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  • The brand new Chase Sapphire Reserve is here.

    The brand new Chase Sapphire Reserve is here.

    Chase unveiled the all-new Chase Sapphire Reserve and introduces Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business, the most rewarding credit cards on the market, available starting June 23,2025. These developments from Sapphire Reserve again set a new standard in premium credit cards, featuring a valuable suite of lifestyle, travel and business benefits and credits, high points earn rates in several categories including travel and dining, new ways to maximize rewards, access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club network of airport lounges and more. Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business is designed to meet the needs of business owners at scale by elevating their travel experience and offering premium benefits and value toward business services that will help fuel their growth.

    Both cards are on the Visa Infinite network, one of the most widely accepted global networks, and feature an industry-leading, comprehensive suite of travel protections that cover a wider range of travel setbacks than any other cards on the market. Cardmembers also have exclusive access to a dedicated Sapphire Reserve customer service team available 24/7 and who are specially trained to provide exceptional support tailored to cardmember needs.

    Points Boost: A New Way to Make the Most of Rewards

    Chase is also introducing Points Boost, an unmatched points redemption program with exclusive value for Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve for Business. Points Boost allows Sapphire Reserve cardmembers to redeem Ultimate Rewards points at a rate of up to 2x on rotating offers through Chase Travel. Cardmembers can use Points Boost to maximize the value of their points on premium air cabin tickets and select hotels, including The Edit by Chase Travel – an exclusive collection of over 1,100 hand-picked hotels and resorts around the world where Sapphire Reserve cardmembers get complimentary benefits like free breakfast and a $100 property credit.

    Access to Chase Sapphire’s Growing Lounge Network

    Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club’s network is strategically located in major airports across the U.S. including award-winning lounges at Boston Logan International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Philadelphia International Airport, with additional locations at John F. Kennedy International Airport, San Diego International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

    Cardmembers also have access to over 1,300 lounges with Priority Pass Select. Chase also announces Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport as a future Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club location, in addition to previously announced Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and Los Angeles International Airport.

    The New Chase Sapphire Reserve – More Value Than Ever

    Chase Sapphire Reserve now offers over $2,700 in annual cardmember value.

    Travel in Style

    Cardmembers receive a variety of high-value travel benefits and credits, including:

    • 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases, replacing 5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel

    • 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, replacing 3x points on all travel

    • $500 annual The Edit credit – Chase Travel’s collection of over 1,100 hand-picked hotels and resorts

    • Points Boost, the new points redemption accelerator program

    • With Points Boost offers, all cardmembers’ points will be worth up to 2x on thousands of both top booked hotels and flights with select airlines and hotels through Chase Travel.
    • For Chase Travel purchases not eligible for Points Boost Offers, points can be redeemed at a 1:1 rate on Chase Travel, replacing 1.5x on all Chase Travel purchases.
    • Points earned prior to October 26, 2025 by Sapphire Reserve cardmembers who applied prior to June 23, 2025 can be redeemed at 1.5x on Chase Travel until October 26, 2027. For points earned prior to October 26, 2025, cardmembers will automatically receive the best offer available, whether it’s Points Boost or 1.5x on Chase Travel, maximizing rewards value for two years.

    • Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status

    • Cardmembers continue to receive:

    • $300 annual travel credit – still the most flexible travel credit available
    • $120 Global Entry, TSA Precheck or Nexus credit every four years
    • Access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club network of airport lounges and entry to over 1,300 lounges with Priority Pass Select and more than 20 select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés when traveling on a Star Alliance airline
    • Complimentary access to Reserve Travel Designers with end-to-end travel planning from custom itinerary to trip support
    • The most comprehensive suite of travel protections available through built-in benefits that cover a wider range of travel setbacks than any other card including primary car insurance and trip cancellation

    Elevated Dining Benefits

    Exclusive dining benefits include:

    • A new $300 annual dining credit and primetime reservations at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables, available for booking on OpenTable

    • Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables is a growing list of hundreds of restaurants across the country curated by The Infatuation and OpenTable in collaboration with The Visa Dining Collection

    • 3x points on all dining purchases worldwide

    Curated Lifestyle Rewards

    Cardmembers receive new annual credits in areas they value including entertainment and everyday spending categories:

    • $250 annual value through complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music

    • $300 annual StubHub credit on concert and event tickets

    • $120 in annual Lyft in-app credits, up to $10 monthly, plus 5x total points on eligible Lyft rides

    • $300 annually in monthly DoorDash promos and complimentary DashPass membership worth $120 annually

    • 10x points on eligible Peloton equipment and accessory purchases and up to $120 in annual statement credits toward Peloton memberships

    Premium Benefits Unlocked with $75,000 Spend

    Cardmembers can earn additional status and credits after spending $75,000 each calendar year:

    • IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status

    • Southwest Airlines® A-List Status and a $500 Southwest Airlines credit when booked through Chase Travel

    • $250 credit to The Shops at Chase, a new online shopping experience designed exclusively for cardmembers allowing them to shop for brands including Dyson, Sony, Therabody and Tumi, with rotating promotions, using their ultimate rewards points or their card to pay

    The annual fee is now $795 with a $195 annual fee for authorized user cards, and no foreign transaction fees. Cardmembers who applied prior to June 23, 2025, will experience these new benefits and features starting October 26, 2025. Their annual fee will be adjusted to $795 on their next anniversary date following October 26, 2025.

