It can be overwhelming to try to understand the different types of available travel points, but we are here to help break it down for you. Let's take a look more closely at the three types of travel awards available: point fixed value transferable point and specific points program. For more information on travel cards, take a look at our long travel card list on our credit card page.
Fixed Points Travel Value
travel points fixed value, are the easiest type to use. Depending on the card you use, you will usually win one or two points per dollar spent. These points can then be redeemed against travel costs - such as airline tickets, rental cars and hotels - or even educational credit, which can give you the most for your money (depending on the card you ). Most points are typically worth about a penny each. You can then exchange the points with your credit card provider. If you decide to redeem your points for travel, the advantage of travel points is a fixed value that you can redeem your points at any time with no blackout dates.
Types of Fixed-Value Travel Points cards
- Barclaycard Arrival more World Elite MasterCard
- Rewards Capital One Venture Card credit
Example : If you have 50,000 Capital one No Hassle Miles, you can redeem for a maximum of $ 500 on travel expenses, with a point equivalent to one cent. Book a flight, rent a car, take a cruise - it's your choice! Just buy what you want with your credit card and use the points you a statement credit. You can get a statement credit on a purchase of past trips in the last 90 days with his "Purchase Eraser". You can also make a purchase in the capital A store with the 50,000 miles worth up to $ 500. You can book a flight or a hotel as you would through a travel website - in fact, the Capital One program is powered by Orbitz.com. The only difference between booking through travel sites and Capital One store is instead of paying the cost of your purchase in cash, simply redeem your points.
Points Travel Transferable
Although transferable trip points are not as flexible as fixed-value points, they can provide much more value in terms of how you use them . The amount of points you earn per dollar spent can have a wide range, but is generally one to two points. Instead of shopping through an online store provided by your credit card company, you can transfer your points to one of its partner programs, usually on a one to one basis points. Most programs are partners of airlines and hotel chains.
Types of Transferable Travel Points cards:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Citi Card Prestige
Example : Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the best points of transferable programs there. You can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points at a ratio of 1: 1 to 11 partners, including British Airways, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Ritz-Carlton. This means that if you have 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer to United Airlines or its other partners and receive 60,000 points of their program. What makes Ultimate Chase Points valuable additional bonuses is that you can use as points of fixed value for the purchase of flights and hotels through its website, much like with Capital One.
If you were to transfer points to United Airlines, for example, you can book a round trip flight from the continental United States in a number of European cities for only 60,000 points! A flight from San Francisco to London economy can easily cost over $ 1,000. To put this in perspective, 60,000 items on most fixed value travel programs would only save $ 600 in travel purchases.
The disadvantage, however, is that other than Southwest Airlines, reward redemption tickets with airline points have restrictions and blackout dates. If you are flexible when you want to travel, however, the value can be enormous.
Points trips Specific Programme
These trip points are similar to transferable program moving points, but are more restrictive in terms of earning capacity. Most of the specific program points are earned through co-branded credit cards for specific companies. Examples include Southwest Airlines and Hilton HHonors card. Every time you make a purchase with your card, you earn points that can be redeemed for this company. Program specific points does not always have to be devoted to this company. For example, many airlines allow you to use your points to rent cars or book hotel rooms through its website. The downside, however, is that you generally do not get the best value for your points. Like other types of travel points program, you can usually gain one to two points per dollar spent, although there are exceptions.
Program Types Specific points of travel card:
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Card Chase
- Citi Hilton card Reserve HHonors
Example : If you use a co-branded Southwest Airlines credit card (Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Chase card) all the points you earn are redeemable through the Southwest Airlines Rapid rewards program. The main difference between earning points directly with Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Chase card from the detailed Chase Sapphire card above is that you can not transfer the points you earn with the card Southwest Airlines. You can, however, share the ultimate Chase points you earn with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card Southwest Airlines Rewards with 10 other partners. Co-branded cards can be very useful if you travel frequently with a specific company and can help you earn elite status more easily.
Discover Credit Card Travel Rewards analysis to see which points can be worth the most and how to maximize your rewards by registering and spending bonuses.