If you’re reading this, I applaud you. Most people stop at “I wish I could travel more” and never look beyond it. But here you are, diving into the world, or better yet the game, of miles and points. That’s exactly what it is: a game that, with a little practice, can completely change how you travel.
Miles and points have taken us to places we never thought we’d see and given us experiences we couldn’t have imagined paying full price for. The best part is that it’s not reserved for experts or frequent flyers. Anyone can start learning the basics and see the rewards stack up. Now it’s your turn to play the game and start unlocking more travel for less.
The Different Types of Points
Before we get into the game, we need to talk about the pieces. Miles and points are the award currencies of airlines, hotels, and banks. Some programs call them miles, others call them points. For simplicity, we’ll just call them points here.
There are three main types of points: airline, hotel, and transferable. Airline and hotel points are probably what you’re already familiar with. Think of Delta SkyMiles or Marriott Bonvoy points. These points are tied to one brand and usually can’t be moved elsewhere.
The third type, and by far my favorite, are transferable points. These come from banks like Chase, Capital One, Amex, Bilt, and Citi. Transferable points are the gold standard in this hobby because they can move to multiple airline and hotel partners, or be used directly through a travel portal. That flexibility makes them far more valuable than points locked to a single airline or hotel.
Pro tip: A travel portal is basically an online booking site run by the bank, like the Chase Travel portal. It looks and works a lot like Expedia, except you can use your points instead of cash.
Not All Points Are Created Equal
Now that you know the three types of points, it’s important to understand that not all points are created equal. It might be obvious that 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points don’t have the same value as 1,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles. But what surprises many beginners is that even transferable points can differ. For example, 1,000 Amex Membership Rewards points are not always equal to 1,000 Capital One miles.
Each program sets its own rules and redemption values. Some currencies are worth more because of strong transfer partners, better redemption rates, or flexible options. Others can be frustratingly weak, locking you into poor value when you go to redeem.
Here’s a rough idea of what points are typically worth based on The Frequent Miler: Reasonable Redemption Values:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards ≈ 1.5–2 cents per point
- Amex Membership Rewards ≈ 1.5–2 cents per point
- Capital One Miles ≈ 1.2–1.8 cents per point
- Citi ThankYou Points ≈ 1.3–1.7 cents per point
- Airline miles (like Delta, American, United) ≈ 1.0–1.4 cents per mile
- Hotel points (like Marriott, Hilton, IHG) are often less than 1 cent per point
Pro tip: These values are just averages. With the right redemption, you can sometimes get much higher value, like booking business class flights that would normally cost thousands of dollars.
At the end of the day, the key takeaway is that not all points are created equal. Knowing the types of points and their general value will help you avoid wasting time and energy chasing currencies that don’t give you much in return. Don’t worry about memorizing exact values right now. Just keep in mind that some points stretch a lot farther than others, and learning which ones are most valuable is part of the game.
The Best Ways to Earn Points
Now that you understand the types of points and how their value can differ, the next step is learning how to earn them efficiently. There are three main ways to rack up points: credit cards, everyday spending, and loyalty programs.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are by far the fastest and most effective way to earn points. Sign-up bonuses alone can be enough for a free flight or hotel stay, and everyday spending adds up over time. Some cards earn transferable points, which can move between multiple airline and hotel partners, while others earn points tied to a specific airline or hotel. Airline and hotel cards can be useful if you stick to a brand, but they’re generally less flexible.
Everyday Spending
Once you have the right card, earning points on daily expenses becomes simple. Groceries, gas, bills, and even online shopping can all earn points. Focus on cards that give bonus points in categories where you already spend money, so you’re maximizing value without changing your habits.
Loyalty Programs
Airline and hotel loyalty programs can add points if you fly or stay often, but for most people, they’re a drop in the bucket compared to what you can earn with a credit card. They’re worth using if you’re loyal to a particular brand, but they shouldn’t be your main focus when starting out.
The main takeaway is clear: credit cards are the big winner. Sign-up bonuses and everyday spending can earn far more points, faster, than airline or hotel loyalty programs. Mastering credit cards is where you’ll see the biggest impact on your points balance and travel opportunities.
Next, let’s talk about how to pick your first credit card, a step that often trips beginners up or leaves them feeling overwhelmed.
Picking Your First Credit Card
Picking your first card is always the most intimidating part. Most of us have never been taught much about how credit cards work, how to get them, or why they matter. My first card was from my local bank when I opened a checking and savings account. I had no idea there was so much out there.
My advice to everyone getting into this game is to not overthink it. Pick a card that is easy to use and start earning points. For us, the Capital One Venture card was our first, and we still love it. It is simple, straightforward, and makes it easy to see points turn into travel. Another strong option is the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which has a lot of flexibility and some great travel perks. Either card is a solid way to get started.
One of the best parts about these cards is the sign-up bonus. This is a big chunk of points you can earn just for spending a certain amount in the first few months. Right now, the Venture card has a 75,000-point bonus for meeting the minimum spend. That is usually enough for a short flight or a couple nights in a hotel, which is a great way to get your first taste of redeeming points.
Sign-up bonuses are basically free points from the bank as a reward for using the card responsibly. They make it possible to take your first trip with points faster than you might think. The key is to meet the minimum spend without overspending and to enjoy the rewards that follow.
I can’t stress this enough: pick a card that is easy to get, earn points with the sign-up bonus and spending, and use your points to book a trip. Seeing your points turn into real travel is motivating and makes the whole process click. Once you take that first trip, you’ll naturally want to learn more about how to get even more value from points.
Pro tip: Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get approved for the card you want right away. Credit matters, and if your score is low, take some time to build it up. Tools like CreditKarma can help you understand your credit score and teach you how to improve it.
The World of Possibilities
Once you’ve taken that first trip on points, the doors swing wide open. It’s not an exaggeration to say there’s a whole world of possibilities waiting for you. I’ve been able to fly to Japan for cheap, book business class seats to French Polynesia, and I even have a safari trip to South Africa lined up. All of it possible because of miles and points.
The crazy part is I didn’t know how to do any of this when I started. I just kept learning little by little. I’d read blogs, follow people who knew more than me, and keep testing things for myself. That’s really the hidden trick in this game: it never ends. There’s always another tip, another redemption, another hack that takes you further.
My advice is simple. Do not overthink it. Pick a good starter card, grab that first bonus, and book a trip. Once you see your points turn into a real adventure, you will be hooked. From there, you can learn as much or as little as you want, but the key is to start. The world of possibilities is bigger than you can imagine, and it all begins with one card.