    Learn more about the new Chase Sapphire Reserve today!

  • How Buying Points Helped Me Fly My Family to Europe in Business Class for Less Than $900 Each

    How Buying Points Helped Me Fly My Family to Europe in Business Class for Less Than $900 Each

    Flying business class to Europe as a family of four? Most people think that’s a once-in-a-lifetime splurge. But with a little strategy, the right timing, and the right tools, I made it happen for a fraction of the cost.

    Here’s the full story of how I saved over $10,000 on our flights and turned a dream family trip into reality.

    Step 1: Catching the Points Sale of the Year

    In late 2024, Hawaiian Airlines ran a 100% bonus sale on miles. When you know how to use points, deals like this are impossible to pass up. I didn’t hesitate. I bought around 320,000 Hawaiian miles for $4,064.00 because I knew I could put them to work later.

    But here’s what made this special.

    At the time, there was a workaround that let you transfer Hawaiian Airlines miles to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. This was huge. Normally, getting points into Alaska is difficult, but this Hawaiian path opened up access to some of the best award redemptions in the game.

    I didn’t know exactly when I would use the miles, but I knew the opportunity was too good to miss.

    Step 2: The Search for Four Business Class Seats

    Fast forward to February and March 2025. I started searching for four business class tickets from the West Coast to Europe for a late spring or early summer family trip.

    Finding four seats in business class on the same flight? That’s not easy. But it’s possible if you know where to look.

    I spent weeks searching, checking routes, flipping through dates, and running searches across multiple airlines. I knew I needed a tool that could keep up with me and help me move fast.

    That’s why I used PointsYeah’s Daydream Explorer. It’s fast, flexible, and my absolute go-to for finding award flights. You can search across programs and dates in seconds, which saves a ton of time and opens up flights most people miss.

    Then I found it.

    Four business class seats from Las Vegas to Frankfurt on Condor Airlines for just 70,000 Alaska miles per ticket.

    Finding one seat at that rate is pretty rare. Finding four on the same flight? That’s tough, but this is exactly what Daydream Explorer is built for. It helped me spot this deal quickly before it was gone.

    I stared at the screen, double-checked the dates, the cabin, the taxes. I refreshed the page. I ran the search again. I triple-checked everything just to be sure.

    It was real. And I knew I had to move fast. Deals like this don’t wait around. If you hesitate, they’re gone.

    So I booked them immediately.

    The trip was locked in.

    The Final Numbers:

    • Total Miles: 280,000 Alaska miles
    • Cash Paid: $196.80 in taxes and fees

    Just out of curiosity, I checked the cash price for those same flights on Google Flights.

    $14,080 for 4 people.

    I booked them for less than $900 per person. That’s a savings of over $10,000.

    That’s not a discount. That’s a major win!

    Step 3: Flying in Style

    When the day finally came, it all felt surreal. We weren’t crammed in economy. We weren’t worrying about sleep, legroom, or whether our kids would be miserable for ten hours. We were flying in comfort. We were flying in business class.

    Boarding Condor’s A330, we settled into wide, spacious seats that fully reclined into beds. The cabin was quiet. The service was smooth. The food was surprisingly good. And when we took off, I had this moment of realizing this is why I chase points. It’s not just about saving money, it’s about creating moments that make travel easier, more enjoyable, and more memorable.

    The flight was perfect. We dined, we slept, and we landed in Frankfurt feeling refreshed, rested, and genuinely excited to kick off our European adventure.

    When you travel with your family, this matters. Arriving well-rested changes everything. It sets the tone for the entire trip.

    And the best part? I didn’t need to spend $14,000 to make it happen.

    This is the power of points. This is why I play the game.

    How Daydream Explorer Made It Happen

    It’s not just fast. It’s not just easy. It’s built to help you find flights most people miss. I could quickly scan wide-open date ranges, mix and match departure cities, and explore hidden opportunities that would have been buried in endless airline searches.

    While others are still clicking through airline websites, I’m already booking.

    If I wasn’t using Daydream Explorer, I never would have found those four seats. I never would have pulled this off.

    Looking back, this whole experience changed how I think about buying points.

    Buying Points Can Be a Game-Changer When It Makes Sense

    This trip really opened my eyes to what buying points can unlock. It’s not something I do for every trip, but when the right opportunity shows up, it can make a huge difference.

    When there’s a big sale, when you’ve done the math, and when you can actually find the seats you want, buying points can be the key to getting incredible value. It can turn flights that seem completely out of reach into something that’s possible.

    I didn’t buy points just to have them sitting in my account. I bought them because I had a real plan and a real way to use them.

