Category: Guides

  • Ended: Amex to Hawaiian (and Alaska) Transfers

    Ended: Amex to Hawaiian (and Alaska) Transfers

    If you’ve been using American Express Membership Rewards points to build up your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles, heads up: Starting June 30, 2025, you won’t be able to transfer Amex points to HawaiianMiles — which means no way to turn them into Alaska miles.

    What’s Happening?

    • American Express will end transfers to HawaiianMiles on June 30, 2025.
    • This means no more converting Amex points to Alaska miles through this method.
    • HawaiianMiles will also end partnerships with other airlines and shopping partners on the same date.

    Why This Matters

    For a while, this HawaiianMiles path gave Amex cardholders a simple way to move points into Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, even though Amex doesn’t transfer to Alaska directly.

    By going Amex → HawaiianMiles → Alaska, travelers could top up their Alaska balances for some of the best award deals out there. But with Amex transfers to Hawaiian ending June 30th, 2025, this backdoor option is about to disappear for good.

    How to Transfer Membership Rewards to Hawaiian (and Alaska)

    1. Log in to your American Express account and go to the “Rewards & Benefits” page.
    2. Transfer Membership Rewards points to HawaiianMiles. (You can transfer up to 999,000 points per day.)
    3. Once in your HawaiianMiles account, use the transfer tool to move them to your Alaska Mileage Plan account.

    Pro Tip: Alaska Mileage Plan miles don’t expire as long as you keep your account active. That means you can transfer them now and save them for a future trip.

  • Capital One Venture X Review

    Capital One Venture X Review

    You know all the makings of a premium travel credit card: It’s made of shiny metal; it comes with fancy perks like airport lounge access; it offers hundreds of dollars in travel-related statement credits per year; it’s got an eye-watering annual fee.

    The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card fits the bill as an unquestionable premium travel rewards card — but with an annual fee that’s considerably lower than its competitors. In fact, because of its effortlessly valuable yearly benefits, the card’s fee is effectively zero.

    Even better, the card earns super valuable (and super easy-to-use) rewards. This makes it a great option for anyone who travels even semi-regularly, whether you’re an award travel veteran or you’re just entering the world of miles and points.

    How do Capital One miles work?

    How to earn Capital One miles

    The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card comes with an intro offer of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

    The card also has a high earning rate for everyday purchases:

    • 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
    • 5 miles per dollar on airfare and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
    • 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases
    • 2 miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases

    Up to 10X miles is beyond impressive. But the star of the show is its base 2X return rate. No matter how unusual your spending habits, you’re guaranteed to get a good return for your swipes.

    When it comes to travel credit cards, this earning structure is as straightforward as it gets.

    How to use Capital One miles

    Capital One gives you a few basic ways to redeem your rewards. You can:

    • Convert points into airline miles or hotel points with Capital One travel partners, such as Avianca and JetBlue.
    • “Erase” travel purchases you make with your card up to 90 days later at a rate of 1 cent each. You can redeem your miles for transactions like flights, hotels, public transit, even campgrounds.

    We’re a bit biased (and correct) when we say that converting your miles into airline and hotel rewards is hands-down the best way to use your points. It gives you the potential to book exponentially more travel than those other two options.

    For example, if you were to purchase the below $161 United flight from Eugene (EUG) to Phoenix (PHX), you’d spend 16,100 Capital One miles to “erase” the transaction. But by transferring Capital One miles to Avianca, the flight would cost just 7,500 miles and $5.60 in fees.

    Here’s a chart of the airline and hotel programs that partner with Capital One. All transfers are 1:1 unless otherwise specified.

    Accor Live Limitless (2:1)EmiratesSingapore Airlines
    AeromexicoEtihadTAP Portugal
    Air Canada AeroplanEVA Air (2:1.5)Turkish Airlines
    AviancaFinnairVirgin Red
    British AirwaysFlying Blue (Air France and KLM)Wyndham Rewards
    Cathay PacificJetBlue (5:3)
    Choice PrivilegesQantas

    No matter where you want to go, a Capital One partner can get you there — and PointsYeah can help you to quickly find a suitable award seat. Enter your origin and destination into the PointsYeah search bar and filter results to only show Capital One partners. We’ll take care of the rest.

    Or, if you aren’t exactly sure where you want to go, you can use the Daydream Explorer tool to enter countries or continents (or even all of Earth) as your destination and see what jumps out at you.

    Is the Capital One Venture X worth a $395 annual fee?

    The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card charges a $395 membership fee — but again, travelers may consider this card to be no-annual-fee. If you travel even once per year, the card can pay for itself without breaking a sweat. Here’s why.

    Yearly bonuses

    The Capital One Venture X comes with two incredibly useful annual rewards that post to your account after each cardmember anniversary, which make your annual fee effectively to zero:

    • Up to $300 in travel credit to be redeemed through Capital One Travel for flights, hotel stays, rental cars, etc. (you’ll also get this credit upon account opening)
    • 10,000 bonus Capital One miles (beginning on your first account anniversary)

    These perks alone can offset the $395 annual fee for even the intermittent traveler. The 10,000 bonus miles alone can be enough for a round-trip flight to lots of fun destinations (read our guide to where you can go with 5,000 miles or less).

    Access to airport lounges

    You’ve probably seen fancy airport lounges dotted throughout the concourse during your travels. But you may not know how easy they are to get into.

    With the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you can enter over 1,300 airport lounges around the world. Airport lounges often come with free food and alcohol, fast Wi-Fi, tons of electrical outlets, and sometimes even showers and children’s play areas.

    The card confers access to Capital One Lounges, a collection of upscale lounges, as well as Capital One’s new restaurant-first concept — Capital One Landing. You’ll also get to use lounges within the ubiquitous Priority Pass lounge network. And you can bring two guests for free.

    And get this: Even Venture X authorized users will get their own airport lounge access. You can add up to four authorized users for free.

    Expedited airport security experience

    Every four years, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card gives you up to $120 in credit to reimburse you for the application fee to “trusted traveler” programs TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.

    TSA PreCheck costs $78 for a five-year membership. It gives you the ability to (practically) sprint through the domestic airport security checkpoints without having to remove your shoes or belt — or even take your laptop out of your bag. Plus, you’ll go through an exclusive security lane that processes much faster.

    Global Entry costs $120 for a five-year membership. It helps you to skip the immigration line when entering the U.S. from overseas. Instead of getting grilled by an immigration officer, just find a dedicated kiosk and it’ll quickly confirm your identity. Global Entry also comes with TSA PreCheck privileges.

