Top Travel on Points

Sharing tips, tricks and strategies for maximizing your travel using points!

Loyalty Programs

Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Card Review

By Leave a Comment

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Card fills a very specific niche in American Airlines’ credit card lineup. It’s built for travelers who fly American Airlines at least a handful of times per year and want more than the basics without jumping to a premium card. Launched in October 2025, the Globe card sits comfortably in the middle tier, offering meaningful perks like preferred boarding, a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions, Admirals Club lounge passes, and an annual companion certificate starting in year two.

Used strategically, those benefits can easily outweigh the $350 annual fee, especially for families or anyone who can put the companion certificate to work. But this isn’t the card for travelers chasing top‑tier earning rates or unlimited lounge access. Instead, it’s a solid middle‑ground option — more rewarding than an entry‑level airline card, but far less of a commitment than a full premium travel card.

Who is this card for?

The Globe card is designed for American Airlines loyalists who sit squarely between “occasional flyer” and “road warrior.” If you fly American Airlines often enough that perks matter, but not so often that you need a premium card, this is where the Globe card shines. It’s a strong fit for:

  • Semifrequent AA flyers who take two to four trips per year and want priority boarding, a free checked bag, and a smoother airport experience without paying for a top‑tier card.
  • Families and group travelers who can maximize the free checked bag benefit for multiple companions, turning a single trip into hundreds of dollars in savings.
  • Travelers who can use the companion certificate starting in year two. This is arguably the card’s biggest value driver saving potentially hundreds of dollars on one domestic roundtrip.
  • AA loyalists who value lounge access occasionally, but don’t need unlimited visits or premium‑card‑level perks.
American Airlines 737-800 Aircraft
Free checked bags for a family of four would save $360 on a round-trip itinerary.

The Globe card fills that middle‑ground sweet spot. Meaningful perks, predictable value, and a justifiable annual fee, so long as you fly American often enough to put its benefits to work.

You can apply for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Card here.

Card Features

Bonus Offer

You’ll earn 60,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.

Annual Fee

The card comes with a $350 annual fee.

Earning Rates

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Card earns:

  • 6 miles per $1 spent on eligible AAdvantage Hotels™ bookings
  • 3 miles per $1 spent on purchases from American Airlines
  • 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
  • 2 miles per $1 spent on transit purchases, including taxis, rideshares and public transit
  • 1 mile per $1 on all other spending

On paper, the earning structure isn’t groundbreaking. It’s nice to earn 3x miles on American Airlines purchases, compared to the 2x earning rate of the $99 Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card. But the real standout is the 6x on AAdvantage Hotels. Many AA loyalists already use AAdvantage Hotels to rack up Loyalty Points, so pairing those bookings with 6x miles makes this card surprisingly useful for anyone chasing airline status through hotel stays.

Card Benefits

This Card has some nice benefits and those that fly American Airlines a few times a year will get good value.

Free First Checked Bag

Cardholders get a free first checked bag for themselves and up to eight companions on the same reservation. The savings can add up quick! At $45 per bag each way, a family of four could save up to $360 on a single roundtrip. The potential savings for the maximum of nine passengers is $810! And because the benefit is tied to your AAdvantage® account rather than the card you use at checkout, you’re free to pay for your tickets with any credit card and still enjoy the perk.

Priority Boarding

As a Cardholder, you and up to eight traveling companions on the same reservation will receive boarding Group 5 access for your flights. American Airlines has 9 boarding groups now, so this puts you right in the middle. In my experience, this will give you more than enough access to overhead bin space that could be difficult to come by if you board in the later groups.

Overhead Bin
Boarding the aircraft early can help increase your chances of securing overhead bin space!

American Airlines Admirals Club® Lounge Access

Every calendar year, cardholders receive four Admirals Club Globe Passes to enjoy at nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges. If you’re able to use all four passes, this benefit is valued at over $300.

American Airlines Companion Certificate

Cardholders earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate starting in the second cardmembership year as long as the card is renewed. The companion certificate is good for a qualifying single round-trip main cabin domestic flight. Redeeming the certificate costs $99 for the ticketing fee, plus taxes and fees based on the itinerary.

Flight Streak Bonus

Cardholders earn a 5,000 Loyalty Point bonus after every four qualifying American Airlines flights (up to 15,000 additional Loyalty Points each status qualification year).

$100 back on in-flight Purchases

When you use your card to pay for in flight purchases onboard American-operated flights, you’ll get up to $100 back as a statement credit.

