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The Best Ways To Book a Disney Cruise in 2024 [With Expert Tips]

Katie Seemann

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Sailing on a Disney cruise is a dream vacation for many families. Beautiful ships, incredible destinations, and Disney-themed, family-friendly activities are a huge draw. But planning such an extraordinary — and expensive — vacation can be daunting, and every question seems to turn into a dozen more.

What are the best ways to book a Disney cruise to save money and get extra perks? When can you book shore excursions? What stateroom is the best for your family?

We get it, and we’ve been there. In this post, we’re going to detail the best ways to book a Disney cruise — some offer simplicity, while others include extra perks. Plus, we’ll show you how to earn points and miles on your cruise and how to use them to pay for your cruise. Finally, we’ll go over important predeparture details to remember once you’re booked.

Let’s set sail and explore Disney Cruise Line bookings!

The Best Ways To Book a Disney Cruise

Before booking your Disney Cruise Line cruise, gather the following important information to ensure a smooth booking process:

• The itinerary you want to book
• The number of people, including ages at the time of embarkation, in each stateroom
• The names, addresses, phone numbers, and birthdates of each guest on the reservation
• Payment information (a credit card, Disney gift card, or Disney Rewards Redemption Card)
• Castaway Club member ID, if you have one

The Disney Cruise Line website is often the simplest way to book your cruise. It’s a one-stop shop that lets you quickly and easily book the best cruise for you.

You can filter the options by travel dates, destinations, departure port, and cruise length. This booking method is especially easy if you already know where you want to go or what ship you’d like to sail on.

If you’re not sure what room to book, Disney Cruise Line offers detailed looks at each ship’s stateroom options in the Our Ships tab online.

If you’re still not sure, just ask. According to Disney Cruise expert and planDisney panelist Tracie M., you shouldn’t hesitate to call Disney Cruise Line if you need guidance. She knows from personal experience what a great resource that can be.

“During my first voyage on the Disney Fantasy, the agent told me about a few staterooms on board that had extra-large windows. I never would have discovered this cabin on my own,” she told us.

You can reach Disney Cruises at 800-951-3532 or 888-325-2500 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

When you book your cruise directly through Disney, you can hold your reservation for up to 3 days without a deposit. Then you can confirm your reservation with a payment of (usually) just 20% of your cruise cost. The length of the cruise determines the date that your final payment is due — sailings up to 5 nights long require a final payment 90 days before the sail date, while cruises 6 nights or longer need to be paid in full 120 days before sailing.

Cancellation policies vary based on the specific itinerary.

Many people prefer to book Disney cruises through traditional travel agents. Finding an agent who specializes in Disney cruises is a great way to get personalized guidance when planning your vacation.

Even seasoned travelers love using travel agents to book Disney vacations since there can be many moving parts to keep track of. While booking a Disney cruise is more straightforward than booking a trip to a Disney park, many people still love using a travel agent to make things easy.

There are so many websites for booking cruises that it can be confusing to know which offers the best deals. We have found that most online travel agencies offer the same basic prices on cruises. The difference comes in the extras, like shipboard credit or bonus miles , that come with a booking. Here’s a quick look at some of the best places to book Disney cruises.

Costco Travel

Booking a Disney cruise through Costco Travel is great for Costco members. That’s because cruise bookings through Costco often come with a digital Costco Shop card as a bonus. The cruise price dictates the amount of the Shop card. For example, we found a 7-night Caribbean cruise on Disney Treasure (set to debut in December 2024) for 3 people in an oceanview stateroom with a verandah that cost $7,411.94 and came with a $590 Shop card.

Bookings made through Costco Travel can be confirmed with a deposit or can be paid in full at the time of booking. Cancellation policies vary by cruise itinerary.

Cruise.com is one of the only online travel agents that allows you to book Disney cruises online. Most other websites require you to book over the phone. We did multiple searches for different itineraries and found Disney cruises booked through Cruise.com were about $200 cheaper than booking directly through Disney Cruise Line. While this won’t always be the case, Cruise.com could be good for those looking to save money on a Disney cruise.

Bookings made through Cruise.com must be paid for in full at the time of booking. Cancellation policies vary by itinerary.

CruiseDirect

CruiseDirect also allows online bookings for Disney cruises. We found the prices to be identical to those found directly through Disney. However, there were often small extras included, like a $100 Visa gift card and a Walt Disney World official autograph book . These bonuses vary by itinerary and sometimes require a bit of work to receive (for example, you need to fill out a request form after your cruise to get the Visa gift card).

Be sure to read the details of these bonuses carefully. You can see a bonus offering 10% off shore excursions in this example, but that discount only applies to shore excursions booked through CruiseDirect, not ones booked through Disney Cruise Line.

Bookings through CruiseDirect can be confirmed with a deposit, and cancellation policies vary by itinerary.

If you want to earn a big chunk of airline miles or hotel points with your cruise booking , you may want to look to an airline or hotel cruise booking site.

The good news is that you have the opportunity to earn lots of miles by booking a cruise this way. The bad news is that each of these websites charges a $24.99 booking fee on each reservation, and you need to call to make a reservation. While we usually don’t recommend sites that charge a booking fee, sometimes the miles you earn outweigh the booking fee.

• American Airlines Cruises : AAdvantage members earn 1x American Airlines miles (plus 1x Loyalty Points ), and AAdvantage credit cardholders earn an additional 1x miles on every cruise booked, with occasional additional bonuses offered. Call AA Cruises at 800-259-5642 to book.
• Delta Cruises : SkyMiles members earn 2x miles on cruises booked through Delta, plus bonus miles on select itineraries. Call Delta Cruises at 800-820-3244 to book.
• United Cruises: MileagePlus members can earn 3x miles on interior and oceanview staterooms or 4x miles on balcony staterooms and suites. United credit cardholders can earn up to 7x miles! Call United Cruises at 800-211-2039 to book.
• Marriott Cruise With Points : Earn 3x Marriott Bonvoy points (including taxes, fees, and other charges) on a cruise.

If you’ve ever cruised before, you know that there’s always an incentive to put a deposit down on your next cruise before you disembark. It can’t hurt to do this because if you end up taking the cruise, you get a discount. If not, the deposit is refundable.

If you’ve never been on a Disney cruise but have friends who will be on one and are planning to put a deposit down on their next cruise, they can secure a second room using the onboard-only offer . Then they can transfer that second reservation to you, and you get the onboard booking benefit (both parties must travel on the same sailing.)

I took advantage of this trick for an upcoming Disney cruise, and it saved me 10% (which was about $700 for a 7-night cruise!) Our friends put a deposit down on a second room while they were on their last Disney cruise, and then they transferred that second reservation to us. We ended up with a Disney Cruise Line booking with a 10% discount .

Onboard-only offers generally just require a $250 deposit, which is fully refundable until you choose a date for your cruise (then the cancellation policy for your specific cruise applies), so there’s not much downside.

To insure or not to insure, that is the question. But seriously, is insurance really necessary, and which policy is best? We answer these questions in our guide to cruise travel insurance .

How To Book a Disney Cruise With Points and Miles

If you want to save money, you may be wondering if you can book a Disney Cruise with points. The answer is yes, but your options are limited. Plus, unlike using points to book hotels and flights, there’s no opportunity to get outsized value when using points for a cruise.

One of the easiest and best ways to book a Disney cruise with points is by using Capital One miles . Simply book your cruise (through any method) using a card such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , or Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card . Then use the miles in your account to redeem against your cruise purchase (within 90 days) at a rate of 1 cent per mile.

Capital One miles are easy to earn (many cards earn 2x miles on all purchases), so they are great for a wide variety of travelers.

Since this method doesn’t require booking through Capital One Travel , you can take advantage of any available sale or promotion, whether it’s directly through Disney or a traditional or online travel agency.

Disney cruises can’t be booked through AmexTravel.com , Chase Travel , or Citi Travel .

There are additional ways to book Disney cruises with points and miles, although these don’t offer tremendous value. If you’re flush with points and really just want to go on a Disney cruise, then by all means, go for it. However, if your goal is to use your points and miles for the highest cents-per-point value, you may want to skip these.

You could book a Disney cruise with points through Marriott Cruises . This site allows you to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for a discount on your cruise. While that’s great news, the not-so-great part is that you’d only get 0.4 cents per point , significantly less than the 0.7 cents we value Marriott Bonvoy points at.

Another option is to use United MileagePlus Miles via United Cruises . You’d only get about 0.7 cents per mile in value instead of the 1.2 or so cents per mile you could get using them for flights. While the value isn’t great, if you’d rather go on a cruise than fly somewhere, it could be worth considering.

What About the Disney ® Premier Visa ® Card?

Is the Disney Premier card the best option for booking a Disney cruise? Let’s take a look at it:

2% back Disney Rewards Dollars at Disney, gas stations, grocery stories, and restaurants means more rewards dollars for Disney fans.

