Airlines to Frankfurt (FRA).

How To Transfer Your Points

Now that you’ve set your sights on a trip, found award availability, and earned sufficient points to cover your trip, it’s time to transfer them to an airline partner. Here’s how to do it, using the Chase Ultimate Rewards program as an example:

1. Select the appropriate card. If you want to transfer points, you will need to select an Ultimate Rewards card with an annual fee. You can combine Ultimate Rewards points under your chosen card from others that don’t have annual fees.
2. Select Transfer to Travel Partners under the Use Points drop-down menu.
3. Choose your desired airline or hotel partner and select Transfer Points.
4. If you haven’t already added your frequent flyer number or hotel rewards number, you’ll be prompted to do so.
5. Once you’ve linked your airline or hotel account to your Ultimate Rewards account, choose how many points you’d like to transfer. Transfers must be done in increments of 1,000.
6. Confirm the number of points you’re transferring and complete the transfer.
7. Head to the appropriate airline or hotel program’s website to book your award flight or award stay.

Most of the time, transfers are instantaneous. However, some transfers can take additional time.

Hot Tip: In our ultimate guide to transferring flexible points to other accounts, we’ll walk you through combining and transferring flexible points between your own accounts and from your own account to family, friends, and authorized users for Amex, Capital One, Chase, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Chapter 4: Tips for Family Travel

Sharing travel experiences with your children and other family members can create lifelong memories. However, traveling isn’t always easy and can be very stressful at times. Adding kids into the mix may not sound like a great idea to many people.

However, with a little planning and advice from those who have gone through the best and worst of traveling with infants, toddlers, and kids, family travel can be something to look forward to. And you can even pay for it (well, most of it) with points and miles!

Hot Tip: If you’re ready to start traveling with your kids, check out our guide on the Best Tips for Amazing Family Travel With Your Kids (Less Stress & More Fun!).

Planning for Family Travel

Traveling with little ones involves extra planning. Whether you’re planning a weekend road trip or an international excursion, you should be prepared to put a little extra work into the planning stage.

One of the biggest stress factors when traveling is rushing from one place to another. While you’re almost guaranteed to experience some stress, if you implement the following tips, you can mitigate some of the setbacks that may arise:

• Arrive at the airport earlier than you normally would
• Book nonstop flights whenever possible — connections add confusion, time, and stress
• Verify and confirm all documents in advance
• Bring extra snacks
• Bring extra diapers and clothes — accidents happen, plan for the worst!
• Bring entertainment
• Pack medicine in your carry-on
• Visit an airport lounge to refresh and grab snacks
• Schedule downtime upon arrival at your destination

Should You Fly Business/First Class or Economy?

Here’s a question that’s widely debated on the internet: should you fly with a baby or child in business or first class? While some (cranky) adults might say no, we say absolutely … under the right circumstances, that is.

It’s obvious that flying up front is more comfortable, and with a little one in tow, any extra space and comfort is welcome. If we could fly first class on every flight, we would, but it’s not always possible or practical. The flight may be full, or a bassinet may not be available, but flying in economy is a better option for some families.

The decision takes into account many factors that can vary from family to family. Be sure to check out our list of the pros and cons of flying business class with a baby so that you can make an informed decision.

Hot Tip: Did you know that prices for a lap child can vary based on the destination, airline, and form of payment? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Booking a Lap Child on Your Next Flight [Includes Airline Pricing].

Preparing Documents for Travel With Kids

Parents are used to filling out and providing documents for their kids, whether it’s for school, sports, or doctor’s appointments, so travel should be easy in comparison. Especially because we’re going to walk you through everything you need!

Everyone, regardless of age, will need a passport if you plan on flying internationally. While the process of getting a passport for your baby is relatively straightforward, it can take some time. The sooner you start the process, the better — even if you don’t have a trip planned.

If just 1 parent is traveling, it can get complicated, depending on the age of your child(ren). A child flying internationally with only 1 parent or guardian will need some permission forms, which can vary by airline and destination. However, the most important piece is a notarized parental consent form signed by both parents.

Flying domestically requires less paperwork for kids, but the rules do change based on age.

Here’s what you should expect to need while flying with kids in the U.S., based on age:

• Newborn: Some airlines require babies to be at least 2 weeks old to fly. A birth certificate may be required.
• 0 to 2: The only time an airline might request an ID is if your child is flying as a lap child for free. The ID will be used to prove the child is under 2.
• 2 to 18: If your child is under the age of 18, they are a minor and are not required to provide identification as long as they’re traveling with an adult. They will need a boarding pass, however. Minors traveling alone have different requirements determined by the airline.
• 18+: Anyone over the age of 18 is required to have an ID to fly.

Bottom Line: ID requirements vary by age. To cut through the confusion: What ID and Documents Does My Child Need To Fly?

