With the airline continuing its promise to expand member benefits, here’s what you need to know about Alaska’s latest announcement — and how you can capitalize on the new perks.
Redeeming Alaska Companion Fares on Hawaiian flights
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
According to a press release, starting midsummer, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members will be able to use their Alaska Airlines Companion Fare certificate on any Hawaiian Airlines flight within North America. The noteworthy Companion Fare lets you bring one travel companion on a round-trip Alaska Airlines flight (which will now include Hawaiian Airlines) for just $99 (plus taxes and fees from $23). Note that the certificate is only valid for coach travel; however, companion fares are eligible for upgrades.
Though the companion fare was previously limited to Alaska Airlines flights, because of the merger, cardholders will be able to use their certificate on Hawaiian Airlines flights within North America. Hawaiian’s unique route network and wide-body fleet, including its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft with lie-flat seats and direct aisle access in Leihoku premium class, could potentially open up all sorts of ways to maximize the benefit of flying Alaska or Hawaiian.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan promises that further details regarding this expanded benefit will be provided in the coming months.
Alaska Airlines announces more loyalty program benefits
ALASKA AIRLINES
While Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members will have to wait until the summer for the companion fare benefit, some other perks are now available or will be introduced by the end of April.
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines cardholders receive free checked bags
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature and Alaska Airlines Visa Business cardholders now receive one free checked bag for themselves and up to six guests on the same reservation when using their cobranded credit card to book Hawaiian Airlines-operated flights.
If you are a Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® holder, you will receive two free checked bags when using your card to book Alaska Airlines-operated flights; however, this benefit only applies to the primary cardmember.
The information for the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Expanded seat selection options for Alaska elite members
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Starting April 24, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K elite members can select a complimentary Extra Comfort seat when booking a main cabin fare on Hawaiian Airlines.
Currently available on Hawaiian’s Airbus A330 and A321neo and Boeing 717 and 787 aircraft, the Extra Comfort seats provide additional legroom, early boarding, priority security screening at select airports, personal in-seat power charging on select aircraft and amenity kits on select international flights.
As announced in October 2024, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members can now choose to pick from a menu of milestone perks when they hit the following elite qualifying miles:
10,000 EQMs
30,000 EQMs
55,000 EQMs
85,000 EQMs
150,000 EQMs
200,000 EQMs
250,000 EQMs
The perks differ for each milestone but include benefits like bonus miles, upgrade certificates, Wi-Fi passes, gifting MVP status, lounge passes and the ability to roll over EQMs.
Bottom line
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
The continued integration between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines is great for members of both airlines’ loyalty programs. The new luggage benefits are a perk to encourage Alaska Airlines cobranded cardholders to book with Hawaiian and vice versa, while Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan continues to improve and expand benefits for elite members.
While exact details have not yet been revealed, the ability to use the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare on Hawaiian Airlines’ long-haul services, such as its Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights, is a potentially game-changing addition to the new partnership.
Brightline is quickly becoming a fan favorite when it comes to getting around the state of Florida. Now, for the first time, it is launching its own rewards program.
The Florida-based rail line runs high-speed trains from Terminal C at Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Central Florida to Miami, covering 235 miles between 3 and 3 1/2 hours, and making around a half dozen stops along the way.
We’ve tried out the service several times over the years, and it’s been an exciting story to cover: a first-of-its-kind, private, intercity rail service in America.
On Friday, the company announced its own loyalty program called Brightline Rewards, which will offer customers ways to earn and redeem points on train rides throughout the Sunshine State.
The company planned to formally unveil the new loyalty program at an event later Friday morning in Miami.
“Our guests have always been at the center of everything we do,” Brightline Florida CEO Patrick Goddard told TPG. “Brightline Rewards is the next step in recognizing their loyalty.”
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Brightline Rewards
Brightline Rewards will offer frequent riders the opportunity to earn points on train rides.
The base rate will be 5 points per dollar spent on eligible Brightline purchases. A unique twist compared to the airline loyalty programs so many of us are accustomed to: You can earn points on multiple tickets. Whoever bought the tickets will get the points. So, if you book a train ride for yourself and some family members you’d earn all the points.
You can begin earning points on purchases after you opt in to the Brightline Rewards program starting Friday.
TPG’s Nick Ewen already enrolled, and immediately earned 500 Brightline Rewards points in his new account as you can see in the screenshot below. Brightline tells TPG this is a special offer select riders may see.
