The Best Flights I've Booked With Points and Miles—And How You Can Too

06.11.2024 - 17:21 / cntraveler.com

Free-flowing Champagne or lobster thermidor at 30,000 feet in the air isn't just for the rich and famous. By mastering the art of points and miles, I’ve unlocked quite a few of these luxury travel experiences myself, and it all begins by choosing the right credit cards that earn points, which can then be transformed into airline rewards.

The key players to know? American Express, Chase, and Capital One—all of which offer credit cards that earn points that can be transferred to airline transfer partners. Some airlines partner with more than one credit card issuer on points transfers, while others have exclusive one-on-one relationships. That said, it could be useful to have a few types of credit cards, depending on your spending habits, so that you can remain flexible with your points-earning strategies.

Each airline loyalty program has its own “sweet spots”—that is, opportunities to redeem miles for exceptional value. These sweet spots are rare, often just one or two seats per route available for booking with miles. And a plane ticket or seat that may be too expensive with one airline program could be bookable through another program for a more reasonable amount of points. It can be tricky to learn how it all works—which cards partner with which programs, which allow travelers to book seats with different airlines—but the payoff is undeniably worth it in the end. It just requires a great deal of strategy and effort.

To help explain the principles, here are some of the most memorable travel experiences I’ve booked using credit card rewards in recent years, along with tips on how you can do the same.

Points redeemed: 72,500 Amex Membership Rewards (transferred to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club)

Average cash price: $5,000

After a 21-day trip to see family in South Korea and a vacation with my grandparents in Japan, my return home was made even sweeter knowing I’d fly first class for the first time. All Nippon Airways (ANA) was a treat from takeoff to touchdown: think priority check-in, an exclusive first-class lounge with a full sashimi and udon bar, and a colossal seat with pajamas and a plush duvet.

However, this award flight was, without a doubt, one of the most challenging tickets I’ve ever booked. I secured it through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which partners with all three major credit card groups—Amex, Chase, and Capital One—among other programs. While there are several sweet spots within Virgin’s program, its award pricing with ANA is particularly impressive. You can book a one-way business class flight between the West Coast and Japan for just 45,000 points (one-way), or upgrade to first class for 72,500 points, with around $300 in taxes and fees.

To increase my chances of securing the ticket, I