The Chase Sapphire Reserve is suddenly a hot topic again in the points and miles world. And honestly, there is a good reason. Chase is currently showing a limited-time 150,000-point welcome bonus after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Chase also lists the current annual fee at $795, with…
Most people assume you need a ton of points—or a specific airline—to book a good flight. That’s not always true. In this example, we’re using Alaska Airlines miles to book an American Airlines flight… even though we don’t really fly Alaska at all. And the result? A simple, repeatable redemption that can work for a…
Many people already have travel points. They’re sitting in credit card accounts, airline programs, hotel loyalty programs, or shopping rewards programs — often quietly building up in the background. But a surprising number of travelers never actually use them. Not because they aren’t valuable. Because they’re not sure how to use them. In the first…
Using points for travel sounds simple in theory. But when it comes to cruises, it gets a lot more complicated. In fact, for a long time, we actually resisted cruising for one main reason: It’s difficult to use points for cruises — and when you can, the value often isn’t great. Coming from a points-and-rewards…
In the first episode of Points in Real Life, we talked about something many travelers don’t realize: Many people already have travel points sitting in credit card accounts, airline programs, or hotel loyalty programs — but they’re not sure how to use them. One of the biggest misconceptions about travel rewards is that you need…
Many people already have travel points. They’re sitting in credit card accounts, airline programs, hotel programs, or shopping rewards programs — often quietly accumulating in the background. But a surprising number of travelers never actually use them. Not because the points aren’t valuable. Because they’re not sure how to use them. Points can feel confusing…
Hotel points can be an incredibly useful travel tool — but only when they’re earned and used thoughtfully. Over the years, we’ve earned elite status with several hotel programs through a mix of travel, credit cards, and promotions. Those benefits can certainly enhance a stay, but we’ve never believed in chasing hotel loyalty simply for…
Many people think the main benefit of airline points is saving money. And that can definitely be true. It’s not unusual to find flights that provide 2 cents per point in value or more. For example, while researching flight options recently, we found $500 round-trip flights that could be booked for 22,500 airline points, giving…
Points, miles, and travel perks can be incredibly powerful tools. They can help lower travel costs, unlock experiences that might otherwise feel out of reach, and add comfort and flexibility to trips you were already planning. But there’s an important truth that often gets overlooked in the excitement around points and rewards: Points only work…
Many people evaluate credit cards one at a time. They ask a simple question: “Is this card worth the annual fee?” That’s a reasonable place to start, but it doesn’t tell the full story. A single credit card can absolutely provide useful rewards and perks on its own. But when people start thinking about how…
