How I Flew for Free: AmEx Membership Rewards Points Fund a Trip to Quebec City
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
When New York-based travel marketing professional Polly Witker decided to attend a travel conference in Canada, she used American Express Membership Rewards points to pay for the flight.
The cardholder
The trip
Route: Round trip from LaGuardia International Airport - New York to Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport Dates of travel: May 3 - 8, 2018 Airlines: Air Canada and United Class of service: Economy
Q: Did you visit a lounge at the airport?
A: No.
Q: Did you travel alone or with someone?
A: Yes, with a friend/colleague. We went to a conference in Quebec City.
The card and loyalty program
Q: What card did you use to get a free trip?
Q: How long were you a cardholder/member at that time?
A: About 10 years.
Q: How long were you planning/saving for this trip?
A: I planned the trip about a month ahead.
Q: What's your favorite perk of this card/program?
A: I get 5X the Membership Rewards points when I book flights through American Express Travel.
Redemption and booking
Q: Did you take advantage of promotions while earning points for this trip?
A: No.
Q: How did you book?
A: Online with AmEx Travel.
Q: How many points/miles/rewards did this cost?
A: 10,673 points (equivalent to $106)
Q: Did you book in conjunction with a promotion or deal?
A: No.
Q: Any surprises or hassles?
A: No.
What's your next travel rewards goal?
A: I would love to cover the cost of a flight to Argentina or Guatemala in 2019.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2022, including those best for:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Planning a trip? Check out these articles for more inspiration and advice: How I flew for free: Miles to the rescue for a family emergency How I flew for free: Round trip NYC to India using Chase Ultimate Rewards How I flew business class to Bangkok with my family for free
