There’s a big myth that we feel compelled to bust every now and then, which is that getting outsize value from points and miles needs to be complicated.
Can it be? Sure – if you’re into that. (Which we, of course, are. But you may not be.)
But even the most valuable rewards programs offer simple earning and redemption options that deliver big value, without becoming your whole lifestyle or consuming the time you should be thinking about your business.
Today, we’re talking about:
🤑 The forgotten benefit that lured me back to these rewards (and keeps things simple)
🏆 An award-winning premium card that you won’t have to think twice about
Upgrades aren’t just for the lucky. Here’s how to tilt the odds in your favor
It can be frustrating to chase elite status with an airline, only to never see your loyalty rewarded with, say, the occasional upgrade to a better cabin.
Loyalists in this position have it a bit harder than they used to. Not just because status pools are getting wider and more competitive, but because airlines have been a lot more successful in selling upgrades to the highest bidder.
If you’re considering buying an upgrade, consider these five things first.
Because there are still lots of complimentary upgrades for the taking out there, you just may need to tip the odds in your favor a bit.
Here’s a quick playbook:
Be strategic about status. Mid-tier status with carriers like Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines often clears more consistently on off-peak routes than top-tier status does on hub-to-hub business routes.
Timing is key. Try to book for less-popular travel times. If you can fly out Tuesday instead of Monday morning, you’ll have better odds of getting upgraded.
Focus on the aircraft. Wide-body planes on domestic runs (like 767s or A330s) have more premium seats, which means more upgrade inventory. A 5:45 a.m. flight with 20 first-class seats beats a 3 p.m. flight with 12.
Use your rewards. Instead of hoping for complimentary upgrades, confirm in advance using rewards. Programs like Air Canada Aeroplan and American Airlines AAdvantage systemwide upgrades can lock it in before you even leave home.
Don’t book the lowest fare class. Basic economy fares won’t get you far. But even one fare bucket higher can dramatically improve priority.
It’s no surprise that after a year when premium credit cards went all-out on expanding benefits — and, in turn, hiked fees and became even more complicated — we chose the Capital One Venture X Business as the best business card of the year in the 2026 TPG Awards.
Here’s why:
High-value bonus: New cardholders can earn 150,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 in the first three months from account opening. We value Capital One miles at 1.85 cents apiece, making this bonus worth a whopping $2,775.
Simplicity: You earn an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases — no mental gymnastics. For a business owner (or anyone with meaningful reimbursable spending), that’s effortless scale. Big vendor payment? Two miles per dollar. Software bill? Two miles per dollar. Taxes? Two miles per dollar.
Cost-neutral: The card comes with a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles (worth at least $100 in travel). Those benefits alone offset the annual fee, and happen with zero effort from you. Just book something in Capital One Travel for the credit to kick in, and look for your bonus miles after each anniversary.
Valuable miles: Capital One miles move to partners like Air Canada Aeroplan and British Airways Club — opening up a world of outsize value in business-class redemptions and other sweet spots.
And the big one …
Lounge access: Access to Capital One Lounges and Landings locations, plus Priority Pass lounges. Even if this card weren’t cost-neutral, its $395 annual fee would still be the cheapest way to get that kind of lounge access.
If you have steady business spending and value earning a flexible travel currency, the Venture X Business isn’t just another premium card — it’s a scalable miles engine with built-in fee offsets, which effortlessly turns your expenses into premium travel.
VALUABLE BENEFITS
I stopped using this leading business card, but this forgotten benefit won me back
Sometimes, even the most enthusiastic points and miles hustlers lose track of important benefits — even gurus like Ed Pizzarello.
He had all but given up on using this leading business card because he wasn’t finding valuable ways to use the rewards.
The Transportation Security Administration plans to keep TSA PreCheck open after reports suggested the fast-tracked lanes could be closed amid the federal government shutdown.
The U.S. Department of State has created the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to keep you informed about security updates from the nearest U.S. Consulate.
These are the steps I took to book my first business-class flight with Virgin Atlantic for a trip to London, including how I transferred Amex points for the redemption.
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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. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