    Buying points isn’t always the answer, but sometimes, it’s exactly what makes trips like this happen.

    Important: The Points Game Is Always Changing

    When I bought Hawaiian miles last year, the Hawaiian-to-Alaska transfer path was wide open. It was one of the best workarounds in the game. That path has since closed, and it’s a perfect reminder that these windows don’t stay open forever.

    Award programs, transfer partners, and sweet spots are constantly shifting. What works today might be gone tomorrow. We’ve seen it happen with Virgin Atlantic’s rising fees, Emirates’ recent Amex transfer devaluation, and other changes across the points landscape.

    The key takeaway?

    Maximize transfer bonuses and partner sweet spots while you can, but don’t move points speculatively. Wait until you find a real, bookable flight. Programs can devalue, transfer ratios can shift, and award space can vanish overnight.

    There will always be new deals, but the industry moves fast. Staying ready, staying flexible, and using the right tools is how you stay ahead.

    Final Takeaway: You Can Do This Too

    Buying points when the math works out can be one of the smartest moves in points travel. You don’t have to be an expert. You just need to:

    • Be ready to act when a deal drops.
    • Use the right tools, like Daydream Explorer, to search smarter and faster.
    • Trust the process.

    This is how you win with points.

  • Seat Alerts: Lock In the Seats You Actually Want

    Seat Alerts: Lock In the Seats You Actually Want

    When you book a flight, you focus on getting the deal: the miles, cash price, routing, or program. But once it’s booked, the seat itself can still make or break your trip.

    Even after you’ve locked in your flight, getting the seat you want isn’t always guaranteed.

    Airlines constantly shuffle seat availability behind the scenes. Aisles free up. Exit rows open. Blocked or preferred seats get released. Families change assignments as their plans shift. If you’ve ever refreshed the seat map again and again, hoping your ideal seat appears, you know how tedious it can be.

    That’s exactly why we built Seat Alerts.

    With Seat Alerts, you set your preferences once, and we’ll monitor the seat map for you. Whether you booked with points or paid cash, we keep watching in the background and notify you when your preferred seat becomes available. No more daily checks. No more missed windows.

    Real Situations Where Seat Alerts Make a Difference

    Even when your flight is booked, the seat map often isn’t fully settled. Airlines are constantly shifting inventory behind the scenes, and that creates opportunities if you’re paying attention.

    Seat Alerts are built for moments like these:

    • You booked, but only middle seats were available at the time.
    • Your family or group is split across multiple rows and you want to move together.
    • Exit rows, bulkheads, and extra legroom seats that are held back may open closer to departure.
    • Schedule changes or equipment swaps can free up better rows.
    • Airlines release blocked or elite-only seats as the flight date gets closer.
    • You’re trying to move farther from lavatories, galleys, or the very back of the plane.

    Instead of checking the seat map every day, Seat Alerts monitor these changes for you and send an alert as soon as your preferred seat opens up.

    Works for Cash or Award Tickets

    Seat Alerts track the seat map itself, not how you paid for the ticket. Whether you booked an award flight, paid cash, or used a credit card portal, you can set Seat Alerts on any eligible flight. We monitor the seat map directly and let you know when the seat you want becomes available.

    Simple to Set Up

    You can create a Seat Alert in two ways:

    Option 1: While searching

    • Run a live search and select the flight you’re interested in.
    • Open the seat map.
    • Click “Create Seat Alert.”
    • Select your seat preferences:
      • Any seat
      • Any aisle seat
      • Any window seat
      • Exit rows
      • Two or three seats together
      • Select specific seats manually
    • Once active, we’ll monitor the flight and notify you if your seat opens up.

    Option 2: From your account settings

    Submit your alert and we’ll handle the monitoring in the background.

    • Go to Manage Seat Alerts.
    • Click “Create Seat Alert.”
    • Enter your flight details:
      • Departing from
      • Going to
      • Operating carrier
      • Flight number
      • Cabin
      • Your seat preferences
    • Submit your alert and we’ll handle the monitoring in the background.

    Free and Premium Options

    • Free members can set up to 4 active Seat Alerts.
    • Premium members can set up to 32 active Seat Alerts.

    Seat Alerts are live and available for all users while we continue to refine and expand the feature. As we gather feedback, we’ll keep improving coverage and monitoring behind the scenes.

    Seat Alerts are one more way PointsYeah helps take the hassle out of award travel. Combined with tools like live searches, Daydream Explorer, Points Price Alerts, and Hotel Alerts, you’re always one step ahead when it comes to booking smarter and traveling better.

    See you in the skies!

  • Amex Business Platinum review: Massive 200k-point bonus

    Amex Business Platinum review: Massive 200k-point bonus

    American Express is a PointsYeah.com Advertiser

    So you’re a business owner searching for the perfect travel rewards card? If you’re looking for the cream of the crop, the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is the creamiest.

    The card is stuffed with benefits which can easily be worth well over $1,500 in value each year. And its current welcome bonus is one of the highest we’ve ever seen.