Mickey and his friends are like part of the family. Your kids can recite the words to everything from Aladdin to Toy Story. And there’s no question where you’re going on Spring Break (Space Mountain, anyone?).

As a premier Disney fan, you always have the Disney ® Premier Visa ® Card on hand. It earns you cash back and discounts at Walt Disney World , Disneyland, and more.

• Save 10% on select purchases at shopDisney.com when you use your card
• Earn 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars on purchases at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or ESPNPlus.com
• Does not earn transferrable rewards
• Has a foreign transaction fee
• Earn a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Earn 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases made directly at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com. Earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney U.S. locations. Earn 1% on all your other card purchases. There are no limits to the number of Rewards Dollars you can earn.
• Redeem Rewards Dollars for a statement credit toward airline purchases.
• 0% promo APR for 6 months on select Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase, after that a variable APR of 19.24% - 28.24%
• 10% off select merchandise purchases at select locations and 10% off select dining locations most days at the Disneyland ® Resort and Walt Disney World ® Resort.
• Save 10% on select purchases at DisneyStore.com
• Member FDIC
• APR: 19.24% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Credit Card Reviews
• Cash Back Credit Cards

Disney Rewards

This card comes with the following benefits :

• 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com
• 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars from purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and most Disney locations
• 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars on all other purchases
• 10% off select merchandise purchases on Disney Cruise Line
• 10% off a Castaway Cay Getaway Package
• Special vacation financing when purchasing through Disney Cruise Line

While those earning rates aren’t bad, there are plenty of other cards that can match or exceed them. Consider the Capital One Venture card , which earns 5x miles on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2x miles on all other purchases . Plus, Capital One miles aren’t limited to Disney trips — they can be redeemed for any type of travel or transferred to hotels and airline partners .

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Sign Up Bonuses

Capital One Miles

Other good options would be cash-back credit cards . These cards earn cash-back rewards on all purchases, which can be used toward a Disney cruise, a trip to a Disney park, Disney gifts, or anything else. Multiple cards earn 2% cash-back or even 5% cash-back on everyday purchases, which could end up being more lucrative than using the Disney Premier card.

The Disney Premier card could be good for those who would rather save money for Disney trips than other types of travel, or it could make sense for those who want special financing arrangements. However, there are lots of alternatives that earn flexible points or cash-back that may offer a better return on everyday purchases.

How To Earn Points on a Disney Cruise

If you’d like to earn lots of points by booking a Disney cruise (and who wouldn’t want that?), there are plenty of options.

Of course, you could pay with the Disney Premier card to earn 2% back in Disney Dollars. Alternatively, you could use a card that rewards travel purchases. These cards all earn 3x points on all travel, including cruises:

• American Express ® Green Card : 3x Membership Rewards points on travel
• Chase Sapphire Reserve ® : 3x Ultimate Rewards points on travel
• Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card : 3x Ultimate Rewards points on travel

A fantastic option that earns a lot of points is paying for your Disney cruise with Disney gift cards . These can be purchased at office supply stores or grocery stores — categories where you can easily earn 5x points or 5% cash-back.

Here are a few great options for purchasing Disney gift cards:

• Ink Business Cash ® Credit Card : Earns 5% cash-back at office supply stores (up to $25,000 in purchases per year)
• Chase Freedom Flex℠ : Earns 5% cash-back in rotating categories (up to $1,500 in spend per quarter); we frequently see supermarkets and office supply stores count as 5% categories with this card
• Citi Custom Cash ® Card : Earns 5% cash-back on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to $500 spent)

You can easily apply Disney gift cards to your online account as payment for a Disney cruise.

What To Do Once You’re Booked

If you’re a first-time Disney cruiser, you’re probably wondering what to do before your cruise begins. Here are a few important things to remember before embarkation day.

Complete your paperwork and check in for your cruise to get your boarding time. Check-in for first-time cruisers opens 30 days before setting sail. If you’ve sailed with Disney Cruise Line previously, you’re automatically a Castaway Club member and can check in earlier than first-time cruisers (you climb tiers based on how many Disney cruises you’ve been on, from 1 to 25 or more):

• Castaway Club Silver : Check-in 33 days before sailing
• Castaway Club Gold : Check-in 35 days before sailing
• Castaway Club Platinum : Check-in 38 days before sailing
• Castaway Club Pearl : Check-in 40 days before sailing.

Double-check your specific itinerary’s document requirements. Some cruises require a passport, while others may not.

Be sure to book dining reservations, shore excursions, and any extras like Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique reservations early. The activity booking window for first-time Disney cruisers opens 75 days before sailing, while Castaway Club members get early access:

• Castaway Club Silver : Book activities 90 days before sailing
• Castaway Club Gold : Book activities 105 days before sailing
• Castaway Club Platinum : Book activities 120 days before sailing
• Castaway Club Pearl : Book activities 123 days before sailing

We asked Disney Cruise Line for advice for first-time Disney cruisers, and their experts pointed us to the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app ( iOS or Android ).

“You will want to make sure you have the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app downloaded to your phone. From the comfort of your home, you can explore your ship, reserve cruise activities, and countdown to your vacation. Once on board, you can quickly access the daily activities, rotational dining details, and entertainment schedules. Consider it your ultimate guide to the magic!” Tracie M, planDisney panelist for Disney Cruises

Be sure to look out for your Disney Cruise Line luggage tags, which will be mailed to you about 60 days before your sailing. If you don’t receive them or forget them, the porters at the dock will have plenty of extras.

When packing for your cruise, don’t forget to include fun extras like costumes for onboard celebrations (like Pirate Night). Leave your rubber ducks at home, however. Disney Cruise Line recently banned the tradition of hiding them around the ships.

Check out planDisney for answers to any additional questions about booking a Disney Cruise.

Booking a Disney cruise can be intimidating if you’re not sure where to get the best deal. As we’ve detailed, there are lots of options that provide simplicity, while others offer extra perks — you can even use points to pay for your Disney cruise. On top of that, you can earn lots of points or cash-back by using a great travel rewards credit card.

Whether you’re booking your first Disney cruise or your fifth, we hope you enjoy the magic at sea!

The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the American Express ® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you book a disney cruise through costco.

Yes, Disney cruises are bookable through Costco Travel. The prices tend to be about the same as those offered through Disney Cruise Line, but bookings through Costco often come with a Costco Shop card as a bonus.

When is the cheapest time to book a Disney cruise?

The lowest prices on Disney cruises (not to mention the best availability) are usually found when booking as soon as an itinerary opens for sale.

Can you book a Disney cruise with points?

Yes! The easiest way to book a Disney cruise with points is through Capital One. You need to use a card like the Capital One Venture card to pay for your cruise. Then you can redeem your Capital One miles against your cruise purchase (within 90 days) at a rate of 1 cent per mile. You can also book Disney cruises with Marriott Bonvoy points or United miles at a rate that’s less than desirable.

When can you book excursions on Disney cruise?

First-time Disney cruisers can book excursions starting 75 days before sailing. Castaway Club members (anyone who has sailed on Disney Cruise Line previously) can book excursions 90 to 123 days before sailing.

How far in advance can you book Disney cruise?

New Disney Cruise Line itineraries are usually released about 15 to 18 months in advance.

Do Disney Cruises get cheaper closer to sail date?

Generally, no, Disney cruises don’t get cheaper closer to the sail date. In fact, prices tend to increase as the sailing date gets closer. While you may occasionally find a last-minute deal, it’s better to book as far ahead of time as possible.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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Experience Priority check-in, security and Group 4 boarding for one trip of your choice. Check in online or at the airport when traveling with us, then use our exclusive security screening lanes at select airports. At the gate you’ll board the plane sooner with Group 4 boarding.

Here’s to flying upfront. Enjoy a confirmed upgrade to the next class of service anywhere American flies or on British Airways transatlantic flights, if seats are available. Systemwide upgrades can be used for one-way travel for up to 3 segments on American marketed and operated flights, British Airways marketed and operated flights, or British Airways operated flights marketed by American. Systemwide upgrades will be valid for 1 year from the date of selection, giving you the flexibility to choose your expiration date based on when you select your reward.

Once selected, you have even more flexibility, because systemwide upgrades can be used for travel beyond the expiration date – the upgrade just needs to be confirmed before the upgrade expires.

Let your miles go farther. You can get up to 100,000 AAdvantage ® bonus miles as a rebate on mileage redemptions over the next 12 months after you choose this reward at the 1 million Loyalty Point Reward level.

