How to Earn and Use Airline Points Without Wasting Them

Airline points have never been more accessible—or more misunderstood.

Between flashy welcome bonuses, influencer screenshots of “free” business-class flights, and travel portals promising instant gratification, it’s easy to assume that points will magically sort themselves out if you just start swiping the right card.

They won’t.

At ABC Trips, we see this all the time: travelers sitting on six-figure point balances who still end up paying cash for flights that should have been covered—or worse, burning points at terrible value just to feel like they’re being “used.”

Used strategically, airline points can unlock lie-flat seats, long-haul business class, and trips that would otherwise feel financially out of reach. Used casually, they become glorified coupons.

Here’s how to make sure you’re in the first camp.

Start With a Travel Goal, Not a Credit Card

This is the single most important mindset shift—and the one most people skip.

Points are not the goal. Travel is.

Without a clear destination, timeline, or type of trip in mind, it’s incredibly easy to earn points that don’t actually serve you. You end up optimizing for earnings instead of outcomes, collecting miles in programs you rarely use, or locking yourself into one airline that doesn’t fly where you want to go.

Your goal doesn’t have to be ultra-specific. It can be:

• A long-haul business-class flight every few years
• A stash of points for family emergencies
• Annual premium economy flights to Europe
• Using points to offset expensive expedition or cruise travel

But you need something guiding the strategy.

This is why we often start clients by zooming out first—before recommending cards. The best credit card setup in the world is useless if it’s earning points that don’t align with how you actually travel.

If you want a deeper dive on which cards tend to work best across different travel styles, our page outlining our favorite travel perks credit cards is a good starting point.

Build a Card Strategy That Reflects How You Actually Spend

Most people under-earn points for a very simple reason: they use one card for everything.

It feels clean. It feels organized. It’s also wildly inefficient.

Your spending is not uniform. Groceries, dining, flights, hotels, everyday purchases—they all behave differently, and credit card earning structures are built around that reality.

A good rule of thumb: if you’re not earning at least 2x points per dollar on most of your spending, you’re probably leaving value on the table.

The fix does not involve carrying a wallet that looks like a blackjack dealer’s shoe. For most travelers, two or three thoughtfully chosen cards is enough to dramatically increase earning power.

One card might handle everyday spend. Another covers travel and dining. A third might exist purely for a strong welcome bonus or a specific multiplier category.

The key is intention, not volume.

This is also where many travelers get tripped up comparing cards emotionally instead of strategically. If you’re weighing mid-tier options, our breakdown on the Amex Gold Card vs the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is worth reading before committing.

Welcome Bonuses Are the Fastest Way to Build Momentum

Day-to-day spending adds up—but welcome bonuses are the accelerant.

For travelers who don’t spend aggressively month to month, bonuses often make the difference between “someday” travel and actual booked trips. A single well-timed bonus can cover an entire international flight or form the backbone of a larger redemption strategy.

The mistake we see isn’t chasing bonuses—it’s chasing them blindly.

Timing matters. Applying for a new card right before predictable expenses (travel bookings, insurance payments, large annual bills) allows you to meet minimum spend requirements organically, without manufacturing purchases or overspending.

It’s also important to evaluate bonuses in context. A big headline number doesn’t always mean flexibility or value.

If you’re curious how a single bonus can translate into real-world travel, our breakdown on the American Express Gold Card's 100,000 Membership Rewards sign-up deal is a solid example.

Transferable Points Beat Airline Miles More Often Than Not

Airline-branded credit cards feel intuitive. You fly the airline, you earn the airline’s miles.

Unfortunately, that instinct often boxes travelers in.

Airline miles are fine for very specific use cases—elite status perks, checked bag benefits, or narrow redemption patterns. But for earning points, they’re usually inferior to cards that earn transferable currencies.

Transferable points programs (think American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards) allow you to:

• Earn more points per dollar on everyday spend
• Transfer to multiple airline partners
• Access international carriers with better award pricing
• Pivot when award space disappears

Flexibility is the real luxury here.

This becomes especially powerful when applied to high-cost travel—like expedition cruising or long-haul premium flights—where points can meaningfully offset five-figure itineraries. We’ve broken that down in detail our article describing how to leverage the American Express Cards toward luxury cruises.

Avoid the “Easy” Redemption Trap

This is where a lot of good strategies quietly fall apart.

When it’s time to redeem points, convenience often wins. Booking through a credit card travel portal feels responsible and efficient. In reality, it’s usually the lowest-value option available.

Most portals value points at around one cent each. That means a $1,000 flight costs roughly 100,000 points—hardly inspiring after months or years of earning.

The real value shows up when transferring points directly to airline partners, particularly for long-haul international flights in premium cabins. This is where two, three, or even four cents per point becomes achievable.

Yes, it takes more effort. Yes, award availability can be fickle. But the payoff is where points actually justify the complexity.

Save Points for the Flights That Actually Matter

One of the most common missteps we see is burning points as soon as there’s enough for a “free” flight.

Short-haul economy flights rarely deliver standout value. The cash prices are often reasonable, and the points required don’t create meaningful savings.

Premium flights are different.

The gap between economy and business class on long-haul routes can be enormous—both in comfort and cost. That’s where points shine.

Using points for a lie-flat seat on an overnight flight isn’t just about luxury. It can fundamentally change how you arrive, how you recover, and how the rest of a trip unfolds—especially on complex itineraries.

This is why we often advise clients to hoard intentionally, not hoard aimlessly.

Flexibility Is the Silent Multiplier

Even the best points strategy will struggle without flexibility.

Award space—especially in premium cabins—is limited. Travelers who can adjust departure dates, consider one-way bookings, or reposition to larger gateway cities have dramatically better odds of success.

This doesn’t mean being reckless. It means being realistic.

Sometimes the smartest play is booking a cheap positioning flight to a major hub, then using points for the long-haul segment where the value actually lives. It’s not glamorous, but it works.

Flexibility also extends to mindset. If you’re locked into one airline, one route, or one specific travel date, points become a liability instead of an asset.

Where Most DIY Points Strategies Break Down

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: points strategies look simple on paper and get messy in real life.

Rules change. Award charts shift. Transfer partners devalue quietly. Availability disappears without warning. And suddenly that “easy” redemption you planned around no longer exists.

This is why we treat points as a tool, not a solution.

They’re incredibly powerful when layered into a broader travel plan—especially for complex trips like expedition cruises, multi-country itineraries, or premium long-haul travel. But they work best when paired with experience, timing, and flexibility.

And yes, we use AI extensively to research routes, test scenarios, and surface possibilities—but every points strategy we recommend is grounded in real-world booking experience, not theoretical value.

In Other Words

Airline points aren’t magic. They’re leverage.

Used casually, they save a little money. Used strategically, they unlock experiences most travelers assume are out of reach.

The difference isn’t how many points you earn—it’s how intentionally you earn them, when you redeem them, and what you save them for.

If you’re going to play the points game, play it with a plan.