How to Maximize Travel Rewards

Use transfer partners for big redemptions

The Points Guy's October 2026 estimates value Chase Ultimate Rewards at 2.05 cents, Amex Membership Rewards at 2.0 cents, Citi ThankYou at 1.9 cents and Capital One miles at 1.85 cents. Those values assume you transfer to airline or hotel partners. By contrast, Capital One and Discover "miles" are worth about 1 cent each when used as travel statement credits.

Before transferring, check the ratio. Most are 1:1, but some are not: Capital One transfers to Emirates, EVA and Japan Airlines at 2:1.5, JetBlue at 5:3 and Accor at 2:1. The Sapphire Preferred now sends points to Hyatt at 4:3, while the Sapphire Reserve stays 1:1. Only move points once you've found the award you want.

Get the most from portal bookings

Booking through an issuer's travel portal often earns the highest rate: 5x on Chase Travel with the Sapphire Preferred, 8x with the Sapphire Reserve, 10x on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel with the Venture X, and 10x on hotels via Citi Travel with the Strata Premier. The Sapphire Reserve's Points Boost can make points worth up to 2 cents each on selected Chase Travel bookings.

Portal prices aren't always the lowest, so compare them with booking direct before you commit.

Treat credits like a calendar

Many credits reset monthly, quarterly or semi-annually and don't roll over. Set reminders for the ones you plan to use:

• Amex Gold: $10/month Uber Cash, $10/month dining, $7/month Dunkin', $50 twice a year at Resy
• Amex Platinum: $300 hotel credit each half-year, $100 Resy each quarter, $75 lululemon each quarter
• Sapphire Preferred: up to $100 a year on a Chase Travel hotel booking
• Venture X: $300 a year in Capital One Travel credit

If you consistently skip a credit, count it as zero when deciding whether to keep the card.

Hit the thresholds that unlock perks

Several cards add perks after a set level of spending in a calendar year. If you're close, putting more spending on that card can be worth it:

• Delta SkyMiles Gold: $200 Delta flight credit after $10,000
• World of Hyatt: second free night after $15,000
• Hilton Honors Surpass: Free Night Reward after $15,000
• Atmos Rewards Ascent: annual companion fare requires $6,000
• United Explorer: $100 TravelBank cash at $10,000

Don't chase a threshold with spending you wouldn't otherwise do.

Pair cards by category

A card for food plus a card for everything else usually beats one card for all spending. For example, use the Amex Gold for restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and the Capital One Venture's 2x for the rest. Or pair a co-brand airline card for bags and boarding with a flexible card for daily spending. See our picks in best travel cards.

Don't forget the protections

Getting more from a card isn't only about points. If you pay for a trip with a card that has trip delay or cancellation coverage, you may be reimbursed when things go wrong. Primary rental car coverage on the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve and United Explorer means you can decline the rental company's collision coverage and avoid a claim on your own insurance. Check your card's benefits guide for what it covers and how to file, and put the whole trip on that card so coverage applies.

Avoid the value leaks

• Interest wipes out rewards. Pay in full every month.
• Foreign transaction fees of 1%–3% erase most earning — use a card with none (see options).
• Cash-like redemptions at about 1 cent per point throw away much of the value of transferable points.
• Free-night certificates from Marriott, Hyatt and IHG come with point caps or category limits, so plan stays that fit them.

Read points vs. miles for how valuations work, or our Amex Gold review and Sapphire Preferred review for card-specific tips. Card terms change often, so check the issuer's site before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions