Use These 10 Easy Point Redemptions to Travel More Often

Before searching for deals with airlines, see if you can get more points through a bank rewards program. This Reddit thread kicks off its redemption guide with the Chase and Amex Business Membership Rewards Rebates that offer bonuses through their portals. You’ll boost your value just by booking through them. Chase’s Travel Portal is straightforward and broadly open across their products, while Amex requires a specific card and a few more stipulations. Regardless, portals have ample inventory since this is the same as booking flights with cash, and flyers can still earn airline status and points.

The U.S. market has mastered the travel points system. Banks offer competitive sign-up bonuses to many travelers, and airlines compete for consumers with rapid point accumulations. But in return, U.S. banks charge higher fees to offset costs, and airlines ratchet up redemption rates. The scene changes once you’re outside the U.S. and its primary airlines. With less developed reward systems and less dependence on them, there is less competition and lower redemption rates worldwide.

If you haven’t already, get creative and think about redemptions outside of North America. Three possibilities not to miss: using a Non-North American flight to leave the U.S., redeeming points on short-haul routes around other continents, and checking business-class flights for those short-hauls that can have massive value

British Airways also comes into play with a powerhouse collection of partners in their Avios program. Kendyl Grender, an expert on budget travel hacking, recommends transferring points from any major bank program. “One of the unsung heroes of booking with points and miles to Europe of using Iberia Avios to Spain,” says Grender. “You can fly in business class to Madrid or Barcelona for as little as 34,000 Avios points one way. It’s one of the cheapest business-class redemptions anyone can find. But if that’s too many points, you can book economy for just 17,000 miles one way.”

Avios deals aren’t just for flights outside of the U.S. “If you fly short flights in the U.S. frequently, you can use British Airways Avios to book American Airlines flights cheaper with points. Flights under 650 miles are priced at just 6,000 miles one way. That’s usually cheaper than what American Airlines will charge, and better yet, you probably have Avios and don’t even realize it. If you have any major bank travel card, you can transfer to British Airways to book these American Airlines flights.”

Building on thinking outside of the North American airline box, Flying Blue has a unique flexibility with bank programs. “If you’re willing to pay around $220 in taxes and fees roundtrip, you can transfer points from any bank program to Flying Blue,” recommends Grender regarding the Air France and KLM loyalty program. “The best availability is in Amsterdam and Paris, so use that as a starting point. This is one of my go-to redemptions because you can always find availability that can usually work with your schedule, and even though you’re paying higher taxes and fees, you’re still saving money on your ticket.”

With a range of properties, Hyatt has committed to making it attractive and easy to cash in your rewards with the brand. While using points for high-end options like Park Hyatt and Andaz is still aspirational, the rest tend to have space available and offer a good bang for your buck with your points. Hyatt also allows travelers to combine cash and points, a solid discount for those with fewer points.

“With a fixed award chart and great redemptions around the world, anyone can save thousands on their hotel stay,” says Grender. “If you happen to have a Chase travel card, like a Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, you probably already have Hyatt points and didn’t even know it.”

As of this writing, Hyatt is the only major hotel chain that has stuck with an award chart. IHG, Marriott, and Hilton have moved to pricing that shifts with demand. Start with Hyatt’s more set rates for a better possible value for peak travel. That said, IHG’s dynamic pricing is unpredictable across the brand and only sometimes appears to keep up with the cash differences.

For instance, during the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, when rooms are going for eight times their typical prices, you can find rewards at the average rate for Crowne Plaza. At the same time, the Holiday Inn’s pricing matches the cash cost. Check these programs’ rates before you shell out thousands on hotel stays during high demand.

Word in the air is that seats to Tokyo can come with some significant savings. Several airlines offer sales like United’s last spring, which dropped redemptions to as low as 25K for an economy seat. But savings aren’t just for sales when it comes to Tokyo’s airports. Japan Airlines is known for offering ample reward seats in Premium Economy, exchanging seats that typically cost around $2000 for 60K or fewer points. Author and journalist Jeff Bogle found similar deals on American Airlines.

“Amazing value,” Bogle said of his $2,000 seat in the main cabin. “I’m a hawk for value when using miles, and this was a terrific use of 56K.” Remember that an international hub like Tokyo hosts a long list of airlines, and alliances between them will help you transfer points for an amazing vacation.

It’s hard to beat Southwest Airlines’s flexibility when it comes to redemptions. Frequent sales, no change fees, and a refund of points back into your account versus fixed vouchers (or no refund) make cancellations easy. For frequent business travelers like Sam Viklund, it’s easy to book in advance and then catch later or earlier flights even on the same day.

The points stack up quickly for value redemptions. “When it’s time to travel for fun, I rarely ‘pay’ for those routes. I’ll take all of that over first-class upgrades and lounges.” Viklund joins the chorus swearing by using points to fly Southwest from Los Angeles to Maui.

Whether it’s with flights, rental cars, or hotels, several travel redemption programs offer the ability to combine points with cash. Kamau and Selena Asphall specialize in helping travelers maximize their time off. It’s common for the couple to combine points and cash for discounts that make frequent travel possible.

Jordan Campbell, a leader in down-to-earth travel advice, encourages travelers to buy miles during the big retail times of the year. “Airlines will offer three to five times as many miles for purchase during these times–think Black Friday or Labor Day,” Campbell shares. “So, if you’re stuck with a strange amount of miles on a certain airline account and you don’t think you’ll be flying them anytime soon again without that additional incentive, this could be a good way to use them and get a super discounted rate on a flight.”

It’s the classic sale of buy two, get one free. When you can’t decide between two destinations, choose both. United Airlines’ Excursionist Perk will allow travelers who use points to get one segment of a three or more-segment flight for free. For example, if you’re flying from Chicago to London, then London to Paris, and then back to Chicago, your middle segment is free. There are restrictions, but a smart planner can find considerable value in this, especially as multi-segments get pricy.