You can get:

• Up to 300,000 AAdvantage ® bonus miles back if you choose it at the 3 million Loyalty Point Reward level
• Up to 500,000 AAdvantage ® bonus miles back if you choose it at the 5 million Loyalty Point Reward level

Terms and conditions

• Only customers who qualify according to the published qualification requirements are eligible for Loyalty Point Rewards
• Members qualifying for the Loyalty Point Rewards starting March 1, 2024 will be eligible to choose rewards between the date of qualification and March 31, 2025
• Members may only select Admirals Club ® membership once per membership year; all other rewards can be selected more than once
• Expiration date and associated terms and conditions vary by reward, so please review all terms and conditions carefully
• Reward selections are final and cannot be changed, exchanged, modified, or transferred after selection
• Offers and rewards are subject to change without notice
• AAdvantage ® program terms and conditions apply

AAdvantage® bonus miles

• AAdvantage ® bonus miles awarded through this offer don’t count toward status qualification or your Million Miler™ balance
• AAdvantage ® bonus miles awarded through this offer are subject to expiration according to the general AAdvantage ® program terms and conditions
• Once selected, bonus miles will be deposited into your American Airlines AAdvantage ® account within 72 hours

Additional 5,000 or 10,000 mile bonus (Applies only to 175,000 and 250,000 levels):

• If you are or become an AAdvantage ® credit cardmember, you can receive an additional 5,000 AAdvantage ® bonus miles at the 175,000 Loyalty Point Reward level and an additional 10,000 AAdvantage ® bonus miles at the 250,000 Loyalty Point Reward level
• The additional AAdvantage ® bonus miles for AAdvantage ® credit cardmembers will be awarded automatically if your American Airlines AAdvantage ® account at aa.com shows you have an open AAdvantage ® credit card at the time the reward is chosen. The AAdvantage ® bonus miles won’t be applied retroactively.
• If you’ve recently opened a card account, please allow sufficient time for it to be reflected in your AAdvantage ® account before choosing your reward
• No action is required from you to link the credit card to your AAdvantage ® account
• This reward only applies to the primary cardmember’s AAdvantage ® account
• This includes AAdvantage ® credit cards outside the U.S.

Eligible AAdvantage® credit cards include:

• All Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Mastercard ® credit cards
• All AAdvantage ® Aviator ® Mastercard ® credit cards
• All AAdvantage ® credit cards issued outside the U.S.

AAdvantage® Loyalty Points

• Later in 2024, you will have the option to apply your Loyalty Points chosen as a reward to this year’s qualification or to next year’s qualification. Please wait to choose this reward if you want to apply the Loyalty Points chosen to next year’s qualification.
• Loyalty Points chosen will count toward any qualification based on Loyalty Points. For example, chosen Loyalty Points will count toward promotions such as Instant Status Pass.
• Accumulated Loyalty Points, including Loyalty Points chosen as a reward, reset to zero on March 1 each year.

Admirals Club® membership

• You can only select membership if you don’t have an active membership of any type
• You may only select membership once during a single qualification period
• Membership requires two (2) choices and can only be selected if two (2) choices are available for use
• Membership is an individual membership
• This is a non-transferable membership, valid from the date of selection through the following 365 days
• Use of Admirals Club ® lounge facilities is subject to all rules, terms and conditions set by American, including all policies set forth in the Admirals Club ® terms and conditions
• By accessing any Admirals Club ® lounge, member shall be deemed to have accepted the Admirals Club ® terms and conditions

Read the full Admirals Club ® terms and conditions

Admirals Club® One-Day Passes

• By accessing any Admirals Club ® lounge, pass holder shall be deemed to have accepted the Admirals Club ® terms and conditions
• Passes are valid for 1 year from the date of selection
• Day pass is non-refundable, non-changeable, non-transferable, and valid only on date of visit. Day pass is only valid for use by the named pass-holder as printed on the day pass.
• Pass holder must have a same-day boarding pass for travel on an eligible flight that allows clearance through security for flight departure and access to the Admirals Club ® location. Same-day priority verification cards will be accepted.
• An “eligible flight” includes any departing or arriving flight that is (1) marketed or operated by American or (2) marketed and operated by any one world ® carrier.

American Airlines Trip Credit

American airlines trip credit and paper travel voucher terms and conditions:.

• For customers residing in countries that recognize digital credits, you may receive a travel credit from American Airlines that is in the form of a “Trip Credit”
• If you reside in a country that doesn’t recognize digital credits or fall within certain circumstances where digital credits are otherwise unavailable, you may receive a paper voucher from American Airlines in the form of a “Paper Travel Voucher”.
• Although the value must be applied toward the ticket purchase before that date, the travel may extend past that date
• Trip Credits and Paper Travel Vouchers may be used toward the purchase of a ticket for future travel on American, American Eagle ®  or any American-marketed codeshare flight
• Trip Credits and Paper Travel Vouchers may also be used on any of the airlines in our  one world ®  alliance, provided American is the international carrier (international flights are defined as transatlantic, transpacific and flights to and from South America)
• As an AAdvantage ® member, Trip Credits and Paper Travel Vouchers chosen as a reward will receive 12 months validity from the date of issue
• Trip Credits and Paper Travel Vouchers won’t be replaced for any reason
• Trip Credits and Paper Travel Vouchers are non-refundable, non-transferable, may not be bartered or sold, and have no cash redemption value
• You may use your Trip Credit or Paper Travel Voucher toward the purchase of a ticket for a friend or family member, if you choose
• There are no travel embargo dates

American Airlines Trip Credit terms and conditions:

• Trip Credit is redeemable online at aa.com or with American Airlines Reservations at 800-433-7300 toward the purchase of base air fare and directly associated taxes, fees and charges that are collected as part of the fare calculation for travel
• If the ticket price is greater than the value of the Trip Credit, you may pay the difference only with a credit card accepted by American

Read the full Trip Credit terms and conditions

Paper voucher terms and conditions:

• Paper Travel Vouchers are valid for flights only
• If the ticket price is greater than the value of the Paper Travel Voucher, you may pay the difference with a credit card or gift card accepted by American
• Please allow 6 – 8 weeks to receive your voucher
• To redeem voucher, please call Reservations at 800-433-7300

Additional $50 Trip Credit and paper travel voucher value

• If you are or become an AAdvantage ® credit cardmember, you can receive an additional $50 added to your Trip Credit or paper travel voucher value
• You’ll automatically receive the additional $50 value for a total of $250 American Airlines Trip Credit or paper travel voucher if your American Airlines AAdvantage ® account on aa.com shows you have an open AAdvantage ® credit card at the time you choose your reward

Avis Preferred® program status

• Avis status is for eligible qualifying members only and cannot be transferred
• To be granted Avis status, you must first be enrolled in the Avis Preferred program
• Your Avis account must be verified to receive status in the Avis Preferred program
• To successfully verify your account and receive status in the Avis Preferred program, your Avis Wizard number, first name and last name in your AAdvantage account, email address and postal code must match what’s on file with Avis
• Avis status can only be granted if you do not currently hold the same or higher status
• If you have trouble verifying your account, please contact Avis
• In becoming a member of the Avis Preferred program, you agree to all rules, terms and conditions set by Avis, including all policies set forth in the program terms and conditions
• American Airlines is not responsible for the Avis Preferred program or policies, Avis’s conduct with respect to any promotions, or your transactions with Avis
• American Airlines will share with Avis information about your AAdvantage ® account, receive from Avis information about your Avis Preferred account, and share with and receive from Avis other information about you related to this promotion
• American Airlines’ use of your information, including information about you that American Airlines receives from Avis, will be in accordance with American Airlines’ privacy policy located on aa.com
• Avis is responsible for its use of your information, including information about you that American Airlines provides to Avis. Avis’s use of your information is governed by Avis’s privacy policy.
• American Airlines is not responsible for Avis’s use of your information, including information about you that American Airlines provides to Avis
• American Airlines reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify or suspend this promotion or any portion hereof
• Additional American Airlines terms and conditions apply, including the AAdvantage ® program terms and conditions. American Airlines may update or otherwise modify its terms and conditions at any time.

Avis Preferred ® program terms and conditions Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines.