$100 Splurge Credit

Every calendar year, earn up to $100 in statement credits on your choice of up to two of the following brands: 1stDibs, eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings, Future Personal Training and Live Nation.

$240 Turo Credit

Earn up to $30 in statement credits for each eligible Turo trip completed, for a total of up to $240 in statement credits annually. 

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® Fee Credit

Like most premium credit cards, you’ll receive a statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card. Remember that Global Entry includes PreCheck®, so going with Global Entry is the smarter choice.

Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance

If your trip can’t start, is cut short or interrupted by sickness, severe weather or other covered situations, you can be reimbursed for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses up to $5,000 per covered trip and up to $10,000 per 12 consecutive month period.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 6 hours, this benefit can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased with your card, up to $500 per trip, up to a maximum of two claims per 12 consecutive month period.

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

Up to $5,000 per person, but if you live in New York you get a maximum of $2,000 per bag.

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

Coverage is secondary within the eligible renter’s country of residence and primary outside of that country. The vast majority of credit cards offer some type of coverage when it comes to auto rentals. However, there are two different coverage categories (primary and secondary) and knowing the difference is key. 

\Secondary coverage is what most credit cards offer and it applies after your own personal auto insurance policy. Typically it means that your auto insurer pays the claim, but the card will reimburse your deductible and potentially other costs not covered by your personal policy.

There are only a handful of consumer credit cards that offer primary auto rental CDW coverage:

No Foreign Transaction Fees

For those who travel internationally, this card does not charge foreign transaction fees.

Purchase Protection

This benefit covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per calendar year. You’ll sleep easy knowing your new, big purchases are covered.

Extended Warranty Protection

With this benefit, you can double the time period of your covered purchase’s original Manufacturer’s Warranty or Store Warranty up to a maximum of twenty-four additional months.

Redeeming Miles

American Airlines makes it very easy to redeem miles on their website. Plus, you can use them to book travel on OneWorld partners, like British Airways, Air Berlin, Iberia, Japan Airlines and more.


Redeem American AAdvantage® miles for award travel on any oneworld Alliance airline

The sign-up bonus of 60,000 miles is enough for a Main Cabin round-trip ticket to Hawaii, which costs 45,000 miles at the MileSAAVer rate. You could also travel one-way to Europe for 30,000 miles, Asia for 35,000 miles or the South Pacific for 40,000 miles.

Who should look for another card?

The Citi AAdvantage Globe card isn’t a one‑size‑fits‑all solution. If your travel habits or rewards strategy don’t line up with what this card offers, one of Citi’s other options may be a better fit.

  • If you want a lower annual fee: The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select is a solid choice for travelers who fly American occasionally and want essentials like a free checked bag and preferred boarding, without paying for mid‑tier perks. It delivers the core AA benefits at just $99 per year.
  • If you want unlimited lounge access: The Citi AAdvantage Executive card is Citi’s premium AA offering. It includes full Admirals Club membership and elevated airport perks, making it the go‑to option for frequent AA flyers who value lounge access on every trip.
  • If you want more flexible, transferable rewards: The Citi Strata Premier ($95 annual fee) and Strata Elite ($595 annual fee) earn Citi ThankYou Rewards points, which can be transferred to American Airlines or 20+ other partners. These cards are better suited to travelers who want broader redemption options and stronger everyday earning.

There are also other flexible point earning ecosystems, like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Points in those ecosystems are also transferable to various airline partners and gives you virtually unlimited options. A few transferable points cards to consider besides the Citi Strata Premier are:

Bottom Line

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Card delivers the most value to semifrequent American Airlines flyers. The companion certificate alone can wipe out a big chunk of the $350 annual fee, and perks like preferred boarding, the inflight credit, lounge passes, and a free checked bag add steady, easy wins. If you’re also trying to make progress toward AAdvantage status, the Globe can give you a helpful boost.

Where it falls short is on everyday earning. You’ll earn fewer miles on non‑bonus purchases than you would with a general travel card, and that’s something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a strong all‑around earner. The Globe shines brightest in year one, but whether it deserves a long‑term spot in your wallet really comes down to how often you fly American.

For the right traveler, though, this card hits a sweet spot. It offers solid first‑year value, practical AA‑focused perks, and a lower price point than a premium card. If you’re somewhere between an occasional and a frequent AA flyer, the Globe can be a very comfortable middle ground.

