⭐ Your Points: How to Earn, Combine, and Redeem
If you’ve ever stared at your points balance and wondered what to do with it — this post is for you.
Points are the part everyone thinks is complicated, but they don’t have to be. Before we get into the details, I always remind people: this is simply the system I use. Your setup might look different, and that’s okay. There’s no right or wrong way to do this. I’m just sharing the strategies that have helped my family fly on 20+ free flights a year for as long as I can remember.
Points aren’t meant to be stressful — they’re meant to give you options. If you want to see how we actually use points in real life, here’s a look at the properties we’ve stayed at using points.
If you’re new here, this post is part of my 14‑Day Stacking Starter Series — a simple, beginner‑friendly guide that teaches you how to stack points, miles, offers, and perks the way real families actually use them.
Affiliate Disclosure This post contains personal referral links and affiliate links. I may earn a small commission or bonus if you use them, at no extra cost to you. I’m not a credit‑card affiliate — I only share the tools we personally use.
⭐ The Two Types of Points (And Why It Matters)
There are only two categories you need to understand.
1. Flexible Points
These come from banks like:
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Amex Membership Rewards
Capital One Miles
Citi ThankYou Points
Flexible points are powerful because you can:
Transfer them to airlines or hotels
Use them in travel portals
Combine them with your partner or family (depending on the bank)
These are the points that give you the most freedom — and the most value.
I use flexible points for most of our big redemptions — especially Hyatt stays. Here’s a look at some of the hotels we’ve booked with points.
2. Fixed Airline + Hotel Points
These come from loyalty programs like:
Delta SkyMiles
United MileagePlus
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy
Hilton Honors
IHG One Rewards
These points are great when you already know:
Which airline you fly most
Which hotel brand you prefer
Which program gives you the best value for your travel style
If you want to see which hotel brands we actually stay with, here’s our full list of properties we’ve stayed atover the years.
You don’t need to master every program — just the ones you actually use.
⭐ How I Keep Points Simple
I don’t track every program or chase every deal. I focus on the points that give me the most flexibility.
Here’s my personal approach:
I earn flexible points first. They’re the easiest to use and the hardest to “mess up.”
I only collect airline or hotel points when I know I’ll use them. For example:
I earn Alaska miles because we fly Alaska often.
I earn Hyatt points because we stay at Hyatt properties regularly.
I redeem based on value — not emotion. If a flight is cheap in cash, I pay cash. If it’s expensive in cash but cheap in points, I use points. Simple.
I don’t try to memorize award charts. I just check:
Portal price
Transfer partner price
Cash price …and choose the best one.
⭐ Real‑Life Example
Here’s how I’ve used points recently:
I transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt for a stay that would’ve cost hundreds of dollars in cash. →See the hotels we’ve booked with points
I used Capital One Miles to erase part of our Alaska cruise using the travel eraser — one of the easiest beginner redemptions. → Read the Alaska cruise breakdown
I used Alaska miles for flights that would’ve been overpriced in cash.
Three different point types — all used in ways that made sense for the trip.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to know what you have and how to use it.
⭐ How Points Fit Into Your Stacking System
If you’ve been following the series, you already know Layers 1 and 2 — Credits and Offers. Points are Layer 3 — the part that turns all those smart moves into free travel.
If you missed the full breakdown, here’s the 4 Layers of Stacking guide.
Points stack with:
Credits
Offers
Portals
Perks
…to create outsized value from everyday spending.
When you combine points with the other layers, you get:
Free flights
Free hotel nights
Upgrades
Better redemptions
More flexibility
This is where stacking starts to feel fun.
⭐ My Takeaway
You don’t need to master every program. You don’t need to memorize charts. You don’t need to chase every bonus.
You just need a simple system that helps you:
Earn flexible points
Use airline/hotel points intentionally
Redeem based on value
Keep things sustainable
Once you understand points, everything else in your stacking system becomes easier — and a whole lot more rewarding.
⭐ Next Steps
If you’re ready to start using your points intentionally:
How I Erased Part of Our Alaska Cruise Using Capital One Miles
Join our Travel Hacking Moms Facebook Group— where I share real‑life examples every week
⭐ About the Author
Julie Davis is the creator of No Point Left Behind, where she teaches beginners how to travel smarter using the cards and perks they already have. A 20‑year stay‑at‑home mom turned travel‑hacking expert, Julie has paid cash for only one plane ticket since 2019 — every other flight has been booked on points.
She travels year‑round with her husband Brandon, their college‑aged sons Tanner and Finn, her parents, and her best friends, using simple stacking systems that work for real families. Julie also runs the Travel Hacking Moms Group on Facebook, a beginner‑friendly community where anyone can ask questions and learn without judgment.