Bang & Olufsen products

• No exchanges / returns will be accepted, except if damaged upon arrival
• For warranty related questions / concerns, please contact Bang & Olufsen directly
• Your name, AAdvantage ® number, address, phone number and email address may be shared with our 3rd-party distributor (Overture, LLC) and shipping carrier for the purpose of fulfilling / shipping your product and providing tracking information
• Your information will not be used for any other purpose
• Allow 2 – 4 weeks for delivery. International locations and P.O. boxes may take longer.
• Products available while supplies last

Carbon emissions offset

• Carbon offsets are bought in the year following the reward selection and calculated based on the status member’s prior year travel
• Carbon emissions from travel will be offset up to the maximum of $250
• Emissions are calculated based on system average carbon emissions from jet fuel per passenger mile flown (approximately 0.00015 tons/mile)
• Member’s annual travel is calculated based on great-circle distance miles flown on all American Airlines operated flights occurring in the calendar year the benefit is chosen
• Members choosing this reward more than once will have their offsets multiplied, up to the maximum specified by level
• For example, if a member’s calculated carbon emissions require $150 in offsets and the member chooses the reward twice at a given level American will buy $300 in offsets
• This is not a donation and is not tax deductible

Charitable donation

Your donation is not tax deductible

Flagship® First Dining visit pass

• Pass holder must have a same-day boarding pass for travel on an eligible flight that allows clearance through security for flight departure and access to the Flagship ® First Dining location. Same-day priority verification cards are accepted.
• An ‘eligible flight’ includes any departing or arriving flight that is marketed or operated by American or marketed and operated by any one world ® airline
• A Flagship ® First Dining pass provides access to the holder and their immediate family (spouse, domestic partner and / or children under 18) or up to two guests. Children 2 and older count as a guest.
• Not all American origin and destination locations have a Flagship ® Lounge or offer Flagship ® First Dining. Please be sure to check for information on our Flagship ® Lounge and Flagship ® First Dining locations
• Flagship ® Lounge hours vary by location and are subject to change
• Use of a Flagship ® First Dining visit pass may be limited based on Flagship ® First Dining capacity
• The pass is non-transferrable and can’t be combined with another offer
• Use of Flagship ® Lounge facilities is subject to all rules, terms and conditions set by American, including all policies set forth in the Flagship ® Lounge terms and conditions
• By entering any Flagship ® Lounge, you affirmatively acknowledge and agree that these terms and conditions are a binding agreement between you and American Airlines (“American”)

Flagship® Lounge Single Visit Pass

• Pass holder must have a same-day boarding pass for travel on an eligible flight that allows clearance through security for flight departure and access to the Flagship ® Lounge location. Same-day priority verification cards are accepted.
• Use of a Flagship ® Lounge Single Visit Pass (“Flagship Pass”) may be limited based on Flagship ® Lounge capacity
• Flagship ® Pass holders are not permitted to bring guests
• Not all American origin and destination locations have a Flagship ® Lounge. Please be sure to check for information on our Flagship ® Lounge locations.
• Flagship ® Lounge hours may vary by location and are subject to change
• Flagship ® Lounge Single Visit Pass does not include access to Flagship ® First Dining
• Use of Flagship ® lounge facilities is subject to all rules, terms and conditions set by American, including all policies set forth in the Flagship ® lounge terms and conditions

Additional Single Visit Passes

• If you become an AAdvantage ® credit cardmember, you can receive one (1) additional Single Visit Pass
• You’ll automatically receive the additional Single Visit Pass for a total of two (2) Single Visit Passes if your American Airlines AAdvantage ® account at aa.com shows you have an open AAdvantage ® credit card at the time the reward is chosen
• If you recently opened a card account, please allow sufficient time for it to be reflected in your AAdvantage ® account before choosing your reward

Gift of AAdvantage® status

• Gifted AAdvantage ® status will be valid through the stated expiration date for the status reward in your AAdvantage ® account
• Status can only be gifted to an AAdvantage ® member with status below the gifted tier
• If the recipient currently holds the same status as the gifted tier, you may gift status to them on or after the date their status expires
• Status must be gifted by the stated redemption date for the status reward in your AAdvantage ® account
• Once status has been gifted, no changes are allowed

Group 5 boarding

• Group 5 boarding will automatically be applied to any eligible trip post ticketing, starting the day this reward is earned through the AAdvantage ® status membership year
• New trips as well as existing trips booked and ticketed prior to qualifying for this reward are eligible for this reward as long as the departure date of the flight is on or before the last date of the membership year
• Group 5 boarding is only available on American Airlines marketed and operated flights
• Applies to the member and up to 8 travel companions booked in the same reservation. If more than 9 passengers are booked in the same reservation, the benefit will only apply to the qualifying member
• You may already be eligible for Group 5 boarding or better if you have AAdvantage ® status, are an eligible AAdvantage ® credit cardmember, purchased a Main Cabin Extra seat or are traveling with another customer who has AAdvantage ® status

Loyalty Point bonus when spending with select partners

• The Loyalty Point bonus will only count on spend with eligible partners. Eligible partners include American Airlines Vacations™, SimplyMiles ® , AAdvantage ® eShopping℠, AAdvantage Dining℠ and AAdvantage Hotels™
• Eligible partners are subject to change at any time without notice and partner eligibility differs by country
• AAdvantage ® bonus miles will not be granted as part of the Loyalty Point bonus reward
• One Loyalty Point is earned per one eligible AAdvantage ® mile. Eligible AAdvantage ® miles include all base miles you earn, as well as status bonus and cabin bonus miles you earn from flying.
• Loyalty Point bonus is calculated on the Loyalty Points earned. Spend that only earns bonus miles will not be eligible for the Loyalty Point bonus.
• The Loyalty Point bonus is earned on spend with eligible partners that has an activity date on or after the day the reward is earned through the following 185 days
• The reward is earned when the qualifying activity that crosses the Loyalty Point threshold posts in your AAdvantage ® account
• If applicable, the 30% Loyalty Point bonus will start one day after the qualifying activity that crosses the Loyalty Point threshold posts in your AAdvantage ® account
• The amount of time it takes for bonus Loyalty Points to be deposited in your account varies by partner
• Most bonus Loyalty Points post within 8 weeks. If you do not receive your bonus Loyalty Points for a transaction within 8 weeks following the 185-day period, please contact us.
• If the 30% Loyalty Point bonus is earned during the 185-day period that a member is receiving the 20% Loyalty Point bonus, then their bonus will automatically increase from 20% to 30% on future purchases, and the 185-day period will restart. Members will not receive both bonuses at the same time
• If a member requalifies for a bonus while they are still receiving the prior year’s bonus, then the highest bonus will prevail
• Requalification for a bonus of the same amount will extend the time a member receives the same bonus by 185 days from the date it is earned
• If a member requalifies for a lower bonus than they are currently receiving, the higher bonus will continue to apply for the remainder of the 185 days from the date the higher bonus was earned
• At the end of the 185-day period for the higher bonus, the lower bonus will apply for any remainder of the 185 days from the date the lower bonus was earned
• The Loyalty Point bonus won’t be applied to purchases retroactively
• American Airlines Vacations™ terms and conditions apply

Miles back rebate

• All mileage redemptions will be tracked starting the day this reward is chosen through the following 365 days
• When you’ve redeemed your total miles for the chosen reward or at the end of your 12-month period, you’ll get a lump sum deposit of bonus miles credited back into your account equal to your total redemptions, up to the total miles amount for your chosen reward
• Allow up to 72 hours after your 365th day for miles to be deposited into your account. If you do not receive your miles, please contact us.
• The mileage redemptions must be completed from the selecting member’s account
• Travel for flight, hotel and car redemptions must be completed before the 365-day period ends
• Redemptions completed prior to selecting this reward are not eligible
• AAdvantage ® bonus miles awarded through this offer don’t count toward AAdvantage ® status qualification or your Million Miler™ balance

Miles toward a Mastercard Priceless® experience

• Miles toward a Mastercard ® Priceless ® Experience are exclusive to U.S. American Airlines ® AAdvantage ® Mastercard ® credit cardmembers that earn a Loyalty Point Reward where the reward is offered as a reward choice
• Upon selecting miles toward a Mastercard ® Priceless ® Experience as your reward choice, you will receive a promo code via email from Mastercard ® that you can apply at checkout on Priceless.com/aa toward a Mastercard ® Priceless ® Experience
• The promo code for miles toward a Mastercard ® Priceless ® Experience can only be used toward Mastercard ® Priceless ® Experiences available at priceless.com/aa
• Mastercard is responsible for fulfillment of this reward and any Priceless ® Experiences to which the reward is applied
• If you did not receive your promotional code, please contact Mastercard at 1-855-438-7580 or [email protected]
• Miles will not be deposited or reflected in your AAdvantage ® account
• Promo codes will be available while supplies last
• Multiple promo codes cannot be combined on a single transaction
• Each promo code is valid for only one transaction
• Promo code value will be lost if not used in full in a single transaction
• Promo codes cannot be transferred or sold to others
• Experiences purchased on Priceless.com/aa are nonrefundable
• Your use of the Priceless platform and purchase of any Priceless Experience are governed by the applicable terms and privacy policy set forth on Priceless.com/aa
• By selecting this choice, you are agreeing to share your data with Mastercard ® and / or its third parties in relation to this promotion

Preferred Seat coupons

• A seat coupon is valid for 1 seat on 1 flight marketed and operated by American Airlines systemwide
• Seat coupons cannot be applied retroactively to a seat for which you have already paid
• Travel must begin on or before the expiration date
• Seat coupons are non-transferable, but the coupon owner can redeem their seat coupons on a seat for any other passenger in the same reservation
• Seat coupons will be void if bartered or sold
• We may eliminate or restrict seat coupons on certain flights or make other changes without notice
• Use of seat coupons for future American destinations is subject to approval
• If a flight is canceled or delayed, we’ll try to honor your seat coupon on another flight. If you are booked on another carrier, it will be in the same service class of your original American ticket.
• We’ll redeposit seat coupons based on seat terms and conditions