    Excellent travel insurance

    The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is an all-time great when it comes to protecting your travel purchases. Its insurance will automatically activate when you pay for your travel with the card.

    Here’s what you’ll get:

    • Primary rental car insurance. When renting a car, the card covers up to $75,000 against theft or damage. You don’t even have to tell your personal insurance provider about the accident — so your premiums won’t be affected at all.
    • Trip delay reimbursement. When your trip is delayed by at least six hours or requires an overnight stay, you’ll get up to $500 per ticket toward “reasonable” expenses. This can include a hotel room, meals at a restaurant, a phone charger, and more.
    • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Whether you’ve got to cut your trip short or cancel it before it begins, you can be reimbursed up to $2,000 per person for nonrefundable prepaid travel. Eligible reasons include injury or death of an immediate family member or if the carrier on which you’re traveling goes bankrupt.
    • Lost luggage reimbursement. Get up to $3,000 when the common carrier (airline, cruise ship, ferry, bus, etc.) loses your luggage.
    • Travel accident insurance. You’ll receive up to $1 million in coverage against accidental loss of life, limbs, sight, speech, or hearing if the tragedy is the common carrier’s fault.

    Trust me, these perks are better than what the vast majority of travel credit cards offer. If you travel regularly, you’ll get good use from these (but fingers crossed that you miraculously never need to use them!).

    Cell phone protection

    When you pay your monthly cell phone bill with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, your phone is covered for up to $800 against damage or theft(max two claims and $1,600 in coverage per 12-month period).

    Top-tier Hertz elite status

    Hertz’s highest level of status is called President’s Circle — and it’s complimentary with the Capital One Venture X (though you’ve got to enroll your card). Without the card, you’d have to either complete 15 rentals or spend $3,000 with Hertz in a calendar year.

    President’s Circle comes with perks like:

    • 50% bonus points on paid rentals
    • Guaranteed upgrades
    • A dedicated customer service line

    Get special access to restaurants and events

    Capital One caters heavily to dining and entertainment. It partners with some restaurants to help you land a reservation even when the joint is fully booked. Its Capital One Dining platform also hosts special experiences like cooking classes with prominent chefs.

    And through Capital One Entertainment, you can book super popular music and sporting events and experiences through presale opportunities — so you can be one of the first to buy.

    Is the Capital One Venture X right for you?

    A $395 annual fee isn’t exactly a pittance. To decide if the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is worth the price point, ask yourself these simple questions.

    Do you fly a couple times each year? With its myriad air travel-related protections and its airport lounge access, the Capital One Venture X is especially valuable for flyers. You’re neglecting a lot of value if you don’t find yourself in an airport at least once or twice per year.

    Do you book travel through online travel agencies? When you book airfare, hotel stays, or rental cars, do you use a website like Expedia or Priceline? If so, you’ll make good use of the card’s up to $300 in annual travel credit — since it can only be redeemed through Capital One Travel. Plus, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns tons of bonus miles when you pay for travel through this platform.

    Do you like road-tripping? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the best credit cards to use for renting a car thanks to its top-notch travel insurance and its 10X return rate for car rentals through Capital One Travel. It even offers the highest level of Hertz elite status (though you typically won’t get rental car elite status perks when booking via Capital One Travel — you’ll have to book directly with Hertz).

    Is the Capital One Venture X easy to get?

    Again, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel credit card. But it’s not notoriously hard to get. Here are some guidelines to follow:

    • Maintain a good credit score. We recommend that you not apply for this card unless your credit score is at least 720. While there may be anecdotal evidence of folks being approved with a lower score, a 720+ score gives you the best chance.
    • 48-month rule. If you’ve earned the welcome bonus on a Capital One Venture X within the past 48 months, you won’t be eligible to earn it again.
    • 1/6 rule. Capital One usually won’t approve you for more than one credit card application within a six-month period.

    So yeah, that’s the deal

    The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a more accessible annual fee. And because the fee can so easily be offset with perks like airport lounge access, $300 in annual travel credit, and 10,000 yearly bonus miles, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is an easy win for just about every traveler.

  • Capital One Venture review

    Capital One Venture review

    Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are PointsYeah’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Some links on this website will earn an affiliate commission. 

    The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a lower version of The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and one of the most user-friendly travel credit cards on the market. It’s excellent if you’re new to the points and miles world.

    But don’t misunderstand: It’s not some entry-level rewards card that you’ll graduate from when you become a travel rewards “expert.” I’ve had this card for many years — and I’ve got no intention to ever cancel it. That’s because it:

    • Earns rewards at a high rate
    • Makes redeeming your miles effectively foolproof (you’ll see why in a minute)
    • Gives you access to helpful programs like Capital One Travel and Capital One Entertainment

    You can earn one of the highest bonuses we’ve ever seen from the card: 75,000 bonus miles(redeemable through Capital One Travel) after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

    Here’s a quick Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review. You’ll know if the card is right for you by the time you’re finished.

    How do Capital One Venture rewards work?

    How to earn Capital One miles

    Again, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles (to be used through Capital One Travel) after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

    The card also earns:

    • 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel
    • 2 miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases

    When it comes to travel credit cards, this is as straightforward as it gets. A 2x base earning rate for your spending means you’re guaranteed to get a solid return on everything.

    How to use Capital One miles

    When redeeming miles for travel, you’ve got a couple options. Both are virtually effortless — especially if you’re a PointsYeah user:

    1. You can transfer your miles to airline and hotel partners.
    2. You can simply swipe your card to pay for a travel purchase (airfare, cruises, Uber, hotel stays, even many on-site hotel restaurants). You’ve then got 90 days to offset your eligible purchase with miles at a rate of 1 cent each.
    3. You can use miles to book flights, accommodation, or rental cars through Capital One Travel at a rate of 1 cent each.

    Transferring miles to airlines and hotels is typically the way you’ll squeeze the most travel from your rewards. Here’s a look at all the loyalty programs that partner with Capital One (1:1 transfer ratio unless otherwise noted).

    Accor Live Limitless (2:1)EmiratesSingapore Airlines
    AeromexicoEtihadTAP Portugal
    Air Canada AeroplanEVA Air (2:1.5)Turkish Airlines
    AviancaFinnairVirgin Red
    British AirwaysFlying Blue (Air France and KLM)Wyndham Rewards
    Cathay PacificJetBlue (5:3)
    Choice PrivilegesQantas

    As you can see, Capital One has a great list of airline partners that can help you to get nearly anywhere on the planet. If you’re not sure how to use them, defer to the PointsYeah search engine.

