Award Programs Archives

Delta Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates: How To Earn and Use Them

June 21, 2025 0

Delta’s Regional and Global Upgrade Certificates let elite members secure upgrades to First Class or Delta One. But, knowing how to use them can be tricky. From understanding eligible routes to spotting confirmable space and managing the upgrade process, this guide covers everything you need to know to get the most value from Delta’s coveted upgrade certificates.

Jon Nickel-D'Andrea

Reviewed by Allie Johnson

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Awards Nearly Synced — Here’s What’s Still Different

June 20, 2025 0

Ever since Alaska Airlines finalized its merger with Hawaiian Airlines, both airlines have been taking small, incremental steps to align their loyalty programs. That said, the award chart alignment is nearly complete. Here’s the latest update — and why you might still want to book through Alaska.

Sam Helmy & Tyler Glatt

Avis Status Match: What You Need to Know — Including a Workaround for U.S. Travelers

June 16, 2025 15

Avis is one of the better car rental companies in the United States. Did you know you can status match to Avis Preferred elite status? You can also status match from numerous other rental car programs. In this article, we'll go over the details of the Avis status match program.

Skye Class

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

A Complete Guide to American Airlines Award Travel Rules

June 15, 2025 68

American Airlines AAdvantage miles can offer huge value if you know how and when to use them. If you learn the rules for booking awards, you’ll spend fewer miles, avoid unnecessary fees, and save valuable time planning your next trip. Here’s everything you need to know about booking award tickets with AAdvantage miles.

Tyler Glatt & Carissa Rawson

Reviewed by JT Genter

IHG Milestone Rewards: Earn Perks Every 10 Nights Stayed at IHG

June 14, 2025 0

IHG Milestone Rewards provide additional benefits to frequent guests of IHG hotels. You can earn rewards for every 10 nights stayed each calendar year, starting at 20 nights. The benefits range from bonus points, to food and beverage rewards, to confirmable suite upgrades. At two specific levels, you'll also have the option to select an annual lounge membership. IHG Milestone Rewards can offer excellent value to members, depending on how you use them.

Ian Snyder

Reviewed by Allie Johnson

Radisson Refer-A-Friend: Earn up to 50,000 Points — or Join and Get a Bonus After Your First Stay

June 13, 2025 0

Radisson Rewards continues to run its refer-a-friend bonus, giving 1,000 bonus points to both the new member and the person who refers them. Members can earn up to 50,000 bonus points each year through this program. Here's how it works.

Skye Class

Reviewed by Allie Johnson

How to Earn and Redeem Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles for JAL and Partner Award Flights

June 10, 2025 0

Japan Airlines' JAL Mileage Bank program has long been overlooked due to how tough it was to earn miles. But that’s changed with a new transferable points partner. If you're eyeing a trip to or through Japan, here’s how to earn and redeem JAL miles for award flights.

Mark Jackson

Complete a Free Status Match to Enterprise Plus to Earn Bonus Points, Upgrades, and More

June 8, 2025 0

Rental car agencies want your business — and your continued loyalty, too. To get it, they'll occasionally offer a status match. Enterprise Rent-A-Car is no different. Here's everything you need to know about the Enterprise status match and why taking advantage of this free opportunity is worth the few seconds it takes to apply.

Tyler Glatt

Reviewed by JT Genter

Starbucks Stars Have a Short Shelf Life — Here's How to Track Your Expiration So You Can Use Them in Time

October 20, 2025 3

Starbucks Rewards Stars expire faster than you might think, and it’s easy to lose them if you’re not careful. This post covers exactly how long your Stars last, what resets their expiration, and a few simple ways to make sure you don't forfeit your Stars.

Sam Helmy

Reviewed by JT Genter

TAP Miles&Go Elite Status: How to Earn, the Benefits You Get, and How to Keep Them for Life

June 8, 2025 0

TAP Miles&Go, the frequent flyer program for Air Portugal, flies under the radar for many. But for those who frequently fly on TAP or its partners, it can be a compelling opportunity for travelers looking to unlock elite benefits and matching Star Alliance elite status. If you're aiming to enhance your travel experience with lounge access, priority boarding, or upgrades, here's what you need to know about earning and maximizing TAP elite status.