Apply here for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Card.

Using Points and Miles to get to Park City

By Leave a Comment

With one child in college and the other in high school, our school-year schedules no longer line up the way they used to. So we set our sights on a summer getaway that would give all four of us some real, uninterrupted family time. Park City, Utah had been on our radar for years, and this June everything finally fell into place. We’re hoping to pack the trip with a mix of adventure and downtime: whitewater rafting, exploring Utah Olympic Park, riding the Alpine Coaster, relaxing by the hotel pool, and of course finding some great food along the way.

Using a combination of points, miles, and a couple Hilton free night award certificates, I managed to book the entire trip worth almost $5,500 for just over $500.

In This Post

Airfare

June flights between Chicago and Salt Lake City were pretty pricy at around $551 per person. On American Airlines, an award ticket would have set me back 40,500 miles. Not terrible, not amazing — just typical summer pricing.

Four round-trip tickets would’ve cost over $2,200.

But here’s where a little strategy can make a big difference. Instead of locking myself into a simple round‑trip search, I broke the itinerary into one‑way segments and widened the net to include partner airlines. That’s often where the real gems hide, and in this case, it opened the door to far better options.

Chicago to Salt Lake City

For our flight out to Utah, American Airlines had an afternoon option for $275 or 18,000 AAdvantage (AA) miles. That worked out to a redemption value of about 1.53 cents per mile ($293 / 18,000 miles). It looked like a solid use of AA miles at first.

But this is where checking partner programs pays off. The exact same flight was bookable through Alaska’s Atmos Rewards for just 7,500 points per person. Instead of burning 72,000 AA miles, I used 30,000 Atmos points for four one‑way tickets to Salt Lake City.

Instead of paying $1,102 or 72,000 AA miles, I redeemed 30,000 Atmos points.

Salt Lake City to Chicago

I wanted to keep out‑of‑pocket costs low on the way home as well, so I planned to use miles or points again. American Airlines had a mid‑day return flight priced at $276 or 22,500 AA miles per person. That’s a pretty weak redemption at just 1.23 cents per mile ($276 / 22,500 miles). I checked partner programs hoping for another win, but no luck this time. Alaska didn’t show the flight as bookable with points, and neither did other partners like British Airways.

With no partner availability, I went ahead and redeemed 90,000 AA miles total for our four return tickets.

While the redemption value isn’t high, I still save a bunch of cash by booking with AA miles.

Even after mixing programs and dealing with limited partner availability on the return, I still saved $2,109 out of pocket. It’s exactly the kind of win that shows how powerful flexible points, and a few extra minutes of partner searching can be.

Hotel

Waldorf Astoria Park City

With two Hilton free night certificates to use, the Waldorf Astoria Park City immediately became the obvious choice for our trip. The property has a reputation for thoughtful, personalized service and strikes a perfect balance between cozy mountain lodge and polished luxury resort. Beyond the atmosphere, it offers a 16,000‑square‑foot spa, a year‑round heated outdoor pool, whirlpools, and private cabanas — plenty of ways to unwind after a day in the mountains.

Waldorf Astoria Park City (Photo courtesy of Hilton)

With a four‑night stay pricing out at $2,816, using our Hilton free night certificates was a no‑brainer. Annie had one from hitting the spend requirement on her Hilton Honors Surpass card, and I had another from the annual benefit on my Hilton Honors Aspire card. We paired those two certificates with 220,000 Hilton points to cover the remaining nights, which meant the entire stay was fully covered. And because Hilton waives resort fees on award stays, we avoided those charges as well. That brought our total out‑of‑pocket cost to zero and our total savings to $2,816.

The value didn’t stop there, however. As a Hilton Honors Aspire cardholder, I also get up to $200 in statement credits, twice a year, for eligible charges at participating Hilton resorts. As long as we bill hotel charges (i.e. dining, activities, spa treatments) to the room, up to $200 of that spend will be wiped out. And yes, the Waldorf Astoria Park City qualifies, making the stay even sweeter.

Rental Car

Rental cars prices were about what I expected for four days during June. Avis gave me the best deal, plus I’ll pick up some AA miles and loyalty points after completing the rental.

