Credit Card Points 101: Maximize Your Flight Savings

The cheapest flight is a free flight. And with the right credit card strategy, free flights from Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, or Huntsville are absolutely achievable. Here’s your beginner’s guide to making it happen.

Why Points and Miles Matter

The Value Proposition

• Average credit card signup bonus: 50,000-100,000 points
• Average value of those points: $500-1,500 in travel
• Annual fees: $0-695 (often offset by perks)

Simple Math

If you spend $3,000/month on a 2% travel card:

• Points earned: 720,000/year
• Value: ~$720 in travel yearly
• That’s essentially a free flight every year

Types of Travel Cards

1. Airline Cards

Example: Delta SkyMiles Gold, Southwest Rapid Rewards

Pros:

• Direct miles to your preferred airline
• Often include free checked bags
• Priority boarding and perks

Cons:

• Locked into one airline
• Miles can devalue over time
• Limited transfer options

Best for: Loyal flyers who primarily use one airline

2. Flexible Points Cards

Example: Chase Sapphire, Amex Gold, Capital One Venture X

Pros:

• Transfer to multiple airline partners
• Often more valuable per point
• More redemption flexibility

Cons:

• Requires learning transfer partners
• Sometimes complex to maximize
• Higher annual fees typically

Best for: Flexible travelers who shop for deals

3. Cashback Cards

Example: Citi Double Cash, Capital One Savor

Pros:

• Simple to understand
• Can use rewards for anything
• No blackout dates

Cons:

• Often lower value than points
• No transfer partners
• Fewer travel perks

Best for: Those who prefer simplicity

Best Cards for Southern Travelers

For Delta Flyers (ATL Hub)

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express

• 40,000 mile signup bonus (typical)
• First checked bag free
• Priority boarding
• $0 first year, $150 after

For Southwest Flyers (BNA Hub)

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

• 50,000 point signup bonus (typical)
• Anniversary bonus points
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In credits
• $69 annual fee

For Flexibility

Chase Sapphire Preferred

• 60,000 point signup bonus (typical)
• Points transfer to United, Southwest, Hyatt, more
• $95 annual fee
• 25% more value when booking through Chase

How to Earn Points Fast

Signup Bonuses

The fastest way to accumulate points:

1. Apply for a card with a good bonus
2. Meet minimum spending (usually $3-5k in 3 months)
3. Collect bonus (often 50,000-100,000 points)
4. Wait 12+ months, repeat with new card

Daily Spending

Maximize category bonuses:

• Groceries (often 3-4x points)
• Restaurants (often 3-4x points)
• Travel (often 2-5x points)

Shopping Portals

Major airlines have shopping portals that give extra miles for normal purchases.

Redeeming for Flights

Direct Airline Redemption

Book directly on airline’s site using miles.

From ATL on Delta:

• Domestic economy: 10,000-30,000 miles roundtrip
• Domestic first: 30,000-60,000 miles roundtrip
• Europe economy: 60,000-80,000 miles roundtrip

Transfer Partners

Move flexible points to airline partners for better value.

Chase Ultimate Rewards top partners:

• United
• Southwest
• Hyatt (hotels)
• British Airways

Travel Portals

Book through your card’s travel portal (like Chase Travel).

• Simple process
• Fixed value per point
• Any airline available

Value Comparison

Card Type	Points Value	Best Use
Delta SkyMiles	1.2¢ each	Delta flights
Southwest RR	1.4¢ each	Southwest flights
Chase UR	1.5-2¢ each	Transfers or portal
Amex MR	1-2¢ each	Transfers

Beginner Strategy

Year 1

1. Get one good signup bonus card (suggest Chase Sapphire Preferred)
2. Meet the minimum spend normally (don’t overspend!)
3. Use the card for all regular purchases
4. Book your first free flight

Year 2

1. Decide if annual fee is worth it (usually yes)
2. Consider a second card
3. Learn transfer partners
4. Target a specific trip with points

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overspending for Points

Never buy things you wouldn’t buy anyway just for points.

2. Letting Points Expire

Most airline miles expire after 18-24 months of inactivity.

3. Poor Redemptions

Using 50,000 points for a $200 flight is wasteful. Aim for at least 1.5¢ per point value.

4. Too Many Cards Too Fast

Space applications 3-6 months apart. Too many hurts credit score.

5. Ignoring Fees

A $550 annual fee needs to be justified by $550+ in value.

The Payoff

With a basic strategy, most people can earn:

• Year 1: 100,000+ points ($1,000+ in travel)
• Year 2: 150,000+ points ($1,500+ in travel)
• Ongoing: 50,000+ points annually

That’s multiple free flights per year from your home airport.

Combine with Deal Alerts

Points work best with deals:

1. Sign up for Catch The Fare to find cheap flights
2. Use points for expensive flights
3. Pay cash for deal prices
4. Maximize every trip

The travelers who fly for almost nothing combine cash deals with smart points usage. You can too.