The Best Ways To Fly to Mexico With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

Updated: January 18, 2024, 9:45am CST

Edited by:

The Best Ways To Fly to Mexico With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Mexico is world-famous for being a colorful country with various landscapes, an incredible culture, delicious food, and impeccable beverages!

Whether you’re into beachside party culture, underwater adventures, natural exploration, or historical museums, Mexico has what you’ll like.

And as one of the closest destinations to the U.S., it’s no wonder why Mexico is one of the easiest, most convenient places to access for those based in North America (not just the U.S.).

Surprisingly, flights to Mexico, particularly leisure destinations like Cancún (CUN), Cozumel (CZM), Puerto Vallarta (PVR), and Cabo (SJD) can get very pricey very quickly, despite some flights being just over an hour-long!

This paves the way for some amazing ways to use points and miles for flights to Mexico, saving you thousands of dollars in the process.

In this complete guide, we’ll show you the best ways to fly to Mexico using points, step-by-step!

Best Programs To Use To Book Flights

Assuming you’re flying from the U.S. to Mexico, you’re in for a short-haul flight. In almost all cases, your best-case scenario is a wide, recliner-style seat on a full-service carrier.

Sure, there are flights on low-cost carriers like Volaris, Frontier, and Spirit, but why settle for that when you can enjoy a more comfortable flight for a few more points?

In general, the 4 best airlines you can book to Mexico are:

All of these airlines more or less offer a similar type of service (except rare widebody aircraft frequencies aboard American Airlines and Aeromexico), so the 2 factors you should use to make your decision are convenience (nonstop vs. connecting flights) and points price.

Chances are that there’s a nonstop flight to Mexico from the international airport near you, so just keep that in mind when searching for flights.

As far as award programs go, we’ve identified numerous programs that offer at least 1 of these benefits:

Rock-bottom region-based pricing (e.g. Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles)
Sweet spot distance-based pricing (e.g. British Airways Executive Club)
Enhanced award availability when redeeming a mileage premium (e.g. United MileagePlus)

So without further ado, here are our best ways to fly to Mexico using points and miles!

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

United First Class Seat with Laptop — United first class is a comfortable way to fly to Mexico. Image Credit: United Airlines

At first glance, you might be wondering what Turkish Airlines is doing in a guide on flying to Mexico.

However, Turkish Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, of which United Airlines is also a member. That means you can use Turkish Airlines miles for flights on United and vice-versa.

Interestingly, Turkish Airlines miles are incredibly valuable because you would pay just 15,000 Turkish Airlines miles for a one-way flight between the U.S. and Mexico aboard United Airlines business class (or 10,000 miles in economy).

Since Turkish Airlines’ award search engine is a bit clunky, we’d recommend following the steps below to search for award space:

Search for partner-level United award availability via a website like Air Canada
- If you’re familiar with partner-level award space, you can still use United’s website, but you’ll just need to specifically look for flights with availability in the Business Saver Award column
Visit Turkish Airlines’ website
Click Sign In in the top-right corner and log in using your Turkish Airlines account information
- If you haven’t created an account, click Sign up in the top-right corner
After logging in, you’ll be redirected to the homepage, where you’ll find a search box in the middle of the homepage
Click the checkbox that says Award ticket – Buy a ticket with Miles
Enter your departure and destination airport codes, departure date(s), cabin class, and the number of passengers; click the red search button
If your desired flights show up, simply confirm the reservation, redeem your miles, and use a credit card for taxes and fees
- If the desired flights don’t show up, call Turkish Airlines at 800-874-8875 to complete the reservation

Here are some amazing, high-value routes you can book:

Chicago (ORD) – Cozumel (CZM) one-way in United business class for 15,000 Turkish Airlines miles + ~$59 in taxes and fees
Houston (IAH) – Guadalajara (GDL) one-way in United business class for 15,000 Turkish Airlines miles + ~$59 in taxes and fees
Houston (IAH) – Heroica Veracruz (VER) one-way in United business class for 15,000 Turkish Airlines miles + ~$59 in taxes and fees
Los Angeles (LAX) – Cozumel (CZM) one-way in United business class for 15,000 Turkish Airlines miles + ~$59 in taxes and fees
Newark (EWR) – Mexico City (MEX) one-way in United business class for 15,000 Turkish Airlines miles + ~$59 in taxes and fees
Newark (EWR) – San José del Cabo (SJD) one-way in United business class for 15,000 Turkish Airlines miles + ~$59 in taxes and fees
San Francisco (SFO) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in United business class for 15,000 Turkish Airlines miles + ~$59 in taxes and fees
San Francisco (SFO) – San José del Cabo (SJD) one-way in United business class for 15,000 Turkish Airlines miles + ~$59 in taxes and fees
Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in United business class for 15,000 Turkish Airlines miles + ~$59 in taxes and fees

Earning Turkish Airlines Miles

At the moment, Turkish Airlines’ frequent flyer program, Miles&Smiles, is only transfer partners with Citi ThankYou Rewards.

Luckily, you can transfer Citi ThankYou Points to Turkish Airlines at a 1:1 ratio. Transfers take around 1 to 2 days to process.

Here are our favorite ways to earn Citi ThankYou Points:

Recommended Citi ThankYou Rewards Cards

Citi Premier^® Card

U.P. Rating

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Premier^® Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$960

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Citi Premier^® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros

3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
Access to Citi transfer partners
Annual hotel credit
No foreign transaction fees

Cons

$95 annual fee

Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou^® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
60,000 ThankYou^® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
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: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Rewards+^® Card

U.P. Rating

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Rewards+^® Card

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.

Welcome OfferEarn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
20,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$320

Annual Fee

APR

0% intro APR on balance transfers and on purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-840)

Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
Plus, as a special offer, earn a total of 5 Thank You^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025.*
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% – 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Earn 2X ThankYou^® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou^® Points on All Other Purchases.
The Citi Rewards+^® Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
No Annual Fee

Financial Snapshot

APR: 0% intro APR on balance transfers and on purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars

Card Categories

Citi Double Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Double Cash^® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Welcome OfferEarn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
$200 cash back

Annual Fee

APR

0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 19.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

The Citi Double Cash^® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros

Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
Flexible redemption options
No annual fee

Cons

No bonus categories
3% foreign transaction fees
Lack of premium travel benefits

Bonus Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Citi Double Cash^® Card Travel Portal Limited Time Offer: Earn a total of 5 ThankYou Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions, excluding air travel, when booked through the Citi Travel^SM portal on ThankYou.com or by calling 1-800-Thankyou and saying “Travel.” Offer is valid through 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) 12/31/2024.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 19.24% - 29.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Custom Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Custom Cash^® Card

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!

Welcome OfferEarn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
$200

Annual Fee

APR

0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.

Credit Recommended

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

The Citi Custom Cash^® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, without an annual fee.

Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.

Pros

5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
No annual fee
Multiple redemption options
No redemption minimums

Cons

Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked via the Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
No Annual Fee
Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash^® Card account per person.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%

Card Categories

Hot Tip: Need a hotel too? Check out these Mexico hotels to book with points including options in popular spots like Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and Cancun.

United MileagePlus

United first class — Redeem United miles to enjoy greater award availability when booking United premium cabin flights to Mexico. Image Credit: United

United’s own frequent flyer program, MileagePlus, enjoys several advantages over other programs; namely, because of its dynamic award pricing system, only a small fraction of flights are bookable with partner awards.

On the other hand, United makes many times more flights available to those redeeming United miles.

We recommend using United MileagePlus if you’d like to have the easiest time searching for flights, thanks to the seamless online search engine, the abundance of availability (albeit probably more expensive mileage-wise), and the ease of earning United miles.

Remember, United uses variable award pricing, so you’ll notice mileage prices all over the board. In some cases, these flights are bookable for as little as 30,000 miles — on other dates, you’ll see prices as high as 90,000+ miles! To get around this, just adjust your flight dates (if possible).