    Here’s everything you need to know about the Amex Business Platinum Card — and a quick look at how powerful its rewards can be.

    How do American Express Membership Rewards points work?

    How to earn American Express Membership Rewards points

    The Amex Business Platinum Card offers a strong bonus offer, 200,000 American Express Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

    You’ll also earn points for your everyday spending at the following rates:

    • 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com
    • 2 points per dollar on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers
    • 2 points per dollar on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million per year (only the highest bonus applies if multiple would qualify)
    • 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

    How to use American Express Membership Rewards points

    There are plenty of fun ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points when you’ve got the Amex Business Platinum Card — but the best options involve travel. For example, you can redeem your points for:

    • Airfare through Amex Travel at a rate of 1 cent each. And when booking business- or first-class seats, you’ll get a 35% rebate on your points (a feature exclusive to the Amex Business Platinum) — effectively making your points worth ~1.5 cents each
    • Hotel stays through Amex Travel at a rate between 0.7 and 1 cent each

    But to unlock the most potential from your Amex points, convert them to into airline miles and hotel points.

    It’s possible to get exponentially more value from your points by transferring to the below travel partners (transfers are 1:1 unless otherwise specified).

    Aer LingusChoice HotelsIberia
    Aeromexico (1:1.6)DeltaJetBlue (5:4)
    Air CanadaEmiratesMarriott Bonvoy
    ANAEtihadQantas
    AviancaFlying Blue (Air France and KLM)Qatar Airways
    British AirwaysHawaiian AirlinesSingapore Airlines
    Cathay PacificHilton Honors (1:2)Virgin Atlantic

    You can use PointsYeah to find flights between your home airport (or anywhere else) to all over the world with Amex points. Just filter your search to display only flights that can be booked with Amex Membership Rewards.

    With this card’s 200,000-point bonus, there’s virtually nowhere you can’t go. Here’s a quick snapshot of award prices for flights you can book from the U.S. with Amex points.

    You can even use the PointsYeah Hotels tool to find and book fancy hotels with your rewards. When I first opened the Amex Business Platinum Card, I transferred part of its bonus to Hilton for a stay at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives — a resort where villas routinely cost over $2,000 per night!

    Is the Amex Business Platinum Card worth a $895 annual fee?

    The Amex Business Platinum Card’s $895 annual fee (rates and fees) isn’t the easiest to shrug off. But here’s the thing: Annual fees aren’t as scary as they sound.

    As long as you can organically squeeze more value from a credit card’s benefits than you spend on the annual fee, it’s a great deal! Examine the Amex Business Platinum Card’s benefits and then do some simple math.

    Statement credits galore

    The Amex Business Platinum Card offers over $1,000 in annual statement credits alone. If you can use even a fraction of them, the card could be a fair deal.

    First are the travel-focused credits, such as:

    • Up to $600 in annual credits on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel. You get up to $300 twice per year. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
    • Up to $200 in annual Hilton For Business credits. Eligible purchases made directly with Hilton properties qualify.
    • Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits. Choose a participating airline and use this to offset charges like checked bags, pet fees, seat upgrades, and more.
    • Up to $209 CLEAR Plus credit per year. CLEAR helps you speed through select airport security checkpoints.

    Terms apply.

    Then there’s the business-focused credits:

    • Up to $120 in annual wireless credits. Get up to $10 per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a U.S. provider.
    • Up to $360 in annual Indeed credits. Receive up to $90 back per quarter for Indeed expenses.
    • Dell Technologies credits. Enroll to get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S. purchases directly with Dell each year, plus an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same card per calendar year.
    • Adobe credit. Enroll to get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year.

    Enrollment required for some benefits.

    Perks to enhance your travel experience

    • Up to $120 in TSA PreCheck/ Global Entry credit. These “trusted traveler” programs get you through airport security in a hurry. You get to keep your shoes and belt on (instead of throwing them in a grungy gray bin) — and you can even keep your laptop and TSA-approved toiletries in your bag. Global Entry also expedites your entry back into the U.S. when returning from abroad.
    • Airport lounge access. No travel card on the market gives you access to more airport lounges than the Amex Business Platinum Card — Over 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries worldwide. You can visit super fancy Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (eligible same-day Delta ticket required), Plaza Premium lounges, Priority Pass lounges*, and more. Airport lounges are a travel game-changer.
    • Access to American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts. You can book over 2,600 top-tier luxury hotels through an exclusive platform to get special benefits like free breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, late checkout, and a property credit (typically worth $100+).
    • Hotel elite status. You’ll get complimentary Gold elite status with both Marriott and Hilton. This comes with perks like bonus rewards on paid stays, welcome amenities, free upgrades when available, and more.*
    • Rental car elite status. Receive Hertz President’s Circle status, National Executive status, and Avis Preferred Plus status.* These come with perks like free upgrades, bonus points on paid reservations, etc.

    * Enrollment required for some benefits.

