PointsInsider

Tag: Transfer Partners

  • Current credit card transfer bonuses: Aug 2025

    Current credit card transfer bonuses: Aug 2025

    How to stretch your rewards with transfer bonuses

    Current credit card transfer bonuses 
    Transferable rewardsTransfer partnerTransfer bonusExpires
    Capital One MilesAvianca LifeMiles15%Aug 31, 2025

    Credit card transfer bonuses are promotions that incentivize you to convert your bank points into airline miles and hotel points. These promotions can help you squeeze considerably more travel out of your credit card rewards.

    You’ll typically receive between 15% and 40% more rewards than usual during a transfer bonus. For example, Capital One miles normally transfer to Avianca LifeMiles at a 1:1 ratio — but during a 20% transfer bonus, the conversion rate improves to 1:1.2. That means you’ll get 1,200 Avianca LifeMiles for every 1,000 Capital One miles you transfer.

    You’ll likely see plenty of transfer bonuses for airline programs you’re not a member of or familiar with, but you might find some surprises. With a bit of algorithmic wizardry, PointsYeah will help you to use these promotions to save points on your upcoming flights.

    How to spot credit card transfer bonuses

    Credit card transfer bonuses come and go with little notice — and only a handful of airline and hotel loyalty programs are eligible for a bonus at any given time. This makes staying updated on current transfer bonuses a bit challenging for the average user.

    The good thing for you is -> you’re a PointsYeah user.

    There are two ways you can stay informed about valuable transfer bonuses with PointsYeah:

    1. Bookmark this page. We keep the above chart updated just for you.
    2. Search for flights through PointsYeah. The search result card will show you whenever there’s a transfer bonus and even calculate the number of points required, factoring in the bonus.

    One final option is to check directly with the bank or airline’s website. Depending on who funds the promotion, the bank or the airline, is where you will find the information. If you don’t see the transfer bonus on your bank transfer portal, it is likely one you would see the T&C on the airline site, while still transferring through the bank portal.

    Pretty simple, Yeah?

    Credit card transfer bonuses are automatic. Just transfer your bank points to participating airline or hotel loyalty programs during a transfer bonus, and you’ll automatically get extra rewards.

    Remember to bookmark this page to keep on top of current transfer bonuses. And if you want to learn more ways to stretch your points and miles, sign-up for the PointsYeah newsletter. More tips = more trips!

    Old credit card transfer bonuses (July 2025)
    Transferable rewardsTransfer partnerTransfer bonusExpires
    Chase Ultimate RewardsAir Canada Aeroplan20%Jul 2025
    Citi ThankYou PointsAir France/KLM Flying Blue20%Jul 2025
    American ExpressAvianca LifeMiles15% (hosted by LM, wont see on Amex site) Jul 2025
    Old credit card transfer bonuses (June 2025)
    Transferable rewardsTransfer partnerTransfer bonusExpires
    Chase Ultimate RewardsVirgin Atlantic Flying Club25%Jun 2025
    Citi ThankYou PointsWyndham Rewards25%Jun 2025
    Old credit card transfer bonuses (May 2025)
    Transferable rewardsTransfer partnerTransfer bonusExpires
    Citi ThankYou PointsVirgin Atlantic Flying Club30%May 2025
    Capital One MilesQantas Frequent Flyer20%May 2025
    Chase Ultimate RewardsAir France/KLM Flying Blue25%May 2025
    Old credit card transfer bonuses (Apr 2025)
    Transferable rewardsTransfer partnerTransfer bonusExpires
    Amex Membership RewardsEtihad Guest20%Apr 2025
    Chase Ultimate RewardsIHG Rewards80%Apr 2025
    Citi ThankYou PointsAvianca25%Apr 2025
    Old credit card transfer bonuses (Mar 2025)
    Transferable rewardsTransfer partnerTransfer bonusExpired
    Capital OneEthiad Guest40%Mar 2025
    Amex Membership RewardsQatar Airways20%Mar 2025
    Chase Ultimate RewardsBritish Airways Executive Club20%Mar 2025
    Chase Ultimate RewardsAer Lingus20%Mar 2025
    Chase Ultimate RewardsIberia Plus20%Mar 2025
    Chase Ultimate RewardsMarriott Bonvoy50%Mar 2025
    Old credit card transfer bonuses (Feb 2025)
    Transferable rewardsTransfer partnerTransfer bonusExpired
    Citi ThankYou pointsQatar Airways20%Feb 2025
    Amex Membership RewardsAvianca LifeMiles15%Feb 2025
    Amex Membership RewardsHilton Honors25%Feb 2025

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Product spotlight: Hotels

    Product spotlight: Hotels

    Today, we are shining a light on our hotel vertical.

    Some of the most memorable parts of a trip come from where you wake up. That’s why using your points for hotel stays is one of the most rewarding ways to travel!

    Often missed by many of users, our 3 core hotel products give users the tools to book their next trip in confidence, whether that is with points or with cash.

    From overwater bungalows in the Maldives to boutique hideaways in Rome, PointsYeah helps you turn your points into five-star stays, weekend escapes, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

    Hotel Live Search

    Search your next destination and compare Points vs Cash in real time

    Starting your search is intuitive, just select your destination and stay window like any OTA. From there, instantly see award nights and cash pricing side by side across loyalty brands like Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, and more.

    Our filter options are extensive, allowing everything from filtering on your favorite loyalty program to only searching for free nights that are given to you based on your status or cobranded credit card.

    You can even sort here by CPP, a unique option only available on our hotel product.

    Daydream Explorer: Hotel Collection

    Get inspired by our hand picked collection of 2,000+ point hotels around the globe

    Discover hotel deals from luxury resorts to boutique hideaways and hidden gems, all inside the Hotel Collection.

    For those familiar with our Daydream Explorer product for flights, you will find a similar view tied to our hotel collection. In our starting map, search for far flung destinations you have never heard of to get inspired for your next trip.

    Prefer visuals of the hotel instead of a map to get started? We have you covered.

    Click on the “List view” button to be brought to our hotel collection homepage. Here, you can browse our full collection, with some of our favorite hotels tagged as Featured properties.

    One feature that we love to use ourselves is our calendar view. To find this, click on the calendar icon, found on the hotel card at various points in the funnel

    From here, we are able to see a comparison of cash vs points across a full month at a time.

    This is great for finding those hard to get award nights at some of the most exclusive properties around the world.

    Hotel Alerts

    Set your alerts and let PointsYeah do the heavy lifting

    Similar to flight price point alerts, our hotel alert product is there so that you can avoid constantly checking the hotel website. Whether you

    • Booked a refundable cash fare and want to book the same room at a lower price
    • Booked an award room and want to see if it lowers
    • Are waiting on a price to go below a certain threshold

    Hotel Alerts are the product for you. Just click the 🔔 bell icon next to a result, and that’s it! You’re covered.

    Free members can track up to 4 hotel alerts. Each unique stay is tracked as 1 alert. Premium users unlock up to 15, great for planning trips or keeping tabs on dream stays.