Hey Reader,
Welcome back to the 5th and final installment of our deep dive into the world of travel credit cards 💳✈️
(Last 4 deep dive emails can be found here if you need a refresher!)
Today, we're focusing on something everyone loves – getting the absolute most value from those hard-earned points and miles. If you've recently scored a shiny new travel credit card (or are considering one), these strategies will help you squeeze every bit of value from your rewards.
Strategic Ways to Maximize Your Travel Credit Card Rewards
1. Master Your Co-Branded Card's Award Charts
If you've chosen a co-branded airline or hotel card, becoming intimately familiar with their award charts is essential. Set up alerts for your dream destinations and be proactive about checking availability patterns.
I've found that simply checking award availability once a week for future trips has helped me spot amazing deals that others miss. Many loyalty programs will even let you set up email alerts for specific routes or dates, which is a game-changer for busy travelers.
2. Understand the Power of Transfer Partners
Bank points (like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards) shine when transferred strategically. While booking through a bank's travel portal is convenient, you're often leaving significant value on the table.
For example, transferring 80,000 Chase points to Hyatt might get you four nights at a luxury property that would otherwise cost $2,000+, while booking through the Chase portal might only get you $1,200 worth of hotel stays. That's a huge difference!
3. Embrace Flexibility for Better Value
Being flexible with your travel dates and departure airports can dramatically increase your redemption options. If you're willing to:
- Check award availability across a week or two instead of specific dates
- Consider nearby airports as alternatives
- Book positioning flights to take advantage of better award availability
You'll often find significantly better redemption values. I've personally saved over 30,000 miles on international flights simply by being flexible with my departure date by just two days.
4. Hunt for Transfer Bonuses
Many bank programs regularly offer transfer bonuses to specific partners – anywhere from 20% to 100% extra points when you transfer during promotional periods. If you're planning a trip and notice a transfer bonus to an airline or hotel you were planning to use anyway, it's like getting free points!
One way to stay organized may be to keep a spreadsheet of planned trips and target point amounts, which makes it easy to jump on these bonuses when they appear.
5. Book Early for Best Value
Award prices tend to increase as departure dates approach. This is especially true for popular flight routes and peak travel seasons. Many loyalty programs release award space 330-365 days in advance, so planning ahead really pays off.
However... flight award availability can sometimes be released more last minute, and these last minute releases are often discounted.
Final Thoughts
The most successful travel rewards enthusiasts treat points like a valuable currency, because they totally are! Track them carefully, study the best redemption options, and be strategic about when and how you use them.
Remember that while this hobby can be incredibly rewarding, it requires some dedication and organization. Start with the basics, master one program at a time, and gradually build your knowledge.
And if you're still overwhelmed - I can help break it down for you in a 1:1 points and miles mentor session.
Until next time - happy travels and even happier point collecting!
Michelle
P.S. Know someone who’d love to save money on travel? Go ahead and forward them this email - sharing is caring!
Got this email from a friend and want in on the savings? Heck yeah! Click here to join my email list and get weekly budget-friendly travel tips straight to your inbox!
sandmanntravels.com