Here’s how we would recommend booking a United flight to Mexico using United miles:

Visit United’s website
On the homepage, you’ll see a search box
Choose Roundtrip or One-way
Check off the box that says Book with miles
Enter the origin and destination cities
Select your departure date
Choose the number of travelers
Toggle the cabin class (business class)
Click Find flights
Your flight results will populate; choose the dates and flights that work the best for you and complete the booking by entering the traveler information and a credit card for taxes and fees

Here are some amazing nonstop routes you can book on United in business/first class:

Chicago (ORD) – Monterrey (MTY) one-way in United business class from 30,000 United miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Houston (IAH) – León (BJX) one-way in United business class from 30,000 United miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Los Angeles (LAX) – Ixtapa (ZIH) one-way in United business class from 32,500 United miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Newark (EWR) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR) one-way in United business class from 30,000 United miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
San Francisco (SFO) – Mexico City (MEX) one-way in United business class from 30,000 United miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees

Earning United MileagePlus Miles

Earning United miles is easy. In general, the 2 best ways to earn United miles are either via Chase Ultimate Rewards since the program is a Chase airline partner, or directly from United’s co-branded credit cards. Bilt Rewards is another United transfer partner.

Generally, it’s much easier to earn Chase points quickly; once your points are accumulated, you can transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to United, which process almost instantly!

Alternatively, you can make purchases on co-branded United cards, though you’ll probably rack up points slower.

Lastly, United is a transfer partner with Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1.1 ratio. If you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to United, you’ll earn a bonus of 5,500 miles for a total of 27,500 United miles earned.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

POPULAR FIRST CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating

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

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

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

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide
$50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
Excellent travel and car rental insurance
10% annual bonus points
No foreign transaction fees
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt

Cons

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

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
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, 2024.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-850)

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros

10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
5x points on airfare booked through Chase Travel^SM
3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit
Priority Pass airport lounge access
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
Rental car elite status with National and Avis

Cons

$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

If you’re a business owner, there are a number of Chase business cards to choose from.

Recommended United Cards

United℠ Explorer Card

U.P. Rating

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

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United℠ Explorer Card

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

Welcome OfferEarn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
50,000 bonus miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$600

Annual Fee

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95

APR

21.99% - 28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

2x miles per $1 on United purchases, dining purchases (including delivery services), and hotel stays
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 1-time passes each year
Premier upgrades on award tickets
Travel and purchase protections

Cons

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee
Does not earn transferable rewards

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United^® purchases
Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS fee credit
25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program

United Club℠ Infinite Card

U.P. Rating

Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.

Welcome OfferEarn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 80,000 bonus miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$960

Annual Fee

$525

APR

21.99% - 28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-850)

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a premium card designed for the most dedicated of United frequent flyers who are looking for a card that provides the opportunity to earn extra United MileagePlus miles and receive lounge access via a yearly United Club membership.

United frequent flyers will find that the United Club Infinite card provides an enhanced experience on their United flights thanks to the money saved on each flight and the conveniences it provides.

Pros

4x miles per $1 on United purchases
2x miles per $1 on travel and dining purchases
Complimentary United Club membership
Free first and second checked bag for you and 1 traveling companion
United Premier Access
25% back on United inflight purchases
Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United-operated award tickets (when available)
Expanded award availability
Up to 10,000 Premier Qualifying Points
$100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit
Trip protections like trip delay insurance, lost and delayed luggage insurance, and rental car insurance
Shopping protections like return protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection
IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status and a $75 annual credit
Avis President’s Club elite status
10% discount on United Economy Saver Awards within the continental U.S. and Canada

Cons

$525 annual fee
Does not earn transferable rewards

Earn 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United^® purchases
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access^® travel services
10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada
Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

United Quest℠ Card

U.P. Rating

The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United Quest℠ Card

The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
60,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$720

Annual Fee

$250

APR

21.99% - 28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The newest addition to United’s lineup of cards is the United Quest℠ Card. With it, you can bolster your United MileagePlus miles, thanks to the bonus categories, while enjoying the card’s many perks designed to help save you money on each United flight.

With an annual fee that falls between the United℠ Explorer Card and United Club℠ Infinite Card, the United Quest card makes for a fantastic card option for United frequent flyers.

