Big Picture of the Points World

 Think of your points like a map with hidden highways. The chart I shared shows four main routes:


  • Credit cards → Airlines: Where most people start.
  • Credit cards → Hotels: A second path that’s often overlooked.
  • Airlines ↔ Airlines: Some programs secretly talk to each other.
  • Hotels ↔ Hotels: Yep, even hotel programs have a few bridges.



At a high level, it’s all about flexibility — your points aren’t stuck where they first land. With the right moves, you can redirect them and unlock options most travelers don’t even realize exist.


I’m not going to spell out every trick (where’s the fun in that? 😉), but you can see a lot more about this, along with a handy chart, in the files section in our Facebook group The Points Princess


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

✈️🌴 How I Turned Points Into a $14,300 Kauai Vacation 🌴✈️

  Here’s the quick math: I spent 300,000 points total The cash value of the trip (flights + resort + extras) was about $14,300 That means I got 5 cents per point in value ✨ 👉 Most people settle for about 1 cent per point. I squeezed 5× more out of mine. The trick? It’s not about how many points you have—it’s about how you use them. 💡 Want to see exactly how I pulled it off (and how you can too)?  Want more tips? Join our Points Princess Group on Facebook and follow the Points Princess Page to stay in the loop.
Read more

Why Pay Thousands for Business or First Class When You Don’t Have To?

Flying business or first class is the dream for many travelers—extra space, gourmet meals, champagne on takeoff, and the ability to step off the plane actually feeling human. But for most people, the price tag feels impossible. Let’s put it into perspective: A round-trip business class ticket from New York to London can cost $4,500–$7,000. Flying first class from Los Angeles to Tokyo? Expect $12,000–$16,000 round trip. A one-way Emirates First Class Suite from Dubai to New York can go for a jaw-dropping $20,000+. Yes, people really do pay that much. But here’s the thing— you don’t have to . There’s a Better Way Most travelers assume these kinds of luxury experiences are reserved for the wealthy or business executives. But that’s simply not true. There’s a way to get into the exact same seats, enjoy the exact same perks, and do it for a fraction of the cost. I’m not talking about last-minute deals or settling for a standby ticket. This is something far more powerful—and once you know...
Read more

Are Your Credit Card Points Just Sitting There?

  If you’ve ever looked at your credit card account and noticed a pile of points stacking up, you’re not alone. Most people have them—sometimes thousands—and they have no idea what to do with them. And honestly, it’s confusing. Are these points even worth anything? Should you spend them now, or save them for later? Maybe you’ve even thought, “I should just use these to pay off part of my statement and be done with it.” Meanwhile, you see other people somehow flying first class with points while you’re still wondering how yours even work. That’s the thing about credit card rewards: the programs are designed to be complicated. Every bank has different rules, the values change depending on how you redeem them, and the fine print makes it feel like you need a law degree to figure it all out. So, what happens? Most people just ignore their points, or they use them in the quickest, easiest way possible—not realizing they could be worth so much more. Here’s the good news: ...
Read more