Why You Never Have Enough Miles—And How Transferable Points Solve That Problem

Why Transferable Points Are the Key to Better Redemptions

Ever feel like you’re constantly earning airline miles but never have enough to actually book a flight? You’re not alone.

That’s because most airlines and hotels use dynamic pricing, meaning they can charge as many points as they want for any given day. One week you might see a flight for 25,000 miles, and the next, the same flight has jumped to 80,000 miles. It’s frustrating and makes it feel like you’ll never have enough points to book.

But here’s the secret: Transferable points give you a way around this problem. Instead of being stuck with one airline or hotel’s pricing, you can book the same flights and hotels through different partners—often for a lot fewer points. If you’re just getting started with points, check out my beginner’s guide to earning and redeeming points to avoid common mistakes!

How Transferable Points Beat Dynamic Pricing

Most people don’t realize that airlines and hotels price their points differently, depending on how you book.Instead of being locked into one loyalty program’s rates, transferable points let you access multiple programs, allowing you to:

✔ Book flights through airline partners for fewer points
✔ Lock in hotel nights at predictable, fair rates
✔ Avoid wasting points on overpriced redemptions

This is why points from specific banks are so valuable—they let you move your points to different programs depending on where you’ll get the best deal.

Want a deeper dive into why your airline miles don’t stretch far enough? Read my breakdown on the value of a point.

How to Use Airline Partners to Save Points

Airlines are part of alliances and partnerships, meaning you can book flights on one airline using another airline’s miles. Some airline partners still use fixed award charts, letting you get a much better deal than booking directly with the airline that operates the flight.

Example: A Delta Flight That Costs 80K Miles, Booked for 50K Instead

Let’s say you’re looking at a Delta flight to Europe, and Delta wants 80,000 miles for the ticket. Instead of booking directly with Delta, you can:

✈ Transfer your points to Virgin Atlantic, a Delta partner that still uses a fixed award chart
✈ Book the same exact Delta flight for just 50,000 miles instead of 80,000

That’s 30,000 miles saved on one ticket—just by booking through the right program. And there are plenty of other sweet spots just like this, which is why earning transferable points is so much more valuable than earning miles in just one airline program.

Why Hyatt (And Transferable Points) Are the Best for Hotels

For hotels, Hyatt is the only major program that still has an award chart—meaning the number of points needed doesn’t fluctuate wildly like Marriott, Hilton, or IHG. That doesn’t mean I don’t book these other brands, but it does mean Hyatt makes it easier to get a lot of value out of your points.

🏨 Luxury hotels for fewer points – A $500+ per night Hyatt stay can be booked for as little as 15,000 points.
🏝 All-inclusive resorts at a fraction of the cost – Many Hyatt all-inclusive properties cost significantly fewer points than Marriott or Hilton.
📌 No resort fees on award stays – Unlike some hotel chains, Hyatt doesn’t charge resort fees when booking with points, saving you an extra $30+ per night.
🔒 Consistent, predictable pricing – No surprise price jumps when you’re ready to book.

If you’ve ever searched for a Marriott or Hilton stay using points and thought, “This is crazy expensive,” that’s because their dynamic pricing makes it impossible to predict how many points you’ll need. But with Hyatt, you know what a night will cost, which makes planning so much easier.

If you’re looking for a way to rack up Hyatt points quickly, earning transferable points is the best strategy. Here’s a list of my favorite travel credit cards that can help you build your balance.

For a deeper look at why Hyatt is the best hotel program for points, check out this blog post.

How to Use This Strategy for Bigger Travel Wins

If you’re tired of seeing insane mileage prices for flights or feeling like your hotel points never go far enough, here’s what to do:

1️⃣ Earn transferable points first instead of airline- or hotel-specific miles. Here are my favorite beginner-friendly options.
2️⃣ Check airline partners before booking—many flights are cheaper through partners than through the airline itself.
3️⃣ Prioritize Hyatt for hotel stays—it’s the only one that still offers predictable pricing.
4️⃣ Use cards that earn transferable points to maximize flexibility.

Not sure where to start? My free beginner’s guide breaks down everything you need to know about using points for travel—grab it here!

Why Transferable Points Are the Best Strategy

The biggest reason people feel like they never have enough miles is because they’re earning points in the wrong programs—ones that constantly change pricing and don’t give them access to better options.

But when you have transferable points, you get to:

✔ Book flights for fewer miles by using partner airlines
✔ Lock in hotel nights at predictable, fair rates (thanks, Hyatt!)
✔ Never feel stuck or short on points again

Want to start making your points work harder for you? Sign up for my free weekly newsletter where I share the best deals, award availability, and travel hacks just for busy moms. Join here!

And if you’re looking for the best credit cards to maximize your points, check out this list of my favorite travel cards to get started!

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