One of the questions we get asked all the time is, “How do you guys keep flying business class?”
The answer surprises a lot of people.
We almost never pay the full cash price.
Instead, we use credit card points and airline miles to book flights that would normally cost thousands of dollars. We’ve flown in seats that retail for $5,000 or more while paying only the taxes and fees, which are often less than $100 per person.
The best part is that you don’t need to be a frequent flyer or a travel expert to do this. Once you understand a few simple concepts, you’ll start looking at airfare in a completely different way.
Here’s exactly how we do it.
1. It Starts With Points
The easiest way to understand travel points is to think of them as another form of currency.
Instead of paying for a flight with dollars, you’re paying with points that you’ve earned through credit card welcome bonuses and everyday purchases.
Here’s a simple example.
Imagine you have a gift card worth $100. Instead of using cash at the store, you use the gift card.
Travel points work in a very similar way.
Except instead of buying groceries or clothes, you’re using them to book flights and hotels.
For example:
A business class ticket to Europe might cost:
- $5,000 if you pay cash
- 75,000 airline miles plus about $80 in taxes and fees
You’re sitting in the exact same seat. The only difference is how you paid for it.
2. Flexible Points Give You More Choices
Not all points are created equal.
Our favorite rewards come from flexible points programs like:
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Capital One Miles
- Citi ThankYou Points
Why?
Because they aren’t tied to just one airline.
Think of flexible points like a universal gift card.
Instead of only being able to shop at one store, you can choose from dozens.
For example, if you have 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer them to several different airline loyalty programs depending on which airline offers the best deal for your trip.
That flexibility is one of the biggest reasons we’re able to save so much money.
3. Transfer Partners Are the Secret
This is the concept that completely changed the way we book travel.
Most credit card companies have their own travel portal where you can use your points to book flights.
While that sounds convenient, it’s usually not where you’ll get the best value.
Instead, we almost always transfer our points directly to an airline loyalty program.
Here’s a beginner-friendly example.
Let’s say you want to fly from New York to Paris.
Option 1:
Book through your credit card’s travel portal.
The flight costs 300,000 points.
Option 2:
Transfer your points to an airline partner.
That exact same flight might cost only 75,000 miles.
Same plane.
Same seat.
Same meal.
You simply used your points differently.
That’s why we always recommend checking transfer partners before booking through a travel portal.
One important tip: only transfer your points after you’ve confirmed the award flight is available. Once points are transferred to an airline, they usually can’t be moved back.
4. Welcome Bonuses Do Most of the Work
Many people assume we’ve earned millions of points by putting every purchase on a credit card for years.
That’s actually not how we’ve built most of our balances.
The fastest way to earn points is usually through credit card welcome bonuses.
For example, a credit card might offer:
“Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.”
If you were already planning to spend that money on things like groceries, insurance, utilities, or home projects, you can earn those bonus points without buying anything extra.
For couples, this strategy works even better.
Imagine this:
- You earn a 75,000-point welcome bonus.
- Your spouse earns another 75,000-point welcome bonus a few months later.
Together, you now have 150,000 points, which could be enough for two business class tickets on the right route.
That’s much faster than trying to earn 150,000 points through everyday spending alone.
5. Flexibility Pays Off
One thing we’ve learned over the years is that flexibility is incredibly valuable.
Airlines don’t release the same number of award seats every day.
Sometimes moving your trip by just one day can save tens of thousands of points.
The same goes for airports.
Instead of only searching from your hometown airport, try looking at a larger airport that’s a few hours away.
For example, if you live in the Southeast, you might compare flights from:
- Charlotte
- Atlanta
- Miami
One airport may have award availability while another has none.
A little flexibility can make a huge difference.
6. We Focus on Value
People often assume our goal is simply to fly business class.
That’s not actually true.
Our goal is to get the most value from our points.
Sometimes that means flying economy.
Sometimes that means booking premium economy.
And sometimes business class costs only a little more in points than economy, making it an incredible value.
Instead of asking, “What’s the fanciest seat?”
We ask, “What’s the smartest redemption?”
That mindset has helped us stretch our points much further.
Final Thoughts
When we first started learning about points and miles, it felt confusing.
There were new terms, unfamiliar airline programs, and a lot of information to sort through.
But once you understand the basics, it becomes much more approachable.
Remember these four key ideas:
- Earn flexible credit card points whenever possible.
- Check airline transfer partners before booking through a travel portal.
- Use welcome bonuses to build your points balance quickly.
- Stay flexible with your travel dates to find the best award availability.
Those simple habits have helped us book flights that would normally cost thousands of dollars, while paying only a fraction of the cash price.
If you’re just getting started with points and miles, don’t worry about learning everything at once. Start with the basics, build your points strategically, and before long, you’ll be amazed at where they can take you.
