What is Traveling on Point(s)?
January 1, 2020
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Traveling on point(s) involves earning credit card points and using those points to travel the world for free or nearly free. Follow along to learn more!
Getting Started >>>>
A Beginner’s Guide to Traveling on Point(s)
Welcome to ToP and the exciting world of award travel! Points and miles can help you travel better and more often than you ever thought possible. Whether your goal is to visit far-flung destinations or see family across the country more often, award travel can make that happen. Take a look at our beginner articles and join our Facebook group, where you can ask all your questions and learn from fellow award travelers.
Travel on Point(s) is an independent, advertising-supported website. This site is part of an affiliate sales network and may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This compensation does not impact how or where products appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any other entity.
» What We Do & Getting Started
The Most Important Rule in Award Travel
January 27, 2020
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We explain the most important rule in award travel. Following this one rule is crucial for traveling on points.
How to Use Credit Karma
March 16, 2020
1 Comment
One of the first things we recommend to “newbies” is to figure out your 5/24 status. As a reminder, your 5/24 status is a rule
Chase 5/24 Rule: What It Is & Why It Is So Important
April 3, 2024
No Comments
Chase 5/24 Rule One of the first questions new points & miles enthusiasts often have is, why is everyone talking about Chase? Another popular question
Step One: Understanding Your Credit Score & How It Works
April 28, 2024
5 Comments
How Are Credit Scores Calculated? One of the first questions people ask when learning about award travel is whether opening many credit cards hurts your
Points & Miles Glossary: Every Travel Abbreviation & Acronym You Need
December 19, 2025
No Comments
Points Miles Glossary The points & miles world is filled with acronyms and abbreviations. Many of these become second nature after some time. If you
What is Traveling on Point(s)?
January 1, 2020
No Comments
Traveling on point(s) involves earning credit card points and using those points to travel the world for free or nearly free. Follow along to learn more!
The Most Important Rule in Award Travel
January 27, 2020
No Comments
We explain the most important rule in award travel. Following this one rule is crucial for traveling on points.
How to Use Credit Karma
March 16, 2020
1 Comment
One of the first things we recommend to “newbies” is to figure out your 5/24 status. As a reminder, your 5/24 status is a rule
Chase 5/24 Rule: What It Is & Why It Is So Important
April 3, 2024
No Comments
Chase 5/24 Rule One of the first questions new points & miles enthusiasts often have is, why is everyone talking about Chase? Another popular question
Step One: Understanding Your Credit Score & How It Works
April 28, 2024
5 Comments
How Are Credit Scores Calculated? One of the first questions people ask when learning about award travel is whether opening many credit cards hurts your
Points & Miles Glossary: Every Travel Abbreviation & Acronym You Need
December 19, 2025
No Comments
Points Miles Glossary The points & miles world is filled with acronyms and abbreviations. Many of these become second nature after some time. If you
» Credit Card Basics
The Best Ways to Meet Minimum Spend
April 22, 2022
No Comments
Meeting minimum spend can be tricky when you open a new card without a plan. In this article, we outline a few of our favorite strategies.
What Card Should I Use? The One with a New Welcome Offer!
May 20, 2022
No Comments
We analyze the strategy of sign-up bonuses and why they are so much more valuable than spending on bonus categories with everyday cards.
Setting Up a Plan
July 1, 2022
No Comments
Creating and sticking to a plan of which credit cards to open is essential to earning the most points you can so you can travel for free.
Chase Credit Card Applications Flowchart: Don't Sweat The Pending Message!
July 26, 2023
No Comments
Chase Credit Card Applications Flowchart The fastest way to earn Ultimate Rewards is via welcome offers from opening new Chase credit cards, like the Chase
Which Business Cards Count Against Chase 5/24 & Which Don't?
January 18, 2025
No Comments
Business Cards That Don't Count Against Chase 5/24 When members of our Facebook group ask for advice on what card to get next, we usually
One Of Our ToP Questions: Am I Eligible for Business Cards?