Park City 2026 Redemption Table

Retail CostOur CostMiles and Points UsedPoints Source
4 one-way tickets from Chicago (ORD) to Salt Lake City (SLC)$275.50 per person ($1,102 total)$72.40 (taxes and fees)30,000 Atmos points- Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard
- Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite
4 one-way tickets from Salt Lake City (SLC) to Chicago (ORD)$275.50 per person ($1,102 total)$22.40 (taxes and fees)90,000 AA miles- Citi AAdvantage credit cards
- AAdvantage eShopping
- Simply Miles
4 nights at the Waldorf Astoria Park City$563.06 per night + taxes ($2,816 total)$02 free night certificate and 220,000 Hilton points- Hilton Honors Aspire Card
- Hilton Honors Surpass Card
4 day car rental$419$419N/AN/A
Total$5,439$514- 30,000 Atmos points
- 90,000 AA miles
- 2 free night certificates
-220,000 Hilton points/strong>		- $4,925 in total savings
- 90% off retail cost

Bottom Line

All in all, I saved a whopping 90% off the retail cost of this trip by using points, miles and credit card perks. We’re really looking forward to spending quality time as a family of four before school begins again in the fall.

Trip Report Index

  1. Using Points and Miles to get to Park City
  2. Waldorf Astoria Park City

Using Points and Miles to Get to Newport Beach

By Leave a Comment

It had been far too long since we’d last seen our friends Melissa and Scott out in Irvine, California. We actually tried to visit back in December 2024, but life had other plans and that trip never happened. Fast‑forward a few years, and we finally carved out time to make it happen this March. When we first started planning, it was just going to be Annie and me, so all of our initial bookings were for two. Later on, we decided to bring our daughter Rory along, and by that point prices had climbed. So if you notice multiple airfare reservations in this post, that’s the reason.

In This Post

Airfare

When I started searching for flights on American Airlines to Orange County, the numbers came in right where I expected for a warm‑weather destination in March. Round trip cash fares hovered around $417 per person, while an award ticket would have set me back 38,000 miles. Not terrible, not amazing — just typical spring pricing. By the time I booked Rory’s ticket a few weeks later, the round trip cash price had risen to a ridiculous $613!

Two round trip tickets via American Airlines cost $834 or 76,000 AAdvantage miles.

But here’s where a little strategy can make a big difference. Instead of locking myself into a simple round‑trip search, I broke the itinerary into one‑way segments and widened the net to include partner airlines. That’s often where the real gems hide, and in this case, it opened the door to far better options.

Chicago to Orange County

Two one-way tickets from ORD to SNA cost $517.

For our flight out to California, American Airlines was selling the 8 a.m. departure for $259 or 22,500 AAdvantage (AA) miles. That worked out to a weak redemption value of just 1.15 cents per mile ($259 / 22,500 miles), so using AA miles didn’t make much sense. I started looking for alternatives and remembered I still had a $50 Chase Travel credit to use.

Because I hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, my Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points are worth 1.25 cents each when booking through Chase Travel. Instead of paying cash for two tickets or burning 45,000 AA miles, I booked the flights through Chase. After applying the $50 credit, the total came to about $467. Using the 1.25‑cent portal rate, I only had to redeem 37,000 UR points and pay the extra $4.48 out of pocket.

Booking through Chase and using points saved me $512.50 and gave me better value than using AA miles.

Orange County to Chicago

One the way home, both the cash fare and the number of miles required were lower. American Airlines had a mid‑day return flight priced at $214 or 15,500 AAdvantage miles per person. That worked out to a better redemption value than the outbound flight at 1.38 cents per mile ($214 / 15,500 miles). At first glance, it looked like an easy decision.

But this is exactly why checking partner programs matters. The same American Airlines flight was available through Alaska’s Atmos Rewards for just 12,500 points. So instead of spending 31,000 AA miles, I redeemed 25,000 Atmos points total for our two tickets.

Instead of paying $427 or 31,000 AA miles, I redeemed 25,000 Atmos points.

That move saved us $391 (after taxes and fees) compared to paying cash and delivered stronger value than using AA miles. A perfect example of why flexible points and a quick partner search can make a big difference.

Hotel

Pendry Newport Beach

For the hotel, I wanted to take advantage of the Amex Platinum’s Fine Hotels + Resort (FHR) credit. FHR is an exclusive American Express travel program for eligible Platinum and Centurion cardholders, offering elite benefits at over 1,800 luxury properties worldwide, like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, $100 property credits, and guaranteed 4 PM late checkout, even without hotel loyalty status. These perks, booked via Amex Travel, provide added value and a VIP experience at high-end hotels and resorts.

There were a few hotel options in Newport Beach that peaked my interest, but the Pendry Newport Beach seemed to be the best fit.

