The Value of Points Is Not Fixed
The value of a mile or point may vary depending on how it is spent, even on the same card. For example, 10,000 points may be worth $70 on Amazon, but could provide a $120 airline ticket. Some airline loyalty programs have a fixed point value, while others use dynamic pricing; meaning the same flight may require significantly different points on different days.
American Express Membership Rewards points can be worth up to 2 cents per point with some partner airlines, but may be worth half that for hotel reservations. In the Chase Ultimate Rewards system, you can get 25% to 50% more value by transferring your points directly to an airline partner.
Transferred Points Often Create More Value
Instead of spending points through the credit card portal, transferring points directly to airline miles is often much more profitable. For example, if you use 50,000 Chase points directly to purchase a flight ticket, you create $625 in value, but by transferring them to Emirates Skywards, you can get $1,500 in value for a business class flight.
When you transfer points, you can take advantage of the airline's special promotions or “miles saver” seats. The key point: Point transfers are typically non-refundable, so it's critical to check seat availability before transferring.
Flights Purchased with Points Can Also Earn Miles (But Not Always)
Some airlines award limited miles even on flights purchased with points—especially on reservations made with partner airlines. While you don't earn miles on domestic economy tickets purchased with points, some business class reservations may allow limited mile accumulation. British Airways charges extra for extras like seat selection and meal choices on flights purchased with points; these fees can still be covered with points.
Taxes and Additional Fees Must Be Paid in Cash
Airline tickets purchased with points are not entirely “free.” Airlines typically require taxes, airport fees, and fuel surcharges to be paid separately in cash or by card. Especially on flights departing from Europe, taxes and fees can reach up to $200, which may lead some users to opt for cash tickets instead of points. Some credit cards (e.g., Capital One Venture X) offset this difference by offering an annual travel credit for these cash taxes.
Credit Card Companies Can Secretly Lower Point Values
Sometimes, point usage rates are reduced without notice. For the same flight, 30,000 points may have been sufficient last year, but this year 42,000 points may be required. While some companies may appear to keep the value of points constant, they may alter the pricing within the system to reduce the real value. Therefore, timing and usage strategy are just as critical as accumulating points.
Short-Haul Flights May Be More Advantageous with Points
Using points for low-budget, short-haul flights can be unexpectedly advantageous. For example, a $250 flight from New York to Toronto can sometimes be booked for just 7,500 points. Some airlines operating within Europe (Lufthansa, KLM) offer low-point domestic flights, which may be more cost-effective than flights within the United States.
Creating Opportunities by Using Airline Partners
Flying with a partner airline rather than the same airline can be more efficient in terms of points. For example, using American Airlines points on a Qatar Airways flight can provide a more comfortable experience and require fewer points. Thanks to alliance systems such as OneWorld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam, a single credit card point can be valid on dozens of different airlines. Partner systems offer a real “bargain hunt” for business class tickets, especially on long-haul connecting flights.
Some Flights Are Never a Good Deal with Points
It is often disadvantageous to purchase tickets with points during peak seasons, holiday periods, or for last-minute flights. In some systems, the value of points is automatically indexed to the flight price, so as the ticket price increases, the number of points required also increases exponentially. Low-cost airlines (e.g., Spirit, Ryanair) may not appear in some card programs, making it impossible to book with points.
Flying Business Class and First Class with Points May Be More Affordable Than You Think
The point requirement for economy class flights is typically dynamic and increases based on the cash price, while some airlines require a fixed number of miles for business class seats. With the right timing, it is possible to secure a $7,000 business class flight with 70,000 points. (Especially on routes to Asia or the Middle East.) Airlines like Qatar Airways, ANA, and Turkish Airlines offer ultra-comfortable business class cabins at fixed and relatively low mileage values.
The biggest difference between the cash value and mileage value of first class tickets is seen with premium carriers like Singapore Airlines; on some routes, an $8,000 ticket can be purchased for 100,000 points. If you transfer your credit card points directly to the airline and purchase a first class ticket, each point you spend can be worth up to 7-8 cents, which is three times the value of economy class.
Point Usage Strategies for Families with Children
Some loyalty programs offer tax-only seats for children under 2 years old without requiring miles; this feature is not widely known but is highly valuable. If family members accumulate points from different accounts, some cards allow a “family pool” system (e.g., JetBlue, British Airways), enabling points to be used together in a single transaction.
Selecting seats as a family for a flight may incur additional fees, but some cards (e.g., United Explorer Card) offer benefits that reimburse these fees. Extras such as baggage allowance and priority boarding on airline tickets purchased with a credit card can make traveling with children much easier. Since it can be difficult to find flights with points when traveling with children during peak seasons such as summer vacations and winter break, it is best to make plans as soon as reservations open 11 months in advance.
Cancellation and Change Policies for Flights Purchased with Points Can Be Overlooked
Cancellation or change conditions for flights purchased with points may be more flexible or stricter than regular tickets—this varies by airline. American Airlines allows penalty-free cancellations up to 15 days in advance for tickets purchased with miles, while some European carriers do not refund points and only offer tax refunds.
Some card programs (e.g., Amex Travel) do not refund points when you cancel a points-based ticket purchased through their portal; instead, they hold the points as a credit. When canceling a points-based ticket, some users have found more solutions by contacting their credit card customer service rather than the airline directly. In some systems, points are not immediately returned to your account after ticket cancellation but may take 2–4 weeks—during which time they cannot be used for other tickets.
“Easy Access” Flight Hacks for Beginners
The first-year bonuses from credit card campaigns are often sufficient for a single flight; for example, a 75,000-point welcome bonus can be used to purchase a one-way business class ticket to Europe. The Delta SkyMiles program occasionally offers promotions allowing domestic flights for just 5,000 miles; these opportunities can serve as a way for newcomers to learn how points work.
For short-haul domestic flights, programs like Southwest Rapid Rewards allow you to make instant reservations with low points. For some newcomers, the most practical approach is not to transfer points directly but to filter through a “credit card booking portal” to reserve a suitable flight with points—this is less risky. Travel advisors or chatbots that come with credit cards provide step-by-step guidance for users who want to book tickets with points for the first time (this service is particularly successful for Chase Sapphire).
Common Mistakes and Reasons for Losing Points
Some users end up getting low value per point because they only try to book low-priced flights—using points on higher-priced tickets is often more sensible. Mistakes such as missing out on promotions, leaving it to the last minute, or transferring points to the wrong airline partner can result in points going to waste.
Using points for high-tax flights does not earn miles and provides a low return in cash + points combinations; many people make transactions without calculating this difference. If points are not used before they expire, they may be automatically deleted in some systems; for example, some British Airways points are reset to zero after 36 months of inactivity. Failing to combine points accumulated in different accounts by the same family can result in missed flight opportunities, especially for families with children.