June 25, 2025
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Am I Eligible For Business Credit Cards? One of the most popular questions in the ToP Facebook Group is, am I eligible for business credit
If at First You Don't Succeed: How to Handle a Reconsideration Call
August 24, 2025
No Comments
Credit Card Reconsideration Line Phone Numbers & Tips For Success No one likes rejections, let alone for a new credit card. Unfortunately, it can happen,
Deciding Between Two Giants: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
September 8, 2025
No Comments
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Chase Sapphire Reserve If you've been in award travel circles for more than a few minutes, you've heard of the “5/24
Credit Card Application Rules For Each Bank, All In One Place
November 7, 2025
4 Comments
Credit Card Application Rules For Each Bank Being approved for a new card requires more than having a high credit score or proving a good source
The Best Ways to Meet Minimum Spend
April 22, 2022
No Comments
Meeting minimum spend can be tricky when you open a new card without a plan. In this article, we outline a few of our favorite strategies.
What Card Should I Use? The One with a New Welcome Offer!
May 20, 2022
No Comments
We analyze the strategy of sign-up bonuses and why they are so much more valuable than spending on bonus categories with everyday cards.
Setting Up a Plan
July 1, 2022
No Comments
Creating and sticking to a plan of which credit cards to open is essential to earning the most points you can so you can travel for free.
Chase Credit Card Applications Flowchart: Don't Sweat The Pending Message!
July 26, 2023
No Comments
Chase Credit Card Applications Flowchart The fastest way to earn Ultimate Rewards is via welcome offers from opening new Chase credit cards, like the Chase
Which Business Cards Count Against Chase 5/24 & Which Don't?
January 18, 2025
No Comments
Business Cards That Don't Count Against Chase 5/24 When members of our Facebook group ask for advice on what card to get next, we usually
One Of Our ToP Questions: Am I Eligible for Business Cards?
June 25, 2025
No Comments
Am I Eligible For Business Credit Cards? One of the most popular questions in the ToP Facebook Group is, am I eligible for business credit
If at First You Don't Succeed: How to Handle a Reconsideration Call
August 24, 2025
No Comments
Credit Card Reconsideration Line Phone Numbers & Tips For Success No one likes rejections, let alone for a new credit card. Unfortunately, it can happen,
Deciding Between Two Giants: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
September 8, 2025
No Comments
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Chase Sapphire Reserve If you've been in award travel circles for more than a few minutes, you've heard of the “5/24
Credit Card Application Rules For Each Bank, All In One Place
November 7, 2025
4 Comments
Credit Card Application Rules For Each Bank Being approved for a new card requires more than having a high credit score or proving a good source
Why Transferable Points Are So Valuable (Part 1: Flexibility)
January 1, 2021
No Comments
We often discuss in our Facebook group how transferable points are so much more valuable than miles or points with a single airline or hotel. This is because transferable points are the key to unlocking incredible value from credit card points.
Why Transferable Points Are So Valuable (Part 2: Redemption Value)
January 1, 2021
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With transferable points, you gain flexibility and high redemption value. With access to different transfer partners, you can opt for the partner that will give you the most value.
First Step Of Award Travel: Get Your Loyalty Accounts Set Up
February 25, 2021
No Comments
Create Loyalty Accounts Ahead Of Time After getting your financial life in order, one of the next steps to award travel is to create loyalty
How to Combine Chase Ultimate Rewards Among Your Cards and Members of Your Household
March 12, 2021
No Comments
How to Combine Ultimate Rewards Chase offers lots of flexibility for cardholders to combine their Ultimate Rewards. You can combine Ultimate Rewards from all of
Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Partners: A Winning Strategy
March 26, 2022
5 Comments
Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Partners Taking advantage of transfer partners is almost always the best use of transferable points, like Chase Ultimate Rewards. Transferable
How to Transfer Amex Membership Rewards to Partners
May 23, 2022
No Comments
ToP walks you through how to transfer Membership Rewards to Amex's hotel and airline partners to get you the most value for your points.
Is Buying Points Ever Worth It?
October 26, 2022
No Comments
Airline and hotel companies often sell points with big bonus offers, but it's important to understand the risks associated with buying points.
Why Transferable Points Are So Valuable (Part 1: Flexibility)
January 1, 2021
No Comments
We often discuss in our Facebook group how transferable points are so much more valuable than miles or points with a single airline or hotel. This is because transferable points are the key to unlocking incredible value from credit card points.
Why Transferable Points Are So Valuable (Part 2: Redemption Value)
January 1, 2021
No Comments
With transferable points, you gain flexibility and high redemption value. With access to different transfer partners, you can opt for the partner that will give you the most value.
First Step Of Award Travel: Get Your Loyalty Accounts Set Up
February 25, 2021
No Comments
Create Loyalty Accounts Ahead Of Time After getting your financial life in order, one of the next steps to award travel is to create loyalty
How to Combine Chase Ultimate Rewards Among Your Cards and Members of Your Household
March 12, 2021
No Comments
How to Combine Ultimate Rewards Chase offers lots of flexibility for cardholders to combine their Ultimate Rewards. You can combine Ultimate Rewards from all of
Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Partners: A Winning Strategy
March 26, 2022
5 Comments
Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Partners Taking advantage of transfer partners is almost always the best use of transferable points, like Chase Ultimate Rewards. Transferable
Is Buying Points Ever Worth It?
October 26, 2022
No Comments
Airline and hotel companies often sell points with big bonus offers, but it's important to understand the risks associated with buying points.
How to Choose between Using a Travel Portal, Transferring to Partners, or Cash Back
August 1, 2021
No Comments
How should you choose when to use points through a travel portal, transfer to a travel partner, or convert to cash back? ToP analyzes the pros and cons of each approach to help you maximize your credit card points.
Understanding the Different Types of Award Charts
August 11, 2021
No Comments
This article teaches you how to best use your miles and we explain the differences among the main types of award charts: zone-based, distance-based, and dynamic pricing.
(No Longer Available) What Can I Do with My Points? How to Use Award Hacker
March 21, 2022
No Comments
How to Use Award Hacker Update March 2026: Unfortunately as of late March, 2026 the Award Hacker site is no longer available. It was a
List of Airline Codes
June 20, 2022
No Comments
IATA airline codes can be confusing, but this list spells out the codes for most of the major airlines in the U.S. and the rest of the world.
ToP Guide: How To Book An Award Flight Using Points
March 27, 2023
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How to Book an Award Flight Using Points We get a lot of questions in the ToP Facebook group about how to book an award
What Is Saver Availability?
January 12, 2025
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Identifying Saver Availability The biggest challenge to booking award flights is finding award availability. There are two types of award seats we can book with
How to Choose between Using a Travel Portal, Transferring to Partners, or Cash Back
August 1, 2021
No Comments
How should you choose when to use points through a travel portal, transfer to a travel partner, or convert to cash back? ToP analyzes the pros and cons of each approach to help you maximize your credit card points.
Understanding the Different Types of Award Charts
August 11, 2021
No Comments
This article teaches you how to best use your miles and we explain the differences among the main types of award charts: zone-based, distance-based, and dynamic pricing.
(No Longer Available) What Can I Do with My Points? How to Use Award Hacker
March 21, 2022
No Comments
How to Use Award Hacker Update March 2026: Unfortunately as of late March, 2026 the Award Hacker site is no longer available. It was a
List of Airline Codes
June 20, 2022
No Comments
IATA airline codes can be confusing, but this list spells out the codes for most of the major airlines in the U.S. and the rest of the world.
ToP Guide: How To Book An Award Flight Using Points
March 27, 2023
No Comments
How to Book an Award Flight Using Points We get a lot of questions in the ToP Facebook group about how to book an award
The Chase Trifecta: Why This Trio of Cards is a Proven Winner
July 7, 2025
No Comments
Chase Trifecta Whether you are just starting out, or have been in the miles and points world for a minute, we are all shooting for
Our Complete Guide To The Amazing World Of Amex Offers
April 5, 2024
No Comments
How Do Amex Offers Work? The American Express Amex Offers program is a great benefit that can save you some money on your next purchase.
