Guides

Redeeming Miles and Points for Auctions and Experiences

Brian KellyTPG Founder
Since launching TPG in 2010, founder Brian Kelly has expanded the team to include a distinguished editorial staff and an extensive network of freelancer contacts from around the globe. Today, TPG reaches 11 million unique monthly visitors and more than 3 million followers across social media platforms and has offices in New York City, Charlotte and the U.K.

June 25, 2012 • 6 min read

The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

I just had lunch the other day with a good friend of mine who redeemed 5,000 SPG points for tickets to see Madonna in Milan where tickets were going for well over $200, so he got at least 4 cents per point. I've redeemed in the past with SPG Moments and have generally gotten excellent seats and received the tickets in the mail soon after redeeming the points.

That being said, generally using points and miles for auctions is a poor redemption value compared to simply redeeming for airline or free hotel night awards. Of course, as with all things miles and points, you should do the math and calculate the value of the experience and see whether it makes sense for you. If redeeming for one of these experiences would greatly enhance your life, then go for it! Just promise not to buy a toaster with 100,000 of your valuable credit card points!

Here's a quick rundown of some of the auction programs out there. Feel free to comment on your experience with any of them.

Redeem your Starpoints for concerts, sporting events, and even movie premieres.

SPG Moments
VIP Access at the PGA Championship: 20,000 SPG points
Two VIP tickets to attend the 2012 PGA Championship at The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, SC, on Friday, August 10, 2012
Access to the SPG Skybox, which overlooks the 17th Hole and serves complimentary food and beverages
Shuttle service is provided from the Sheraton Charleston Airport Hotel to the course and back

Dinner at The Lambs Club with Geoffrey Zakarian: Starting bid 1,500 Starpoints
Two tickets to an exclusive dinner at The Lambs Club with Chef Geoffrey Zakarian on July 31, 2012
Tour of the kitchen
Meet and greet with Chef Geoffrey Zakarian.

Coldplay VIP Concert and Meet and Greet with the Band in The Hague: Starting bid 1,000 SPG points
Two general admission tickets to see Coldplay at the Malieveld in The Hague, Netherlands, on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Meet and greet, plus a photo op, with the band on Thursday, September 6, 2012

Saltimbanco by Cirque du Soleil in Doha: 5,000 SPG points
Two premium tickets to Saltimbanco by Cirque du Soleil on Thursday, July 5, 2012, at Aspire Arena in Doha, Qatar
A meet and greet with a Cirque du Soleil artist
Reserved parking for one car

Delta Skymiles can be used for more than just booking flights.

Delta Skymiles Online Auction
PAWN STARS TV Set Visit: Opening Bid 30,000 Delta Skymiles
Access to the set of PAWN STARS to watch the taping of an episode in Las Vegas, NV on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Meet and take photos with the PAWN STARS
PAWN STARS memorabilia

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Movie Premiere: Opening Bid 30,000 Skymiles
Two tickets to attend the World Premiere Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ THE DARK KNIGHT RISES on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 IMAX Theater in New York, NY
One THE DARK KNIGHT RISES movie poster

NASCAR Pure Michigan 400 with a Pace Car Ride & Winning Driver Photo: Opening bid 30,000 Skymiles
Two suite tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, MI
Two rides in a pace car which includes approximately two laps around the Michigan International Speedway
One parking pass
Two pre-race ‘cold’ pit passes and garage passes
Two Gatorade Victory Lane passes
One photo with the winning driver of the Pure Michigan 400

Use your United miles to bid on adventures.

Mileage Plus Auction
Costa Rica Luxury Vacation: Starting bid 50,000 miles
Roundtrip, economy airfare for two (2) to Liberia, Costa Rica, for July 14-19, 2012
Five-night stay at an Exclusive Resorts villa in Peninsula Papagayo
$400 gift card
Rental car

Lincoln Center Festival Season Pass Starting bid 5,000 miles
Two tickets to four shows at Lincoln Center for the Lincoln Center Festival Season

Los Angeles Dodgers First Pitch Experience - 7/16/12: Starting bid 10,000 miles
Four Dugout Club Seats, Section 3, Row CC, Seats 1-4, at Dodger Stadium
Early arrival to watch Dodgers batting practice
Photo with current Dodgers player or coach
Opportunity to participate in first pitch ceremony
Stadium Club access
Food and non-alcoholic beverages
Press Box tour and parking passes

The American Airlines AAdvantage Auction site.

American AAdvanage Auction
Bourne Legacy Movie Premiere: Starting bid 20,000 miles (Up to 250,000 miles now)
Be there in person at the official U.S. Premiere of The Bourne Legacy in New York City on July 30, 2012

Essence Music Festival- VIP Access: Starting bid 20,000 miles
Exclusive Essence Music Festival Gold Circle Tickets for Friday, July 6-Sunday, July 8
Two VIP Wristbands, for access to the daily Empowerment Seminars
Take a seat at the table with Gospel Recording Artist Kirk Franklin, one of the most dynamic and successful performers in gospel music history
Winner will enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner with Mr. Franklin

Some other auction sites include Priority Club Rewards Auction and Alaska Airlines Auctions.

While some of these can be good deals such as the SPG concert tickets for only 5,000 Starpoints, others are horrible such as the Bourne Legacy movie premiere for 250,000 miles. When looking, just make sure it makes sense to redeem for an experience or if it is better to hold your miles to redeem an award ticket that is a better value for you. Most of these sites are updated often with new auctions, so keep checking back if you don't see something you like now.
[card card-name='Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card – Bonus Point Offer' card-id='22145660' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']

Great offers from our partners

See current offers Find your best card with CardMatch™

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

TPG editor's rating

Apply now at American Express's secure site.
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

Rewards rate

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X	Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer

As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

Pros + cons

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

More details

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Here's a quick rundown of some of the auction programs out there. Feel free to comment on your experience with any of them.

Redeem your Starpoints for concerts, sporting events, and even movie premieres.

Delta Skymiles can be used for more than just booking flights.

Use your United miles to bid on adventures.

Lincoln Center Festival Season Pass Starting bid 5,000 miles
Two tickets to four shows at Lincoln Center for the Lincoln Center Festival Season

The American Airlines AAdvantage Auction site.

Some other auction sites include Priority Club Rewards Auction and Alaska Airlines Auctions.

Comments

By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.

Comments

Comments

Related stories

Real ways the TPG team maximizes the Sapphire Reserve's StubHub credit

How this underrated credit card perk got me into Harry Styles and the US Open

How to get presale access to Harry Styles’ Together, Together Tour 2026

Complete guide to earning and redeeming Avianca Lifemiles

TPG featured card

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

Comments

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons