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how to use your credit card points

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what's the best way to use my credit card points?

it depends on how you travel. the most value usually comes from transferring bank points like Amex, Chase, Capital One, Citi or Bilt to an airline or hotel program and booking an award seat or a free night. that takes a search across a lot of programs, so find the seat first and transfer second. if you don't want the work, cash back or covering travel you already booked is simpler, but you get less for each point.

how to get the most from your points

  1. add up what you have. list every bank and airline balance, since points often go further combined.
  2. pick the trip. a business class seat or a high-end hotel is where points beat cash the most.
  3. search award space across every program your points can reach, not just the bank's travel portal.
  4. transfer only once you've found the seat. transfers can't be undone, and most land within minutes to a couple of days.
  5. book the award and keep the confirmation. airlines sometimes change flights, and you can often rebook for free.

what to do with 100k points from each bank

  • how to use 100k amex points

    for most people the best use of 100,000 Membership Rewards points is a transfer to an airline for a business class seat: a round trip to Japan on ANA in low season, or a one-way business seat to Europe through Air Canada Aeroplan with points to spare.

  • how to use 100k chase points

    the strongest uses of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points are transfers.

  • how to use 100k capital one miles

    the most value usually comes from transferring miles to an airline partner, like Air Canada Aeroplan, where 70,000 to 75,000 miles gets you a one-way business seat to Europe.

  • how to use 100k citi points

    Citi is the only big bank program that transfers to American AAdvantage, so 100,000 ThankYou points are great for American and oneworld flights.

  • how to use 100k bilt points

    Bilt transfers to both World of Hyatt and Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards, which few other programs do.

how travelmaxx does this for you

travelmaxx is a personal ai assistant for points, credit cards, and luxury travel. tell it where you want to go and it searches award seats across every program your cards can reach, shows what each one costs in your own points, moves the points and books the trip once you approve.