    High-quality insurance

    The Amex Business Platinum Card delivers some of the best travel insurance around. As long as you pay with your card, you’ll be covered. Here are some highlights:

    • Trip delay insurance. When your flight is delayed by at least six hours (or requires an overnight stay), Amex will give you up to $500 for “reasonable expenses” — meals, a night at a hotel, that type of stuff.
    • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance. When you book round-trip travel with your card, you’ll get up to $10,000 in coverage per trip (max $20,000 per 12-month period) to reimburse you for prepaid nonrefundable travel that causes you to cancel or shorten your trip for a covered reason.
    • Rental car insurance. The Amex Business Platinum Card only confers secondary rental car insurance (meaning it’ll cover you for whatever your personal insurance doesn’t). HOWEVER, you can opt into Amex’s Premium Car Rental Protection for a small fee per rental. This gives you primary insurance and more comprehensive coverage than virtually any other card on the market.
    • Cell phone protection. Get up to $800 in cell phone insurance (max two claims per 12-month period) against damage or theft. You’ll just have to pay a $50 deductible. This protection is automatic as long as you pay your monthly phone bill with the Amex Business Platinum Card.

    Is the Amex Business Platinum Card right for you?

    The Amex Business Platinum Card isn’t for everyone. Even if the card’s benefits easily justify its price point, it’s not exactly painless to pony up the $895 annual fee (rates and fees). Ask yourself these questions to decide if the card is a fit for you.

    Can you spend $20,000 within the next three months? To earn the card’s enormous 200,000-point bonus, you’ll have to make $20,000 in purchases within three months. If you can meet that by making purchases you’d normally make (don’t go into debt just to earn points!), the bonus alone is worth trying the card out for a year to see if it complements your business and personal goals.

    Are you a big spender? If your business makes a lot of large transactions, the Amex Business Platinum Card is one of the best cards for you. That’s because it’s a No Preset Spending Limit (NPSL) card, meaning you don’t have a firm credit limit. Instead, Amex will learn your spending habits and give you more purchase power when you need it.

    Plus, the card earns 2 points per dollar for transactions of $5,000 or more (again, capped at $2 million in spending per year).

    Do you fly at least a few times each year? Some of the card’s best benefits are related to air travel. From up to $200 in airline incidental credits to fantastic airport lounge access to trip delay insurance , flyers specifically will squeeze the most value from the Amex Business Platinum Card.

    Can you organically use a few of the card’s business-centric cards?

    Does the nature of your business take advantage of the card’s many hundreds of dollars worth of annual business credits? If you spend money on services from Indeed or Adobe anyway, the Amex Business Platinum Card is almost certainly a good deal for you.

    Is the Amex Business Platinum Card easy to get?

    The Amex Business Platinum Card isn’t “hard to get.” If you’ve got a credit score above 700 — and you own a business — you shouldn’t have a difficult time opening this card. Just a couple notes:

    • If you’ve earn the welcome bonus for the Amex Business Platinum Card before, you aren’t eligible to earn it again. Amex abides by a once-in-a-lifetime rule when it comes to card bonuses.
    • You must own a business. Whether it’s a multi-million dollar enterprise or you simply drive for Uber or run an Etsy shop, you must have a for-profit venture to open the Amex Business Platinum Card.

    And here’s another fantastic thing about American Express: If you already have an Amex card, American Express can often let you know if you’ll be approved for a card before you formally submit your application. No crossing your fingers after you hit the “Apply Now” button.

    So yeah, that’s the deal

    The Amex Business Platinum Card currently offers 200,000 points after meeting minimum spending requirements.

  • ​​Travel Freely: The Free App That Helps You Travel More and Spend Less

    ​​Travel Freely: The Free App That Helps You Travel More and Spend Less

    At PointsYeah, we’re always looking to spotlight resources that help travelers do more with less. That’s why we’re thrilled to feature Travel Freely: a free app built for everyday people who want to maximize their points, stay organized, and earn over $2,000 in free travel each year.

    Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone who already has a stash of points, Travel Freely removes the guesswork, helping you make smarter decisions about which cards to get, when to use them, and how to manage it all effortlessly.

    What is Travel Freely?

    Travel Freely was created by Zac Hood, a former teacher and non-profit director who discovered the world of travel rewards after booking his proposal trip to Southern France entirely with points. From there, he developed a system to stay on top of card offers, deadlines, and upgrades—without spreadsheets or stress. That system became the Travel Freely app.

    Now available on both web and mobile (iOS + Android), Travel Freely helps users:

    • Organize all your credit cards in one place 
    • Track welcome bonuses, annual fees, bonus deadlines, and downgrades
    • Track your 5/24 number
    • Organize card strategies for individuals, couples, and even small businesses

    And the best part? It’s 100% free. No upsells, no locked features—just great tools that help you travel better.

    🏆 Travel Freely users average over $2,000 in free travel per year—and some go much further.

    Why Travel Freely Works

    What makes Travel Freely stand out is how it turns a complicated subject into something intuitive and approachable. You don’t need spreadsheets or advanced knowledge. The app does the heavy lifting so you can focus on enjoying the journey.

