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Earning and Using Credit Card & Hotel Points

June 21, 2017
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6 min read
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Interested in using your credit cards to rack up points, but not sure how to go about it? Have you already earned tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of points and want to learn the best ways to use them for their maximum value? Then this is the FAQ page for you. See posts written by our highly knowledgeable team of points industry veterans, selected specifically to help you learn how to earn and burn like a pro.

Just want to know...

... What points are worth and if purchasing them is worth it? See our updated Points Valuations
... The best airline & hotel transfer partners? See: 10 Most Valuable Transfer Partners for Flights & Hotels
... The best cards to earn points on travel purchases? See: The 7 Best Cards for Travel Purchases
... The best way to keep track of your points and miles? See: How To Keep Track of Your Points and Miles

[table-of-contents /]

American Express - Membership Rewards

See: all things Membership Rewards

Earning points: Want to earn Amex Membership Rewards points? Sign up and get a huge bonus. Already did that? See this post:

Using Points: Want to use Amex Membership Rewards points? See these posts:

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For transferring your points to an airline or hotel, see the transfer partners, below:

Barclaycard - Arrival Miles

See: all things Barclaycard

Using Points: Want to use your Arrival Miles? See these posts:

Capital One - Venture Rewards

See: all things Capital One

Considering picking up a Capital One card? See some useful information, below

  • Is the Capital One Venture Rewards Card Worth Getting?
  • Why Capital One's Cards Aren't the Best for Award Travel

Chase - Ultimate Rewards

See: all things Ultimate Rewards

Earning points: Want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points? Sign up and get a huge bonus. Already did that? See this post:

Using Points: Want to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points? See these posts:

For transferring your points to an airline or hotel, see the transfer partners, below.

Citi - ThankYou

See: all things ThankYou Points

Using Points: Want to use your Citi ThankYou points? See these posts:

For transferring your points to an airline or hotel, see the transfer partners, below:

IHG - IHG Rewards

See: all things IHG Rewards

Using Points: Want to use your IHG Rewards? See these posts:

For transferring your points to an airline or hotel, see some related content, below.

Hyatt - World of Hyatt

See: all things Hyatt & World of Hyatt

Earning points: Want to earn World of Hyatt points? See this post about which cards to have:

Using Points: Want to use your World of Hyatt points? See this post:

For transferring your points to an airline or hotel, see some related content, below.

Hilton - Hilton Honors

See: all things Hilton

Using Points: Want to use Honors points? See these posts:

Ritz-Carlton - Ritz-Carlton Rewards

See: all things Ritz-Carlton

Using Points: Want to use your Ritz-Carlton or Marriott Rewards? See this post:

For transferring your points to an airline or hotel, see some related content, below.

SPG/Marriott - Starpoints/Marriott Rewards

See: all things Starwood
See: all things Marriott

Using Points: Want to use your Starpoints or Marriott Rewards? See these posts:

For transferring your points to an airline or hotel, see SPG transfer partners, below:

Can't find what you're looking for? Check out our guides or travel resources page. Still nothing? Shoot us an email and we'll do our best to get back to you: info@thepointsguy.com. If you'd like to see something added to this FAQ, send us a Facebook message with what you think we're missing. If your request is popular with other readers we'll add it!

TPG featured card

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

3.5 / 5
Go to review
Apply for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Apply now
for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

at American Express's secure site

Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

Rewards rate
3XEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
1XEarn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
Earn up to 125,000 Bonus Miles
Annual fee
$650
Regular APR
19.49%-28.49% Variable
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
Excellent to Good

Pros

  • Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
  • Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
  • Ability to earn MQDs through spending
  • Various statement credits for eligible purchases

Cons

  • Steep annual fee of $650
  • Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
  • Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
  • Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
  • $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
  • $650 Annual Fee.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees