Business credit cards have many benefits that offset the fees you pay to hold them. But if you want to really get great value for your investment, the key is to redeem your points or miles in a smart way.
Business owners spend a lot of time thinking about how to make their companies more successful—and reward strategies are often part of that. After many calls with other entrepreneurs, I got the same quick question: “Hey Ed, when you get a chance, can you tell me how I can use these points I’ve earned?”
Most business owners don’t want to spend hours deciphering the world of points and miles—they just want clear, practical advice on getting the most value from their rewards. While there’s no single, short answer, there are some simple ways to maximize the revenue you’re already earning.
Let’s take a look at three of the most popular programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, and Capital One Miles. Each offers a different type of value to business owners, and understanding how to redeem strategically can help you turn everyday expenses into meaningful travel rewards without overcomplicating things.
Chase the ultimate reward
Air ticket price: Chase is transitioning from its long-standing redemption structure to a new feature called Points Boost, which changes the value you get when you redeem through the Chase Travel℠ portal. It depends on when you opened your account, but we’ve seen some really valuable exchanges through this option recently.
Where Chase really shines is that its airline transfer partners, including United Airlines MileagePlus, British Airways Club and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, allow you to find award seats first and then transfer points once availability is confirmed. Tools like Points Path (for quickly checking redemption value) and TPG Monthly Valuation can help you determine the best move.
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hotel: Chase offers one of the strongest lineups of hotel transportation partners: World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy and IHG One Rewards. World of Hyatt, in particular, offers the best value per point in the industry. You can also explore Chase Travel’s The Edit, a curated collection that sometimes offers great deals on specific accommodations. As always, compare cash vs points – especially with Hyatt hotels, the math favors points in general.
American Express Membership Rewards
Air ticket price: American Express’s distinguished partner is Delta SkyMiles, making it an ideal choice for U.S. business travelers. For international travel, Air Canada Aeroplan and other partners offer valuable global routes. The American Express Business Platinum Card® also offers a 35% points bonus when you book flights with Amex Travel, a powerful benefit that helps offset the card’s premium annual fee.
hotel: American Express points can be transferred to Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, two of the world’s largest hotel networks. During regular transfer bonuses, transfers become particularly valuable as your points stretch further. Both programs also offer a fifth night free on award nights—a great way to maximize your long-distance travel. That said, you may find that redeeming flights versus paying cash to stay at a hotel is worth more per point, depending on price.
capital mile
Air ticket price: Capital One makes it easy: Multiple Capital One cards earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, while the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business earn higher interest rates when you book flights with Capital One Travel. If you prefer flexibility, you can redeem your miles for statement points, eliminating your flight fees. While Capital One’s list of transfer partners has expanded, it doesn’t yet include a major U.S. airline – so using the portal or statement credit options is usually the easiest route.
hotel: When it comes to accommodations, Capital One’s plans offer impressive flexibility. Depending on the card, you can earn 5 or even 10 miles per $1 spent on hotels and vacation rentals, which you can then redeem for statement points to repay those expenses. This method is ideal for business owners who prefer to stay at independent or boutique hotels rather than choosing hotel chains.
bottom line
When it comes to business travel, Chase and American Express stand out with their domestic airline partners and flexible rewards policies. Capital One, meanwhile, wins for simplicity and ease of redemption. On the hotel side, Chase’s Hyatt partners offer top value, American Express’s transfer bonuses add room for redemption, and Capital One’s reimbursement options give you the ultimate flexibility.
By applying the same principles you use to run a successful business, you can ensure that your credit card spending is also working in your favor. Business owners are uniquely positioned to leverage points and miles to earn awesome rewards – just learn a few basic rules of the game.
