Why I Spread My Points Across Programs — And Why You Should, Too

For years, I’ve seen the same mistake play out repeatedly.

Someone reaches out to me for help booking an award flight or planning a big trip. They’ve done “everything right.” They’ve earned a ton of points, paid attention to welcome bonus offers, and stayed loyal to 1 bank or airline program.

And yet, when it’s time to actually book the trip they want, the points they have don’t work. Not because award travel is impossible or the trip is unrealistic, but because all their points are in 1 program, and that program doesn’t work for the trip they’re trying to book.

If running an award booking business has taught me anything, it’s this: Diversification is everything when it comes to points and miles. Going all-in on a single program feels simple, but in practice, it’s one of the biggest traps frequent travelers fall into.

Here’s why I intentionally spread my points across programs, and why I think you should, too.

The Big Mistake I See Over and Over Again

Most people, especially beginners earning points and miles, approach it in the same way: They pick a favorite program and stick with it.

Maybe it’s Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards. Perhaps it’s a single airline currency, such as those used by popular U.S. carriers, Delta or American. The thinking is understandable, as it feels safer to consolidate and make faster progress toward a big redemption.

The problem is that points don’t work the same way for every trip.

Award availability changes. Airline partners come and go. Sweet spots get devalued. Routes disappear. And suddenly, the program you’ve been hoarding points in doesn’t line up with the trip you actually want to take.

I’ve had friends with 500,000 points ask for my help, only to find they can’t make a single business-class booking work. Meanwhile, someone with fewer points, spread across multiple programs, books the desired flight with no problem.

That’s the difference diversification makes.

Why Building a Multi-Bank Points Portfolio Gives You More Booking Options

When I first dove into the world of points and miles about 15 years ago, my strategy was simple. I earned American Airlines AAdvantage miles by flying as much as I could and charging everyday spending to my Citi^®/AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®. Back then, it seemed like the obvious move: Pick an airline, stay loyal, and rack up miles.

It worked — to a point. I redeemed AAdvantage miles for a dozen or so flights over the years, and they absolutely helped offset travel costs. However, the longer I played the game, the more I encountered the same frustrating issue: the flights I needed to take weren’t always operated by American.

Sometimes the best routing was on another airline. At other times, award availability existed through a different alliance altogether. And when that happened, my AAdvantage balance didn’t do me much good.

That’s when it started to click for me. The problem wasn’t that I wasn’t earning enough miles, but that I was earning the wrong ones for the trips I actually wanted to book.

Early on, I realized that no single bank or currency could do it all. Every program has strengths and weaknesses.

Chase Ultimate Rewards is great for domestic flights and World of Hyatt stays. Amex Membership Rewards is my go-to for international premium cabins. Capital One Miles offers outstanding value for select partners. Citi ThankYou Rewards unlocks sweet spots most people miss. Bilt Rewards adds value where others fall short. Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards — while tougher to earn — can be incredibly powerful when you know how to use them.

Instead of asking myself, “Which rewards program should I focus on?” I flipped the question. I began thinking about the trips I wanted to take and which programs could actually help me get there. That mindset changed everything. I didn’t abandon any single program. I just broadened my options.

Real Trips That Only Worked Because I Had Options

Some of my best redemptions didn’t work because I had a massive balance in 1 program, but because I had flexibility.

One of the clearest examples was a trip to Japan last summer. I live in South Florida and almost never fly Alaska Airlines, so it’s not a program I earn points for through flying. But I’ve long known that Alaska Atmos Rewards points are one of the most valuable currencies for booking premium cabins on Oneworld partners, especially Japan Airlines.

When business class award space became available, Alaska’s pricing made the decision easy. I booked a lie-flat Japan Airlines business class seat to Tokyo for just 60,000 miles.

The flight itself was exactly what you hope for: polished service, a comfortable seat, delicious food, and a refined onboard experience that made the journey feel like part of the trip.

If I hadn’t already had Atmos Rewards points on hand, that redemption wouldn’t have happened. I could’ve had plenty of points elsewhere and still been stuck without the right currency at the right moment.

Another trip that reinforced this lesson was a flight to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines’ Boeing 787 in business class. I was chasing the experience of Turkish’s well-known onboard dining and consistently strong soft product. Award space wasn’t showing up through some of the programs I initially checked, including Air Canada Aeroplan.

I found award space for a business class seat through Avianca Lifemiles for 63,000 miles plus about $25 in taxes, which would’ve cost well over $4,000 in cash.

Because Lifemiles is a transfer partner of several major flexible points programs, I had options. I transferred points, booked the flight, and ended up with one of the most enjoyable long-haul business class experiences I’ve had — from restaurant-quality meals to attentive and friendly service.

If I’d only focused on one airline’s miles, that flight to Istanbul likely wouldn’t have happened. Having flexible points across programs, including Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and others that transfer to Lifemiles, gave me access to award space that wouldn’t have been available otherwise.

Why Picking a Bank Is the Wrong Approach

One of the questions I get asked most — especially by people new to points and miles — is which credit issuer they should focus on earning points with.

I get why people ask it. Picking 1 program feels simpler and more organized. On the surface, it feels like the fastest way to build a meaningful balance.

But after years of booking award travel for myself and others, I’ve learned that it’s the wrong question to begin with.

The better question is: What trips do I want to take, and which programs will help me book them?

Putting all your points into 1 bank or currency narrows your options before you even begin searching. Pricing, partner award access, and availability can vary significantly depending on the program, and a flight that’s easy to book in 1 ecosystem may be out of reach in another.

For frequent travelers — especially those booking international trips, premium cabins, or travel for more than 1 person — flexibility matters more than loyalty. Spreading points across multiple programs doesn’t complicate things but gives you leverage when it matters most.

You Don’t Need To Diversify Overnight

The good news is that diversifying your points doesn’t require opening a dozen credit cards or turning points into a second job. This is something you can build over time.

If you already earn points with 1 bank, that’s fine. The next time you’re eligible for a welcome bonus, consider branching out into a different points ecosystem. Learn how that program works. Understand where it excels and where it falls short.

Over time, those balances start to complement each other. Instead of forcing a trip to work with the points you have, you’re able to choose the points that make the most sense for the trip you’re taking.

That’s when award travel becomes less stressful and far more rewarding, not because you earned more points, but because you earned the right ones.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned after years of booking award travel, it’s that points are only valuable if they can actually be used.

Going all-in on a single program might feel simple, but simplicity doesn’t always translate to flexibility. Award pricing changes, availability shifts, and the trip you want to book don’t always line up with the points you happen to have. That’s where having points across several loyalty programs makes the difference.

If you’re willing to think beyond a single program, you’ll have more options and fewer compromises.