Priority Privileges and Group 4 boarding for a trip

• Applies to the member and up to 8 travel companions booked in the same reservation. If 10 or more passengers are booked in the same reservation, the benefit will only apply to the qualifying member.
• Applies to all ticket types including purchased, award and employee travel
• If applied to a partially flown reservation, the reward will still be counted as redeemed in full
• Qualifying member must be traveling in the designated reservation to apply this reward
• Priority is only available on flights operated and marketed by American Airlines. Priority is not available on codeshare flights operated by another airline.
• Priority lanes at check-in counters and gates will be available at most major airport locations
• Exclusive lanes at security checkpoints are available at participating airports
• In the event your trip is canceled voluntarily, this reward is forfeited. If the trip cancellation is involuntary, please contact us for assistance.
• If you applied the reward to a reservation that is canceled after the reward expiration date, the reward will not be reinstated
• If your travel date is changed, the reward will still apply to the new date(s) as long as you are rebooked within the same reservation to which the reward was applied. If you're rebooked to a new reservation, please contact us to update your reward.
• Reward must be applied to a trip at least 7 days before departure

Systemwide upgrades

• Use systemwide upgrades to move up from Business to First or from Main or Premium Economy to Business (or domestic First) on American marketed and operated flights
• Use systemwide upgrades on transatlantic flights to move to the next class (Premium Economy, Business or First) on British Airways marketed and operated flights or British Airways operated flights marketed by American
• Upgrades are confirmed if space is available at time of request. If upgrade space is not available, waitlisting is available for travel on American Airlines.
• 1 systemwide upgrade can be used for a single one-way trip (maximum of 3 flights)
• Systemwide upgrades are valid for 1 year from the date of selection; upgrades can be used for travel beyond the expiration date as long as the upgrade is confirmed before the upgrade expires
• You can apply your systemwide upgrades to travel for anyone you choose whether you’re traveling with them or not

Read the full systemwide upgrades terms and conditions

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AAdvantage ® program updates

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• AAdvantage ® program

Earning on flights

Book directly with american.

Starting with tickets issued on July 11, 2024, the only flights that earn AAdvantage ® miles and Loyalty Points are those booked directly with American, eligible one world ® and partner airlines, and preferred travel agencies.

Flights booked through non-preferred travel agencies will not earn miles or Loyalty Points, unless the customer is registered with the AAdvantage Business ™ program or has a contracted corporate agreement with American.

Booking with us provides a better travel experience. You can manage your trip online, receive travel credit for canceled trips and more. Plus, you’ll continue to earn miles and Loyalty Points through our non-airline partners and on eligible purchases with an AAdvantage ® credit card.

Eligible travel

You must book directly to earn on flights. ‘Booking directly’ includes travel booked through American or our partner airlines’:

• Reservations and airport teams
• Ticket sales centers

Find a ticket sales center

You can also earn miles and Loyalty Points on most flights:

• As an AAdvantage Business ™ member, anywhere you book
• As part of a contracted corporate agreement with American, anywhere you book
• Through our preferred travel agencies

Plus, all flights booked as part of an American Airlines Vacations ™ package will continue to be eligible.

Basic Economy tickets

The only way to earn on Basic Economy fare tickets is if you book through American or our eligible airline partners’ websites, apps, Reservations and airport teams, or ticket sales centers.

Ineligible travel

You’ll no longer earn miles or Loyalty Points on:

• Basic Economy fares that are not booked directly through American or our partner airlines
• Basic Economy fares not booked directly through American as an AAdvantage Business ™ member or as part of a contracted corporate agreement
• Any trip booked through non-preferred travel agencies, unless you’re registered with the AAdvantage Business ™ program or have a contracted corporate agreement with American

Unsure if your trip will earn miles?

For corporate travel, check with your company travel manager.

If you’re booking through a travel agency, check with them once this change begins. We will also have more information about preferred agencies by June 5, 2024.

Preferred travel agencies

All agencies on a 2024 contracted incentive agreement issued by American are eligible to qualify into the preferred agency program at American's sole discretion.

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Have questions?

Yes, you’ll still earn AAdvantage ® miles and Loyalty Points on the eligible tickets you buy before July 11, 2024.

Tell your company to sign up for the AAdvantage Business ™ program -- it's fast and free to join. You’ll continue to earn miles and Loyalty Points anywhere you book, except on Basic Economy fare tickets. If you book directly through American, your company earns additional miles for future travel, and you earn additional Loyalty Points toward status and rewards.

Register now Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines

No matter where you book, you’ll earn miles and Loyalty Points if you include the AAdvantage Business ™ account number in your booking before departure. The exception is Basic Economy fare tickets, which must be booked directly through American.

To earn additional Loyalty Points on business travel through the AAdvantage Business ™ program, you must book directly through American. This helps accelerate your path to AAdvantage ® status and your business can earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on eligible travel.

There are no changes to miles or Loyalty Points earned on trips before July 11, 2024.

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• AAdvantage Business ™ program

More From Forbes

Building loyalty: can brand communities retain high-revenue flyers.

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Building a brand community sounds like a great idea. According to marketing thought leader Mark Schaefer , community is “the last great marketing strategy.” In Belonging to the Brand , Schaefer calls community “the marketing megatrend of our time.”

These statements might seem to be a bit hyperbolic, but Schaefer points out the declining effectiveness of traditional marketing and advances in technology as drivers of brand communities.

Can an airline build a community of flyers?

People Don’t Love Airlines

The airline business might pose additional challenges to building community. Most customers are occasional flyers. And, not many people love airlines. It’s hard to love a company that charges extra for amenities that used to be included and stuffs you into a tiny seat on a crowded airplane. And, even the most customer-oriented airlines have problems - flight delays, missing luggage, long waits on tarmacs, and waves of flight cancellations. The airlines get the blame for all of these bad experiences, even those that are caused by circumstances beyond their control.

The data shows the disdain people have for airlines. Not a single airline makes the top 50 in the latest Axios/Harris reputation rankings . Delta does the best at #58, while United and Southwest come in at #70 and #71, respectively. The other big U.S. airline, American, didn’t show up in the top 100. This lack of positive emotional connection is a major hurdle for any kind of community building effort.

Existing Communities

FlyerTalk is an online community that calls itself “the largest expert travel community” and claims 850,000+ members. It’s a busy place - while writing this article, I looked in and more than 15,000 members were online.

FlyerTalk is entirely independent from the airline brands, but they do have sub-communities focused on each airline. The United forum alone, for example, has over 40,000 discussions.

A busy digital community hasn’t translated into much offline interaction. While there have been FlyerTalk members who form subgroups to have in-person meetups, these don’t seem common. Attempts to get an Austin, Texas meetup going, for example, have been unsuccessful.

Online communities can still be strong, of course. Across FlyerTalk, many members offer help and advice to others with less experience or who are trying to solve a problem. But, the airline forums can only loosely be considered brand communities. And, they don’t do much, if anything, to promote the brand or increase engagement with the brand.

Other communities, like Reddit’s United Airlines subreddit, seem to feature mostly complaints and anecdotes about passenger or employee behavior.

Elite Flyers as a Community

The one group where a community seems feasible would be an airline’s most frequent flyers. This group has, on average, a better customer experience because of their status. Elite flyers board first, don’t pay for checked bags, get cabin upgrades when available, and may get other perks like a free cocktail or meal. This group is subject to the same vagaries of air travel as everyone else, but the experience is much less grueling. The top-tier elite flyer is experiencing a different airline than the basic economy flyer.

Because of their perks, elite flyers are often more favorably disposed toward their airline of choice. And, of course, these are the highest revenue, most loyal customers. If you want to build a brand community, this is by far the best group to work with.

Cruise Line Communities

Surprisingly, airlines generally make little effort to bring these flyers together. This is a contrast with, say, cruise lines. For their most loyal members, like airlines, cruise lines have a variety of perks - free laundry, discounts on various items, cabin upgrades when available.

The cruise lines offer their higher loyalty special on-board receptions, and even special lounge access in some cases.

While many of these perks have minimal monetary value, the events and lounge access do something special: they encourage high-value valuable customers to interact with each other for extended amounts of time. They make each member feel like they are part of a special group. During the course of a cruise, these elite members will continue to encounter each other, building a temporary community.

The friendships formed can last well beyond the end of a particular cruise. Even when they don’t, the cruiser’s identity as part of a select group of loyal customers will linger.

Airline Loyalty vs. Cruise Line Loyalty

A key difference between loyalty on airlines and cruise lines is that the latter offer status for life. Once you are Zenith on Celebrity, you are Zenith forever.

In contrast, airline loyalty programs have become ruthlessly transactional.

Each member must requalify every year to keep their status. And, while cruise lines typically count days spent cruising, airlines have stopped counting miles and now count dollars. A flyer who takes a short business class flight can earn as many points as one who spends 30 hours flying to and from Australia in economy.