Hotel reviews praise its luxurious, contemporary design, excellent service and California-inspired ambiance. It has upscale amenities like a beautiful pool, spa, multiple dining options and family-friendly programs. Plus it’s conveniently located near Fashion Island with easy access to beaches and local attractions. It’s also only about 15 minutes to our friends house.

We first booked a queen room back in December for $1,544, and the $300 semi‑annual Amex credit hit our account a few days later. When we later decided Rory was joining the trip, I had to cancel that reservation and rebook a room with two double beds. I made the new booking in January and Amex issued another $300 credit. Since they never clawed back the original one, the total savings on this stay ended up being $600.

Rental Car

Rental cars were surprisingly affordable for our dates, and Budget came in with the best deal. I snagged an EV for just $207, which felt like a steal.

Newport Beach 2026 Redemption Table

Retail CostOur CostMiles and Points UsedPoints Source
2 one-way tickets from Chicago (ORD) to Orange County (SNA)$259 per person ($517 total)$4.4837,000 UR points- Chase credit cards
1 one-way ticket from Chicago (ORD) to Orange County (SNA)$511$5.60 (taxes and fees)35,000 AA miles- Citi AAdvantage credit cards
- AAdvantage eShopping
- Simply Miles
2 one-way tickets from Orange County (SNA) to Chicago (ORD)$214 per person ($427 total)$36 (taxes and fees)25,000 Atmos points- Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard
- Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite
1 one-way ticket from Orange County (SNA) to Chicago (ORD)$319$18 (taxes and fees)12,500 Atmos points- Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard
- Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite
3 nights at Pendry Newport Beach$514.58 per night + taxes ($1,544 total)$944N/A- Amex Platinum $300 hotel credit (2 times)
3 day car rental$207$207N/AN/A
Total$3,525$1,215- 37,000 UR points
- 35,000 AA miles
-37,500 Atmos points/strong>		- $2,310 in total savings
- 66% off retail cost

Bottom Line

This long‑overdue trip to see friends in Irvine turned into a great reminder of how far a little flexibility and points strategy can go. By mixing Chase Ultimate Rewards, Alaska Atmos points, and a smart partner search, we cut hundreds off airfare that had suddenly spiked. Pair that with a perfectly timed Fine Hotels + Resorts booking that triggered two $300 Amex credits and an inexpensive EV rental, and the whole getaway became a masterclass in squeezing maximum value out of every reservation.

Trip Report Index

  1. Using Points and Miles to get to Newport Beach
  2. Pendry Newport Beach

Using Points and Miles to Get to Cabo San Lucas

By Leave a Comment

After years of pouring over Mexican resort options, one property kept surfacing on my radar — The Cape, A Thompson Hotel. Ever since Hyatt brought Thompson Hotels under its wing in 2018, this boutique gem in Cabo San Lucas has stood out as an refined alternative to the area’s party-heavy reputation. With its sleek rooftop lounge offering panoramic Pacific Ocean sunset views, and the tranquil Currents Spa promising indulgent treatments, The Cape seemed to strike the perfect balance of luxury without pretension.

Some suites even boast private plunge pools, ocean-facing balconies, and butler service, making it an ideal retreat for couples seeking high-end comfort with a relaxed vibe. It had long been on my shortlist, waiting for the right moment.

That moment arrived this past July, when American Airlines rolled out an irresistible promotion of deeply discounted award redemptions to Mexico. For flights between September 2025 and May 2026, there was wide-open availability from several U.S. cities to popular destinations like Cancun, Monterrey, Cabo San Lucas, and Mexico City. One-way economy tickets started at just 8,000 miles, while business class tickets started at only 20,000 miles one-way.

With free cancellations on award bookings, I didn’t hesitate. I locked in my flights and finally set my sights on a stay at The Cape.

In This Post

Airfare

Round Trip Between Chicago and Los Cabos

I zeroed in on a winter escape to Cabo, with February emerging as the ideal time. As advertised, economy flights could be booked for just 8,000 miles one-way. However, at only 20,000 miles for a one-way business class ticket, I couldn’t resist. I jumped at the opportunity to redeem those extra miles and fly in comfort and style!

Two round trip tickets in business class cost only 80,000 AA miles.

For comparison’s sake, I ran a search using my planned dates to see what the cash price would be, and the results were staggering. Two round trip business class tickets rang in at an eye-popping $2,468.

