If you travel a lot for business, you may be accumulating a lot of points on your business travel credit card. Depending on your card’s rewards structure, you may be able to earn points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, gas and other travel costs. Over time, these points will add up, and you’ll be able to redeem them to help cover the cost of future travel or pay down your statement. Being strategic about how you use them can help you get the best return for every dollar you spend.
Let’s look at some smart ways to redeem your travel points to get the most value during your business trips.
Take advantage of credit card partnerships
Researching which airlines and hotels your business travel credit card partners with before you book travel could give you a range of redemption options for a flight or hotel stay, depending on how many points you have or want to redeem. You may also be able to take advantage of an airport lounge, get a free checked bag or earn a free night at a hotel by using your points.
Book an expensive flight
One of the best ways to use your points is to cover the cost of expensive flights. If you aren’t able to plan ahead enough to get the best bargain, redeeming your miles could get you to your next meeting on time without needing to settle for a cheaper but much less convenient flight. Similarly, your points could come in handy if you ever travel for work on the weekends, during holidays or other peak travel times when prices tend to be at their highest. If you have to travel long distances for work, you may also want to consider using your points for seat upgrades so you can prepare for meetings and presentations in transit more comfortably.
Upgrade your hotel room
While it’s important to be comfortable in your hotel on a business trip, you’re likely looking for the most affordable option most of the time. With travel points, you may be able to upgrade to a better room or find a hotel with more business-friendly amenities, such as free Wi-Fi, early check-in and access to a business center.
If you’re attending a business conference or industry-wide event, or if you’re travelling with a group of colleagues, it can be harder to find conveniently situated hotel rooms that work for your budget. This could be another opportunity for you to use points, especially if you’re in an expensive city without many affordable options.
Rent a car for easier commutes
If you usually depend on low-cost public transportation in urban areas to help you get from one business meeting to the next, consider redeeming your points for a rental car when you need to travel further afield. This could be especially helpful if you’re travelling a long distance between meetings every day or you have to visit clients, suppliers and other vendors at their places of work. You may want to call ahead and confirm your hotel offers free parking or has recommendations for where you can park nearby.
Pay down your travel bills
Depending on your credit card, you may be able to redeem points to pay down your monthly statement balance, which could be helpful if you had to cover an expensive dinner meeting or had to rebook last-minute travel on your way home. Additionally, if you earn a statement credit as a travel reward or cash back from filling up your tank at a specific gas station, you could use that money to cover some of the smaller costs associated with travel, such as coffee, subway fare or breakfast at the airport. Every little bit helps.
Make the most of your points
Travelling for business can get expensive quickly. Using a business travel credit card with redeemable points can save you money in the long run by covering or reducing the cost of airfare, hotel rooms, rental cars or just your monthly statement. Making the most of your credit card’s partnerships could help you earn even more points and perks along the way.
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