Points and Miles
Real-world advice on loyalty programs, credit cards, and award travel, explained in plain English.
Points & Miles 101: The Travel Rewards Lingo You Need to Know
Points, miles, award travel, transfer partners, airline alliances... travel rewards have their own language. This beginner-friendly guide explains the terms you actually need to know, in plain English, so you can understand how points and miles work before deciding how to use them.
The airline logo on a card may be familiar, but that does not automatically make it the best match for your spending or future journeys. Compare the real value of airline perks, flexible points, annual credits, and everyday earning before deciding what belongs in your wallet.
You have the points and found the trip. Now how should you book it? Learn how to compare booking through a credit-card travel portal, transferring points to an airline or hotel partner, or simply paying cash and saving your points for another trip.
AAdvantage vs. MileagePlus vs. SkyMiles: Which Program Fits Your Travel?
The airline you fly and the miles you deliberately accumulate do not have to be the same. Compare how your routes, home airport, award goals and flexible points can help determine which program deserves your attention.
Award Availability: Why Having the Points Doesn't Mean You Can Book the Flight
The flight is for sale and you have plenty of points, so why can’t you book it with miles? Learn how award availability works, why different programs can show different results, and how flexible dates, airports and routes can uncover more options.
Airline Alliances Explained: The Shortcut to Better Award Travel
Your credit-card points don’t always need to transfer to the airline you want to fly. Sometimes another airline’s loyalty program can book the exact same seat. Learn how Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam open up more ways to use your points, why partner award availability matters, and when to transfer.
Includes our free Airline Alliances & Credit Card Transfer Partners Cheat Sheet.
Which Card Should You Use for Which Purchase?
Dining, travel, everyday spending: which card gets the purchase? You don’t need a wallet full of cards or a flowchart to earn useful rewards. A good default, a few smart categories and knowing when benefits matter more than points can do the job.
Booking Scotland With Points: My Step-by-Step Process
The process I used to plan, search, and book our flights using points, with real examples, screenshots, and lessons I learned along the way.
You’re Already Spending the Money. Are You Getting the Points?
You don’t need complicated strategies or extra spending to build useful travel rewards. See how the groceries, gas, dining, travel and everyday purchases you’re already making can earn more points, without changing your budget or carrying a balance.
Award Travel Looks Free. The Mistakes Aren’t.
Having the points is only the beginning. Transferring too soon, ignoring the real cost, building fragile connections or chasing the “perfect” redemption can turn a great award into a lousy trip.
The points don’t get to plan the trip. You do.
Is That Award Flight Really a Good Deal? And When Should You Book It?
Is 220,000 miles to Japan a bargain or a bad deal? The answer depends on more than the number of points. Learn how to compare award flights, spot hidden fees, and decide when to book or keep looking. Plus, try our interactive Award Flight Value Calculator to see what your miles are really worth.
A couple thought their Great Barrier Reef dream was simply too expensive. Thirty minutes of searching revealed that the miles already sitting in their accounts could cover international flights to Australia for two—with room to spare.