Two tickets in business class would’ve cost $2,468 out of pocket.

That made the redemption feel like an absolute steal, especially with American Airlines’ free cancellation policy on award bookings. From a value perspective, redeeming 80,000 AA miles, instead of paying $2,468, works out to about 3.1 cents per mile. That’s essentially double the typical redemption value of around 1.4 to 1.5 cents per mile!

I still had to pay $307 out of pocket because award tickets for flights to Mexico from the United States are subject to a 7.5% U.S. federal excise tax. Nonetheless, I saved $2,161 on business class flights!

Hotel

The Cape, A Thompson Hotel

Photo courtesy of Hyatt Hotels

Since The Cape was the inspiration for this trip, I didn’t need to shop around for a hotel. As a Category 6 property in the World of Hyatt program, The Cape carries serious luxury credentials. And the price tag reflects it with a midweek 4-night stay ringing in at a whopping $3,670.

The cash price for a 4-night stay was $3,670.

Of course I wasn’t about to pay that! Thanks to a healthy stash of Hyatt points I’d transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards, originally earmarked for trips that never materialized, I was sitting on a redemption opportunity too good to pass up.

I redeemed 35,000 Hyatt points per night, for a total redemption of 140,000 points. From a value perspective, that works out to 2.6 cents per point — well above the reasonable redemption value of around 1.7 cents per point.

As a Category 6 hotel, The Cape charges 35,000 points per night.

Finally putting those points to use felt like a win on multiple fronts. We’d be getting a luxury stay without the sting of the price tag, and a satisfying payoff for some earlier travel pivots.

In the end, our 4-night stay at The Cape was booked with 140,000 Hyatt points instead of shelling out $3,670 in cash. While I’ll likely still be on the hook for some local taxes and destination fees, the overall savings are substantial.

Cabo San Lucas 2025 Redemption Table

Retail CostOur CostMiles and Points UsedPoints Source
2 round trip tickets from Chicago (ORD) to Los Cabos (SJD)$1,234 per person ($2,468 total)$307 taxes and fees80,000 AA miles- Citi AAdvantage credit cards
- AAdvantage eShopping
- Simply Miles
4 nights at The Cape, A Thompson Hotel$917.50 per night + taxes ($3,670 total)$0140,000 Hyatt points- Chase credit cards
Total$6,138$307- 80,000 AA miles
- 140,000 Hyatt points		- $5,831 in total savings
- 95% off retail cost

Bottom Line

By redeeming Hyatt points and taking advantage of an American Airlines promotion, I managed to save 95% off the retail cost of this trip by using points and miles. Besides saving almost $6,000, I also got great value from my points and miles redemptions.

Trading points for paradise? That’s a win I’ll take every time.

Trip Report Index

  1. Using Points and Miles to get to Cabo San Lucas
  2. The Cape, A Thompson Hotel

Using Points and Miles to Get to Nashville

By Leave a Comment

Annie and I have always wanted to visit Nashville together. She went years ago with a friend, but I’ve never had the chance to go. Exploring U.S. cities and immersing ourselves in their local flavors, entertainment, and vibrant culture is something we truly enjoy. Nashville, with its rich musical history and lively atmosphere, feels like the perfect destination. Recently, inspiration struck, and we decided to turn our excitement into action — planning a weekend getaway to the iconic “Music City” this June.

Using a combination of travel credits, points and miles, and a Hilton free night award certificate, I managed to book the entire trip for under $60.

In This Post

Airfare

Chicago to Nashville

Earlier this year, Annie and I flew to Phoenix on United Airlines. After the original booking, the cost of the flight kept dropping. With most U.S. airlines, canceling a flight typically results in receiving the original cost as a travel credit for future use. So whenever I saw a cheaper fare, I cancelled and rebooked the flight. As a result, we had over $192 in travel credits to use on future travel on United Airlines.

Booking

We wanted to fly out on a Friday afternoon and I found two one-way tickets in economy for $350. After applying our existing travel credit to the total, I only paid $158 out of pocket. That was in mid-April.

The original cost of the flight was $350. After applying our travel credit, the total came to $158.

Re-booking

In early May, I found the exact same flight for only $319. So I cancelled the original booking, rebooked at the new lower price and received the difference as a new travel credit. Finally at the end of May, I noticed that the price of the flight dropped again. This time all the way down to $205. So I cancelled and rebooked once more, ending up with an even bigger travel credit.