Transactional vs. Emotional Loyalty

Airline programs can keep customers loyal, but it’s a transactional loyalty. If I know I’m many points (Premier Qualifying Points, or PQPs) short of requalifying for 1K status on United, I’ll pick a United flight even if a competing airline has a slightly more convenient flight.

The actual amount of time you spend in a brand’s airplanes (”butt-in-seat” miles) is mostly meaningless. In some cases you can qualify for elite status without even flying. Spend $200,000 using an American Airlines co-branded credit card and you can qualify for Executive Platinum status. Imagine a flyer who spent most weeks of the year standing in TSA lines, schlepping through airports, dealing with delays, and sitting in uncomfortable economy seats... how would they feel meeting someone with the same “elite flyer” status who had yet to board a flight?

Sometimes, you just need cash. In 2023, I didn’t fly quite enough to keep my United 1K status. No worries, an email offer from United promised me. The airline would happily bump me from Platinum back to 1K for only... wait for it... a one-time payment of $12,000. (Nope, I didn’t bite.)

None of this makes a flyer emotionally loyal to an airline. You might be treated like royalty one year, but if your job changes and your international business class flights dry up, you’ll be in the back of the line next year. Airlines do have some lifetime status members, but the thresholds keep rising and few flyers qualify.

Re-examining loyalty programs to recognize actual flight miles, even in a modest way, would make them seem less transactional.

Holiday Party Rewards Loyalty, Hints at Community

United Airlines did take one rather extraordinary step for its most loyal flyers in Austin, Texas. They invited elite Mileage Plus members to a holiday cocktail reception at an Austin City Limits venue. Apparently, this was the first such event held in a city that wasn’t a United hub like Houston or Chicago. Reportedly, Austin has the highest number of elite flyers of any non-hub city.

United holiday reception for elite flyers in Austin featured live music

The entire event was top-level. It began with complimentary valet parking. There was live music, of course - this is Austin. Ultra-premium spirits were poured at the bar, and guests were gifted with a custom-engraved spirits bottle. Notably, the event included a plus-one option, so the significant others of the invited road warriors could attend as well.

Luc Bondar, who holds the titles of COO/President of MileagePlus and VP of Loyalty at United Airlines, said a few words to the assemblage. In keeping with the spirit of the event, he was brief and minimally promotional.

Luc Bondar, President of Mileage Plus and VP of Loyalty at United, addresses members at holiday ... [+] event, December, 2023

Did this event make the invited flyers feel valued and special? Did the less-traveled plus-ones feel at least a little rewarded for the time spent apart? I’d say yes on both counts. The event was so well staged that one couldn’t help but be impressed.

One of the enjoyable parts of the event was meeting other frequent flyers and United loyalists. I didn’t encounter any other speakers, but I met sales executives, business owners, and even leisure travelers. There was enough shared experience that the conversations were easy and interesting.

The event succeeded in letting the invitees know their loyalty was valued. But, it only hinted that an actual community could exist. I enjoyed connecting with fellow flyers, but as the evening closed, everyone left for their home and the holidays. Brand perception was boosted, but few lasting connections between individuals were formed.

Steps to Build Community

What could United do to keep the positive feelings going after their holiday event? Or what could any airline do to foster connections between their most loyal customers?

There’s no easy answer. As I mentioned earlier, airline loyalty is transactional, not emotional. Few flyers would get a United tattoo or wear Delta-branded apparel. In Austin, I’m far more likely to see people sporting logos for H-E-B, the beloved Texas supermarket , or Buc-ees, the unique highway convenience store chain, than any airline.

Nevertheless, focusing on top-tier loyalty customers, here are a few things airlines could try:

• Events. The United holiday reception was successful in bringing many of the brand’s highest revenue flyers based in Austin together. But, it was far too expensive to replicate frequently or in smaller markets. Much less costly events - wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, guest speaker sessions, etc. - would let flyers network, socialize, and build relationships with like-minded travelers in their area.
• Lounge Spaces. While dedicated lounges for elite members would be a great benefit, the cost would be prohibitive. But, the major airlines already have large networks of lounges. Larger lounges, particularly in hub locations, might be able to cordon off an area exclusively for elite members. This would underscore their identity as part of a special group as well as let them interact with fellow members.
• Online Community. Bringing a brand’s elite flyers together in an online community, either on a dedicated platform or a site like Facebook or LinkedIn, would let them connect, share travel experiences, and access exclusive content.
• Dedicated Community Manager. Whatever approach or approaches are uses, they need a dedicated community manager or team to foster engagement and facilitate connections among the brand’s elite travelers. This team would be responsible for organizing events, moderating online forums, and serving as a direct point of contact for addressing concerns or queries.
• Brand Ambassadors/Influencers. It’s unlikely many people who fly enough to achieve elite status are looking for more to do. Nevertheless, in various communities it’s possible that some individuals could serve as brand ambassadors or influencers supporting the brand and showing a human side to it.
• Co-creation. Robert Cialdini’s seventh and most recent Principle of Influence is Unity, a feeling of shared identity. One way to foster unity is co-creation , building something together. Using these communities to involve customers in creating products, redesigning services, etc. would begin to invoke this powerful principle and build a strong attachment not just to the community but to the brand.

Building community isn’t easy, but the benefits to a brand are enormous. The first airline to crack the code of building a brand community will gain a major competitive advantage.

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5 Ways To Upgrade To First Class On American Airlines

• Complimentary upgrades are available for elite members, who can receive upgrades to business or first class if space is available.
• Earn first class upgrades with AAdvantage miles, with redemption requiring both miles and cash, depending on fare class.
• Systemwide upgrades for the first class seat can be obtained via Loyalty Point Rewards or the Million Miler program.

Upgrading to business or first class will make anyone's travel experience, especially on long-haul flights, much more memorable. Some airlines offer opportunities to upgrade from economy to business or first class. In this guide, we will take a closer look at the various upgrade options available with American Airlines.

Before delving into the various ways of upgrading your seat with American Airlines, it is worth noting that American Airlines has discontinued its first-class service on international flights. First class is available only on domestic flights and those to the Caribbean and Central America.

Complimentary upgrades

Eligible only to elite members.

When will different tier members be able to claim an upgrade:

• Executive Platinum: 100 hours before departure
• Platinum Pro: 72 hours before departure
• Platinum: 48 hours before departure
• Gold: 24 hours before departure

Some passengers may receive complimentary upgrades to either business or first class seats. According to the American Airlines website, AAdvantage status members will automatically receive a complimentary upgrade if space is available in either of these cabins.

Upgrades to first class are only available on flights within the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Additionally, they can include one companion on the same flight. After booking a flight, passengers can view the reservation from 'Manage trips' to check their upgrade status.

The wait time to determine if someone is to be upgraded varies based on the status of the AAdvantage program. For example, Gold members receive notification 24 hours before departure, while Platinum members are informed earlier, 48 hours before departure.

Economy Vs Business Class: 5 Reasons Why The Upgrade Is Worth It

Upgrade with miles, earning aadvantage miles can score you an upgrade.

Options for earning AAdvantage miles include:

• Flying with American Airlines
• Flying with premium partner carriers British Airways and Iberia
• Flying with other one world alliance partners
• Spending with a Citi AAdvantage or AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard credit card

For non-elite members, this upgrade option is the sole opportunity available. First-class cabin upgrades can be obtained by redeeming AAdvantage miles as long as the flight is marketed and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle.

Cash-purchased tickets may qualify for AAdvantage miles upgrades. Depending on the fare class, upgrading may require payment in both miles and cash. For example, if you bought a discounted economy ticket for a domestic flight, you would need to pay 15,000 miles plus $75 to upgrade to the next class of service. However, for a full-fare economy ticket on the same domestic flight, only 5,000 miles are needed, with no additional payment required, according to the American Airlines website .

It is worth noting that earning AAdvantage miles through American Airlines flights is not the only option available. Below, find the complete Simple Flying guide on various methods of earning AA miles.

The Different Ways To Earn American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Systemwide upgrades, available via the loyalty point rewards and million miler program.

As you fly more and more frequently, options to collect "SWUs" increase

Obtaining a first-class upgrade is possible through systemwide upgrades (SWU), and AAdvantage members have two methods of obtaining the upgrade. Firstly, you can choose systemwide upgrades annually through the Loyalty Point Rewards system, starting at 175,000 Loyalty Points. These upgrades enable up to 3 segments in each direction of travel to move from economy or premium economy to business class or from business class to first class.

In addition, AAdvantage members can also earn systemwide upgrades through the AAdvantage Million Miler program. Passengers earn rewards for every Million Miler-qualifying mile threshold reached. The last two sections below will broadly explain the Loyalty Point Rewards system and the AAdvantage Million Miler program.

A Look At American Airlines' First Class Meals & Drinks

Loyalty point rewards, at least 175,000 loyalty points are needed for the first upgrade.