    PointsYeah lets you filter your award search by bank program. This makes it simple to quickly find flights and hotels you can book with Capital One miles.

    PointsYeah helped me to find a United Airlines business class seat to Germany by transferring 70,000 Capital One miles to Avianca LifeMiles. That’s a steal for a Polaris seat!

    Is the Capital One Venture worth a $95 annual fee?

    The Capital One Venture charges a $95 fee upon account opening and after each cardmember anniversary. If you make good use of its perks, that price tag may easily be worth it.

    In other words: If you’d pay $95 for the below card benefits, the Capital One Venture is a good deal.

    Speed through airport security checkpoints

    The Capital One Venture comes with up to $120 in credit to reimburse you for the application fee of either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

    TSA PreCheck grants you the humanity of keeping your shoes, belt, and light jacket on when going through most domestic security checkpoints. You can also keep your laptop and TSA-approved toiletries in your bag (instead of pushing dozens of gray bins through the x-ray machine). You won’t even have to raise your arms in that invasive phone booth scanner thing — you’ll walk through a friendlier metal detector.

    Global Entry lets you skip the immigration line when returning to the U.S. from another country. You can walk up to a self-serve kiosk, let it take a quick glance at your face, and head out the door. You’ll walk through a short checkpoint where an officer may ask you a question or two, but that’s it.

    Global Entry comes with TSA PreCheck privileges — so it’s the better one to apply for.

    Membership with both of these programs lasts for five years. And because the Capital One Venture’s $120 credit renews every four years, you’ll never have to pay out-of-pocket for these programs.

    Access to Capital One Travel

    Those with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card can access Capital One’s online travel booking agency — Capital One Travel. This is one of the better online travel agencies because of perks like:

    • Price drop protection. Get up to $50 in travel credits if your flight price decreases within 10 days of booking.
    • Price freeze. Hold the current price of your itinerary for up to 14 days for a small fee.
    • Cancel For Any Reason coverage. Change or cancel your travel details for any reason (even Basic Economy fares) and get up to 90% of your money back for a small fee.

    You can also book hotels through the Capital One Lifestyle Collection, which gives you elite-like benefits (think room upgrades, late checkout, and a $50 experience credit) during your stay.

    No foreign transaction fees

    Several credit cards charge an arbitrary fee (often around 3%) when you buy something outside of the U.S. That makes any travel purchases, shopping, etc. during your international trip notably more expensive.

    The Capital One Venture eats this fee, making it a good spending option for traveling overseas.

    Reserve fancier rental cars for less

    With a few clicks through your Capital One Venture online account, you can enroll in Hertz Five Star elite status. This status otherwise requires 10 rentals or $2,000 in Hertz spending. Benefits include 25% bonus points on paid rentals, upgrades when available, and more.

    Decent travel insurance

    The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card comes with travel insurance that, while not stellar (the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s travel insurance is considerably better), are sufficient for a mid-tier travel credit card. Coverage is automatic as long as you make your travel purchases with the card.

    You’ll get:

    • Rental car insurance. You are covered for theft or collision damage up to the actual cash value of most cars. Coverage is secondary when renting domestically, meaning the card will only reimburse what your personal insurance won’t cover. You’ll get primary coverage when renting outside the U.S.
    • Lost luggage reimbursement. Capital One will give you up to $3,000 when the airline, cruise ship, etc. loses your luggage.
    • Travel accident insurance. Get up to $250,000 in compensation against loss of life, limbs, sight, speech, or hearing when the common carrier (like an airline) is at fault.

    The card’s also got helpful benefits like Roadside Dispatch (similar to AAA) and Travel and Emergency Assistance Services. These aren’t “insurance,” but they can work to get you out of a bind when you’re away from home.

    Book events and restaurants that others can’t

    Capital One routinely gives its cardholders early and/or exclusive access to reserve popular events such as concert tickets, sports, culinary experiences, etc. Some restaurants even save tables for Capital One Venture cardholders in case they decide to book a last-minute reservation.

    Is the Capital One Venture right for you?

    If you’re still not sure whether to go for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, ask yourself the following questions.

    Can you make $4,000 in purchases within the next three months? The card’s current bonus is really good. But to earn the 75,000 bonus miles, you’ll have to spend $4,000 on purchases within three months.

    This bonus is incentive enough to at least kick the tires on the card for a year to see if it complements your travel style.

    Do you hate mentally juggling bonus spending categories? The card’s got a flat return rate of 2 miles per dollar for most purchases — which is excellent. You don’t have to stress about when to use the card and when not to. It’s great for all purchases.

    Is the Capital One Venture easy to get?

    The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card isn’t hard to get. It comes with many of the same standards as other similar rewards credit cards — though Capital One enforces some unique rules of its own:

    • Credit score. You should apply for this card if your credit score is 670 or above (considered “good” by FICO). If your credit score is lower, it may be tougher to get approved.
    • 48-month rule. If you’ve received a Capital One Venture welcome bonus within the past 48 months, you won’t be eligible for another.
    • 1/6 rule. Your results may vary with this one, but generally Capital One won’t approve you for more than one credit card application every six months.

    So yeah, that’s the deal

    For good reason, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a super popular travel credit card. It’s got a huge welcome bonus — 75,000 bonus miles to use through Capital One Travel after meeting minimum spending requirements.

    The card also has a high-octane earning rate that’ll help you to replenish your miles long after that bonus is spent.

  • PointsYeah Starter Guide

    PointsYeah Starter Guide

    Welcome to PointsYeah!

    We believe traveling with points or miles should be simple. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, our tools are designed to make booking award travel as smooth as possible.


    To get started, make sure you’re signed in.

    Creating a free account unlocks the full power of PointsYeah—and more features than any other award search tool:

    • Unlimited live searches (up to 4 days at a time for flights, any date range for hotels)
    • 4 Flight Price Point Alerts, 4 Hotel Alerts, and unlimited Explorer Alerts
    • Custom filters and settings to personalize your results
    • … and more!

    Once you’re signed in, explore the platform using the left sidebar and top header to navigate through our products.


    Want to learn more about our tools?

    Check out the full guides for each section of the site:

    Sunrise from a villa in Ubud, Bali

    That’s it! Thank you from all of us at PointsYeah for joining our site and becoming part of a global community of travelers. We all believe travel planning should be easy, and we’re building a product that makes that happen—one search or daydream at a time.