I saved $145 by rebooking our flight at a lower price.

Pro Tip: You can cancel your paid flight with United Airlines and receive a travel credit for a future trip. So I make it a routine to periodically check prices to find a better deal. After two cancellations and re-bookings, the cost of the flight went from $350 to $205.

Now we collectively have about $145 in travel credits to spend on a future flight.

In the end, I was able to get the total cost of this flight down to $47! We began this whole thing with $192 in travel credits and we’re leaving with $145.

Nashville to Chicago

For the flight home, I decided to save some money and book with American Airlines miles.

Booking

The cash price for two tickets was $297, but instead I redeemed 27,000 miles. That comes out to a value of 1.1 cents per mile, which is well below the redemption average of 1.4 cents per mile. While it may not have been the most efficient use of miles, we still preferred it over paying cash. Of course, whenever you redeem miles on a domestic flight, the airlines still charge nominal fees. So in total, the cash cost for the flight from Nashville to Chicago was $11.

The cash price for two one-way tickets from Nashville to Chicago was $297, but I booked it for 27,000 AA miles.

Re-booking

Pro Tip: Just like with the outbound flight, our inbound flight kept dropping in price. In this case the cost was decreasing in miles. After changing the flight twice, I managed to lower the total cost to just 20,000 miles.

In the end, I redeemed only 20,000 miles for the flight back to Chicago.

I originally booked the flight for 27,000 miles, then 25,000 and finally 20,000 miles. Booking at 20,000 miles also increased the value of the miles redemption to a more respectable 1.48 cents per mile.

Hotel

Hilton Nashville Downtown

For hotel choices, I planned to use my Hilton free night award, which expires in August. This is a benefit I receive from owning the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire® Card. Every card-opening anniversary, I receive a free night award certificate, valid at virtually any Hilton property worldwide. Plus, I also had tons of Hilton Honors points I could redeem for the second night.

A quick search of Hilton properties in downtown Nashville, uncovered two solid options. There was the Hilton Nashville Downtown, which is located in the heart of downtown and the and the Embassy Suites Nashville Downtown. To me, the decision to choose the former was easy. The downtown Hilton property is centrally located, near Broadway and the Country Music Hall of Fame. It also has a more traditional hotel setup with upscale amenities, multiple restaurants, and a stylish atmosphere.

The cash price for a 2-night stay was $1,078.

If I paid cash for both nights, the total would’ve been $1,078. From a points perspective, Hilton was asking for 85,000 points per night.

I booked 1 night using my free night certificate and 1 night using points.

To use a free night award certificate with Hilton, you have to call them to book it. I provided the agent with my award certificate number, the stay dates, and my request to use points for the other night.

Note: When you use a free night award certificate, it’ll appear on the reservation like you used points for that night. For whatever reason, Hilton’s system doesn’t show that correctly. So in the screen shot above, it says I redeemed 170,000 points, but I actually only redeemed 85,000. If you’re nervous about this, you can always review your Hilton account activity to confirm the correct amount of points were deducted.

In total, I booked our 2-night stay using my free night award certificate and 85,000 Hilton points. That saved me $1,078 and we get to stay in the perfect location in the heart of downtown Nashville.

Nashville 2025 Redemption Table

Retail CostOur CostMiles and Points UsedPoints Source
2 one-way tickets from Chicago (ORD) to Nashville (BNA)$102.50 per person ($205 total)$47$158 United travel credit- Travel credit earned from rebooking prior trip for less money
2 one-way tickets from Nashville (BNA) to Chicago (ORD)$149 per person
($297 total)		$11 (taxes and fees)20,000 AA miles- Citi AAdvantage credit cards
- AAdvantage eShopping
- Simply Miles
2 nights at Hilton Nashville Downtown$539 per night + taxes ($1,078 total)$01 free night certificate and 85,000 Hilton points- Amex Hilton Aspire card
Total$1,580$58- $158 United travel credit
- 20,000 AA miles
- 1 free night certificate
- 85,000 Hilton points		- $1,522 in total savings
- 96% off retail cost

Bottom Line

All in all, I saved a whopping 96% off the retail cost of this trip by using points, miles and credit card perks. Annie and I are really looking forward to immersing ourselves in Nashville’s music scene, indulging in amazing cuisine, and exploring iconic attractions like the Country Music Hall of Fame and Ryman Theater.

Trip Report Index

  1. Using Points and Miles to get to Nashville
  2. Hilton Nashville Downtown