How to redeem flights with credit card rewards
Whether it's redeeming flights, complimentary upgrades to first-class seats or exclusive airport lounge access, there are ways to strategically leverage your spending habits and turn them into redeemable miles.
To start earning your way to a free flight, here are some key steps you can take:
- Considering applying for a rewards credit card that allows you to earn miles or points.
- Consider joining an airline loyalty program.
- Consider putting as much of your usual spending as possible on your rewards credit card to earn points or miles.
- Redeem your earned points or miles from spend in exchange for a free flight.
In this article, we'll break down ways to choose a rewards credit card, ways to earn rewards, and how to redeem your points or miles.
Choosing a rewards credit card
If your goal is to earn flights, you may want to consider a travel rewards credit card. They can have several features.
Airline credit cards
One common way to work toward a free flight is with an airline credit card. Some credit cards are co-branded with specific airlines and offer rewards in the form of miles. Typically, these co-branded cards will offer bonus miles when you use the card to purchase flights on that airline. They may also reward you with miles for other non-travel purchases. As you accumulate credit card miles, you can put them toward a free or discounted flight.
Welcome bonus offers
Another way to earn miles is to apply for a rewards credit card that offers a welcome bonus or a sign-up offer. A welcome bonus is a reward, in the form of points, miles or cashback, for new cardmembers.
To unlock your bonus points, you'll likely have to spend a certain amount of money within a specified number of months after account opening. Because these bonus points can be substantial, you may be able to redeem them towards an airline ticket or even a free night at a hotel within a few months.
Spend categories
When choosing a rewards credit card, you may want to pay close attention to the shopping categories that earn accelerated rewards, which vary among cards and card issuers. When a card earns bonus points in spending categories where you shop the most, you may see earnings above and beyond the more common 1x on all purchases. Typical shopping categories include grocery stores, gas stations, dining or travel expenses.
Flexible redemption options
Some of the most versatile travel rewards cards offer flexible ways to combine and redeem your rewards. You may be able to redeem your rewards through cash back or gift cards, or even transfer your rewards to multiple hotel or airline loyalty programs.
Join an airline loyalty program
To complement the accumulation of credit card miles, you may also want to join an airline-specific loyalty program. These programs offer incentives and perks for your loyalty to that airline.
Typically, these programs are free to join and offer ways for customers to earn a currency, like points or miles, which can be redeemed with that airline. Redemption options may include flights and exclusive perks like waived fees or travel upgrades.
To earn credit for all the miles you fly, you need to receive a frequent flyer number. Then, each time you fly with that airline, you add your frequent flier number onto your reservation.
Travelers who use their co-branded airline credit card for all their purchases, plus enroll in that same airline's loyalty program could see the biggest bang for their buck when it comes to earning flights or valuable travel perks.
Start earning rewards
If your card earns points or miles on most purchases, putting many of your normal, everyday expenses on this credit card can earn more points. In addition to earning points with your everyday purchases, there are several other ways to boost your rewards.
Online shopping portal
Check if your credit card has an online shopping portal where you can earn more points on purchases with certain merchants, when you check out within their portal.
Earn an airline companion pass
Certain airlines offer a chance to earn a companion pass, which allows a second passenger to fly with you for free (not including taxes or fees). Check your card’s membership agreement to see if this benefit is included.
Authorized user
Add an authorized user to your account so their spending earns miles on your account as well. You may want to communicate with the user about your purchases and have a plan to pay off your balance in full at the end of each billing cycle.
Redeem your rewards for a free flight
Ready to redeem? Here comes the fun part. While the shortest flights may cost you 10,000 miles for a free ticket, sometimes you can redeem any amount of miles you have in your account to find reduced fares on participating airlines.
There are various places to redeem your rewards, and you may want to carefully weigh each option, depending on your number of miles, destination and any perks you may want. Here are some ways you can redeem:
- Credit card rewards portal: Log into your credit card issuer's rewards platform to see your reward and redemption options. You may be able to see reward rates for specific flights, rules about blackout dates, priority boarding passes and seat or hotel room upgrades. If you book travel through this platform, you may find the conversion rate is the highest value.
- Partner travel sites: Your credit card rewards program may have affiliations with travel sites through which you can redeem your miles. Check to see if you can transfer your rewards to these partner travel sites.
- Airline-specific loyalty platform: Some travelers may choose to redeem miles directly through an airline-specific loyalty program. Your loyalty account may also keep track of the miles you've earned and provide a clear selection of available redemption options, details about availability, restrictions, and more.
- Cash back towards a flight: When planning your travel, you may come across flights that have a low cash price, a high price in miles or some combination of the two. In that situation, you may be better off booking the flight with cash instead of redeeming miles.
Keep in mind that some credit cards are valued between a half cent and two cents per mile. You may want to work out the math to make sure the conversion makes financial sense. Converting miles into cash may reduce the payout to a half-cent or less per mile.
What else can my miles be redeemed for?
Depending on how you earned your miles and what type of reward or loyalty program you're enrolled in, there may be different redemption and value options available for you. Your credit card miles may be used to redeem:
- Flights
- Seat upgrades
- Hotel stays or room upgrades
- Priority check-in and free checked bags
- Credit towards in-flight meals or drinks
- Access to airport lounges
In conclusion
Flying tends to be one of the most expensive parts of traveling. However, it's possible to get a complimentary flights with some planning. Consider finding a credit card that offers a welcome bonus and the ability to earn miles on your most common purchase categories. You could join an airline loyalty program and redeem your rewards strategically. With some planning and patience, you'll be wheels up in no time.
