What’s the best use of my points?
27% FrequentMiler
23% Miles to Memories
15% Your Mileage May Vary
35% Other
The “best” way to use your points really depends on which program you have, because the value you get per point varies a lot across the different options.
High‑value redemptions you’ll want to prioritize
- Air Miles / Blue Rewards – Gift‑card redemptions typically deliver about 10.5 ¢ per point, which is far higher than most travel options that hover around 10 ¢ per point Points Miles and Bling .
- UBS credit‑card points – Redeeming 50 K points for a $900 flight can reach 1.8 ¢ per point if you max out the flight value, and a 25 K point flight redemption can hit 1.4 ¢ per point FrequentMiler .
- Chase Ultimate Rewards Pay‑Yourself‑Back – For eligible categories (groceries, home‑improvement, dining) you can earn 1.25–1.5 ¢ per point, which beats the standard 1 ¢ cash‑out rate Miles to Memories .
Good, but lower‑value, options
- Rove Miles – Hotel‑stay redemptions usually give 1.3–1.5 ¢ per point, plus you earn hotel points and elite status credit on the same booking View from the Wing .
- JetBlue TrueBlue points – Fixed at 1 ¢ per point for most redemptions, making them a decent fallback when you have a small balance you don’t want to let sit FrequentMiler .
- Barclays Arrival Plus – Travel statement credits are worth 1 ¢ per point, while cash‑back credits drop to 0.5 ¢ per point; a 5 % rebate on redeemed points softens the loss Your Mileage May Vary .
Program‑specific sweet spots
- Wyndham Rewards – The most rewarding way to spend points is at Club Wyndham properties, followed by Caesars rooms and incidentals; road‑trip flophouses are used only occasionally Miles to Memories .
- Marriott Bonvoy certificates – While the points themselves are valued around 0.7 ¢ per point, using a 35 K‑point certificate on a high‑cash‑rate property (e.g., $450/night) can extract extra value, especially internationally TravelUpdate .
Quick take‑away
- Aim for the 10.5 ¢ per point gift‑card redemptions with Air Miles/Blue Rewards first.
- If you have UBS or Chase points, target the 1.4–1.8 ¢ per point flight or Pay‑Yourself‑Back options.
- Use Rove Miles, JetBlue, or Arrival Plus for travel when the higher‑value choices aren’t available, and reserve Wyndham or Marriott points for stays where they give you the best experience or elite benefits.
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