Leverage Points for Top Value
Points are a great way to save outsized value on your travels, but credit card companies and airlines aren’t incentivized to help you maximize the value you receive. Instead, they will present very easy ways for you to use your points, but it’s almost always for a poor value proposition. We are asked all the time if our members should be using points for certain bookings, so we created this reference chart based on typical redemption values to make it easier.
At the top of the chart, you’ll find the best redemptions. How far you move down the chart is largely dependent on how many points you are earning and how often you travel. The more points you earn, the more aggressive TravelWealth can be with applying your points to lower-tier categories. Nearly as important, part of using points for the best value is knowing when to not use them. The best news of all: as a TravelWealth member, you have a team of experts who will navigate this for you. When it makes sense to leverage points, we’re going to make sure you get the best value from the transaction!
As you look at the chart below, you’ll understand why our general thumb is this: Use points to cover airfare, and this will create more room in the budget for the hotels and experiences that you want.
Overseas international premium cabin airfare (avg. 2.5 cents/point)
This is where points typically shine the brightest. It is our mission to get the most out of every single point, and the best value redemption for your points & miles is long-haul airfare in First or Business Class.
Select World of Hyatt award bookings (avg. 2.0 cents/point)
World of Hyatt has maintained value over the years while other hotel programs have devalued aggressively. When hotel availability and award pricing are favorable, transferring your Chase or BILT Rewards points into Hyatt can provide excellent redemption value.
Short-haul premium cabin airfare (avg. 1.5 cents/point)
Booking your First Class domestic airfare can bring excess value to your points, specifically for Amex Business Platinum & Chase Sapphire cardholders.
Economy airfare (avg. 1.5 cents/point)
We are also able to capitalize on Economy cabin tickets with Chase Sapphire cards and some Amex Business Platinum cardholders.
TravelWealth luxury hotel partners (avg. 1.2 cents/point)
For our members who strategically earn a very large amount of Capital One points per month, there is an opportunity to utilize those rewards towards hotel stays for better value with TravelWealth’s preferred hotel partners. Thanks to the “Cover Travel Purchases” feature on certain Capital One cards, TravelWealth can book premium hotels (where we may be able to access promotional rates, upgrades, VIP benefits, etc.), you will pay with the specific Capital One card to earn 2x points on the purchase, and then we can use the points to offset the cost of the hotel.
All other travel - rental cars, cruises, etc. (avg. 1 cent/point)
While the math pencils out when booking hotels with our partners and applying Capital One points, that’s where the ability to extract excess value ends. Other travel bookings made with the “Cover Travel Purchases” feature don’t offer the same opportunity to secure more value than your points are worth.
Marriott Bonvoy award bookings (avg. 0.8 cents/point) and Hilton award bookings (avg. 0.5 cents/point)
TravelWealth always advises against using hotel-specific credit cards, and we almost never recommend transferring flexible credit card points into these hotel programs. Yes, a free hotel feels good, but these programs overwhelmingly provide poor value. In the rare case where it makes sense to transfer points into these programs, the TravelWealth team will advise accordingly. If you already have points in these programs, then TravelWealth will help you leverage them when the occasional good redemption opportunity arises.