    Have questions or feature requests? Shoot us a message at yeah@pointsyeah.com, we’d love to hear from you!

  • Product spotlight: Flights Live Search

    Product spotlight: Flights Live Search

    Whether this is your first day on PointsYeah or you joined us back in June 2023 when we launched, there is a good chance that you have used our most popular product, our Flights Live Search. This article is built to show you how to navigate the product like an expert. We will start with the most basic features and work our way towards “PointsYeah Expert Mode“, which includes settings and filters suggested by our power users.

    Flights Live Search 101

    We built this product with all of our users in mind, with speed and simplicity for basic searches combined with best in class filtering and customization for the most advanced needs.

    Every search starts with the basics.

    • Origin airport
    • Destination airport
    • Departure dates

    If you are using a free account, you can pick 1 origin and 1 destination across 4 departure dates. Our paid members get access to 2 origin and 2 destination airports across 8 departure dates.

    Once you are ready, press the YEAH button and our lightning fast search will bring you the results in approximately 20 seconds or less. All of those dates you searched will be displayed across the top, with the lowest priced award ticket shown by day.

    Now that you have your dates and route picked, its time to start filtering.

    Filters & Sort

    We pride ourselves in our customization, knowing that all of our users have unique needs for their travels.

    Some of our most popular filters

    • Cabins, built for both those who prefer to stretch their points further in economy and those who prefer to stretch their legs in business class.
    • Promotions, perfect for getting more out of your bank points. Want to learn more about active promotions? Click here.
    • Max points, when you have a budget set and you are sticking to it.

    Some of our filters used by expert travelers

    • Aircraft, when you know which airplanes have certain seats and are a frequent user of the seat map tool.
    • Connecting airport, for those who have favorite airport lounges in another city.
    • Flight Quality, when you know that red eye flights are no longer for you.

    Flight details

    Congrats, you have found a flight that fits all your criteria! Now what?

    The down arrow next to the flight will expand details around the journey, including the layover time, the aircraft types and relevant change/cancellation fees.

    Expand further, and you will see the complete list of ways to book this flight.

    Is it your first time transferring points or you need more information on how to transfer points to a specific program? Check out our comprehensive transfer guide.

    If you dont have enough points, check out our “Buy points” section to get linked out directly to the loyalty program site where you can add to your account.

    Cant find a flight that matches your criteria? Make sure to set a price point alert, our game changing tool aimed to continuously search based on your needs. Free members have 4 Price Point Alerts while our premium members have 32!

    Cash fares

    Today, users have the ability to compare the cash price of a ticket to the award price in real time. We currently only offer this feature on routes where the loyalty program for booking the award matches the operating carrier of the flight, like this American Airlines example below.

    Search preferences

    Once you have used the live search a few times, you should be comfortable with how you want to see your search results. Take the next step and save your search preferences in your account. This way, every live search you perform after this will be customized to your needs from the start.

    Thats it! You are now ready to search for flights like an expert. Have any feedback, shoot us a note at yeah@pointsyeah.com

  • Why This Travel Insurance Deserves a Spot in Your Wallet

    Why This Travel Insurance Deserves a Spot in Your Wallet

    We get it, you love to travel. And if you’re here, you probably book with points and miles like a pro. You might even have a credit card that technically includes travel insurance.

    So why bother reading this?

    Because this one is different. It’s not just fine print on a credit card. It’s the kind of protection that actually works, and pays out fast, even on award travel. From miles redeposit fees to stolen gear, this is the kind of travel insurance you’ll wish you had, until you do.

    And yes, we know that from experience.


    The Flight That Turned Around, and the Claim That Didn’t

    In 2022, Troy, our co-founder, was flying from Istanbul to Belgrade. A points master, travel pro, and co-founder of PointsYeah, he was halfway through the flight when the plane turned around due to weather.

    Troy didn’t wait. He booked a hotel inside the terminal, paid for dinner, and went to sleep, while everyone else waited in line for airline accommodations.

    A few days later, he filed a claim through Allianz. He was reimbursed without drama. No phone calls. No delays. No stress.

    That moment changed how he thought about travel insurance. It wasn’t about the money. It was about keeping control of the trip when everything else fell apart.


    Stolen Laptops. A Missing Wallet. Covered.

    And that wasn’t the only time Allianz stepped up.

    In Cancun, one laptop and an iPad were stolen from Troy’s hotel room. In Madrid, his wallet (yes, the one with 20+ cards) was snatched while he was out exploring.

    Both times, he filed a claim online, uploaded the documents, and was reimbursed in less than a week.

    Not every plan includes baggage loss or theft coverage, but many do. You can review the details before you buy, and if it’s not the right fit, cancel within 15 days for a full refund.

    Plan changed, charged miles redeposit fee?

    We all know by now that U.S. airline programs no longer charge a redeposit fee to cancel mileage bookings. However, most non-U.S. programs still do. The Annual Executive Plan will reimburse up to $500 for these fees


    The Kind of Coverage That Matters

    Travel insurance from Allianz is built around real-life problems, the ones travelers actually face. Depending on your plan, benefits may include:

    • Miles redemption redeposit fee
    • Trip cancellation
    • Trip interruption
    • Emergency medical and dental
    • Emergency transportation
    • Baggage loss, damage, or delay
    • Travel delay reimbursement
    • 24-hour assistance line
    • Concierge support

    You’ll see all of these listed in your policy documents, along with covered reasons, exclusions, and limits. The point is, this isn’t fluff. It’s designed for the kind of travel we actually do.


    How It Works

    Travel insurance is designed to protect you from the unexpected so you can focus on the part that matters, actually enjoying your trip.

    Getting started with Allianz is simple. You don’t need to sort through dozens of policies or decode complicated language. Just follow the basics:

    1. Enter your trip details Include your travel dates destination
    2. Explore plan options Allianz will show you coverage options tailored to your trip.
    3. Choose the plan that fits Select the coverage that works for your travel style, budget, and needs.

    That’s it. No guesswork. No long forms. Just straightforward protection that travels with you.

    Get started now and see your options in seconds.


    The Claims Process That Doesn’t Make You Want to Scream

    Allianz rebuilt their entire claims system based on customer feedback. It’s now one of the most intuitive in the industry.

    • You’ll get a short walkthrough when you start your claim
    • A clean dashboard shows exactly where your claim stands
    • You’ll get a personal document checklist
    • You can file and track everything from the Allyz app

    You can also choose how you want to be paid. Direct deposit and debit disbursement are the fastest, often arriving within a few business days.