Brie Bash

Reviewed by Allie Johnson

New Benefits in 2025: How to Earn and Maximize Southwest A-List and A-List Preferred Elite Status

June 4, 2025 0

Many people assume Southwest's lack of lounges and lie-flat seats mean its elite status isn't worth holding, but it can definitely improve your travel experience. Here’s how you can earn A-List and A-List Preferred elite status with Southwest Airlines, plus some tips on how you can use that status to improve your travels.

Senitra Horbrook

Complete Guide to Accor Live Limitless: Earning, Redeeming & Elite Perks

May 31, 2025 0

Accor Live Limitless isn’t as well-known in the U.S., but it can be incredibly valuable in Europe, Asia, and beyond. From earning elite status to transferring points from Citi, Capital One, or Bilt, here’s a complete guide to getting the most out of the ALL program — and when it makes sense to choose Accor over other hotel brands.

Kim Schelling & Cameron Laufer

Reviewed by Allie Johnson

Marriott’s Most Expensive Award Nights Now Cost Over 600K Points — How Did We Get Here?

May 27, 2025 5

Marriott Bonvoy award prices have skyrocketed since the 2018 merger with Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG). Award nights now cost over 600,000 points per night — a far cry from Marriott's 45,000-point cap in 2018! So, how did we get here? Let’s take a look back at how Marriott’s most expensive award nights have changed over the years.

Mark Jackson

Reviewed by JT Genter

How to Transfer Amex Points to Airline and Hotel Programs: A Step-By-Step Guide

May 27, 2025 1

Transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to travel partners will nearly always get you the best value for your points. If you're new to Membership Rewards, let us walk you through how to link your loyalty accounts with American Express and how to initiate a points transfer. Soon, it will be second nature.

Ben Nickel-D'Andrea & Tyler Glatt

Reviewed by JT Genter

Luxe for Less: The Best Ways to Earn and Redeem Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club Points

May 26, 2025 3

Leading Hotels of the World lets you earn and redeem points at unique luxury properties. Here’s a look at the value of Leaders Club points you can achieve on a handful redemptions and how to earn them.

Sam Helmy & Andrew Kunesh

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

How to Supercharge Your Rapid Rewards Balance by Booking Through Southwest Hotels

May 25, 2025 0

Southwest Hotels is a program you may not have heard of, but if you’re aiming to earn a Companion Pass, it’s worth learning about. Your next hotel stay could earn you a surprising number of Rapid Rewards points if you book through this platform. Here’s how it works.

Mark Jackson

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

Can You Transfer Miles Between Frequent Flyer Programs?

November 3, 2025 66

Can you transfer points and miles between frequent flyer programs? Sadly, the answer is "no" in most cases. However, there are a few options for moving points from one program to another. Besides, you may not need to transfer points between programs after all! Here's everything you need to know about transferring points between programs.

Sam Helmy

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

Do OpenTable Points Expire? OpenTable Points Expiration Policy Explained

May 23, 2025 1

OpenTable points can disappear faster than you think — even if you’re still dining out. Points not only expire due to inactivity but also after a set lifespan. Here’s how the expiration rules work, when your points could be at risk, and how you can get notified to before your points might expire.

Sam Helmy

Reviewed by JT Genter

Avianca LifeMiles: Transfer Partners and Partner Airlines

May 23, 2025 0

LifeMiles offers excellent value as an award program. With a great set of partner airlines and multiple Avianca LifeMiles transfer partners allowing you to turn bank points into LifeMiles, the potential is huge. One of the biggest upsides to the LifeMiles program is that it does not pass along carrier surcharges. It also has the benefit of an solid award chart for flights from the U.S.

Ian Snyder

Reviewed by Allie Johnson

Alaska Million Miler Status: A Lifetime of Perks for Mileage Plan Loyalists

May 21, 2025 0

For those dedicated and loyal travelers who frequently fly with Alaska, reaching Million Miler status offers a unique path to lifetime benefits, including lifetime elite status and priority treatment, making it a valuable achievement for those committed to the airline. This guide will provide all the essential details about Alaska Airlines Million Miler status.

Brie Bash

Reviewed by Allie Johnson

Why Marriott Platinum Elite Status Is the Sweet Spot in the Bonvoy Program

May 21, 2025 4

Marriott Platinum Elite status is one of the best mid-tier hotel statuses you can earn — unlocking perks like free breakfast, room upgrades (including suites), 4 pm late checkout, and access to executive lounges. Even better, you don’t need to spend 50 nights a year to get it. Here’s what makes Platinum the Marriott Bonvoy sweet spot — and how to earn it faster with the right credit cards.

