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We regularly publish deals on buying points and miles at a discount. While it isn't usually your best bet for earning a lot of points and miles (you should focus on earning credit card sign-up bonuses instead), buying points can make sense in some situations. If you've decided to buy points or miles for an upcoming redemption, which credit card should you use?
That answer depends on which website you're using to buy points and miles. The way the purchase codes on your credit card varies, and you'll want to know how the purchase codes to maximize your earnings.
Here's a closer look at the best credit cards for buying points and miles.
Page Contents
Understanding Purchases and Merchant Category Codes (MCCs)
When making a purchase, it matters less exactly who you buy from and more how the purchase codes on your credit card statement. You can use AwardWallet's Merchant Category Code lookup tool to check purchases in advance. For example, you can see if a particular merchant will code as a “restaurant,” so you can use one of the best cards for dining purchases.
But back to the situation on hand, we want to know how it will appear on your credit card if you buy points and miles. Read on for what we've found for each program we track.
The Best Credit Cards for Buying Points and Miles
Here's a look at what credit card you should use to buy points or miles for your redemption based on what you're buying.
Buying from Points.com
Many rewards programs don't sell points directly. Instead, they use Points.com to process mileage sales. For example, when buying Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles, your credit card won't see this as a purchase from Alaska Airlines. That means your purchase won't code as “airfare” or “travel” on credit cards that have travel as a bonus category.
The following programs use Points.com to sell their points and miles. If there is a link on the program name, clicking on it will take you our guide to the program's latest deal to buy those points and miles with a discount or bonus.
Airlines
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Aeromexico Club Premier
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air Europa SUMA
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue
- AirMiles.ca
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Caribbean Airlines Caribbean Miles
- Copa Airlines ConnectMiles
- Emirates Skywards
- Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles
- Etihad Guest
- EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
- Finnair Plus
- Frontier Miles
- Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
- Iberia Plus
- Icelandair Saga Club
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- LATAM Pass
- Lufthansa Miles & More
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Radisson Rewards
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Southwest Rapid Rewards
- Spirit Airlines Free Spirit
- Turkish Airlines Miles& Smiles
- United Airlines MileagePlus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Virgin Red
- WestJet Rewards
Hotels
- Choice Privileges
- Hilton Honors
- IHG One Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Melia Rewards
- Radisson Rewards
- Shangri-La Golden Circle
- World of Hyatt
- Wyndham Rewards
In case it's not clear, that's most programs you might buy points or miles from. Only a few airlines sell miles directly.
Buying from the reward program directly
While most programs sell their points and miles via Points.com, a couple let you buy directly from the mileage program. These include:
Which credit card to use to buy points and miles
If you're buying from Points.com, these purchases won't code as travel. You should use one of these credit cards:
- Any credit card where you're working on a sign-up bonus. These are the best welcome offers available right now.
- Any credit card with perks you can unlock from spending, such as hotel free night awards, hotel elite status, or airline elite status.
- Your best credit card for everyday spending, such as the Citi Double Cash® Card or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
- Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on all other purchase
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔® (up to $120)
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
Related: The Best Rewards Credit Cards for Each Spending Category
If your purchase will code as airfare purchased directly from the airline, use these credit cards for their bonus earnings:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5X earnings on up to $500,000 of flights purchased from airlines or Amex Travel annually (then 1X)
- Citi Prestige® Card: 5X without limits (card isn't open to new applicants)
- Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (Rates & Fees): 4X without limits
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card: 4X without limits
- U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card: 3X without limits
- American Express® Gold Card: 3X without limits
- American Express® Green Card: 3X without limits
- Citi Strata Premier® Card: 3X without limits
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 4X without limits
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: 3X on the first $150,000 spent in bonus categories annually (then 1X)
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 2X without limits
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 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.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- 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.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
Related: The Best Rewards Cards for Travel Purchases
Exceptions where you might still earn a bonus
Although Points.com processes many points and miles sales, you might still be able to earn bonus miles on a mileage purchase.
One example is Southwest Rapid Rewards purchases. If you pay with a Southwest Airlines credit card and choose that option in the drop-down menu, you can earn the bonus multiplier your card provides for Southwest purchases.
Other Options to Consider Before Buying Miles
Before you pull out your credit card to buy points, consider your other options. You might be surprised to find that you don't really need to buy points or miles. Perhaps that program has transfer partners you could use to move points and miles into your account. Check out the AwardWallet Transfer Partners Tool for all of your options.
Alternatively, could you earn a credit card sign-up bonus with that program or one of its transfer partners and then make your redemption? Obviously, this requires some time, and award space could disappear while you wait. But, if time isn't an issue, earning points for no additional cost is the better option.
Earn More on Your Purchase With Shopping Portals
Whenever you shop online, you should use shopping portals. By adding just a few clicks before paying, you could add hundreds or thousands of extra points and miles to your purchase — on top of the points you're buying and what you earn from your credit card.
Generally speaking, Points.com purchases typically aren't eligible for shopping portal bonuses. However, you can occasionally click through programs like Rakuten to earn bonus cash back or American Express Membership Rewards points on your purchases. While this isn't always the case, it's worth checking before you complete your points and miles purchase.
At the time of writing, you could earn 1.25% cash back (or 1.25X Amex points) per dollar spent on currencies such as Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles, Hyatt points, Hilton points, and more.
Final Thoughts
If you've decided to buy points or miles, using the right credit card makes a difference and can lead to big returns on your purchase. Adding a shopping portal can multiply those earnings further. However, you need to know who is selling you the points and miles. Is it the rewards program itself or Points.com? That will dictate which card to use at checkout.
Before making a large purchase, it's always a good idea to make a small purchase first. See how that codes on your credit card to ensure you earn as expected and adjust if needed.
How often do you buy points and miles? What strategies do you use to maximize your earnings on these purchases?
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.