    ✅ Beginner-Friendly Onboarding

    Step-by-step guidance helps you understand the landscape and start strong—even if you’ve never used a rewards card before.

    🃏 CardGenie™ Personalized Recommendations

    The app recommends the optimal cards for your situation, factoring in bank rules and your existing lineup.

    📅 Smart Reminders for Bonuses & Fees

    Get notified before annual fees hit or deadlines expire. Never miss a bonus or downgrade window again.

    👥 Built for Couples & Businesses

    Track credit cards for yourself, a partner, or your business—all in one place. Perfect for maximizing rewards as a team.

    🔐 Security-First Design

    Travel Freely doesn’t ask for sensitive logins or personal data. You simply input your card names and open dates, and the app handles the rest.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Over 2,000 4.9-star reviews on the App Store and features in outlets like Business Insider speak to how widely loved—and trusted—Travel Freely really is.

    Who Is Travel Freely For?

    New to rewards? Travel Freely will guide you from start to finish, helping you avoid common pitfalls while you earn your first free trips.

    Already experienced? Say goodbye to spreadsheets. Use the built-in 5/24 tracker, deadline alerts, and personalized offers to stay on top of your strategy.

    Couples & Families? Coordinate cards and double your earning power with shared tracking and timelines.

    Why Travel Freely and PointsYeah Belong Together

    Travel Freely and PointsYeah make a powerful pair for anyone serious about optimizing their travel.

    • Travel Freely helps you keep track of your rewards cards and stay organized to maximize your point-earning.
    • PointsYeah helps you redeem those rewards for maximum value—whether it’s a dream hotel or a last-minute flight deal.

    From first steps to first class, this duo takes the complexity out of free travel and turns it into something simple and exciting.

    Try Travel Freely Today

    If you’re looking to simplify your travel rewards journey—or just want to earn more free travel on your regular spending—Travel Freely is a must-try.

    👉 Try Travel Freely for Free

    No credit card required. No ads. Just a beautifully designed platform with one mission: to help you travel more, spend less, and enjoy the process.

    Written in collaboration with our friends at Travel Freely.

  • What’s New on PointsYeah: May 2025 Feature Roundup

    What’s New on PointsYeah: May 2025 Feature Roundup

    At PointsYeah, we’re always building tools to make award travel easier and more personal. Our May 2025 updates help you search smarter, plan faster, and get more from your points.

    Seat Alerts Are Here

    Tired of checking back to see if the seat you want is available? Now you don’t have to.

    With our new Seat Alerts feature, you can set a notification on any search result. We’ll alert you when the seat opens up—whether you’re avoiding the middle seat, trying to sit together as a family, or looking for a better row. It works quietly in the background so you can set it and forget it.

    This feature is currently in beta.

    Set a Seat Alert →

    PointsInsider Is Now Live

    We launched PointsInsider, our new content hub built for travelers who want to go deeper. It’s your go-to space for strategies, tips, and insights—whether you’re just getting started or you’re already optimizing every point.

    Expect posts on how to spot hidden value, navigate tricky programs, and stay updated on award trends. We believe smart travelers are informed travelers.

    Explore PointsInsider →

    Heart Your Favorite Airports

    You can now heart airports to save them as favorites. When entering your departure or destination during a live search, your favorited airports will appear at the top of the dropdown. That means fewer clicks and faster decisions—especially helpful if you fly out of the same hubs regularly.

    This small change can save real time, especially for frequent flyers juggling multiple searches.

    See It in Action →

    flydubai Now Bookable with Emirates Skywards Miles

    You can now search and book flydubai flights through the Emirates Skywards program. Emirates is the only major loyalty program that allows redemptions on flydubai—and now PointsYeah brings that access to your searches.

    Why this matters:

    • flydubai serves over 120 destinations, many not easily reached otherwise
    • Several routes are monopoly markets, giving you unique redemption opportunities
    • Coverage includes the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, and beyond

    This adds serious value for anyone trying to reach cities that aren’t well-served by traditional carriers.

    Search Emirates & flydubai →

    Start Your Next Award Search

    With Seat Alerts, flydubai access, smarter airport selection, and our new PointsInsider blog to guide you, there’s never been a better time to run a search.

    Search Now on PointsYeah →

  • Amex Business Gold Card review

    Amex Business Gold Card review

    It’s made of heavy metal and it’s gold-colored. It must be good, right?

    The American Express® Business Gold Card is one of the best rewards cards for small businesses. It offers hundreds of dollars in statement credits each year; its return rate for common purchases is confusingly high; it’s got a substantial six-figure welcome bonus after meeting minimum spending requirements.

    Let’s examine the Amex Business Gold Card to help you decide if it’s a good pickup for your situation.

    How do American Express Membership Rewards points work?

    How to earn American Express Membership Rewards points

    The Amex Business Gold Card comes with 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

    That’s a big deal. Amex points are some of the most valuable travel rewards in existence. With 100,000 points, you can book a bucket list trip to just about anywhere for pennies on the dollar.