    If you’re already traveling and something goes sideways, the 24-hour assistance hotline is your lifeline. From lost passports to medical emergencies, the support team is ready when you need them.


    Not Sure Yet? You’ve Got Flexibility

    Still not sure? Allianz offers a 15-day free look period (or longer, depending on your state). That means you can buy now, review later, and cancel with a full refund, as long as your trip hasn’t started and you haven’t filed a claim.

    You don’t have to commit blindly. You can see exactly what’s included and make sure the plan fits your needs.

    In other words, you can plan responsibly without overthinking it.


    When One Thing Goes Wrong, You’ll Be Glad You Did

    We spend hours building perfect trips. We choose routes with better aircraft, hotels with better lounges, transfer partners with better value. But even the most optimized itinerary can fall apart with one delayed flight, one missed connection, one stolen bag.

    That’s why travel insurance isn’t just backup. It’s part of the strategy.

    It protects your time. It protects your momentum. And it makes recovery feel manageable instead of overwhelming.

    Because when things go right, you’ll never think about your policy. But when something goes wrong, you’ll feel like it saved your entire trip.

    Get a personalized quote and make sure your next adventure has the backup it deserves.

  • Capital One Venture X Business Card

    Capital One Venture X Business Card

    The Capital One Venture X Business Card was forged from stainless steel exclusively for business owners with a passion for travel. It’s a premium card that comes with hundreds in annual travel credits, bonus points after each account anniversary, airport lounge access, and much more.

    The card offers up to 150,000 bonus miles after completing spending requirements. Here’s everything you need to know about the Capital One Venture X Business — and how to use its rewards.

    How do Capital One miles work?

    How to earn Capital One miles

    The Capital One Venture X Business currently comes with a tiered welcome offer of up to 150,000 bonus miles. That’s a high minimum spending threshold (though businesses with considerable expenses may not bat an eye at that figure).

    The Capital One Venture X Business also has a great return for purchases:

    • 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
    • 5 miles per dollar on airfare and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
    • 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases
    • 2 miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

    How to use Capital One miles

    Capital One gives you a few simple ways to redeem your rewards. You can:

    • Convert points into airline miles or hotel points with Capital One travel partners, such as Avianca and JetBlue.
    • Offset travel purchases you make with your card up to 90 days later at a rate of 1 cent per mile. You can redeem your rewards for transactions like flights, hotels, rental cars, ferries, timeshares, and more.

    You’ll almost always get the most travel from your miles by converting them into airline miles and hotel points.

    For example, if you were to purchase the below $366 United flight from Indianapolis (IND) to Miami (MIA), you’d spend 36,600 Capital One miles to offset the transaction. But by transferring Capital One miles to Avianca, the flight would cost just 7,500 miles and $5.60 in fees.

    Here’s a look at the airline and hotel programs that partner with Capital One. All transfers are 1:1 unless otherwise specified.

    Accor Live Limitless (2:1)EmiratesSingapore Airlines
    AeromexicoEtihadTAP Portugal
    Air Canada AeroplanEVA Air (2:1.5)Turkish Airlines
    AviancaFinnairVirgin Red
    British AirwaysFlying Blue (Air France and KLM)Wyndham Rewards
    Cathay PacificJetBlue (5:3)
    Choice PrivilegesQantas

    No matter where you want to visit, a Capital One partner can get you there. And PointsYeah makes finding the perfect award seat super easy. Enter your origin and destination into the PointsYeah search bar and filter results by Capital One partners. We’ll show you all your options in seconds.

    If you’re feeling adventurous, try our Daydream Explorer tool to explore entire countries or continents at a time. You can even search all of Earth at once by typing “anywhere” as your origin and/or destination.

    Is the Capital One Venture X Business worth a $395 annual fee?

    The Capital One Venture X Business charges a $395 annual fee. But with one ounce of effort, you’ll be able to recoup that fee. We consider this card to be effectively a no annual fee card thanks to the following benefits.

    Yearly bonuses

    Here’s the key to squeezing more value from the Venture X Business than you’re investing in its annual fee. You’ll get two annual rewards that post to your account after each anniversary year:

    • Up to $300 in travel credit to be redeemed through Capital One Travel for flights, hotel stays, rental cars, etc. (you receive this credit upon account opening, as well)
    • 10,000 bonus Capital One miles (beginning on your first account anniversary)

    Remember, the 10,000 bonus miles are worth a minimum of $100 in travel. Between the annual travel credit and the bonus miles, Capital One is basically giving you $400 in free travel each year.

    But transferring your miles to travel partners can make the deal even better. Check out our guide to where you can go with 5,000 miles or less for some inspiration.

    Access to airport lounges

    While walking through the terminal, have you ever noticed the sliding glass doors that business travelers are always ducking into? You don’t have to be a big shot to get in. You just need a card like the Capital One Venture X Business.

    It gives you access to more than 1,300 airport lounges around the world. Airport lounges often come with free food and alcohol, fast Wi-Fi, conference rooms, lots of electrical outlets, and sometimes even showers and day beds.

    You can visit Capital One Lounges, a collection of upscale lounges, as well as Capital One’s new restaurant-first concept, Capital One Landing. You can also use Priority Pass lounges — which are just about everywhere. And you can bring two guests for free.

    More freedom to charge big expenses

    The Capital One Venture X Business is a NPSL (No Preset Spending Limit) card. This means you don’t have a firm credit line. Instead, the card learns your spending habits and gives you extra leeway if you’re in the habit of making large purchases.

    If the nature of your business demands that you charge tens of thousands of dollars at a time, you’re likely better off with a NPSL card than a standard credit card. Just note that you must pay your debt in full each month — the card doesn’t allow you to carry a balance month-to-month.

    Expedited airport security experience

    Every four years, the Capital One Venture gives you up to $120 in credit to reimburse you for the application fee to “trusted traveler” programs TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.

    TSA PreCheck costs $78 for a five-year membership. It gives you the ability to (practically) sprint through the domestic airport security checkpoints without having to remove your shoes or belt — or even take your laptop out of your bag. Plus, you’ll go through an exclusive security lane that processes much faster.

    Global Entry costs $120 for a five-year membership. It helps you to skip the immigration line when entering the U.S. from overseas. Instead of getting grilled by an immigration officer, just find a dedicated kiosk and it’ll quickly confirm your identity. Global Entry also comes with TSA PreCheck privileges.

    Get special access to restaurants and events

    Capital One caters heavily to dining and entertainment. It partners with some restaurants to help you land a reservation even when the joint is fully booked. Its Capital One Dining platform also hosts special experiences like cooking classes with prominent chefs.

