How I Used Points and Miles To Offset the Cost of My Greenland Trip

When a group of friends presents a great travel idea, it’s best to jump on board and work out the details later. That was the mindset when we all agreed it was time to visit Greenland.

Planning a trip to Greenland is not a small undertaking. The island is remote, with limited air service, and flights, lodging, food, and activities are expensive.

To help offset the expense, we turned to our stash of points and miles. Though we each used our reward points differently, here’s how I booked my flight, lodging, and excursions using reward points and miles.

How I Booked My United Award Flight

Initially, we focused on a one-way outbound flight to Nuuk (GOH), Greenland, as we planned to continue on to Denmark and Norway after our summer visit.

Outside of Greenland, there are only 6 airports in the world that provide nonstop service to Nuuk. This limited air service can make traveling there from the United States quite complicated. We could’ve flown Icelandair from the U.S. with a connection at Iceland’s Keflavik Airport (KEF), given Icelandair is a transfer partner of Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards.

We also could’ve booked a flight on another airline to Denmark or Iceland, and then flown Air Greenland, Icelandair, or Scandinavian Airlines nonstop to Nuuk, Greenland. All of these required flying far beyond our destination and backtracking, which was neither appealing nor affordable.

Fortunately, in summer 2025, United Airlines began seasonal nonstop flights from the U.S. to Greenland, departing from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and arriving in Nuuk, the capital city. Unfortunately, cash fares were high for our desired dates, but thankfully, we found award availability.

Even mileage rates for award tickets were quite high for the travel dates we selected.

After much searching and minimal date adjustments, we found a United premium economy flight for just 50,000 UnitedPlus miles from Newark to Nuuk, though business class was not an option.

The best rate we found for any date was 50,000 miles one-way for premium economy seats, so we booked it.

I was fortunate to already have United miles in my MileagePlus account, since I have both the United℠ Explorer Card and a United-branded business card. If I hadn’t had United miles available, I could’ve transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio. Bilt Rewards also transfer to United.

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

United℠ Explorer 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.

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.

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United℠ Explorer Card

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Up to 80,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$960

Annual Fee

$150

APR

19.74% - 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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

You travel United all the time, but you have heard that there could be ways to make your travel experiences even better, including priority boarding, free bags, and more miles.

You should consider the United℠ Explorer Card, because this card does all that and more!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 9x total miles per $1 on eligible United flights
• 3x miles per $1 on all other eligible United purchases
• 2x miles per $1 on dining purchases (including delivery services), and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
• 1x mile per $1 on all other purchases
• First checked bag free for you and up to 1 traveling companion
• 25% statement credit on United inflight purchases
• Priority boarding
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit
• 2 United Club one-time passes each year
• Travel and purchase protections
• NEW! Save at least 10% when booking flights with miles. Premier members earn even more.

Cons

• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Card Highlights

• Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
• 9x total miles on eligible United flights and 3x miles on all other eligible United^® purchases.
• 2x miles on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. 1x mile on all other purchases.
• Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $200 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Plus, Group 2 priority boarding on United^® flights.
• 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
• Over $500 in partner credits each year
• Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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• Credit Card Reviews
• Airline Credit Cards
• Travel Rewards

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United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program

More Reads

• Benefits of the United Explorer Card
• Best Chase United Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck [2026]

With my flight booked, I moved on to securing lodging, which was the more challenging portion of the planning.

I Used Chase Points To Book My Hotel

Nuuk, the capital and most visited city in Greenland, has fewer than a dozen commercial hotels and fewer than 3 dozen publicly listed lodging places. Without any major hotel chains, using hotel loyalty points for accommodations was not an option.

Fortunately, I booked well in advance and found decent availability. With the limited number of hotel rooms and a short season, summer lodging sells out quickly. In my case, I was lucky to find a few hotels in the Chase Travel Portal. I booked the HHE Express Hotel for just 13,318 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per night.

