Buying airline miles and hotel points to fund your adventures may sound crazy. After all, the reason many of us got into this hobby in the first place was to travel for (almost) free simply by swiping a rewards credit card. So, is it unreasonable to book an award redemption by paying for a travel award?
In fact, with a few strategies, it can save you a lot of money.
I recently purchased hotel points and airline miles, which helped me save over $1,000. Here’s how.
Purchase 1: Purchase World of Hyatt points
One luxury hotel that’s been on the wish list of many points collectors (including me) is the Park Hyatt Milan. I zeroed out my Hyatt account and paid 40,000 Hyatt points for a night in a Park King room (the basic option)—a good deal for a room that costs around $1,100 a night.
But there was one major problem: The room couldn’t accommodate me, my husband, and my little girl.
After messaging the hotel, I was given the option of paying $255 to gradually upgrade to the “Superior King” category. Almost the same room, but slightly larger to accommodate a crib. My free stay at a luxury five-star hotel suddenly became expensive for my budget.
Instead of “wasting” money upgrading the small room, I decided to spend a little more to enhance our overall experience. By adding 19,000 Hyatt points to my current Hyatt balance, I was able to book a Park Junior Suite – a huge upgrade from a Superior King room with over 25% more space. The room typically sells for up to $1,900 per night.
I purchased the required 19,000 points during Hyatt’s 20% off sale, spending $395. Each point is worth 2.07 cents, which I know is too high (significantly higher than TPG’s January 2026 valuation of 1.7 cents per Hyatt point), but in this case, it makes sense.
In short, I paid $140 more than the upgrade fee to get a room worth over $600 a night.
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Related: Best Park Hyatt Hotels by Globalists
Purchase 2: Purchase Qantas Frequent Flyer Points to book an American Airlines flight
I tend to wait until the last minute to finalize my travel plans (my proposed itinerary changes basically every day). Because of this, I found myself staring at the hefty bill for a quick flight between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH). One-way flights, which usually cost less than $160, are now going for an eye-popping $350 per person. My family of three would not pay more than $1,000 for a two hour flight.
After looking for reasonable award prices on American, United, Delta, Virgin Atlantic, and other common airlines, I remembered I had some orphaned Qantas Frequent Flyer points from a previous redemption – only about 7,000 points, so not enough to do much. Miraculously, however, Qantas’ awards for partner American Airlines are relatively cheap at 9,200 points each.
By purchasing 21,000 Qantas points, I only paid $439 in total to fly my family of three from JFK to CMH. Each seat was less than $150, saving me over $600.
Related: When does it make sense to buy points and miles?
Buying points should still be a last resort
While buying points can save you a lot on paid travel, it shouldn’t be your first reaction. Ideally, you’ll earn the rewards you need through generous limited-time card offers, credit card spending, and converting transferable points into the airline miles and hotel points you need.
I chose to purchase points because I had exhausted my reserve of points from other flights and hotel stays during my trip. Typically, I would transfer:
- Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points or Bilt Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio
- American Express Membership Rewards points, Citi Thank You Rewards points or Capital One miles are redeemed for Qantas at a 1:1 ratio.
With the right credit card strategy, earning rewards is relatively easy. Read our guide to learn how to get the most out of your credit card to earn points without spending a fortune. To make sure you don’t miss out on great deals: Bookmark our post on credit card bonuses of 100,000 points or more.
Related: 10 of the Easiest Credit Card Welcome Bonuses to Earn
bottom line
Purchasing travel rewards may seem counterintuitive, but it’s a great way to potentially reduce the cost of paid travel. Just ask yourself if you’re getting more value from your points or miles than you’re paying for. If the answer is yes, then buying rewards is a no-brainer. I saved over $1,000 by purchasing airline miles and hotel points.
Remember, earning points is usually not difficult with the right credit card pairing that benefits your lifestyle and the many valuable welcome bonuses offered regularly.
