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Points · 6 min

Getting more from your points

How transferable points work, when to transfer, and the 2026 changes that cut some of the best value.

Checked Oct 20, 2026

Three ways to use bank points

  1. 1

    Cash back or statement credit

    Simple, but often the lowest value, sometimes under 1 cent a point.

  2. 2

    The bank's travel portal

    Book flights and hotels with points at a set or variable rate. Easy, and it earns hotel or airline credit like a cash booking.

  3. 3

    Transfer to an airline or hotel

    Move points to a loyalty program and book an award. This is where the outsized value is, and where mistakes cost the most.

Same points, very different valueTypical cents per point
10,000 bank points
  • Cash backabout 0.5 to 1¢
  • Travel portalabout 1¢, sometimes more
  • Transfer to an airline or hoteloften 1.5¢ or more, if you book well

Transfers usually can't be undone. Find the seat first, then move the points.

Rules for transferring

  • Find the award seat or room first. Transfers usually can't be reversed.
  • Check the ratio for your card. Since 2026 some banks give lower ratios on cheaper cards.
  • Look for a transfer bonus. They run often, but don't transfer early just for one.
  • Compare the points price with the cash price using the redemption calculator on the Credit cards page.
  • Most transfers are instant, but some take days. Don't move points for a seat that might disappear.

What changed in 2025 and 2026

Banks have been cutting transfer ratios more than airlines have been raising prices. A few changes that matter (see the full list on the Credit cards page):

  • Chase to Hyatt is now 4 points to 3 from Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred. Sapphire Reserve keeps 1 to 1.
  • Bilt to Hyatt drops to 4 to 3 for all members on January 1, 2027.
  • Citi ended Points Sharing between people in May 2026.
  • Emirates got worse from Amex, Capital One and Citi, and Chase dropped it.