Brightline Rewards points showing in a user’s account. BRIGHTLINE
Note that Brightline does not, as of now, plan to award points retroactively on previous purchases.
Triple earnings this spring
To kick off the new loyalty program, Brightline is offering triple earnings for a limited time. Travelers who book anrd ride between now and June 3 will earn 15 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases.
BRIGHTLINE
Benefits stretch beyond points
As part of the new program, Brightline Rewards members will also get special savings in stations and receive exclusive access to deals, sweepstakes and events, the company said.
That includes 10% off for members at Mary Mary bars and Markt stores found in Brightline’s stations.
In an additional perk, loyalty members will also get early access to the flash sales the company occasionally holds for its train tickets.
Redemptions with Brightline Rewards
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
What can you do with Brightline’s new points? There are a variety of options.
Brightline Rewards members can redeem points for train rides. The company plans to offer options for total award bookings (in other words, a “free” ride) and a cash-and-points option, similar to what several airline and hotel loyalty programs offer to customers who don’t have enough miles or points to cover an entire booking.
How many points does it take for a redemption?
Now, the big question: How many points will a train ride cost?
Brightline plans to use dynamic pricing, the company told TPG.
That means the number of points you’ll need for a redemption will vary from one booking to the next. As a result, how many points you’ll need for a redemption will depend on several factors, including the type of seat and the popularity of travel dates.
For the sake of demonstration, here are specific examples the company provided.
A short-haul ride between Miami and West Palm Beach: For an example fare of $35, you’d need approximately 3,500 points to fully cover the booking.
A longer ride between Miami and Orlando: For a $75 fare, you’d need approximately 7,500 points to cover the ride.
That’s around one cent in value per point, in both cases.
We found similar value on redemptions we searched through Brightlien’s booking channels.
Here’s a ride from Orlando to Miami. For the cheapest Smart ticket (Brightline’s base fare), you could opt for the $39 fare — or a redemption of 3,900 Brightline Rewards points.
Brightline fares from Orlando to Miami. BRIGHTLINE
There are no points minimums to redeem, no blackout dates and no hidden rules.
One thing to note, however, is that your Brightline Rewards points will expire after a year of inactivity.
Points look to have a base value of one penny per point.
“Brightline Rewards was designed with our guests in mind,” said Barbara Drahl, Brightline’s senior vice president of marketing and commercial strategy. “We have intentionally made it really simple to sign up, really simple to join, simple to earn and to redeem.”
Redeeming points for ‘extras’
Drahl also pointed out that Brightline has no minimums for reaching points to redeem. To that end, the new program will allow members to redeem smaller sums of points for ancillary items like bags, concessions or upgrades to the premium cars.
“As soon as points are awarded after the ride is taken, a guest can use those points right back into their next upgrade, or purchase, or baggage, or any kind of ancillary item,” Drahl.
How to redeem Brightline Rewards points
It should be fairly straightforward to redeem your Brightline Rewards points:
Points can be applied during checkout when booking through the Brightline app or website. You can use points toward train tickets, upgrades, baggage fees, pet fees, daily parking, multiride packs and monthly parking. Guests will see the option to redeem points on the payment screen.
Members can show their Brightline Rewards digital card (in the app or saved in a mobile wallet) for 10% off at Mary Mary and Mrkt in the station.
To see your points total, log in to your Brightline account on the website or app and head to the Brightline Rewards section under “My Account.” You’ll see your current points balance, pending points and full transaction history.
Brightline partners
LOEWS HOTELS
While Brightline doesn’t have partners where you can earn or burn Brightline Rewards points, at least so far, the company is teaming up with several corporate partners, including Loews Hotels, Marriott Bonvoy and Major League Baseball.
Just one example?
Brightline guests receive an exclusive $100 food-and-beverage credit automatically applied when booking at these two Loews Hotels locations:
To kick off the program, the company is launching a sweepstakes with a 1 million-point giveaway. Guests who enroll in Brightline Rewards by May 30 will be automatically entered to win one of hundreds of prizes of points in increments ranging from 500 to 100,000. The company also told The Points Guy:
“A second way for Brightline Rewards Members to win a piece of the one million points giveaway is the Brightline Rewards Traveling Wall. Making its way to each Brightline station, the wall of envelopes contains rewards ranging from 500 points to food and beverage discounts. The Brightline Rewards Traveling Wall will make its way to each Brightline Station between now and April 14.”
Bottom line
Brightline has unveiled a fun new loyalty program called Brightline Rewards. You can now earn points on train travel on Brightline, and the company said you can expect to see more partners and ways to earn unveiled later this year. Among the deals they are working on are interline agreements with airlines.
