Expressing my Affection for Acquiring Travel Points and Miles

Expressing my Affection for Acquiring Travel Points and Miles

In the realm of travel rewards, purchasing points and miles can be a game-changer, particularly when they are on sale. This approach offers several benefits, especially for discounted hotel stays and airline mile redemptions.

One of the key advantages of buying travel points and miles is the prevention of mile expiration. Many loyalty programs consider purchasing miles as an activity that extends the life of your current miles, preventing them from expiring [1].

Another significant benefit is maximizing points with the right credit card. When purchasing miles directly from airlines that process the purchase as an airline transaction (e.g., American Airlines), you can earn additional points from flexible rewards cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express cards, effectively getting more value from the purchase [1].

Buying points or miles during sales can enable booking heavily discounted hotel rooms or mistake fares that are otherwise not available, reducing the overall cost of travel [2][4]. For instance, the expensive Conrad Bora Bora hotel, which often costs over $2,000 per night, can be booked for 120,000 points per night [5].

Paying with purchased points or miles in some travel portals may still allow you to earn frequent flyer miles and elite status credits on flights, which is important for frequent travelers seeking premium benefits [2].

Moreover, using purchased points through transfer partners can allow for luxury or business class flights at a fraction of the normal point cost, maximizing value [4]. Hilton, for example, regularly sells its points for 0.5 cents each [6].

Tools and apps help find the best redemption options and award availability. Buying points when discounted can put you on the fast track to premium or free travel bookings [3]. Club LifeMiles subscription, for instance, offers the ability to purchase discounted LifeMiles and generous perks [7]. During Avianca's current promotion, the per-mile rate drops to 1.27 cents each [8].

However, it's important to note that redeeming points and miles means losing the ability to earn any rewards. Therefore, it's crucial to only purchase points and miles when they are on sale [9]. Additionally, purchasing points and miles can be expensive when not on sale.

For those who don't want to open a large number of credit cards, credit cards like the Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card and Avianca LifeMiles American Express Credit Card come with a complimentary Club LifeMiles (LifeMiles+) subscription, which offers the ability to purchase discounted LifeMiles [10].

However, some restrictions apply. For instance, Chase's unofficial 5/24 application rule restricts the number of cards one can apply for [11]. Also, the author, who holds multiple travel credit cards such as The Business Platinum Card from American Express and The World of Hyatt Credit Card, is limited in the number of new cards they can apply for due to existing cards and issuer restrictions [12].

In conclusion, purchasing points and miles on sale can save money on travel by unlocking discounted award redemptions, help maintain or build elite status, and allow for maximizing rewards when used strategically with cards and booking tools [1][2][3][4].

1. The strategy of purchasing travel points and miles can help prevent mile expiration in loyalty programs, extending the life of your current miles.
2. By using credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express cards during the purchase of miles, travelers can earn additional points, maximizing the benefits of their purchases.
3. Purchasing travel points or miles during sales can help save money on travel costs, allowing for bookings of discounted hotel rooms or flights.

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