When And How To Use Those Frequent Flyer Miles

For many consumers, travel rewards credit cards offer the ideal combination of convenience and benefits. The best ones have large sign-up bonuses, high ongoing rewards and great travel perks, making them among our favorites at NerdWallet. But just because you’re swimming in travel points ^[1] earned on your credit card, should you use them to pay for your next trip? Not necessarily.

NerdWallet booked sample flights using the 20 most popular routes ^[2] and the four largest U.S. airlines ^[3] to see whether consumers booking their flights for summer vacation would be better off paying cash or using the points they’ve accumulated in airline loyalty programs. We examined how point values differ depending on the distance and class you fly, as well as whether you fly internationally or domestically, one-way or round-trip. And we devised guidelines to help you decide how to pay for your next flight.