When most people think about using travel rewards, the obvious answer is for flights and hotels. And that's not wrong—those are often where loyalty currencies can stretch furthest.
However, on a recent trip to Paris, I used my points to do something a little different: get into one of the most coveted sporting events in the world and book a hotel for the occasion.
That meant redeeming 20,000 Emirates Skywards miles for a reserved main stadium seat at the 2026 French Open tennis tournament, and 40,000 World of Hyatt points for two nights at the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile.
Together, those redemptions covered an experience that would have cost several hundred dollars in tickets alone, along with a hotel during one of the priciest weeks of the year in Paris. Here's how it all came together.
French Open with Emirates Skywards miles
The French Open, also called Roland-Garros, is one of the four major Grand Slam tennis tournaments, played each year in Paris on red clay. It’s a highlight for tennis fans, and it’s an event I’ve long wanted to attend.
Emirates is a major sponsor of the tournament, and through its loyalty program, Emirates Skywards, members can redeem miles for tickets to the tournament.
The platform, called Skywards Exclusives, has also offered tickets to Wimbledon, the US Open, Arsenal matches, concerts at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena, among other events. Some items are listed as straightforward redemptions at a fixed mileage cost, while others go up as auctions where members bid against each other in real time.
In early May, I was searching for a French Open ticket when I came across availability through Emirates Skywards. Listed was a reserved seat on Court Philippe-Chatrier (the tournament's main court) for 20,000 miles during early-round day sessions.
As a point of comparison, second-round Chatrier seats on the verified resale market run roughly between $150 to $500, depending on category and session. (French law makes it illegal to resell tickets above face value without authorization from the event organizer.)
I didn't earn the Skywards miles by flying Emirates. Instead, I transferred them from American Express Membership Rewards. Amex transfers to Emirates Skywards at a 5:4 ratio, meaning 25,000 Membership Rewards points became 20,000 Skywards miles. The transfer was posted almost immediately. Emirates Skywards also has transfer partnerships with Citi ThankYou points, Capital One Miles, and Bilt Rewards.
After logging back into my Skywards account and selecting the event, miles were immediately deducted from my balance, and I received a confirmation email. The electronic ticket arrived about 48 hours before the start of the tennis matches.
A hotel with World of Hyatt points
The Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile sits in the 17th arrondissement, near the northeastern corner of Bois de Boulogne and a short Metro ride from the Roland-Garros tennis complex. It's a Category 5 World of Hyatt property, and I managed to book two nights in a king room for 20,000 points per night (40,000 total). Considering these dates were during French Open week, typically one of the busiest periods of the year, I felt like I got excellent value.
For context, cash rates at the property during the same week regularly run $400-$600 per night. That puts the value of each point at roughly 2 to 3 cents, well above NerdWallet's valuation of 1.8 cents for World of Hyatt points.
World of Hyatt is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, so points earned on cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card transfer directly into Hyatt.
Using points for events: What to keep in mind
If you're thinking of using miles or points for experiences like this one, keep the following in mind:
- Event tickets often have limited availability. When I booked, I was permitted to purchase only one seat. Emirates restricted its members to one ticket per account.
- Event tickets are usually nonrefundable. Read the date, session, and event details carefully before confirming.
- Hotel award availability can fill quickly during high-demand weeks. If you're targeting a specific event, book the hotel as early as you can.
All told, for a trip that included a seat at a highly sought-after sporting event, along with accommodations during a pricey week for hotels, being able to use points and miles felt like a real win.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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