Pros

3x miles per $1 on United purchases
2x miles per $1 spent on travel, dining, and select streaming services
$125 annual United credit
2 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits
Free first and second checked bag for you and 1 traveling companion
Priority boarding
25% back on United inflight purchases
Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United-operated award tickets (when available)
Expanded award availability
Up to 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points
Up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit
Travel and shopping protections including trip delay insurance, lost/delayed luggage insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection

Cons

Does not earn transferable rewards
Does not offer airport lounge access
$250 annual fee

Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP after qualifying purchases
Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United^® purchases
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and priority boarding
Up to a $125 United^® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year (terms apply)
Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

United Gateway℠ Card

U.P. Rating

The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United Gateway℠ Card

The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.

Welcome OfferEarn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Learn more.
20,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$240

Annual Fee

APR

0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months; after that, 21.99% - 28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The United Gateway℠ Card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without wanting to pay a credit card annual fee. Plus, the card offers other solid benefits like a 25% back on United inflight purchases, purchase protection, and rental car insurance.

Pros

2x miles per $1 on United purchases
2x miles per $1 at gas stations and on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit
1x mile per $1 on all other purchases
No annual fee
25% back on inflight purchases
No foreign transaction fees
Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
Rental car insurance
Purchase protection
Extended warranty coverage

Cons

If you are a frequent United flyer, other cards offer more perks
It does not earn transferable rewards

Earn 20,000 bonus miles
No annual fee
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United^® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United^® purchases
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months; after that, 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

United Club℠ Business Card

U.P. Rating

The United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.

United Club℠ Business Card

The United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.

Welcome OfferEarn 50,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
50,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$900

Annual Fee

$450

APR

21.99%–28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The United Club℠ Business Card is a premium card option for dedicated United loyalists seeking a card that offers complimentary United Club access, helps them earn and retain status, and doesn’t skip on the benefits.

From free checked bags to upgrades on award tickets and the ability to earn Premier qualifying points, there is plenty to the United Club Business card that United flyers are sure to love.

Pros

2x miles per $1 spent on United purchases
1.5x miles per $1 spent on all other purchases
Complimentary United Club membership
Free checked bags
Premier Access travel services
Discount on inflight purchases
Upgrades on award tickets
No foreign transaction fees
Employee cards at no additional cost
Travel and purchase protections

Cons

$450 annual fee
Earning rate for United purchases is poor compared to other United cards

Earn 50,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
Earn 2x miles on United purchases
Earn 1.5x miles on all other purchases
Employee cards at no additional cost
United Club membership — up to a $650 value per year. Relax in comfort while waiting for your flight with complimentary beverages, snacks, high-speed Wi-Fi, and more
Free first and second checked bags for you and a companion, save up to $320 per round-trip
25% back on United inflight purchases
No foreign transaction fees

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.99%–28.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Card Categories

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

United recliner first class — One of the handiest transfer partners for those looking to fly United to Mexico, especially with Amex points, is Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. Image Credit: United

Our favorite frequent flyer program for United flights, particularly for Amex Membership Rewards loyalists, is Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

Most known for being the only loyalty program you can use to book Singapore Suites and Singapore Airlines’ long-haul business class, KrisFlyer is incredibly useful for flights on United.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles can also be redeemed for Alaska Airlines flights, but the premium cabin redemption rates aren’t as attractive, which is why we aren’t discussing Alaska Airlines redemptions.

Just like with Turkish Airlines, you’ll need to first locate partner-level availability. Follow these steps to set yourself up for success:

Search for availability on the Air Canada or LifeMiles websites; alternatively, you can visit United’s website and perform a search for Business Saver Award tickets
Call Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer at 312-843-5333
Feed the agent the flight information, including the airport codes, flight date(s), flight numbers, number of travelers, and cabin class
The agent should be able to see partner-level availability and confirm your ticket
Redeem your KrisFlyer miles, complete the reservation, and pay for any taxes and fees using a credit card

KrisFlyer charges 19,500 miles one-way in economy and 39,000 miles in business (round-trip is simply double the price).