Goddard, the company’s CEO, said they want to have a “first-class” loyalty program that will be familiar to airline loyalists. This could eventually also include various elite tiers, in the future.
There are lots of exciting things ahead for this innovative train company.
“We have for years been trying to convert people from driving their cars to taking the train,” said Goddard. “This is just another way for us and an effective way for us to create loyalty and to create adherence to our service in a market that otherwise is car-dependent. It’s really about creating an incentive for people to try Brightline if they haven’t done so before, or if they’re already riders, to ride more frequently.”
Airport lounges can serve as oases from a busy, crowded or outdated terminal. Some lounges, like Priority Pass, belong to a membership network; others are airline-specific, like the United Club lounge.
If you’re a loyal United flyer or frequent one of the carrier’s largest hubs, visiting a United Club lounge is probably already on your radar. However, the airline recently made some major access changes, affecting most flyers.
So, keep reading to find out more about getting into United lounges.
How to access United Club and Polaris lounges
The Chicago-based airline offers a network of standard lounges, dubbed United Club, and exclusive ultra-premium lounges for international long-haul business travelers and Star Alliance premium cabin, known as Polaris Lounge. Lounge access provides travelers with complimentary drinks, snacks, and high-speed internet, and select lounges offer amenities such as private relaxation areas, showers and more.
So, how does one gain access to United’s network of lounges?
United Club Newark. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Same-day boarding pass requirement
Though United announced several changes when it comes to accessing its lounge network, one requirement that isn’t changing is that you’ll still need a same-day boarding pass. This can also be a same-day boarding pass for a Star Alliance partner airline, like Lufthansa or Swiss.
United now has two tiers of paid membership for entry to the Club.
United Club individual membership:
Price: $750 or 94,000 miles
This membership offers unlimited access to all 45-plus United Club locations for the primary member only. There are no discounts available for United Premier members. Individual members can pay to bring guests into the lounge on a one-off basis; you’ll need to pay $59 for a one-time pass per guest.
Individual members do not have access to Star Alliance partner lounges.
United Club All Access membership:
Price: Varies depending on Premier status
MileagePlus Premier status
All Access annual membership cost
General member
$1,400 or 175,000 miles
Premier Silver
$1,400 or 175,000 miles
Premier Gold
$1,400 or 175,000 miles
Premier Platinum
$1,300 or 163,000 miles
Premier 1K
$1,200 or 150,000 miles
Global Services
$1,000 or 125,000 miles
All Access members can enjoy unlimited United Club access for the primary member and up to two guests, or one adult and two dependents under 18 years old.
This membership also includes access to all Star Alliance member lounges, as well as other select partner locations. All Access members can use any Star Alliance member carrier-owned or Star Alliance-branded lounge.
While these new membership plans are already effective for new sign-ups, existing members who signed up before March 24 won’t see any changes until their membership year expires. Upon renewal, members must choose between an individual or All Access plan (and pay the associated higher fees).
Note that lifetime United Club members have been converted to All Access plans.
TPG values United MileagePlus miles at 1.35 cents each, per our March 2025 valuations, so your best bet is to pay the annual membership fee with cash instead of miles.
Access United Club lounges with a Credit card
Having an eligible cobranded United credit card can be the most cost-effective way to consistently enter the United Club.
You can get lounge access with the following cards (note that some cards only offer one-time passes):
United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees): Receive United Club membership for you and your eligible travel companions at all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance lounges worldwide.
United Club℠ Business Card**: Receive United Club membership for you and your eligible travel companions at all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance lounges worldwide
* Starting May 1, one-time passes can only be used by the primary cardholder, an authorized user or a guest traveling with either cardmember; additionally, passholders can only use the pass within three hours of their scheduled flight departure.
** The information for the United Club Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Note that lounge membership earned via a cobranded credit card offers a unique access policy that includes entry for primary cardmembers, one guest and any dependents under 18 years old.
Cardmembers can unlock an All Access club membership (bumping up the guest allowance to two people and unlocking access to partner lounges) in one of two ways. The first is to earn Premier Gold status or higher in a given year, and the second is to spend at least $50,000 in eligible purchases on their cobranded card in a calendar year.
Since the annual fee on both the United Club Card and the United Club Business Card is $695, having a credit card to enter the lounge remains a more attractive option than outright buying a membership.