Credit Card Free Ways to Save Money in 2021
June 1, 2022
No Comments
The Travel on Points team explores ways to earn cash and gift cards back using methods other than credit cards.
How to Maximize Spending at Grocery Stores
May 10, 2022
7 Comments
Our spending habits may have changed during this time of social distancing, but everyone still needs to eat. If you’re like my family, you’re spending
How to Maximize Credit Card Rewards on Dining
April 15, 2022
5 Comments
As we spend more of our time in social distancing, many of us are cooking more. However, we all need a break sometime. Grabbing takeout or delivery can be a nice alternative for each of us.
Maximizing Points & Miles in One Player Mode
April 10, 2022
No Comments
Earning points in one player mode can be different. Explore strategies on how you can still earn significant points and miles to travel on!
ToP Guide to Chase Offers
March 5, 2022
No Comments
The ToP Guide to Chase Offers walks you through the basics of how to use and maximize this great Chase program that can help you save money.
The Chase Trifecta: Why This Trio of Cards is a Proven Winner
July 7, 2025
No Comments
Chase Trifecta Whether you are just starting out, or have been in the miles and points world for a minute, we are all shooting for
Our Complete Guide To The Amazing World Of Amex Offers
April 5, 2024
No Comments
How Do Amex Offers Work? The American Express Amex Offers program is a great benefit that can save you some money on your next purchase.
Credit Card Free Ways to Save Money in 2021
June 1, 2022
No Comments
The Travel on Points team explores ways to earn cash and gift cards back using methods other than credit cards.
How to Maximize Spending at Grocery Stores
May 10, 2022
7 Comments
Our spending habits may have changed during this time of social distancing, but everyone still needs to eat. If you’re like my family, you’re spending
How to Maximize Credit Card Rewards on Dining
April 15, 2022
5 Comments
As we spend more of our time in social distancing, many of us are cooking more. However, we all need a break sometime. Grabbing takeout or delivery can be a nice alternative for each of us.
Maximizing Points & Miles in One Player Mode
April 10, 2022
No Comments
Earning points in one player mode can be different. Explore strategies on how you can still earn significant points and miles to travel on!
ToP Guide to Chase Offers
March 5, 2022
No Comments
The ToP Guide to Chase Offers walks you through the basics of how to use and maximize this great Chase program that can help you save money.
Guide: Shifting Credit Between Cards
July 26, 2020
No Comments
Many times, especially after you've been in the award travel world for a while, you may be approved for a smaller credit limit than you wanted or expected. This could be for various reasons, such as issues on your credit report, credit extended to you with that specific credit card company, total available credit, or low credit utilization or non-use of your existing credit cards.
ToP Guide to Credit Card Retention Offers
September 21, 2024
No Comments
Credit Card Retention Offers For banks, retaining customers can be just as important as attracting new ones. This is why banks sometimes offer customers an
To Pay or Not to Pay: Debating Whether an Annual Fee is Worth it
March 10, 2026
No Comments
Credit Card Annual Fees Many people balk at the idea of paying an annual fee for a credit card. Why do that when so many
Guide: Shifting Credit Between Cards
July 26, 2020
No Comments
Many times, especially after you've been in the award travel world for a while, you may be approved for a smaller credit limit than you wanted or expected. This could be for various reasons, such as issues on your credit report, credit extended to you with that specific credit card company, total available credit, or low credit utilization or non-use of your existing credit cards.
ToP Guide to Credit Card Retention Offers
September 21, 2024
No Comments
Credit Card Retention Offers For banks, retaining customers can be just as important as attracting new ones. This is why banks sometimes offer customers an
To Pay or Not to Pay: Debating Whether an Annual Fee is Worth it
March 10, 2026
No Comments
Credit Card Annual Fees Many people balk at the idea of paying an annual fee for a credit card. Why do that when so many