Here are some fantastic routes you can book using KrisFlyer miles on United Airlines business class:

Chicago (ORD) – San José del Cabo (SJD) one-way in United business class for 39,000 KrisFlyer miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Houston (IAH) – Oaxaca (OAX) one-way in United business class for 39,000 KrisFlyer miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Los Angeles (LAX) – Manzanillo (ZLO) one-way in United business class for 39,000 KrisFlyer miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Newark (EWR) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in United business class for 39,000 KrisFlyer miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
San Francisco (SFO) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR) one-way in United business class for 39,000 KrisFlyer miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Mexico City (MEX) one-way in United business class for 39,000 KrisFlyer miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees

Earning Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles

Earning KrisFlyer miles is made easy by the numerous transfer partners available.

Singapore is an Amex transfer partner, Chase transfer partner, Citi transfer partners, and even Brex points at a 1:1 ratio. These transfers usually take 1 business day.

Our favorite transfer partner to leverage with this redemption is Amex Membership Rewards, simply because it’s so easy to earn tons of Amex points on everyday purchases.

You can also transfer Capital One miles at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.

Recommended Amex Cards

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

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

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

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

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

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, 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
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
Access to Amex International Airline Program
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

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

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card^®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
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 with American Express Travel when you pay with 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.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card^®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card^®. Learn more.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 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.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card^®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating

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!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

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 OfferEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,320

Annual Fee

$250

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

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

4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

$250 annual fee (see rates and fees)
No lounge access

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $250.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

See our list of recommended Amex business credit cards if you’re a business owner.

British Airways Executive Club

American Airlines business class meal — By booking American Airlines business class using BA Avios, you can take advantage of comfortable recliner seats at excellent prices. Image Credit: American Airlines

American Airlines, just like United, has plenty of ways to fly nonstop to Mexico. And although a couple of cities are serviced by both United and American Airlines, you’ll notice that each of them more or less have their own “territory.”

For example, United has a stronghold in San Francisco (SFO) while American Airlines has incredible power in Dallas (DFW).

So in this section, we’ll show you our favorite way to redeem points for American Airlines flights to Mexico: British Airways Executive Club.

Overall, using British Airways miles (known as BA Avios) is generally attractive for shorter-haul flights and exorbitant for long-haul flights.

Luckily, this falls into the short-haul category! British Airways only has access to American Airlines’ partner-level award space, so you wouldn’t want to search on American Airlines’ website as a general rule.

Here’s how American Airlines flights can be booked using British Airways Avios:

Visit British Airways’ website
Click Log in in the top-right corner and enter your British Airways Executive Club information
Once you’ve been logged in and get redirected to the homepage, hover over the Book button in the top ribbon and click Book a flight with Avios
Enter your departure and destination cities, travel dates, cabin class, and the number of passengers; click Get flights
Choose the flight you’d like to book and click Continue
Confirm the ticket by redeeming your Avios, entering the traveler information, and using a credit card to pay for taxes and fees

If you can follow these steps, you could potentially get some incredible value regardless of which cabin class you end up booking. Here are some of our favorite routes you can book using BA Avios:

Boston (BOS) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in American Airlines business class for 22,000 BA Avios + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Dallas (DFW) – Acapulco (ACA) one-way in American Airlines business class for 16,500 BA Avios + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Dallas (DFW) – Chihuahua (CUU) one-way in American Airlines business class for 15,000 BA Avios + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Los Angeles (LAX) – San José del Cabo (SJD) one-way in American Airlines business class for 12,500 BA Avios + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Miami (MIA) – Cozumel (CZM) one-way in American Airlines business class for 12,500 BA Avios + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Miami (MIA) – Mérida (MID) one-way in American Airlines business class for 16,500 BA Avios + ~$35 in taxes and fees
New York City (JFK) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in American Airlines business class for 22,000 BA Avios + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Phoenix (PHX) – Hermosillo (HMO) one-way in American Airlines business class for 12,500 BA Avios + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Phoenix (PHX) – Mazatlán (MZT) one-way in American Airlines business class for 16,500 BA Avios + ~$35 in taxes and fees

Earning British Airways Avios

We are big fans of British Airways Avios due to the outsized value you can get, particularly for shorter flights.

British Airways Avios can generally be earned through transfer partners or directly via the co-branded British Airways card.

Currently, British Airways Executive Club is transfer partners with Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1), American Express Membership Rewards (1:1), Capital One Miles (1:1), and Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 with a 5,000-mile bonus after transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points).