I always have a stash of Ultimate Rewards points on hand, mainly from my Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, Chase Sapphire Preferred^®Card and Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card.

BEST FIRST TRAVEL CARD

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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.

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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 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% 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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation home rentals with top brands, and streaming services.

It offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and strong travel insurance coverage, including primary car rental insurance. If you travel a few times a year and spend on dining, the card is likely to be a good choice, but it’s hard to justify if you don’t dine out or travel often.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via Chase Travel
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation home rentals with top brands (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Subject to Chase’s 5/24 application restrictions

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 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 TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation and more
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 – a value of $156.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

When booking travel through Chase Travel, redeemed points can be worth up to 2.5 cents each (depending on the card) using Points Boost. Transferring Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners can yield even greater value.

The HHE Express Hotel in Nuuk was basic but clean and comfortable, and it included breakfast (just not a hot one).

Alternatively, I could have used the annual up-to-$150 Delta Stays hotel credit from my Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, since Nuuk hotels were on Delta Stays. The annual $100 off a $500 hotel stay booked with Citi Travel with my Citi Strata Premier^® Card would also have helped offset hotel expenses.

And finally, I could’ve used my $100 hotel statement credit on my Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which is available each card anniversary year and applies to a hotel booked through Chase Travel.

I Earned 3x Points on Excursions

I have to admit I made a painful error when booking a Nuuk excursion. I used the wrong card to pay for it and missed out on the $300 travel credit I had waiting for me on my Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ .

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Sapphire Reserve for Business℠

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 Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business card is perfect for frequent traveler business owners who want premium perks.

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Sapphire Reserve for Business℠

The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business card is perfect for frequent traveler business owners who want premium perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening and access more than $7,000 in total business and travel value in your first year.

200,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$4,000

Annual Fee

$795

APR

Flex for Business Variable APR: 17.74% - 28.49%

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 card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card is a great pick for business owners who can easily make use of the annual credits for travel, Google Workspace, ZipRecruiter, and more. Plus, it offers helpful bonus categories such as ad spend and offers access to over 1,300 airport lounges — including Chase Sapphire Lounges.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on Chase Travel purchases
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
• 3x points on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines (up to $1 million per anniversary year starting 11/15/2026, then 1x)

Cons

• $795 annual fee

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Card Highlights

• Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening.
• $7,000+ in value your first year. 200K points, valued at $4,000 for select flights and hotels through Chase Travel℠, plus $3,000+ in annual value through travel and business benefits.
• Earn 8x points on Chase Travel℠ for airline tickets, hotels, including The Edit℠, car rentals, cruises, activities and tours.
• Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
• Earn 4x points on flights & hotels booked direct.
• Earn 3x points on social media & search engine advertising on up to $1 million in spend each anniversary year, starting 11/15/26.
• Get the most flexible travel credit compared to any other card, with up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year on travel purchases.
• Enjoy complimentary access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club network and Priority Pass™ Select membership. Two guests may accompany the Primary Cardmember to the lounges free of charge.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Flex for Business Variable APR: 17.74% - 28.49%
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The $300 travel statement credit covers a broad range of travel purchases and is available annually after each card anniversary. In this case, it would have easily covered most of my boat excursion expenses or hotel expenses.

Instead, I used my Ink Business Preferred card and earned 3x points on that purchase and on the following:

• A boat excursion on the fjords
• eSim and Wi-Fi
• Airport transportation
• Museum entrance fees

Fortunately, the $300 travel credit is still available on my Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card for future travel purchases.

Final Thoughts

Our group has several trips under our belt, including milk runs within Alaska, a journey on the Alaska Railroad, a day trip to Barrow, Alaska, and the Air France island hopper, but our Greenland trip was perfect for using miles and points to offset some of the expense.

While we used our rewards a bit differently, in the end we all had the same wonderful experience without a large cash outlay. Now that Greenland is more directly accessible by air, I highly recommend it for a unique experience. But be sure to utilize your points and miles to make it more affordable.