Does a trip to Tromsø, Norway to see the Northern Lights sound like a good time? Use points and miles to get you there for less! Photo by: Evan Berman

Do you like games? No, this isn’t an ice breaker in an awkward first date. If you’re someone who likes to find tricks and secrets to help you win at games, travelling using points and miles is for you. Even if you don’t like games, but still like to travel, it’s also for you! If you don’t like to travel and don’t like games, I’m not sure why you’re here but thanks for reading anyway!

The 80/20 Principle is a famous theory that explains where results come from. 80% of results come from 20% of our efforts while the remaining 80% of our efforts only provide 20% of results. In short, by putting in a small bit of effort, you can achieve the majority of the benefits while freeing your energy for the challenges that you care about most. This can be applied to the points and miles game.

What is the Points and Miles Game?

Much of what I write about on this site shows you how to travel for less. There are many ways to accomplish this (cheap flights, buy one get one deals, win a raffle for a free trip, etc.) but a primary one is using hotel points and airline miles to “pay” for flights and hotel rooms. Great, you think, but uh how exactly do I do that? Let’s dive in.

1. Every hotel and airline has a “currency.” Some call them miles, others use points. Regardless, everyone has a system where you may collect and redeem a currency (other than dollars) for a flight/stay.
2. Each currency has a different value. Just like how $1 is not worth the same as £1 or ¥1, 1 Hilton Honors Point is not worth the same as 1 Hyatt Point and 1 American AAdvantage Mile is not worth the same as 1 JetBlue True Blue Point.
3. Credit cards offer the opportunity to earn transferrable points that may be transferred to many different programs, both hotels and airlines and both in the US and abroad.
4. You may also purchase points and miles for varying amounts. This is usually above the rate that you redeem them for, but there can be great value such as by “topping off” the remaining balance on a flight or stay.
5. The greatest value from airline miles always results from booking premium cabin (first or business class) international flights on partner airlines. That is, using American AAdvantage Miles will never result in better value for a domestic flight on American than for a first class redemption on Japan Airlines (for example).
6. The greatest value for hotel points usually results from booking either stays at luxury hotels or budget properties.
7. Versatility is key. Have only Hyatt points and you want to stay in a small town? Chances are those points won’t be useful. If you have the option use Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, Chase, OR Wyndham points you’ll have a lot more flexibility in where you stay!
8. Just like anything else, learning to play this game takes time. Start slow, practice a lot, and when it’s time to book your dream vacation, you’ll be ready!

Why Should I Play?

Short Answer: it opens up doors to travel experiences you never thought possible!

I don’t know about you, but I want to travel a lot and do not have unlimited resources. Luxury is terrific, but not cheap. Funny how that works 😉 . By opening up certain credit cards, learning the rules of the game and figuring out the secrets that many of the champion players love to use, you can start exploring and seeing the world for less!

Travel isn’t for everyone, but whether you want to trek in Nepal, sit on a beach in Tahiti, or give your parents the trip of a lifetime, playing the points and miles game is a great way to achieve these goals

How to Play?

Have you heard the saying that nothing worthwhile ever comes easy? If it were the case that playing this game was simple, everyone would do it, the airlines and hotels would go out of business and the game would cease to exist. However, if you follow these steps, you’ll have an idea of how to play the game:

1. Earn points (preferably transferable points) from a combination of credit card sign-up bonuses, ongoing spend, hotel stays/flights, and promotions such as stay 2 nights, get an extra 5,000 points.
2. Take the (considerable amount of) time to learn about airline alliances, award charts, dynamic pricing, and sweet spots.
3. Use the best resources, both free and paid, that help make this process easier.
4. Ask questions and read advice from experts on how to find the best deals, when and where to look, and other tips
5. Read this blog and other reports of past trips, deals, and tricks. Don’t necessarily assume that the same tricks that worked yesterday will work today. After all, “history never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.”
6. Flexibility is key, both in earning points and redeeming them. Can you fly on a Tuesday? You’ll have more options than only on Fridays and Sundays. Are you looking for a flight to Paris in the summertime? So is everyone else! Being flexible can provide lots of opportunities.

Future posts will dive into the specifics but as always, reach out with any questions. As long as you don’t take the last seat on the flight I want, I’m always happy to help! 😉

Evan