In nearly all cases, British Airways Avios transfers should be processed almost instantly. Transfers from Marriott Bonvoy take around 3 business days.

Hot Tip: If you happen to have Iberia Avios or Aer Lingus Avios, you can actually transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to British Airways Avios, too!

Recommended British Airways Card

LIMITED TIME OFFER!

British Airways Visa Signature^® Card

U.P. Rating

This card is great for British Airways frequent flyers, and traveling couples will find great value in the Travel Together Ticket.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

British Airways Visa Signature^® Card

This card is great for British Airways frequent flyers, and traveling couples will find great value in the Travel Together Ticket.

Welcome OfferLimited time offer! Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Plus, 5x Avios on up to $10k in gas, grocery stores, and dining purchases for first 12 months!
75,000 Avios

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$937

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The British Airways Visa Signature^® Card is a stellar option for travelers who regularly travel with the airline. From all of the Avios the card helps you earn, to a 10% discount off cash tickets, and the award flight statement credits, you can get tons of value out of the card each year.

Pros

3x Avios per $1 on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL purchases
2x Avios per $1 on hotel accommodations purchased directly through hotels
1x Avios per $1 on all other purchases
10% off British Airways flights starting in the U.S. (when booking through the designated website)
Travel Together Ticket after $30,000 in card spend in a calendar year
Up to $600 in award flight statement credits each year
No foreign transaction fees
Baggage delay insurance
Lost luggage insurance
Purchase protection
Extended warranty protection

Cons

$95 annual fee
Does not earn transferable rewards

Limited time offer! Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Plus, 5x Avios on up to $10k in gas, grocery stores, and dining purchases for first 12 months!
Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL.
Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
Simply tap to pay with your contactless British Airways Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It’s fast, easy and secure!
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

British Airways Executive Club

American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines 777 Flagship Business Class rear facing seat — American Airlines’ flights to Mexico are typically serviced with recliner-style business class seats. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

American Airlines AAdvantage is best utilized if you want to book an American Airlines flight but can’t locate any partner-level award space.

With AAdvantage miles, you can access a greater award inventory, but you might have to pay higher mileage prices. This is a great alternative if you have a bunch of American Airlines miles sitting around that you’d like to utilize.

To redeem AAdvantage miles for an American Airlines flight to Mexico, follow these steps:

Visit American Airlines’ website
On the homepage, you’ll see a search box
Click Round trip or One way
Click the box that says Redeem miles
Choose your origin and destination airports
Select the number of passengers and the departure and/or return dates
Click Search
Find the desired flights you’d like to book and use your AA miles to confirm your ticket

This straightforward process is probably the easiest way to book an American Airlines flight to Mexico. Here are some great routes to consider booking:

Chicago (ORD) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in American Airlines business class from 20,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Dallas (DFW) – La Paz (LAP) one-way in American Airlines business class from 23,500 AAdvantage miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Dallas (DFW) – Mazatlán (MZT) one-way in American Airlines business class from 20,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Los Angeles (LAX) – Mexico City (MEX) one-way in American Airlines business class from 22,500 AAdvantage miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Los Angeles (LAX) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR) one-way in American Airlines business class from 20,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Phoenix (PHX) – Ixtapa (ZIH) one-way in American Airlines business class from 20,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Phoenix (PHX) – Mexico City (MEX) one-way in American Airlines business class from 20,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Miami (MIA) – Mexico City (MEX) one-way in American Airlines business class from 20,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Miami (MIA) – Monterrey (MTY) one-way in American Airlines business class from 20,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
New York City (JFK) – San José del Cabo (SJD) one-way in American Airlines business class from 20,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Philadelphia (PHL) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in American Airlines business class from 20,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

AAdvantage miles are relatively easy to earn directly, thanks to co-branded products from Citi and Barclays.

However, since American Airlines’ only transfer partners are Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio and Bilt Rewards it’ll be a bit more difficult to earn AAdvantage miles on your daily spending.

Hot Tip: If you’re looking for a widebody business class product on American Airlines flights to Mexico, you might have some luck looking at Dallas (DFW) to Cancún (CUN).