• 175,000 Loyalty Points - 2 SWUs
• 250,000 Loyalty Points - 2 SWUs
• 400,000 Loyalty Points - 1 SWU
• 550,000 Loyalty Points - 1 SWU
• 750,000 Loyalty Points - 1 SWU
• 1 Million Loyalty Points - 4 SWUs
• 3 Mllion Loyalty Points - 6 SWUs
• 5 Mllion Loyalty Points - 10 SWUs

AA has launched the Loyalty Point Rewards program, designed to benefit AAdvantage members based on their accumulation of Loyalty Points. Advancing through various tiers of Loyalty Point Rewards is contingent upon earning more points, with each tier offering distinct benefits.

For example, members may receive perks in the lower tiers, like coupons for preferred seat selection. As members progress to higher tiers, they gain access to additional amenities such as lounge passes, bonus miles, or even systemwide upgrades, allowing for upgrades to business or first class.

However, to get the systemwide upgrade, passengers must have at least 175,000 Loyalty Points. You can read more about American's Loyalty Points system here .

AAdvantage Million Miler program

With two million miles flown, passengers can get four systemwide upgrades.

• One million miles: AAdvantage Gold status for the life of the program and 35,000 AAdvantage bonus miles.
• Two million miles: AAdvantage Platinum status for the life of the program and four one-way SWUs.
• Each additional mile: Four additional one-way SWUs.

AAdvantage members have the opportunity to earn systemwide upgrades by flying enough with the American legacy airline to participate in the AAdvantage Million Miler program. Members are rewarded for each milestone reached in Million Miler-qualifying miles as above.

Here is what American Airlines has to say about the Million Miler program:

"It's a special honor to be recognized with Million Miler status, and it is our pleasure to reward such loyalty with the AAdvantage Million Miler program. Miles earned toward Million Miler status are based on the distance of your flight for travel on American marketed flights or the base miles earned for travel on eligible partner marketed flights."

What are your thoughts on this? Have you ever flown with American Airlines in its first class cabin? Let us know your experiences in the comments section below.

American Airlines

IATA/ICAO Code: AA/AAL

Airline Type: Full Service Carrier

Hub(s): Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Miami International Airport, New York JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Year Founded: 1926

Alliance: oneworld

CEO: Robert Isom

Country: United States

Airline Group: American Airlines Group

Region: North America

Loyalty Program: AAdvantage

Who are the Chase transfer partners? Everything to know

Ultimate Rewards points are the currency of most Chase-branded credit cards. You can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points for everyday spending and then redeem them for a wide range of rewards.

Despite increasing competition from American Express Membership Rewards points , Citi ThankYou Rewards points and Capital One miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards points have maintained their place as one of the most valuable and useful points currencies — especially with valuable products like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card .

Transferring Ultimate Rewards to travel partners is often the most valuable way to redeem your hard-earned points. With 14 different transfer partners, you have plenty of options, since you can keep your Chase points in your Ultimate Rewards account until you can transfer them.

Related: The best Chase credit cards

Here is everything to know about Chase Ultimate Rewards' transfer partners.

What are the Chase transfer partners?

You can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to 11 airline programs:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United Airlines MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Chase also partners with three hotel programs:

• IHG One Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy
• World of Hyatt

All transfer ratios are 1:1 (though there are occasional transfer bonuses ), and you must transfer points in 1,000-point increments.

How long do Ultimate Rewards transfers take?

Most transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards to its partner programs are instantaneous , with two exceptions. In our testing, transfers to both Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Marriott Bonvoy can take up to two business days.

We've heard anecdotal stories of delays with other programs, but as long as the name on your Ultimate Rewards account matches that on your loyalty program account, these should process immediately.

Note that transfer bonuses can also be inconsistent. For example, when TPG's Nick Ewen recently transferred points to Aeroplan to take advantage of a 20% bonus, the base points arrived immediately, but it took three days for the bonus points to post.

How do I transfer Chase points to partners?

You can easily transfer Chase points online. First, log in to your Chase account and navigate to the Ultimate Rewards portal. Under the Travel drop-down, select "Transfer to Travel Partners" to access the main transfer page.

You will then see the list of transfer partners. Any current transfer bonuses will also be shown (note that the screen shot below may show outdated offers). Select your desired transfer partner, link your external account if you have not already done so, select the number of Ultimate Rewards points you wish to transfer and then submit the transfer.

Remember, Ultimate Rewards transfers cannot be reversed, so it's best to wait until you have a specific use before transferring them.

What are the best Chase transfer partners?

Given the low award chart rates of the World of Hyatt program, many TPG staffers believe Hyatt is the best hotel transfer option for Ultimate Rewards points.

If you would prefer to transfer to one of the 11 different airline program partners, the best option may depend on which airlines fly to and from the destinations you wish to travel, who the program partners with and which airlines you like to travel with.

There are sweet spots to be found in most airline transfer options, especially those programs that have retained award charts .

Here are some of our favorite Ultimate Rewards sweet spots .

Top-tier Hyatt hotels

The World of Hyatt award chart has two appealing factors. First, its mere existence is notable, given most other hotel programs (including IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, the other Chase hotel partners) have shifted to dynamic pricing .

Beyond that, Hyatt award rates can be incredibly low compared to some competitors. You can book some of the fanciest Park Hyatt properties in the entire portfolio, including the Park Hyatt New York and Park Hyatt Sydney , for just 35,000 points per night during off-peak dates. TPG values Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each, so 35,000 points are worth $595.

That's a great deal for hotels that sell for close to $1,000 per night, even when demand is low.

There's also great value at the lower end of the Hyatt award chart. Category 1 hotels range from 3,500 to 6,500 points per night, depending on whether you travel on peak, standard or off-peak dates.

Iberia flights to Madrid

Round-trip, off-peak flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Spain's capital will only set you back 34,000 Avios in economy, 51,000 in premium economy or 68,000 in business when you transfer your Chase points to Iberia Plus. Considering that most airlines charge at least 60,000 miles for a one-way business-class award to Europe, you're essentially getting a 50% discount.

Related: 7 of the best airline award chart sweet spots

Flights to Hawaii with Alaska and American

By transferring your Ultimate Rewards to British Airways, you can book awards with Oneworld partners American Airlines and Alaska Airlines . As long as your nonstop flight distance is under 3,000 miles each way (and saver-level award space is available), you can leverage British Airways' distance-based award chart to fly from any West Coast gateway to Hawaii for only 32,000 Avios round-trip — after a December 2023 devaluation that saw prices increase by up to 32%.

ANA flights booked through Virgin Atlantic

For just 145,000 miles, you can fly round-trip in All Nippon Airways first class between the West Coast and Tokyo. Flights from other U.S. gateways only cost an extra 25,000 miles (170,000 miles round-trip). Business-class redemptions are an even better deal, costing just 90,000-95,000 miles round-trip, depending on your U.S. departure airport. If possible, you'll want to route through New York-JFK and fly ANA's new industry-leading "The Room" business class , which is only available on select routes.

However, availability can be difficult to come by.

Short-haul flights to Canada

Aeroplan stuck to an award chart for partner redemptions but added dynamic pricing for Air Canada flights. As a result, you can often find super-cheap short-haul tickets from the U.S. to Canada. For example, New York to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) can be booked for under 6,000 miles one-way on many dates.

However, you can also find very reasonable award rates on Star Alliance partners through Aeroplan — including Lufthansa, Swiss and EVA Airways.

Related: Your complete guide to Star Alliance benefits

What are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?

TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents apiece in our monthly valuations, and we believe you will receive the best value by transferring the points to partners.

However, you'll get varying values for Chase points if you pursue other redemption opportunities. For example, Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1.5 cents apiece through the Chase travel portal for Sapphire Reserve cardholders or 1.25 cents for those with the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred . You'll also have access to Chase Pay Yourself Back as a cardholder of any of the above cards, and there are occasionally offers to use Chase points for Apple products or gift cards at an enhanced value.

Finally, Chase points are worth 1 cent apiece if used for simple cash back.

How do I earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points?

There are many ways to earn Chase points at 1-10 points per dollar spent, depending on the specific Chase credit card you carry.

The first three cards below earn fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points by themselves, while the remaining four are technically billed as cash-back credit cards .

However, if you have an Ultimate Rewards-earning card, you can effectively convert your cash-back rewards into Ultimate Rewards points. For this reason, having more than one Chase card can make sense to maximize your earning and redeeming potential.

Here are the cards that allow you to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Welcome bonus: 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Why you want it: This is a fantastic all-around travel credit card . It earns points at the following rates:

• 5 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
• 3 points per dollar on select streaming services
• 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
• 2 points per dollar on all other travel
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

The Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees and has many travel perks , including delayed baggage insurance, trip interruption/cancellation insurance and primary car rental insurance .

