What’s the best use of my points?
40% Your Mileage May Vary
23% Travel Points Playbook
16% FrequentMiler
21% Other
The best way to use your points is to match them to the moments that give you the most flexibility, value, and peace of mind, rather than chasing the highest “cents‑per‑point” number at the expense of time or enjoyment.
Focus on optionality and an anti‑fragile portfolio
- Treat points like a flexible financial asset that lets you travel whenever you want, not just a way to book the cheapest flight. Building a pool of transferable points protects you from program devaluations and gives you the freedom to choose the best option later Travel Points Playbook .
Use certificates and dynamic pricing to squeeze extra value
- With Marriott free‑night certificates, wait for the price to dip below the certificate threshold or add a small amount of points to unlock a much better property. Dynamic pricing means a hotel that’s out of reach today may become a great deal tomorrow Your Mileage May Vary TravelUpdate .
- Avoid over‑analyzing; if a certificate is about to expire, it’s often smarter to book a decent stay now than to wait for a perfect redemption that may never appear Points Miles and Bling .
Small‑point redemptions can improve the travel experience
- Redeeming a modest number of Aeroplan points for a fireworks‑viewing area can save you an hour of waiting and make a vacation day more enjoyable, even though it isn’t the highest‑value redemption Your Mileage May Vary .
Be reasonable about transfers and hotel availability
- When transferring points (e.g., to I Prefer hotels), consider how many points you’ll actually use in the next few years and accept that the hotel inventory may change. Transferring while the rate is favorable can be a good move, but don’t over‑optimize at the cost of time FrequentMiler .
Choose the right card if you need to buy points
- Points purchases are usually done through Points.com, and cards that give an international spending bonus (e.g., Axis Bank Olympus, American Express Platinum Charge, Axis Bank Reserve) tend to offer the best value for those purchases Live from a Lounge .
Look beyond headline multipliers
- A large bonus multiplier on a Chase offer doesn’t automatically mean the best value; compare the total points earned, the underlying point valuation, and how the points fit your existing earning strategy Your Mileage May Vary .
Avoid low‑value redemptions
- JetBlue’s fixed 1‑cent‑per‑point redemption for non‑flight expenses is generally suboptimal; it’s usually better to save those points for award flights unless you have a small balance that would otherwise go unused FrequentMiler .
By applying these principles—prioritizing flexibility, timing certificates with dynamic pricing, using points for convenience, and staying reasonable about transfers and purchases—you can get the most out of your points while preserving the time and sanity that make travel rewarding.
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I’ve seen points used for flights, hotels, upgrades, and even concert tickets, but this one caught me off guard. You can use Air Canada Aeroplan points for a Disney experience. But it’s not for a hotel stay or even for park tickets. Starting in May, you can redeem Aeroplan points for a better place to watch the fireworks at EPCOT. While digging through the Aeroplan rewards portal, I came across something I honestly didn’t expect to see: the ability to redeem points for preferred viewing of Luminous: The Symphony of Us, the nighttime spectacular at EPCOT.
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Since the pandemic, travel has made a strong comeback. As this happens, hotel and flight rates are sky-high, especially in the luxury segment. However, fortunately, almost all major travel outlets often sell miles and points with bonuses or at a discount, which can make for a good deal on the rates these airlines and hotels offer. It would be a great time to update all the hotel miles and points that are currently for sale, so you can stock up on the right ones for your travels and start planning your trips for the times ahead. Table of
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Your Mileage May Vary Earn Up To 7X Points Or 5% Back With These New Chase Spending Offers
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