At TPG, we try to tick a few destinations off our travel wish list every year. However, finding the most economical way to get there and back is challenging. Although many TPG readers and staff use credit card rewards For flight booking, you may be unsure whether you are getting the best deal from your rewards.
To address this, we made it a New Year’s resolution to help our readers understand How to Maximize Their Points and MilesYou can reduce your travel expenses and explore more places by using your rewards more efficiently.
Here are five easy tips to maximize your travel rewards in 2025.
Connected: How to Choose Your Best Credit Card Strategy?
Redeem Chase Points for Hyatt Stays
There are several ways you can Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards Points For hotels, experiences and sporting events to help reduce the cost of your vacation.
For example, you can use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book a stay at the Hyatt Transferring them to the World of HyattYou can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points IHG One Rewards And Marriott BonvoyBut TPG’s December 2024 Hyatt Points Are Worth Much More Valuation,
For example, 21,000 World of Hyatt points are enough for a standard free night at a Great Scotland Yard hotel or Category 6 property on an off-peak date. Park Hyatt ChicagoRedeeming these points can get you access to a room that would otherwise cost more than $500 per night on most dates. World of Hyatt offers all members Resort fee waived on award staysWhich can increase savings.
Connected: The best Hyatt hotels in the world
Here are some of the best cards to earn Ultimate Rewards points:
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- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open; Plus, earn an extra $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Earn a $750 cashback bonus after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Chase Freedom Flex®: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on spending up to $20,000 in the first year). This is worth up to $300 cashback.
The first three cards earn fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points, while the remaining four are technically billed Cash-Back Credit Card,
However, if you also have an Ultimate Rewards points-earning card, you can convert your Chase cash-back rewards into Ultimate Rewards points. For this reason, having more than one Chase card in the family can maximize your earnings and redeeming potential.
Learn How to Transfer Credit Card Rewards
You may consider using your chase the ultimate rewards Direct travel booking point Chase Travel℠ PortalBut let’s take a look at what this means for a one-way flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Heathrow Airport (LHR) next summer.
I chose a nonstop sample United Airlines flight, which would have cost $1,128 in regular economy class if I had booked through Chase Travel.
if you have Chase Sapphire ReserveYou can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 1.5 cents for travel through the portal. So, if you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve and redeem for this flight through Chase’s travel portal, this flight will require 75,200 Ultimate Rewards points. if you had Chase Sapphire PreferredYour Ultimate Rewards points are worth a little less 1.25 cents when redeemed through Chase Travel, so you’ll need 90,240 Ultimate Rewards points.
Alternatively, you can book this flight in regular economy for 40,000 MileagePlus miles and only $5.60 in taxes and fees. Remember, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points United MileagePlus At 1:1.
When you transfer credit card rewards to a loyalty program, you typically won’t earn frequent flyer miles on your ticket (which you typically earn when booking through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal). However, if you save thousands of credit card points by transferring them to a partner airline program instead of redeeming them through a credit travel portal, you’ll likely come out well.
Check rewards rates with transfer partners before redeeming rewards through your credit card issuer’s travel portal. Transferring rewards to award flights or lodging bookings may make sense when payout rates are high (such as on peak summer dates) or award rates are low.
Connected: How (and why) you should earn transferable points
Track your points and miles
It’s difficult to use your points and miles properly if you don’t track them accurately. Luckily, there are several ways Track your points and miles,
Many of us used to track our rewards manually in a Word or Excel document, but keeping it updated was time-consuming and cumbersome. So, you might want to use an automated tool. there is an option tpg appWhich keeps track of all your balances in one place, automatically calculates their value and alerts you when they run out.
The TPG app gives you a snapshot of your current situation and can help inform your travel plans. When you log in, you’ll see where you have the most rewards (and the value you use) with the accounts you synced. TPG’s monthly points and miles evaluation,
Connected: How to keep your points and miles from expiring
Sign up for all loyalty programs
Many people fail to sign up for every loyalty program because they think they will never actually fly JetBlue or stay at a Hilton. But that mentality has cost travelers millions of points and miles.
Even if you’re not loyal to an airline or hotel chain, signing up for a program when you fly or stay means adding more rewards to your balance every time you use the program again. Just by becoming a member you can also get extra perks, like free Wi-Fi during your hotel stay.
Although you may not want to attend every program now, consider making sure you have a loyalty number listed on every flight you take. Doing this will earn you rewards at various events that can eventually get you a free trip.
Connected: These airline and hotel programs offer free points when you sign up
Use online shopping portals to collect rewards points
You can earn more rewards on purchases for yourself or loved ones this holiday season shopping portalThese portals are basically online shopping malls that partner with thousands of merchants. By starting with the portal instead of going directly to a retailer’s site, you can earn bonus points or miles on thousands of items.
For example, let’s say you want to buy a transfer or tour through Viator. If you go directly to the Viator website, you’ll only earn rewards for purchases made with your credit card. If you click instead Advantage Shopping PortalFor example, before you make your purchase, you can receive additional rewards.
If you prefer to earn cashback instead of points and miles, you can explore online shopping portals like Rakuten And topcashbackWe recommend using a Shopping Portal Aggregator Find the program that provides the best returns to your merchant every time you shop online.
Connected: A Beginner’s Guide to Airline Shopping Portals
ground level
With the start of the new year, there are many possibilities to revise your strategy for earning and redeeming points and miles.
Following a simple strategy, such as making sure you have a frequent flyer number associated with every flight you take, can reward you significantly.
We’re already dreaming of our next adventure using points and miles.