Annual fee: $95

Application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Welcome bonus: 75,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Why you want it: The Sapphire Reserve offers earning power paired with travel perks that can easily cover the annual fee. It earns points at the following rates:

• 10 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 10 points per dollar on Chase Dining booked through Ultimate Rewards
• 10 points per dollar on hotel and car rental purchases through the Chase Travel
• 5 points per dollar on airline travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3 points per dollar on travel not booked through Chase
• 3 points per dollar on other dining purchases
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Other perks include an easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit , a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to $100 once every four years) and Priority Pass Select lounge access as well as the growing list of new Sapphire lounges . This is one of the few cards that allow you to use your Priority Pass membership for discounted meals in airport restaurants . Cardholders also get primary car rental coverage , trip interruption/cancellation insurance and other protections .

Annual fee: $550

Application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Welcome bonus: 100,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Why you want it: This is one of the best credit cards for small-business owners , earning 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, advertising made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. You earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, and points don't expire as long as your account is open.

Application link: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Cash-back Chase credit cards

Four Chase credit cards are technically billed as cash-back products. However, suppose you have one of the three cards noted above. In that case, you can combine your points in a single account, converting these cash-back rewards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points.

Even better? None of these cards charge an annual fee.

Here are the four cards that offer this functionality:

• Chase Freedom Flex : Earn $200 after you spend $500 in the first three months of account opening. Earn 5% back on select bonus categories, which rotate every quarter and apply on up to $1,500 in combined spending (activation required). Plus, earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel , 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited : Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year), worth up to $300 cash back. Plus, earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel , 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases. Earn 1.5% on all other purchases.
• Ink Business Cash Credit Card : Earn up to $750: $350 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening. Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year (then 1%). Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (then 1%).
• Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card : Earn $750 cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash-back rewards on every purchase.

Note that Chase also issues the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card . However, the earnings on this card can't be combined with others in the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem.

Read more: Your guide to the Chase Ink Business credit cards

Bottom line

If you value the flexibility of choosing from 11 airline partners and three hotel partners, Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of our favorite credit card programs at TPG.

In the age of no-notice devaluations by some loyalty programs, it is smart to earn Ultimate Rewards via the range of credit card welcome bonuses, category bonuses and everyday spending, and then keep your Ultimate Rewards points until you are ready to transfer and book with an airline or hotel partner.

How paying your rent can get you to Europe

To view rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard®,  see this page

Who would have thought that something as simple as paying rent could get you a trip to Europe each and every year? Now that the Bilt Mastercard® has arrived, something as easy as paying your rent at the beginning of the month can earn you enough points to enjoy a European vacation every year.

Bilt Mastercard®

See Rates and Fees

Special feature

Rewards Rates

• Make at least 5 transactions in a statement period, in order to earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases (purchases minus returns /credits) for that statement period.
• 3X 3X Bilt Points on dining
• 2X 2X Bilt Points on flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises when booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies
• 1X 1X Bilt Points on rent paid through the Bilt App with your card account up to a maximum of 100,000 points each calendar year
• 1X 1X Bilt Points on purchases
• Rewards and benefits terms.
• Uniquely earns points on rent
• Rent Day bonus every first of the month offers double points (excluding rent)
• Robust travel transfer partners
• Cash redemption rate is poor
• No traditional welcome bonus
• Travel perks: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver. See this page for details.
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None

What is the Bilt Rewards Mastercard?

While many apartments or landlords aren’t set up to collect rent on a credit card, the Bilt Rewards Mastercard will let you pay rent with your credit card and earn 1X Bilt Points on rent paid through the Bilt App with your card account up to a maximum of 100,000 points each calendar year. You’ll also earn 1X Bilt Points on purchases, 2X Bilt Points on flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises when booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies and 3X Bilt Points on dining. Just keep in mind you need to use your card five times per month to earn rewards. 

If you make those purchases on the first day of the month, also known as Rent Day, you’ll earn double the points. That means 6X points on dining, 4X points on travel and 2X points everywhere else up to 10,000 bonus points per month. You won’t earn double points on rent made that day, but you will on everything else.

How do you pay rent with a credit card?

You can easily pay your rent and earn rewards via two methods. Depending on your property you can either pay your rent online via the app or website.

If you live at a Bilt Alliance property, you can pay your rent directly on the website or via the app. If you don’t live at an alliance property but you do pay online, you can add Bilt’s routing number to process the payment directly.

If your landlord only accepts checks, that’s no problem. You can still pay with your Bilt Mastercard and get rewards. Go to the Bilt mobile app, tap the Pay Rent tab, and select Pay by check.

You’ll fill out the information for your landlord and where the payment should be sent and you might need to provide some information like a lease to prove that it’s actually where you live. They’ll charge your card and send the check on your behalf.

How many points can I earn in a year?

Rewards from rent payments are limited to 100,000 points per year, but that’s not going to be a problem unless you pay more than $8,000 a month in rent. 

If your rent is more in the normal range, say around $1,500 a month, paying your rent with your Mastercard will net you 18,000 points just from paying rent each month. If you’re living in a big city like New York City and you’re paying a higher rent like $3,000, those numbers double to 36,000 points each year. 

Keep in mind that this card also offers a strong earning structure for your spend, so by simply shifting some of your spend in bonus categories, like dining or travel, you can also add thousands of points to your balance each year.

How do you transfer points to airlines?

Linking your travel accounts and your Bilt account is a seamless process. Once logged into the app, choose the travel icon on the bottom of the app. Scrolling to the bottom you’ll see the Bilt Loyalty partners. 

Each of the partners transfer at a 1:1 basis, but you’ll need to transfer in 1,000 mile chunks. If you’re a base level blue member, you’ll need to transfer 2,000 points for a minimum, otherwise your minimum is 1,000 points. Click on the loyalty partner of choice, enter your frequent flier number, and you should get the confirmation that the accounts have been linked.

Most transfers happen instantly, but some could take a little bit of time.

Which Bilt partners fly to Europe?

Bilt offers over a dozen partners between airlines and hotels, and luckily the majority of them fly to Europe. With almost all the partners flying to Europe, transferring points to get you there is a breeze. 

Some of the most popular partners are:

• Alaska Airlines
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• British Airways

Any of these partners can get you to Europe and back, but let’s take a look at two examples with Virgin Red and Flying Blue.

How many points do I need to fly to Europe?

The number of miles you’ll need depend on the airline and the class of service you’re looking to fly in. Virgin Atlantic offers plenty of connections to and from Europe, most routing through London. Take a look at this example from New York to London on Virgin Atlantic. 

Flying from New York to London on American Airlines with a connection on to Paris, with their partner British Airways, can cost as low as 10,000 miles and $153.00 in taxes and fees in economy.

Air France and KLM both participate in the Flying Blue rewards program and they’re a partner with the Bilt Mastercard. Flights can be incredibly cheap on points, with promo reward flights going for as low as 15,000 miles each way in economy.

Flying home from London on an award ticket comes with taxes and fees that are higher than most European cities. To maximize your savings, fly into London and return home from another city in Europe.  Dia Adams, Senior Editor

Squeezing more value with Rent Day promotions

Every 1st of the month, Bilt offers amazing promotions for their cardmembers to use their points and earn even more. A few times each year, Bilt will offer boosted transfer bonuses into select partners such as Air Canada, Air France, and others. 

In May of 2023 and January of 2024, Bilt offered up to a 150% transfer bonus for points moved over to Flying Blue. The amount of bonus you received depended on the level of status you hold with Bilt Rewards, but ranged between 75% and 150%. 

In the above example for Air France, a 30,000 mile round-trip ticket can be had for much fewer points during a transfer promotion. 30,000 miles could be had for only:

• 17,142 points at a 75% bonus
• 15,000 points at a 100% bonus
• 13,333 points at a 125% bonus
• 12,000 points at a 150% bonus

If you don’t have an immediate need, consider keeping your Bilt Rewards in your back pocket for one of these amazing deals when they pop up.

The takeaway

The Bilt Mastercard® gives renters a chance to earn points that can be turned into amazing vacations. Points earned by paying rent can be transferred to over a dozen airlines, and utilizing the frequent Bilt Rent Day transfer bonuses, you can multiply your points even more to get bigger and better trips.

Consider using the Bilt Mastercard for dining and travel in addition to your rent payments, as they’ll earn points multipliers helping you build up your points balance even faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the bilt mastercard hard to get.

Just like any credit card, your chance of being approved will be better if you’ve already got an established credit history. You’ll need good credit in order to get the card, along with an address in the US, an income, and other information that will be asked of you during the application process.

What if my landlord doesn’t take a credit card?

If your landlord doesn’t take a credit card, or charges a fee to pay with a credit card, Bilt can take that stress off your hands. Bilt can send your landlord a check in the mail and charge your credit card. If your landlord prefers an ACH payment, you can also get ACH information from Bilt and it’ll be charged to your credit card.

Is transferring points a good deal?

The answer is usually “it depends,” but generally speaking transferring your points over to an airline or hotel partner can provide an outsourced value. Make sure to not only look at the cash price of the ticket, but how much you’re paying in taxes and fees to use your miles. The taxes and fees will vary depending on the airline, destination, and the transfer partners.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.