Transferable points are probably the most valuable points to earn with a credit card. They give more flexibility when you redeem them for travel: unlike airline or hotel points, which can only be used with a specific airline or hotel, transferable points can be transferred to multiple airline or hotel loyalty programs. Plus, points transfer is given in addition to other standard redemption options, including booking travel directly through the issuer without transferring points to loyalty programs.

Are you tired of staying at the same boring hotel chains trip after trip but reluctant to give up the opportunity to earn points in exchange for a more interesting location in which to lay your head? Thanks to Stash Hotel Rewards — a loyalty program for travelers who love independent and boutique hotels—you no longer have to forgo points in the pursuit of unique hotel experiences.

Who Is the BankAmericard Travel Rewards Card Good For?

The BankAmericard Travel Rewards credit card is good for anyone who wants to earn statement credits toward travel purchases. This card has no transfer partners, but it does have a generous earning scheme, a decent sign-up bonus and no annual fee.

If Southwest Rapid Rewards is your main frequent flyer program, you need to be aware of Rapid Reward Shopping as well. This online shopping mall acts as a portal to all of your favorite online retailers, from Kohl’s and Old Navy to JCPenney and Ulta Beauty. All you need to do to earn extra Rapid Rewards points is visit the portal and click on the store you wish to shop at. Then, once you make a purchase, you’ll be rewarded with a certain number of Rapid Rewards per dollar spent. It’s that easy, but we’ll step you through the entire process.

Virgin Atlantic can be a fantastic airline to transfer your Citi ThankYou points to. The airline has 10 redemption partners of its own, so finding a good value is not an issue. You just need to be strategic and do your homework before transferring your points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Transfers are usually instantaneous, and you can even transfer your points while on the phone with an agent.

The Citi ThankYou travel rewards program is very similar to the American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards programs. Just like those two, Citi ThankYou allows you to book travel through its own portal or transfer your points to airline partners if you have a premium card. 

The American Express Membership Rewards program offers members the ability to redeem points for all kinds of rewards. Like similar credit card rewards programs such as Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou, the best Membership Rewards value usually comes from transferring points to an airline partner. However, there are some exceptions that are worth considering like booking tickets through the Amex travel portal. Here’s a rundown of when that makes sense and when it doesn’t.

It is essential to get the Allegiant World MasterCard in order to participate in the carrier’s frequent flyer program, myAllegiant. You cannot earn or redeem points without it. The card is similar to a cash back cards, allowing you to redeem points for credit toward Allegiant Air purchases. Points are fixed at a value of one cent each.

Citi ThankYou Rewards are not as well known as Ultimate Rewards (Chase) or Membership Rewards (American Express), but the program has been growing in recent years, significantly increasing its appeal. Many readers may also find themselves newly flush with ThankYou points after applying for a credit card such as the Citi Prestige® Card, which offers benefits like airport lounge access, a $200 annual airline credit, and the fourth night free at participating hotels.

American Express Membership Rewards points are worth an average of 1.8 cents each. That takes into account the wide variety of redemption options available to you, whether transferring them directly to airline and hotel partners or using them as a credit when booking through the Membership Rewards Travel portal.

Booking flights through the Citi ThankYou portal can be a better value than other redemption options. For example, booking flights with points earned on the Citi Premier card can yield a 60% bonus over a gift card if you book a flight with American Airlines/US Airways through the Citi ThankYou travel portal, where 30,000 points is equal to $480 toward a ticket on American or US Airways, or $399 on any other airline compared to a $300 value in gift cards if you went that redemption route.

Who is the Blue Card from American Express Good For?

The Blue Card from American Express is a Membership Rewards credit card. It’s an entry-level card from the Membership Rewards family, and being a no-annual-fee card it can serve as a good introduction to the Membership Rewards program.