Jon Nickel-D'Andrea & Tyler Glatt

Reviewed by JT Genter

How To Use Hyatt Pay My Way and Points + Cash Options — And What to Do if It Isn’t Showing Up

May 19, 2025 0

The never-ending battle when it comes to credit card points is that there never seem to be enough points for all of the amazing trips you want to take. Thankfully, Hyatt has a great option for offsetting that problem. It’s called Hyatt Pay My Way, and it allows you to use a combination of points, cash, and/or free night certificates when booking a room.

Jenna Hansen & Andrew Kunesh

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

7 Ways to Score Free Breakfast at IHG Hotels

May 18, 2025 1

Free hotel breakfast can be a great way to start your day — and save some serious cash on the road. IHG One Rewards members have several ways to score complimentary breakfast, whether by booking specific brands, using Milestone Rewards, or unlocking elite perks. Here’s how to get free breakfast at IHG hotels, including which brands offer it automatically and how to unlock it with status.

Ben Nickel-D'Andrea & Samantha Holland

Reviewed by JT Genter

Do United Miles Expire? An Overview of United Mileage Expiration Rules

October 22, 2025 2

United MileagePlus miles no longer expire, which is great news for travelers. But there are still a few conditions to be aware of, and devaluations can chip away at the value of your balance. Here's what you need to know about expiration rules — plus our tips for tracking, earning, and using United miles wisely.

Sam Helmy & Ryan Smith

Reviewed by JT Genter

How to Pay Rent via Bilt Rewards and Earn Points on Your Biggest Monthly Expense

May 14, 2025 1

Bilt Rewards has made a big splash by making it possible to earn valuable Bilt Points on rent. If you’re thinking about using Bilt to earn rewards on rent, this guide has everything you need to get started.

Mark Jackson

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

Do Amtrak Guest Rewards Points Expire? Here’s How to Keep Them Active

May 8, 2025 19

Like all other programs Amtrak Guest Rewards has a points expiration policy. Here is all you need to know about whether your points expire and what you can do to extend the validity of your points.

Sam Helmy

Unlock Free Bags, Flight Changes, Seat Selection, and More on Frontier Through 2026 for $499

May 6, 2025 1

If you're looking for a simple path to elite status that offers complimentary perks for you and your traveling companions, it doesn't get much simpler than this. You can buy Frontier Airlines Elite Gold status for $499, valid through December 31, 2026. Here are the details.

Skye Class & Joe Petrovic

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

Asia Miles Expiration Explained — And How to Reset Your Expiry Clock

May 4, 2025 47

Asia Miles can unlock incredible value for premium cabin flights — but only if you use them before they expire. Cathay Pacific miles expire after a period of inactivity, and there’s no option to reinstate them once they’re gone. Luckily, qualifying activity is easy. In this guide, we break down how Asia Miles expiration works and how to keep your balance active with minimal effort.

Sam Helmy

7 Ways to Score Free Breakfast on Your Next Hyatt Stay

May 3, 2025 2

Love the idea of starting your day with a free breakfast at your hotel? At Hyatt, there are multiple ways to make that happen — from Hyatt elite status and Guest of Honor awards to staying at the right brand or booking a club room. Here's a full rundown of your options and how to unlock them.

Samantha Holland & Ben Nickel-D'Andrea

Reviewed by JT Genter

How to Use the AAdvantage® Dining Program to Earn Miles and Loyalty Points on Meals

May 1, 2025 23

One of the best ways to boost your balance of AA miles is with the AAdvantage® Dining Program. Simply create an account, link a card, and watch the miles roll in whenever you dine at a partner restaurant. It's that easy! In this guide, we're walking you through the entire process.

Tyler Glatt & Cameron Laufer

Reviewed by JT Genter

Rewards Programs

Airline Programs

Hotel Programs

Credit Cards

Beginners

Rewards Basics

Tools

Rewards Programs

Credit Cards

Tools

Rewards Programs

Airline Programs

Hotel Programs

Credit Cards

Beginners

Rewards Basics

Tools

Category: Award Programs