Delta SkyMiles

Delta Airbus A220 First Class Cabin — Delta first class consists of recliner-style seats; you’ll often find incredible deals with Delta SkyMiles. Image Credit: Greg Stone

Delta offers one of the best in-flight products available, and it’s generally regarded higher than United and American, so if you happen to live near a Delta hub, you’ll want to pay attention to this section.

Delta SkyMiles, just like United and American, offers a variable award pricing system for its own flights.

So if you’re performing a search and notice drastically different prices than what’s quoted here, you should consider shopping around nearby dates.

To book Delta flights to Mexico using Delta SkyMiles, follow these steps:

Visit Delta’s website
At the top banner of the page, you’ll see a search ribbon
Enter your destination and origin airports
Choose Round Trip, One Way, or Multi-City
Check off the box that says Shop with Miles
Under Best Fares For, click First Class
Click the red arrow button to perform the search
Your search results will populate in a week-long view
Click your desired date and choose Continue
Find your favorite flight option, enter your traveler information, redeem your SkyMiles, and pay for taxes and fees using a credit card to complete the booking

Delta’s flights to Mexico are concentrated in its hub airports of Atlanta (ATL), Los Angeles (LAX), New York City (JFK), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Seattle (SEA).

Here are some terrific flight redemptions you can make:

Atlanta (ATL) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in Delta first class from 37,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Atlanta (ATL) – Mexico City (MEX) one-way in Delta first class from 28,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Atlanta (ATL) – Monterrey (MTY) one-way in Delta first class from 20,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Atlanta (ATL) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR) one-way in Delta first class from 37,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Atlanta (ATL) – San José del Cabo (SJD) one-way in Delta first class from 54,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Boston (BOS) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in Delta first class from 54,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Los Angeles (LAX) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in Delta first class from 29,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Los Angeles (LAX) – Mexico City (MEX) one-way in Delta first class from 20,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Los Angeles (LAX) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR) one-way in Delta first class from 29,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Los Angeles (LAX) – San José del Cabo (SJD) one-way in Delta first class from 29,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
New York City (JFK) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in Delta first class from 35,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
New York City (JFK) – Mexico City (MEX) one-way in Delta first class from 29,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
New York City (JFK) – San José del Cabo (SJD) one-way in Delta first class from 62,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Salt Lake City (SLC) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in Delta first class from 43,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Salt Lake City (SLC) – Guadalajara (GDL) one-way in Delta first class from 22,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Salt Lake City (SLC) – Mexico City (MEX) one-way in Delta first class from 29,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Salt Lake City (SLC) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR) one-way in Delta first class from 28,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Seattle (SEA) – Cancún (CUN) one-way in Delta first class from 20,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Seattle (SEA) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR) one-way in Delta first class from 18,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees
Seattle (SEA) – San José del Cabo (SJD) one-way in Delta first class from 17,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$36 in taxes and fees

Earning Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles are ridiculously easy to earn. With a wide variety of co-branded credit cards issued by American Express, you can accumulate Delta miles and enjoy certain perks, complimentary with your credit card.

Even better, Delta is also 1:1 transfer partners with American Express Membership Rewards and transfers are almost instant.

Lastly, Delta is a 3:1 transfer partner with Marriott Bonvoy. Transfers to Delta process within 1 business day.

Our guide offers a deep dive into the many Delta credit cards available.

Korean Air SKYPASS

Aeromexico recliner business class — Aeromexico’s route network focuses on Mexico City and Guadalajara — for a unique experience, try using Korean Air SKYPASS to book Aeromexico business class! Image Credit: Aeromexico

The very last way we suggest booking flights to Mexico with points and miles is with the Korean Air SKYPASS frequent flyer program.

Korean Air is a SkyTeam airline, which means you can book flights on Delta and the flag carrier of Mexico: Aeromexico.

Aeromexico focuses on flights to Mexico City (MEX) and Guadalajara (GDL), so you generally won’t see leisure routes represented in Aeromexico’s network.

If you are willing to book round-trip tickets, Korean Air SKYPASS offers attractive redemption prices. For a round-trip ticket in business class, you’ll spend 45,000 Korean Air miles (25,000 miles in economy).

There are 2 ways to book Aeromexico flights using Korean Air miles — online or over the phone. In general, we find the agents at SKYPASS to be very competent; sadly, the online search engine isn’t always the most reliable.