Additionally, the United Club Card and the United Club Business Card offer four one-time passes annually when cardmembers have an authorized user on their account and have unlocked an All Access Membership.
If you’d prefer to avoid the hefty annual fee, you can opt for the entry-level United Explorer Card or the United Business Card, both of which include two single-use United Club passes each year. Note that these day passes don’t include guest access, nor can they be transferred to friends or family who aren’t authorized users or accompanying a cardmember into the lounge.
Access United Club lounges with Elite status
Select Premier members can use United Clubs at any time during their travel journey.
United Premier Gold (and higher) members have access to United Clubs when traveling internationally on any Star Alliance carrier, regardless of their class of service. They can also bring along one guest departing on a Star Alliance carrier from the same airport (note that the guest must be traveling on the same flight).
Star Alliance Gold members who hold status with another partner airline can use the United Club with any same-day Star Alliance boarding pass, including during domestic United travel (again, guests must be traveling on the same flight as the elite member).
Since Jan. 1, 2021, United’s invite-only Global Services members can enjoy lounge access on all United-operated flights, including those operating exclusively within the United States. Note that this new perk only covers the Global Services member — you’ll only be able to bring a guest into the lounge with an All Access membership, eligible cobranded credit card or when flying internationally.
Access United lounges with Ticket type
Premium-cabin Star Alliance travelers can also use United Clubs, though the exact terms and guest privileges vary by ticket type, as seen below.
UNITED
United Club One-time pass
If you don’t travel enough to commit to an annual membership, you can also purchase day passes for $59 at United Club locations or through the United mobile app. Just note that day passes don’t guarantee entry during peak crowding periods.
Starting May 1, travelers using a one-time pass can only enter a United Club up to three hours before their scheduled departure time. This exclusively applies to departure flights, and there is no time limit for entry on connecting flights.
Note that grab-and-go Club Fly locations no longer accept one-time passes.
You can also earn one-time passes for free with select cobranded credit cards, including:
United Explorer Card: Two single-use United Club passes each year
United Business Card: Two single-use United Club passes each year
United Club Card: Four one-time passes annually when cardmembers have an authorized user on their account and have unlocked Club All Access Membership.
United Club Business Card: Four one-time passes annually when cardmembers have an authorized user on their account and have unlocked Club All Access Membership
Other United Club access
United’s lounges are open to a few other travelers, including:
Active U.S. military personnel: You’ll need to travel with a valid military I.D., a same-day United boarding pass and be dressed in uniform, or bring your leave orders or rest and recuperation papers.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Club members: Maple Leaf Club North America members can use any domestic United Club location, while Maple Leaf Club Worldwide members can use all locations worldwide and bring a guest for each visit.
Virgin Australia Velocity Gold, Platinum and VIP elite members: Members may visit United Clubs by presenting a same-day boarding pass for an international United or Virgin Australia flight departing from the same airport. You can bring one guest if you’re traveling with United.
United Polaris Lounge access
Of course, Star Alliance premium-cabin passengers also have access to United’s Polaris lounges, which offer modern furnishings, private spa-like shower suites and elevated culinary experiences.
Three types of passengers are eligible for Polaris lounge access:
Travelers in United Polaris business class: Available at departure, connecting and/or arrival airports (no guests).
Travelers in Star Alliance first class: Only available at the departure airport for a long-haul first-class flight (one guest).
Travelers in Star Alliance business class: Only available at the departure airport for a long-haul business-class flight (no guests).
United Club Fly Access
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
In addition to United Clubs and Polaris Lounges, the carrier operates a grab-and-go lounge concept called “Club Fly.”
The first such space opened in Denver in November 2022, and a second one opened in Houston in early 2025. Eligible travelers can enter Club Fly by scanning their boarding pass at the self-serve entry gate.
Once you get inside, you can raid the snack bar that’s stocked with packaged and prepared foods, and you can also order a coffee from the barista.
Given Club Fly’s focus on efficiency, the access policies are a bit different. All travelers eligible to enter a United Club or Polaris Lounge can visit Club Fly, but they cannot bring any guests. (This excludes active U.S. military personnel, one-time pass holders and Air Canada Maple Leaf Club members.)
United Club lounge Locations
You’ll find a plethora of United Clubs in the carrier’s main hubs, including:
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) — Five locations: three in Terminal 1 (near gates B6, B18 and C10), plus two in Terminal 2 across from Gates E7 and F9.
Denver International Airport (DEN) — Three locations: one near Gate B32, another near Gate B44 and a third near Gate A25. United Club Fly can be found near Gate B60.