    The card is also great at earning points on everyday business expenses. Most impressive is its 4 points per dollar on the top two eligible bonus categories in which you spend the most each billing cycle (for up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, then 1x). Eligible categories include:

    • U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
    • U.S. purchases at gas stations
    • Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
    • Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
    • Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
    • U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software/cloud system providers

    This is an above-average return to say the least. You’ll also earn:

    • 3 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
    • 1 point per dollar for all other eligible purchases

    How to use American Express Membership Rewards points

    Amex Membership Rewards points are a potent and easy-to-use tool in your travel utility belt. Here are some popular ways to use them:

    • Transfer them to airline and hotel loyalty programs partnered with American Express (typically the best way to stretch your points the furthest).
    • Book airfare through Amex Travel at a rate of 1 cent each.
    • Book hotel stays through Amex Travel at a rate between 0.7 and 1 cent each.
    • Redeem for cash back at a rate of 0.6 cents each

    As award travel enthusiasts, we always suggest that you transfer your points Amex travel partners. You can convert your Amex points into points and miles with the below programs (transfers are 1:1 unless otherwise specified).

    Aer LingusChoice HotelsIberia
    Aeromexico (1:1.6)DeltaJetBlue (5:4)
    Air CanadaEmiratesMarriott Bonvoy
    ANAEtihadQantas
    AviancaFlying Blue (Air France and KLM)Qatar Airways
    British AirwaysHawaiian AirlinesSingapore Airlines
    Cathay PacificHilton Honors (1:2)Virgin Atlantic

    PointsYeah will help you to quickly find reasonably priced flights FROM anywhere TO anywhere (try out our Daydream Explorer — it’s totally free).

    You can even filter your results to exclusively show seats that you can book with American Express Membership Rewards.

    With this card’s 100,000-point bonus, there’s virtually nowhere you can’t go. In fact, you can even go many places in a fancy lie-flat seat.

    For example, I was able to book a business class flight on American Airlines between Charlotte (CLT) and Paris (CDG) for just 55,000 Amex points and $19 in fees by transferring points to Hawaiian Airlines* (and onto Alaska Airlines). *Transfer ends 6/30/2025

    Is the Amex Business Gold Card worth a $375 annual fee?

    The Amex Business Gold Card charges a $375 annual fee (rates and fees). But don’t let that scare you off. It’s astonishingly easy to recoup your money from its valuable perks.

    If the below features are worth $375 or more to you, the card is an easy win.

    Annual statement credits

    The Amex Business Gold Card has a few easy-to-use statement credits that can save you hundreds each year:

    • Up to $240 in annual “Flexible Business Credit.” You’ll receive up to $20 in monthly statement credits toward eligible U.S. purchases made with FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores.*
    • Up to $155 in annual Walmart+ Credit. When you pay for a monthly Walmart+ subscription with your Amex Business Gold, you’ll get up to $12.95 (plus taxes) in credits each month to offset the cost (excludes Walmart’s “Plus Ups” subscription). Walmart+ comes with perks like exclusive discounts, free delivery from the store, and Paramount+.*
    • Amex Offers. Within your American Express online account are digital coupons that you can manually add to your card. These can save you money on purchases you already planned to make. American Express drops new offers all the time, so it’s worth checking back often.*

    *Enrollment required for some benefits

    Travel benefits

    The Amex Business Gold Card isn’t overtly a travel card (though it earns American Express Membership Rewards points, which are most powerful when redeemed for travel). Still, the card has a couple noteworthy travel perks:

    • The Hotel Collection. American Express handpicks more than 1,000 upscale hotels that, when booked through Amex Travel, come with elite status-esque benefits like room upgrades (when available) and a $100 property credit per stay. You must book at least two consecutive nights to qualify for these perks.
    • Travel insurance benefits. When you pay for your travel with the Amex Business Gold Card, you’ll get trip delay insurance, rental car insurance, baggage insurance, and more.

    0% intro APR offer

    The card offers 0% intro APR on purchases for the first six months from account opening, then 18.49% – 27.49% variable (see rates). Handy for those who foresee some business expenses that’ll need floated for a few months.

    Is the Amex Business Gold Card right for you?

    The Amex Business Gold Card is easily worth its annual fee for many — but not all. If you answer yes to even one of the below questions, chances are it’s a good deal for your lifestyle.

    Can you spend $15,000 within the next three months? To earn the card’s enormous 100,000-point bonus, you’ll have to spend $15,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. If you can achieve that with purchases you’d normally make, the bonus alone is motivation enough to give the card a test run. If you decide after a year that it’s not worth paying the annual fee, you can cancel or downgrade it in 12 months.

    Do you spend a lot in the card’s 4x categories?

    Earning 4 points per dollar is a nearly unprecedented return. If your business spends just a couple thousand bucks per month in categories like U.S. restaurants and U.S. gas stations, you could earn around 100,000 bonus points each year.

    Will the card’s statement credits actually save you money?