    And through Capital One Entertainment, you can book super popular music and sporting events and experiences through presale opportunities — so you can be one of the first to buy.

    Is the Capital One Venture X Business right for you?

    The Capital One Venture X Business is a uniquely capable business card that can serve just about any entrepreneur. But it’s especially great for business owners that answer “yes” to the following questions.

    Is your business spending unconventional? If your business expenses don’t fall into a typical bonus category (think office supplies, shipping, online advertising, gas, etc.), this 2X everywhere card is a stellar option to funnel all your purchases through.

    Does your business have lots of expenses? If you need a sizable credit line to make big business purchases, the Capital One Venture X Business is one of your best options since it has no preset spending limit.

    Do you have travel aspirations? This card is meant for travelers. if you don’t travel for pleasure or business, a cash back credit card may better serve your goals.

    Is the Capital One Venture X Business easy to get?

    Again, the Capital One Venture X Business is a premium travel card. But it’s not notoriously hard to get. Here are some guidelines to follow:

    • You must own a business. This card is exclusively for business owners compared to the Capital One Venture X built for all travelers.
    • You have a good credit score. As a premium card, lower credit scores might not get accepted.
    • Abide by the 1/6 rule. Capital One usually won’t approve you for more than one credit card application within a six-month period.

    So yeah, that’s the deal

    Though the Capital One Venture X Business is a premium business card, its $395 annual fee is notably lower than its high-end competitors. You can very easily negate that fee thanks to its anniversary bonuses such as a $300 travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles.

  • ✈️ Introducing the all-new Daydream Explorer

    ✈️ Introducing the all-new Daydream Explorer

    April 2025

    The way you explore with points just changed completely.

    We didn’t just update Daydream Explorer, we reimagined how award travel should feel.

    It now starts with a first-of-its-kind map that lets you search from anywhere to anywhere, across both flights and hotels. Toggle between them, zoom into regions, and start spotting possibilities instantly.

    When you hone in on a destination, you’ll drop into a list view that feels familiar to Daydream of the past, letting you compare cabins, airlines, transfer partners, and more side by side.

    You might start out looking for a trip to Paris… and end up planning something entirely different. That’s the magic of Daydream.

    Whether you’re ready to book or just playing around, it’s the most inspiring way to use your points.

    Explore Like Never Before


    No departure city? No destination? No problem.


    Start by choosing a region, or just hit “Anywhere”, and Daydream Explorer will instantly find flight and hotel options based on your filters. You can have up to three continents, Regions, countries, States or airports in each departure and arrival

    It’s built for open-ended exploring, flexible planning, and those “just browsing” moments that turn into real trips.

    And it’s not just about flights. Daydream also includes access to the Hotel Collection, a curated set of inspirational stays you can book with points. From beachfront escapes to boutique hideaways, it’s your gateway to unforgettable hotel experiences.

    Cabin Class Colors on the Map

    A quick visual guide to help you scan with confidence.

    Every cabin type is color-coded on the map, so whether you’re browsing one class or all of them, it’s easy to compare. It’s a fast, intuitive way to spot the cabins you care about most, especially if you’re casually browsing or comparing options across the world.

    🔵 Blue – Economy
    🟢 Green – Premium Econ
    🟣 Purple – Business Class
    🟠 Orange – First Class

    Filters That Actually Matter

    Daydream Explorer lets you fine-tune your search to match exactly what you’re looking for.

    On the flight page, you can filter by:

    • Cabin class
    • Airline program
    • Bank program
    • Number of stops
    • Max points
    • Max taxes
    • Trip themes like beach, city, honeymoon, golf, family, and even to the moon

    Whether you’re trying to find nonstop flights to Tokyo or a luxury stay in Rome, it’s all right there.

    From Dreaming to Doing

    Once you’ve found a destination you’re excited about in Daydream, you’ll land on a search card, a smart summary that shows you everything available for that specific route.

    Here’s what you’ll see:

    • All currently available award options
    • Points pricing across multiple days
    • All airline program options for that route
    • Clear cabin labels (economy, business, etc.)
    • Latest updated time

    It’s a bird’s-eye view of what’s possible with your points.

    And when one of those options looks right, just click to preview and tap ‘Real-Time Search’ to confirm availability instantly.

    Explorer Alerts: Your travel sidekick

    Not ready to book yet? That’s what Explorer Alerts are for.

    You’ll find the orange bell icon at the top near the search filters or next to any deal you want to keep an eye on.

    Click it, and you can customize your alert with flexible settings like:

    • Where you’re departing from
    • Travel dates
    • Number of seats
    • Travel theme
    • Airline program
    • Bank program
    • Maximum taxes

    Set it and let it run in the background. We’ll let you know when something hits your criteria, so you don’t have to keep checking back. You can track these alerts alongside your Price Point Alerts and Hotel Alerts in your account.

    Explorer Alerts are free, unlimited, and built for travelers who like to keep their options open. Learn more about Explorer Alerts.

    A few ways to use Daydream Explorer

    Whether you’re browsing the map, diving into a search card, or setting up alerts, every part of Daydream is designed to turn ideas into action, and points into travel

    • ✈️ Fly to London in business class for just 29,000 points
    • 🛄 Find a 5k or less award flight
    • 🌴 Book an overwater villa in the Maldives
    • 💼 Find nonstop business class to Asia under 75,000 points
    • 🏙️ Explore hotels in Tokyo for a perfect stay

    From planning to playing around, Daydream helps you turn “maybe someday” into “I’m doing this”.

    🚀 Ready to Try It?

    The most visual way to plan award travel is live now.
    Explore freely. Toggle between flights and hotels. Get inspired.

    See where your points can take you →

    Not loving the new Daydream Explorer flow? You can toggle back to the old view at any time by pressing “Detail view” button. You can even set this as your preference in your user settings.

  • Where can you go with 5,000 miles or less?

    Where can you go with 5,000 miles or less?

    Collecting travel rewards is about more than just fancy lie-flat business class seats to Asia and Europe. Sometimes you just want to book a quick jaunt to Grandma’s house a couple states away for Thanksgiving — or maybe a weekend getaway to the nearest beach for a mental recharge.

    Award travel has changed. You don’t need to stack up a whole lot of points—instead, you can book your next free trip for 5,000 miles or even less. PointsYeah makes these flights easy to find. Here’s how it works.