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) — Five locations: one in Terminal A (across from Gate A9), one in Terminal B (south mezzanine), two in Terminal C (near Gate C1 and toward Gate C33) and one in Terminal E (between gates E11 and E12). United Club Fly can be found near Gates B12-20.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — One location adjacent to Gate 71A.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) — Three locations: one in Terminal A near Gate A27, and two in Terminal C near Gates C74 and C123
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) — Three locations: two in Terminal 3 (near Gate E4 and Gate F11) and one in the international terminal (between gates G6 and G9).
Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) — Three locations in the Midfield Terminal (near gates C7, C17 and D8).
Except for Denver, all of the mentioned airports have Polaris lounges.
Most of the other clubs are scattered across the U.S., including in airports such as Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), among others.
At first glance, the Disney® Visa® Card (see rates and fees) and the Disney® Premier Visa® Card (see rates and fees) may appear to be only for Disney superfans, but anyone who has a Disney vacation on the calendar or makes frequent Disney-related purchases can potentially benefit from the discounts, the perks and — most importantly — the elevated welcome offers on these cards.
We’ve rarely seen a welcome offer higher than what is available on these cards right now. In fact, this offer doubles the typical welcome offer for both cards. It won’t last forever, though, so here’s some additional information on each of the cards and their benefits so you can decide whether it’s worth applying now.
Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.
$0
Disney Premier Visa Card welcome offer
Of the two Disney Visa cards, the Disney Premier Visa Card has more perks and a higher welcome offer, but those benefits come at a cost. This card has an annual fee, whereas its counterpart does not.
Annual fee: $49
Welcome offer: Earn a $400 statement credit after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.
THE POINTS GUY
Is it worth it?
When you use this card to pay for a Disney vacation, the statement credit can offset a portion of your trip. If you’ve been considering applying for this card, now would be a good time to add the Disney Premier card to your wallet.
This card also offers theme park discounts and perks, including:
10% off eligible merchandise, dining and recreation purchases at select locations at Disneyland and Disney World
10% off select merchandise purchases aboard Disney cruises
15% off the nondiscounted price of select guided tours at Disneyland and Disney World
20% discount on tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s “Drawn to Life”
Exclusive photo-ops at the theme parks that are only available to Disney Visa cardholders
At home, you’ll also get a 10% discount on select credit card purchases at disneystore.com and up to $16.99 each month for up to three consecutive months in statement credits on qualifying Disney Bundle purchases.
In addition to the elevated welcome offers and special discounts, you’ll earn 5% back in the form of Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases made directly at disneyplus.com, hulu.com or espnplus.com; 2% back at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney locations in the U.S.; and 1% back on all other purchases.
You can redeem Disney Rewards Dollars toward select Disney vacation purchases at disneystore.com or by using Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature to redeem Disney Rewards Dollars for a statement credit toward airline purchases made with the card.
The earning rates are not as high as other low-annual-fee cards, and the redemption options are limited compared to cards with more flexible redemption options, but the discounts and theme park perks associated with this card can be beneficial for Disney vacations.
The Disney Visa Card offers theme park discounts and benefits similar to the Disney Premier but has no annual fee.
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.
THE POINTS GUY
Is it worth it?
The Disney Visa Card is similar to the Disney Premier Visa Card in many ways. You get the same theme park and shopping discounts, including:
10% off eligible merchandise, dining and recreation purchases at select locations at Disneyland and Disney World
10% off select merchandise purchases aboard Disney cruises
15% off the nondiscounted price of select guided tours at Disneyland and Disney World
20% discount on tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s “Drawn to Life”
Exclusive photo-ops at the theme parks that are only available to Disney Visa cardholders
The Disney Visa earns 1% back on all purchases. While any reward is good for a no-annual-fee card, other cards with no annual feeoffer a higher rate of return and better redemption options.
Both Disney Visa cards earn rewards in the form of Disney Rewards Dollars. With the Disney Visa, you can redeem those rewards for Disney shopping and vacation purchases or use them for a statement credit on eligible Disney-related purchases using Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature (though not toward air travel, as with the Disney Premier card).
Even with the $49 annual fee, Disney Premier offers a higher rate of return than this card, making it a better option for Disney fans unless you are only in the market for a card with no annual fee.
For more details, check out our full review of the Disney Visa Card.
Because many cards have earning rates and redemption options that surpass that of the Disney Visa cards, these cards are only suited for someone who can take advantage of the exclusive theme park perks and discounts. If you don’t fall into that camp, you may be more interested in a general travel rewards card or one of our other favorite cards for Disney vacations.
