How I Flew for Free: AmEx Membership Rewards Points Fund a Trip to Quebec City
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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 2021, 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