    How to find 5,000-mile awards with PointsYeah

    To begin our search for these 5K-point awards, we began with the Daydream Explorer tool. Its interactive map and extensive filters make it simple to get inspiration about possible trips. The tool is an excellent way to unearth great flight deals to just about everywhere.

    You’ll find Daydream Explorer in the menu on the left side of the home page.

    Click it, and you’ll be brought to a snappy interactive map. Enter your origin or destination airports, and you’ll see awards for routes to all over the world. Or, if you’re really feeling adventurous, you can search from “Anywhere” to “Anywhere.”

    You can then filter the results displayed on the map by price. Enter 5,000 under the “Max Points” tab to find flights that can be booked for 5,000 points or less.

    You can also filter by airline or bank program to give you a better snapshot of what you can book with the specific points you’ve got.

    Which airline programs offer 5,000-mile flights?

    Let’s take a look at some fun examples of 5,000-mile flights you can book with popular airline programs.

    United MileagePlus

    You’ll most often find the lowest-priced United Airlines awards when hopping around California — and in some cases, Western Canada. Most (not all) tend to start or end with San Francisco (SFO), a major United hub.

    For example, you can fly between San Francisco (SFO) and Vancouver, BC (YVR) for 5,000 United miles and $5.60 in fees. Not bad for an 800-mile flight.

    And because United is a Chase Ultimate Rewards® transfer partner, you could book 15 flights like these after earning the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s current welcome bonus of 75,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

    That’s a lot of travel for very little effort.

    Delta SkyMiles

    Delta is one of the rare breeds that prices a select few awards under 5,000 miles. You can typically find them all around the Northeast between Boston (BOS) and regional airports like Augusta (AUG), Adirondack (SLK), Nantucket (ACK), and more. But other routes around the U.S. occasionally pop up. Be on the lookout for Delta flash sales.

    For more popular routes, be prepared to pay 5,000 miles. Here’s a route between Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and New York (JFK) for 5,000 Delta miles and $5.60 in fees.

    Even better, if you’ve got a qualifying Delta credit card, you’ll get a 15% miles discount on Delta-operated award flights. That means you’d pay a mere 4,250 miles for the above seat.

    American Airlines AAdvantage

    American Airlines is considerably generous with its presence of 5,000-mile routes. Flights priced this low tend to have a travel distance of 500 miles or less.

    For example, a 453-mile flight from Detroit (DTW) to Philadelphia (PHL) costs 5,000 AA miles and $5.60 in fees.

    If your upcoming AA trip is under 500 miles, you’ve got a decent chance at scoring a low price. Of course, it’ll help to be flexible with your travel dates.

    Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

    Alaska Airlines has an extensive loyalty programs allowing flights below 5,000 miles on both its own metal as well as on partner airlines.

    For example, here’s a flight on Alaska Airlines between Oakland (OAK) and Seattle (SEA) for 4,500 Alaska miles and $5.60 in fees.

    And here’s one on partner American Airlines between Miami (MIA) and Grand Cayman (GCM) for 4,500 Alaska Airlines miles and $18.10 in fees.

    For some routes (typically around the West Coast), you can find economy seats for just 4,000 miles each way.

    JetBlue TrueBlue

    JetBlue, known for its strong presence in the Northeast part of the US, has plenty of 5k point redemptions from major hubs.

    For example, the below flight from New York (JFK) to Nashville (BNA) costs just 3,200 points and $5.60 in fees!

    Avianca LifeMiles

    Avianca LifeMiles are all-stars for sub-5,000-mile adventures — sometimes offering long-haul flights for less than half that figure.

    Take a look at this gem from Los Angeles (LAX) to San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO). This 2,722-mile flight costs just 3,950 miles and $52.47 in fees.

    To boot, Avianca offers a paid membership called LifeMiles+. This subscription discounts your award flights by up to 25% (depending on which airline you’re flying). If you book flights with LifeMiles even a few times each year, LifeMiles+ could be a great deal.

    Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

    Aside from some niche intra-Caribbean routes, Virgin Atlantic saves its 5,000-mile routes for those jumping around Europe. And there are lots to choose from, thanks to partners like SAS, Air France, and KLM.

    Here’s a flight from Amsterdam (AMS) to Vienna (VIE) for 4,000 points and (an admittedly high) $93.41 in fees.

    Virgin Atlantic is another Chase Ultimate Rewards® transfer partner, meaning you can mobilize the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card’s current 100,000-point bonus to book dozens of flights like these around Europe.

    Spirit Airlines Free Spirit

    Spirit Airlines prices its award flights similarly to JetBlue in that the amount of points you pay is directly proportional to the seat’s cash price.

    As an ultra-low-cost airline, Spirit’s got plenty of inexpensive routes. Awards start at just 2,500 points. For example, a flight from Chicago (ORD) to Cancun (CUN) costs 2,500 points and $48.13 in fees.

    Pretty simple, yeah?

    Lots of airlines give you the ability to book a seat for 5,000 miles or less — even on international flights. They’re often shorter trips, but they can represent a great value.

    PointsYeah can help you to find these flights with Daydream Explorer. And be sure to sign-up for the PointsYeah newsletter — we’ll send you an alert when we see a screaming 5,000-mile deal.

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review

    Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review

    Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are PointsYeah’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Some links on this website will earn an affiliate commission. 

    I’ve had the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for over 10 years. I’ve used its points and travel perks to hop all over the world for nearly free.

    Case in point: My first award flight was to the Philippines for 40,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points and $5.60. That’s less out-of-pocket than the Grande six-pump Cinnamon Dolce Flat White I nursed while waiting for my flight.

    The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a near-perfect travel credit card for three reasons:

    1. You don’t have to know a ton about travel rewards to squeeze lots of trips out of its points.
    2. The rewards it earns can be transferred to over a dozen airline and hotel programs. In other words, it’s a good points currency to invest in if you don’t have firm travel plans.
    3. Its travel insurance is fantastic. It’s saved me thousands of dollars over the years.

    The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. You can do just about anything with that big of a points stockpile. I’ll show you what I mean — and why the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is worth opening even without this huge bonus.

    How do Chase Ultimate Rewards work?

    How to earn Chase points

    The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. That’s 40,000 points higher than its standard offer. It’s been nearly four years since the card has touted a bonus this juicy.