Getting Through the Airport With Kids

Getting to the airport, checking in for your flight, dropping off checked bags, and getting through security can be stressful for adults traveling alone. Adding kids with their toys, diaper bags, and other items to the mix makes it even more challenging, even for travel pros. However, going in with realistic expectations and a few tips can save time and frustration.

After collectively passing through security thousands of times, we put together an excellent guide to help families speed through TSA airport security. And if you’re currently breastfeeding, don’t worry — we cover how to travel with breastmilk, too!

Once you get through all of the stressful stuff, it’s finally time to relax in a lounge. And we’ll show you how to do that, too!

Visiting Airport Lounges With Kids

Although airport lounges may seem like fancy, exclusive areas for first class passengers to hide away and drink Champagne (O.K., yes, they can definitely be that), they’re also the perfect refuge for families looking to escape the chaos of the main terminal.

Parents don’t need to feel like they’re intruding because many lounges have rooms dedicated to kids. Here, children can burn some energy while you get everyone changed and fed without bothering other travelers.

With free food, drinks, showers, and more, stopping by a lounge can give your family something to look forward to during a connection or before your flight. And you don’t need to be flying in first class to get access, either — some of our favorite credit cards come with complimentary lounge access!

Bonus Chapter: The Points and Miles Guide to Walt Disney World

We’re not quite done yet! We know Walt Disney World is at the top of many a travel bucket list, so we can’t round out this book without a quick section on redeeming your hard-earned points for a free Walt Disney World stay.

In this chapter, we’ll take you through how to fly to Orlando and stay in a hotel near Walt Disney World for free. Additionally, we’ll end the chapter with a discussion on earning bonus points when purchasing Walt Disney World tickets.

Please note that we’ve focused on using Chase Ultimate Rewards points in this piece. For help with using other programs, check out How To Visit Disney World for Cheap by Using Points & Miles.

Let’s see how the magic happens!

Book a Free Flight to Orlando

First things first: getting to Orlando. Fortunately, every major airline and their respective alliance can take you from your home airport to Orlando International Airport (MCO), which means you have plenty of options for using your points and miles.

If you have British Airways Avios, consider booking a flight under 1,151 miles for just 16,000 Avios one-way, giving you exceptional value for your points. However, with some flexibility, you can find great deals directly with American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, and more, starting at around the same price.

You can transfer those with Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United Airlines and book a one-way ticket for as few as 9,000 miles each way.

Or, you could consider transferring your Ulitmate Rewards points to Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program. Award prices are tied directly to the cash fare for a given flight and are redeemable at approximately 78 points per dollar. If a flight costs $100, you’ll pay approximately 7,800 points per ticket. And since Southwest frequently offers fare sales between Orlando and other major cities, you’ll often pay even less than this.

Use Points To Cover Your Hotel Stay

Travelers have 2 options for redeeming points for hotels in Orlando. They can either stay at a Disney property or at a nearby hotel. Obviously, the former is more convenient but can be much more expensive from a points perspective. Let’s take a look.

Disney has 3 on-site points-friendly hotels: the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts and the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve. All 3 of these properties are members of the Marriott Bonvoy program, so you can use Marriott Bonvoy points for free nights.

However, availability can be scarce. Using points doesn’t exempt you from paying nightly resort fees, and elite members don’t receive free breakfast. With that in mind, we don’t think that using your Marriott Bonvoy points for free nights at these onsite resorts is a very good value.

However, staying off-property at the Disney Springs entertainment area can be a pretty amazing deal (depending on the cost of a paid hotel stay).

Disney Springs is a large entertainment area near the other Disney properties. It used to be known as Pleasure Island and later Downtown Disney, but it’s since been rebranded and expanded with more restaurants, hotels, and shopping.

The great part about the Disney Springs hotels is that many are part of the main hotel loyalty programs. Hilton, Wyndham, Marriott, and more all have hotels in the area, and you can use your points at all of them. Even better, many of these are Disney partner hotels.

Note that Marriott Bonvoy is a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner. And while we generally don’t recommend transferring points from Chase to Marriott Bonvoy, if you’re traveling to Walt Disney World during peak times, it may be worth it to save a nice chunk of change.

Earn Bonus Points on Walt Disney World Tickets

Unfortunately, it’s hard — if not impossible — to find a discount (or earn extra points) on Walt Disney World tickets.

With that in mind, we recommend using a credit card that earns more than 1 point per dollar spent on either all purchases or entertainment purchases to pay for your tickets.

Examples include the Capital One Venture card (2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase) or the Freedom Unlimited card (1.5% back on every purchase). Using cards like these will give you more points for your purchase, which will fuel your next trip!

Final Thoughts

In this book, you learned the ins and outs of using credit card, airline, and hotel points and miles to travel the world for free. We hope it helped inspire you to use points and miles to explore the planet and enrich your life while traveling in comfort.

Safe (award) travels!

Popular Reads

• The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards (Cash-Back and Points)
• The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Points & Miles
• How Much Are Points and Miles Worth?

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