Here is the recommended plan of action to book Aeromexico flights using SKYPASS miles:

Find partner availability on Delta’s website
Write down the flight numbers, dates, and times
Call Korean Air SKYPASS at 800-438-5000
Request to make an award booking with the representative, and provide the travel information
Pay for taxes and fees and confirm the ticket by using SKYPASS miles

Here are most (if not all) of Aeromexico’s nonstop routes to the U.S., which are fantastic redemptions you can make using Korean Air miles:

Austin (AUS) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Chicago (ORD) – Guadalajara (GDL) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Chicago (ORD) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Dallas (DFW) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Denver (DEN) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Houston (IAH) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Las Vegas (LAS) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Los Angeles (LAX) – Guadalajara (GDL) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Los Angeles (LAX) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Miami (MIA) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
New York City (JFK) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Orlando (MCO) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
San Antonio (SAT) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
San Francisco (SFO) – Guadalajara (GDL) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
San Francisco (SFO) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees
Seattle (SEA) – Mexico City (MEX) round-trip in Aeromexico business class for 45,000 Korean Air miles + ~$35 in taxes and fees

Earning Korean Air SKYPASS Miles

Earning Korean Air miles isn’t as straightforward as the other options listed above, but that should give you an idea of how valuable they can be!

The only transfer partner is Marriott Bonvoy and points transfer at a 3:1 ratio.

Sure, there are co-branded cards from U.S. Bank, but we don’t find these cards to be as rewarding as Marriott credit cards.

We provide an in-depth analysis of the various Marriott credit cards available.

Hot Tip: Aeromexico’s lie-flat seats can generally only be found on select frequencies on the New York (JFK) – Mexico City (MEX) route, and once in a while, Los Angeles (LAX) – Mexico City (MEX).

Other Options To Fly to Mexico

There is a mind-boggling variety of other ways to fly to Mexico using points, but what we’ve done is show you our favorites.

Between using Turkish Airlines miles for United flights, BA Avios for American Airlines flights, and Delta SkyMiles for Delta flights, we’ve pretty much got all our bases covered.

However, there are other frequent flyer programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, as well as Etihad Guest, though they generally don’t have favorable award charts for flights between the U.S. and Mexico.

Final Thoughts

Well, there you have it!

If you’re flying on United to Mexico, we like redeeming miles from Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles (Citi transfer partner), United MileagePlus (Chase transfer partner), or Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (Amex transfer partner).

If you’re flying on American Airlines to Mexico, we like redeeming British Airways Avios (Chase, Amex, and Capital One transfer partner) and American Airlines AAdvantage miles (Marriott transfer partner).

If you’re flying on Delta to Mexico, it’s hard to beat Delta SkyMiles on pricing and availability.

Lastly, if you want to try out Aeromexico, the best deal is to redeem Korean Air SKYPASS miles.

We hope you’ve found this guide of the best ways to fly to Mexico using points and miles useful!

The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite™ Mastercard^® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the CitiBusiness^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® Mastercard^® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express^® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® card, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Michelleraponi via Pixabay

Frequently Asked Questions

How many air miles do you need to go to Mexico?

To fly in first/business class to Mexico, you can spend as little as 12,500 British Airways Avios on a short American Airlines flight. Alternatively, you can also use 15,000 Turkish Airlines miles for a United business/first class flight or even as little as 18,000 Delta SkyMiles for a Delta first class flight.

What is the best airline to fly to Mexico?

If you want a more comfortable flight, we recommend choosing a full-service carrier, such as Delta, American, United, or Aeromexico. All of these airlines can be booked using points!

Who flies to Cancún?

Virtually all of the U.S. carriers, plus a few Mexican airlines like Aeromexico and Volaris, fly to Cancún. Some U.S. airlines include American, Delta, United, and even Alaska Airlines.

How many points does it take to fly to Mexico with Alaska?

You can spend as little as 10,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles on a main cabin ticket for a trip less than 1,400 miles in length, as long as the award space is available. You can also spend as little as 30,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles for a first class flight, but the key will be finding award space.

Was this page helpful?

About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE^™

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.