I hope everyone has enjoyed the holiday season and that the new year is off to a great start for you. For this week’s newsletter, I’ve asked TPG’s senior editorial director, Nick Ewen, to share one of our favorite topics: why everyone should earn transferable credit card rewards and why they’re so valuable. While I’m out on leave, you can follow along on my Instagram @briankelly.
Happy New Year,
BK
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New Year’s resolutions take a variety of forms — from exercising and eating healthier to finally kicking a bad habit.
But this year, why not add one that can help elevate your travels in 2025 and beyond?
Experienced award travelers know exactly what I’m talking about, but if you’re still early in your points and miles journey, there’s one thing you can do to amplify your rewards: Focus on transferable credit card currencies.
Don’t get me wrong; earning cash back on your everyday spending is great. It’s flexible, easy to use and has a (relatively) fixed value.
But therein lies the power of transferable rewards — the ability to get even more out of your spending. In some cases, you can get two, three or even five times more value when you take advantage of sweet spots with these programs.
If I’ve already lost you, don’t worry. It can be relatively complicated. But the TL;DR version is this: Many credit card issuers partner with airline and hotel loyalty programs, allowing you to convert rewards to points or miles in those programs. This gives you incredible flexibility since you’re not locked into fixed award rates — nor are you forced to book with a specific airline.
This can be particularly valuable when booking luxury hotel rooms or premium-cabin flights since those typically carry hefty cash price tags but can often be booked for comparatively few points or miles.
Here are just a few of the transfers I’ve made over the years:
Converted 95,000 American Express Membership Rewards points to ANA Mileage Club miles to book a $6,000, round-trip, business-class flight to the Philippines.
Transferred 39,000 Capital One miles to Emirates Skywards to upgrade a business-class flight to first class (standing at the airport counter, no less).
Moved 87,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt to book a three-night stay in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, a stay that would’ve otherwise been nearly $2,000.
The best part? You can earn these rewards on a variety of cards — including some with no annual fees.
So, if you’re looking for a concrete way to maximize your rewards this year, focus your attention on transferable currencies.
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Photo Credit: NICK EWEN/THE POINTS GUY.
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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.