Considering these are the highest welcome offers we’ve seen on these cards in the last few years, you can get even more value if you apply now.
Remember, though, that these are limited-time offers — so you’ll need to act fast if you find one that suits your travel plans.
We’ve compiled transfer bonus updates for most major programs with transferable rewards to make tracking these offers easier. Just note that transfer bonuses are sometimes targeted, so some may not be available.
American Express Membership Rewards transfer bonus
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
You can currently transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeromexico Rewards with a 20% bonus through April 30. Since Amex points typically transfer to Aeromexico at a 1:1.6 ratio, this means 1,000 Amex points will net you 1,920 Aeromexico points — not a bad deal.
You can also earn a 20% bonus when you transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Etihad Guestthrough April 30. This offer is targeted; check your Membership Rewards account to see if you can access it — in which case, you’ll receive 1,200 Etihad Guest miles for every 1,000 Amex points you transfer.
To maximize the Etihad Guest transfer bonus, we suggest redeeming your miles on the airline’s long-haul flights, such as New York to Abu Dhabi. We’ve found first-class GuestSeat fares for 160,000 miles from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH). With this transfer bonus, you can book this international first-class ticket on the Boeing 787-9 for just 134,000 Amex points.
Booking American Airlines short-haul domestic Y fares with Etihad Guest miles is another great way to use this transfer bonus.
How to earn American Express Membership Rewards points
If you’re looking to earn more of these valuable points, the following American Express cards could prove useful additions to your wallet:
IHG One Rewards members can get an impressive 80% bonus when converting Chase Ultimate Rewards points into IHG points through April 30. That means a transfer of 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points would become 1,800 IHG points during this period.
For example, you could stay at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort (which usually starts at around 66,000 IHG points per night) for as little as 37,000 Amex points per night with this transfer bonus. Plus, if you stay three nights on points, you’ll get your fourth night free.
How to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points
If you want to earn more Chase Ultimate Rewards points, the following Chase cards could make good additions to your wallet:
Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees): Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG’s March 2025 valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents each when maximized with travel partners. Most Ultimate Rewards transfers will process instantly.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, plus a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year.
Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Citi ThankYou Rewards is offering a 25% transfer bonus when you convert your ThankYou points to Avianca LifeMiles by April 12. Since Citi normally transfers to Avianca at a 1:1 ratio, this means you’ll get 1,250 LifeMiles for every 1,000 ThankYou points you transfer.
This bonus could help you save points on your next redemption and partially offset Avianca’s recent devaluation. For example, you could book an 80,000-point business-class ticket to Europe for just 64,000 Citi points.
How to earn Citi ThankYou Rewards points
These Citi credit cards could make useful additions to your wallet for earning Citi ThankYou Rewards points:
Citi Rewards+® Card: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 on purchases within three months from account opening. Plus, earn 5 bonus ThankYou Rewards points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions via the Citi travel portal through Dec. 31. (Note: You must pair this card with a premium Citi ThankYou card to access a full-fledged, transferable ThankYou points account.)
The information for the Citi Rewards+ has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card(see rates and fees): Earn three free night awards after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Each night is valued at up to 50,000 points; certain hotels may have resort fees.
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn three free night awards after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. Each free night award has a redemption level of up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, for a total potential value of up to 150,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.
According to TPG’s March 2025 valuations, Marriott Bonvoy points are worth 0.7 cents each. Review our tests of Marriott transfer times before transferring points, since some airlines take a few days (or even weeks) to receive the points.
We only recommend transferring points or miles if you have a short-term plan to use them. Many programs have implemented devaluations over the last few years, so speculative transfers could prove a losing proposition. Transfers are irreversible — and you don’t want to be stuck with thousands of points or miles in a program you have little use for.
If you don’t have a specific redemption in mind but still want to earn points or miles, you’re likely better off earning rewards through card welcome bonuses and everyday spending.
And we always recommend you ensure award availability before transferring your rewards.
Bottom line
When a program with a transferable currency offers a transfer bonus, it’s important to run the numbers to determine whether it is worthwhile.
Generally, you won’t want to transfer your points or miles without a specific redemption in mind. After all, a large part of the value of transferable points and miles comes from their flexibility — which you’ll give up when you convert them to a partner’s currency. However, a transfer bonus can help you get more value from your points and miles if you use a partner program frequently or plan to redeem soon.