    The card’s up to $20 in monthly credit toward merchants like Grubhub and FedEx can be as good as cash to those who already make those types of purchases. Same goes for the monthly Walmart+ credits. If you already subscribe to Walmart+, it’s an effortless money saver.

    Is the Amex Business Gold Card easy to get?

    The Amex Business Gold is reasonably easy to get as long as your credit score is good (preferably 700+) and you’re a business owner.

    If you’ve already got an American Express card, Amex will likely let you see if you’re approved for the card before you formally apply. That way you won’t incur a hard credit inquiry for nothing.

    So yeah, that’s the deal

    The Amex Business Gold Card currently comes with 100,000 bonus points after meeting minimum spending requirements. In the rewards credit card world, this bonus is far above average.

    If you’re a business owner (whether you operate a coffee shop or you’re simply an Instacart delivery driver), the Amex Business Gold Card could be a fantastic addition to your wallet. It earns points quickly, and its ongoing benefits can save business owners serious money.

    For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.

  • Personalize Your Experience for Smarter, Faster Searches

    Personalize Your Experience for Smarter, Faster Searches

    Award flights don’t last long. The best deals disappear quickly, and wasting time scrolling through options you wouldn’t book can mean missing out on the ones you would.

    That’s why PointsYeah lets you personalize your entire search experience. With just a few quick settings, you’ll start seeing results that match your travel habits, your points, and your preferences.

    Whether you’re a casual traveler or a points pro, a few smart tweaks can save you hours—and help you book the trips you actually want.

    Here’s how to make PointsYeah work for you.

    Set Your Home Airport

    Most travelers fly from the same few airports again and again. If you live near a major hub like LAX or JFK, you might have dozens of good options. If you’re closer to a smaller airport, you want to avoid seeing results from places you’d never drive to.

    By setting your home airport (or multiple home airports), you tell PointsYeah where to focus. Your results will prioritize departure cities that actually make sense for your travel plans. You’ll avoid irrelevant routes and stop wasting time on flights that are logistically impossible.

    It’s one of the easiest ways to make your searches faster and more focused.

    Set Your Home Airport →

    Choose Your Preferred Bank Programs

    This setting is all about showing results you can use, not just deals that look good on paper.

    If you mostly earn points through Chase, for example, it doesn’t help to see a long list of options that require Amex or Capital One transfers. You can go into your settings and choose only the bank programs you use. Once selected, PointsYeah will filter your results to show only the flights that can be booked with those points.

    This is especially useful when you’re trying to book quickly or work within a limited balance. Every result you see is bookable with the points you already have.

    Choose Bank Programs →

    Exclude Airlines You Don’t Use

    Not every airline fits every traveler. Maybe you avoid airlines with high surcharges. Maybe you’ve had a bad experience. Or maybe your elite status is with a specific alliance and you prefer to stay within it.

    Whatever the reason, you can remove unwanted airlines from your results entirely. Once excluded, you won’t see their flights in your live search results, keeping your options relevant and aligned with your preferences.

    This is a great way to clean up your search results and avoid clutter that slows you down.

    Exclude Airlines →

    Set Your Own Points Value (Premium Members Only)

    This is one of the most powerful features for Premium members.

    Instead of using a fixed point value for everyone, you can assign your own custom values for each bank or airline program. This tells PointsYeah how you value your points, and we’ll sort and highlight results based on your personal valuations.

    If you think Chase points are worth 1.7 cents and Avianca miles are only worth 1.2, we’ll factor that into your results. Flights that offer strong value based on your settings will rise to the top, and flights that aren’t worth it will move down the list.

    It’s a smarter way to evaluate redemptions, especially when you’re comparing programs or trying to decide which points to spend.

    Set Your Own Points Value →

    Fine-Tune with Advanced Filters

    Once your main settings are in place, you can go even deeper. PointsYeah gives you the option to customize:

    • Cabin class: Only want to see business or first class? Easy.
    • Max taxes and fees: Set a cap so you don’t get surprised at checkout.
    • Airline & Hotel programs: Focus on the ones where you earn or redeem.
    • Corporate codes: Add your company discount codes for hotels.
    • Sort order: Prioritize by lowest points, shortest flight time, or other factors.

    These advanced options help shape every search around your goals, whether that’s getting the best deal, flying in comfort, or avoiding long layovers.

    Fine-Tune Filters →

    Why Personalization Matters

    The more you personalize, the more relevant your results become. Instead of wading through dozens of options, you’ll zero in on the ones that make sense for you.

    You’ll book faster. You’ll make better use of your points. And you’ll avoid the frustration of missing a great deal because your screen was full of flights you wouldn’t take.

    Try It for Yourself

    It only takes a minute to update your settings, and the benefits are immediate.

    Personalize My Search →

    If you’re already a Premium member, don’t forget to use advanced tools like custom point values and extra alerts. If you’re not Premium yet, this is one of the best reasons to try it.

    Less clutter. Better results. Easier bookings. That’s what personalized travel planning looks like.

  • 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.