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One of the biggest game-changers in my points and miles journey has been having access to all four major flexible rewards currencies: Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Points. By diversifying across these programs, I can strategically transfer points to the airline or hotel partners that offer the best redemption at any given moment.
More Options, More Possibilities
Having points across multiple programs is especially beneficial when you’re aiming for a big redemption. Instead of being locked into just one ecosystem, you can pull from multiple buckets to accumulate enough points for your dream trip. Some airlines—like Emirates Skywards and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club—accept transfers from all four major programs, making them incredibly valuable options.
I personally experienced the power of flexible points when booking flights with Emirates Skywards. Back in 2021, I was too late to snag the 90,000-mile Emirates Skywards Saver tickets (clearly, I wasn’t the only one with this idea!). But thanks to my flexible points strategy, I was able to book two business class tickets to Athens for 125,000 miles each.
How I Made It Happen
I didn’t have a stash of Emirates Skywards miles just sitting around—but that wasn’t a problem. Since Emirates is a transfer partner of all of the flexible rewards programs, I transferred my points instantly from many buckets.
This wouldn’t have been possible if I had only focused on one rewards program. The ability to mix and match points from different sources gave me the flexibility to book my ideal flights, even at a higher redemption cost.
The Value Breakdown
Now, let’s talk about value. My two business class tickets, back then, would have cost a whopping $11,200 in cash. Instead, I transferred 250,000 points—125,000 per ticket—from my flexible rewards buckets.
Most of those points are typically valued at around 2 cents per point, my 250,000 points had an estimated value of $5,000. That means I booked flights worth more than double the value of my points, getting about 4.5 cents per point. (11,000/250,000 x 100). And if I had managed to snag the Saver Reward price, the deal would have been even sweeter!
Why You Should Collect Multiple Flexible Points
If I had relied solely on one program, I wouldn’t have had enough points for these tickets. Having points in multiple programs gives you:
✅ More airline and hotel transfer partners
✅ Better redemption opportunities when award space is limited
✅ The ability to mix and match points to cover high-cost redemptions
✅ Backup options in case one program devalues its rewards or lacks availability
Whether you’re eyeing a luxury redemption or just want the flexibility to book flights and hotels when award space opens up, having access to multiple flexible rewards programs is the key to unlocking incredible travel opportunities.
If you’re not already earning across Chase, Amex, Capital One, and Citi, it’s time to start diversifying your points strategy!
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