    Beyond its welcome bonus, the Chase Sapphire Preferred earns points at the following rates:

    • 3 points per dollar on dining (including eligible delivery services)
    • 3 points per dollar for online grocery purchases (except for Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
    • 3 points per dollar for eligible streaming services
    • 2 points per dollar on travel purchases (flights, hotels, Airbnb, rental cars, rideshare services, tolls, etc.)
    • 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

    You’ll also earn 5 points per dollar when you book flights, hotel stays, rental cars, etc. through Chase Travel℠ (excluding expenses that are reimbursed by the card’s annual $50 hotel credit — we’ll talk about that in a minute).

    How to use Chase points

    You’ve got a lot of options when it comes to redeeming Chase points. You can cash them out at a rate of 1 cent per point; you can “buy” flights, hotels, and more through Chase’s proprietary booking platform, Chase Travel℠, at a rate of 1.25 cents per point.

    But you’ll typically get the most travel (by far) when you convert points into airline miles and hotel points with Chase’s travel partners.

    Here’s a quick look at all the loyalty programs that partner with Chase.

    Aer LingusEmiratesIHG OneSingapore AirlinesVirgin Atlantic
    Air CanadaFlying Blue (Air France and KLM)JetBlueSouthwestWorld of Hyatt
    British AirwaysIberiaMarriott BonvoyUnited Airlines

    PointsYeah lets you filter your award flights and hotel stays by bank program — giving you a quick and easy look at fun ways to use your Chase points no matter where you’re heading.

    With the exception of that frigid white continent to the south, you can get just about anywhere with the current 60,000-point bonus.

    PointsYeah also lets you set alerts to help you find inexpensive awards for super popular flights and hotels. I managed to book an $1,800 room at the Park Hyatt New York with 45,000 Chase points thanks to PointsYeah Hotel Alerts.

    Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card worth a $95 annual fee?

    You’ll pay a $95 membership fee when you open the Chase Sapphire Preferred — and after every cardmember anniversary. But those who book even a couple of trips each year can easily justify the card’s fee.

    Let’s take a quick look at the card’s best benefits. If you think these are worth more than $95 per year, the card is worth its annual fee.

    Loads of statement credits

    The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with several credits and refunds. With very little effort, you could conceivably save hundreds of dollars per year:

    • $50 hotel credit. Each account anniversary year, you’ll get up to $50 in statement credits toward prepaid hotels booked through Chase Travel℠. If you regularly book your hotel stays through an online travel agency, like Expedia or Kayak, you’ll have no trouble using this credit.
    • DashPass membership. Get 12 months of free DashPass ($0 delivery fees, exclusive offers, and more) and $10 per month in non-restaurant orders when you activate the offer by Dec 31, 2027. DashPass otherwise costs $9.99 per month, so this is a nice value if you already pay for DoorDash.
    • Chase Offers. These are digital coupons and promotions that you can manually add to your card from your online account. Many times you’ll see offers that can save you money on purchases you planned to make anyway, such as gas, wireless services, streaming, etc.

    Top-notch travel insurance

    The most compelling reason I keep the Chase Sapphire Preferred in my wallet year after year is its travel insurance. Coverage is automatic as long as you pay for your travel with the card. Here are some of the perks you’ll get:

    • Primary rental car insurance. Instead of paying the $10+ per day for a rental agency’s in-house insurance plan, the Chase Sapphire Preferred covers you up to $60,000 for theft and collision damage on most cars.
    • Trip delay insurance. If your flight is delayed by more than 12 hours (or requires an overnight stay), Chase will reimburse you for up to $500 in “reasonable” expenses — including a hotel night and meals.
    • Baggage delay insurance. When your bag is delayed by more than six hours, Chase will give you $100 per day (up to five days) to buy things that you need for your trip. This includes clothes, toiletries, a phone charger, etc.
    • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance. You’ll get reimbursed up to $10,000 per covered traveler (max $20,000 per trip) when your nonrefundable travel is canceled or cut short for a qualifying reason (such as inclement weather or injury).

    Here’s an amusing/nightmarish anecdote: During a trip to Dublin, United Airlines lost my checked bag for over a week. Because I had paid for my flight with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase reimbursed me for $500 in new clothes. And on the same trip, I ended up scraping my rental car and was charged $2,300 by the rental agency. I sent the bill to Chase — and they cut me a check for the full amount within a few weeks.

    No foreign transaction fees

    A lot of credit cards will stick you with a 3% fee when you make purchases outside the U.S. That can add up in a hurry, especially if you book expensive hotels or do a lot of shopping.

    The Chase Sapphire Preferred waives this ridiculous fee — so it’s a great companion if you’ve got international travel plans.

    Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card right for you?

    There are a handful of questions you can ask yourself to quickly determine if the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a good match for your wallet. Say yes to any of these and the card is a no-brainer.

    Can you make $5,000 in purchases within the next three months? The card’s 60,000-point bonus after spending $5,000 within the first three months is too good to pass up. Again — while the points are best used by transferring to airline and hotel partners, you could simply cash it out for $600. It’s like Chase is giving you a free $600 just to try the card out. That’s crazy.

    Do you pay for travel insurance? You know how airlines and hotels often have a travel insurance add-on during checkout? If you typically opt for this coverage, the Chase Sapphire Preferred can save you a lot by giving you similar protections automatically.

    Do you travel at least a couple times each year? For those who almost never travel, there are better cards out there with benefits that are more relevant to your lifestyle — such as cash back credit cards.

    Do you spend a lot on dining, streaming, or online grocery shopping? The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3 points per dollar on eligible purchases in these categories. You could easily earn many tens of thousands of points each year from these expenses alone.

    Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card easy to get?

    The Chase Sapphire Preferred isn’t more difficult to get than most other travel credit cards. Still, there are a few things that will guarantee you an application denial:

    • Credit score. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is recommended for those with a credit score of 670 or above. If your credit score isn’t quite there yet, keep exhibiting good credit habits. You’ll get there.
    • Chase “5/24 rule”. If you’ve opened five or more credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months (excluding most small business credit cards), you won’t be approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
    • Sapphire 48-month rule. If you’ve earned a welcome bonus from a Chase Sapphire card in the past 48 months (including the Sapphire Preferred’s fancy sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®), you aren’t eligible to earn another bonus.
    • One Sapphire rule. If you already hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’re not eligible to open another Sapphire card and earn the bonus. To open the Chase Sapphire Preferred again, you’ll have to either cancel your current card or downgrade it to a no annual fee Chase Freedom Flex℠ or Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

    So yeah, that’s the deal

    The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of our absolute favorite rewards credit cards. Chase has crammed a lot of great travel benefits inside its thin metal chassis.

    And best of all, the card comes with a 60,000 bonus points after meeting minimum spending requirements.

    Learn more here.