Why People Choose Low-Value Redemptions
This is the July 19, 2026 edition of the LazyPoints Weekly newsletter. It goes out by email every Sunday at 8:00 a.m. Pacific–unless I oversleep–and is archived here on the blog. Want it straight to your inbox each week? Sign up here.
Do you trust loyalty programs enough to save up for a great redemption? Last week, marketing blogger Stephanie Meltzer-Paul observed that 60% of Starbucks Rewards users are using their rewards points to get a small discount on purchases—the least valuable reward option on the menu. In her view, it reflects a lack of trust: why save up for a better reward, especially as a casual user, when the loyalty program can pull the rug out from under you with a devaluation?
This rings true for me, at least in part. I have co-branded hotel credit cards with IHG and Hilton, but despite earning quite a lot of points when spending with the brand, it still seems to take forever to earn enough for even a few nights. And forever is a long time for award rates to rise—as they seem to do constantly with those brands. So yeah, I don’t trust these programs, and I have been seriously considering a pivot to eliminate hotel points from my strategy altogether. But regardless of the loyalty program in question, hoarding points can backfire when programs inevitably change and award rates rise.
But is the average customer really following the pointsflation closely? I think the main reason people choose the lower-value redemptions is that they eliminate friction. We’ve seen that most Amex customers use their points for cash-equivalent redemptions, despite relatively poor redemption values. Those offer immediate gratification, certain value, and no need to hunt for a deal or do any math to figure out what “value” they will end up with.
But some programs reduce that friction:
Chase and Capital One offer easy ways to redeem points for travel at 1¢ per point, no matter where you book. (Chase points even offer that value, or more, on non-travel purchases.)
Alaska Atmos Rewards: Global Getaways that combine high-value redemption options with predictable monthly sales that make redeeming much easier.
Bilt Rewards: Transfers to Atmos, monthly value boosts with Rent Day, and travel portal redemptions at a 1.25¢ per point value.
Lazy Take 🦥
One thing is certain in the points world: nothing is permanent. Any brand could pivot their strategy at any time. But if the main thing standing in your way is the friction of navigating loyalty programs, there are a few out there that can make your experience a lot smoother while still delivering great value. Until they change their minds.
This week on the blog 📝
I barely use my Venture X anymore—the Bilt Palladium has its number. But I’ll never cancel it as long as it occasionally gets me into Capital One lounges. I got some wine and tapas at the Capital One Landing in DC a few weeks ago and it’s still living rent-free in my head.
I also got an absurd deal alert this week: Australia for 30k SkyMiles round-trip (26k with my Delta card). Finally motivated me to update my Thrifty Traveler review.
Quick Points of the Week ⚡
Extra points 🪙
United’s new targeted Mile Play promotions. Check your United app; I was offered points for linking my United and Lyft accounts, signing up for text promotions, and/or getting a co-branded credit card. (Award Wallet)
Targeted Chase promotions. I didn’t get an offer this time, but check your Chase card for possible bonuses. (Chase)
More value 📈
Rove adds Qantas transfer partnership. Rove is now up to 20 partners, although most—like Qantas—are niche options. (View From the Wing)
Devaluations 📉
AAdvantage raises prices on JAL flights. American Airlines has historically had great pricing for partner award flights on Japan Airlines, but it’s starting to look like those flights will cost you more miles. (View From the Wing)
New partnerships 🤝
Marriott and JAL team up. I don’t see too much to get excited about here, unless you’re Marriott Titanium or Ambassador, in which case you can now get both United/Star Alliance and JAL/Oneworld status (with benefits on AA and Alaska). That’s wild. (Loyalty Lobby)
Hyatt and Air Canada, too. If you have elite status with either, there could be some modest benefits. (TPG)
Earn AA miles on Sixt car rentals. I find it hard to use rental car points before they expire, so this is a nice alternative. (Sixt)
Deals 🏷️
Buy Choice points with a discount. Even after a recent devaluation, I bought some again; there are still 8,000-point hotels out there, and I got that many for just over $50. (OMAAT)
Notable Transfer Bonuses ⬆️
Chase → IHG (100%). I don’t think too highly of Chase points, and I love my IHG Platinum status, but I wouldn’t transfer with a 200% bonus. (Daily Drop has a solid counterargument.)
Nerdy Points 🤓
Use Avios to fly lie-flat to Hawaii. There may be a way to use Avios to book Hawaiian Airlines flights via Finnair… but you’ll have to pick up the phone to do it. Sorry, kids. (Thrifty Traveler)
Fun 👻
New free “lounge” at Raleigh-Durham airport. Hope you like Pepsi. (TPG)
Correction 🛠️
Did Marriott raise award prices? A Frequent Miler investigation says “maybe not.” (I’m still not in a rush to collect Marriott points.)
Sign up bonus of the week 🎯
Links marked with an * are affiliate or referral links, meaning we may earn if you apply via our link.
No exciting new offers this week, so I’m going to sleep in and skip this section this week. 💤
Other great sign-up bonuses this week
50,000 points+ $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status on the Bilt Palladium (our take: 🔥🔥🔥)
100k points on the Chase Sapphire Preferred* (our take: 🔥🔥🔥) ends “soon”
80k miles on the Citi AA Platinum Select (our take: 🔥🔥)
175k points on the Hilton Aspire (our take: 🔥🔥)
100k points on the JetBlue Premier (our take: 🔥)
125k pts + 1 night on the Marriott Boundless (our take: 🔥)
100k points and $100 on the Hilton Honors (our take: 🔥)
60k points on the Choice Privileges Mastercard (our take: 🔥)
Up to 100/175k on the Amex Gold/Platinum (our take)
Lazy Pick ✅ (Referral)
Rakuten extends best-ever offer… again. Spend $50, get $50 (or, even better, points). You can even earn cash back or points by dining out at certain restaurants. Or by referring friends to join. If you decide to sign up, consider using our referral link to support LazyPoints. We’ll earn a referral bonus when you earn your bonus. (No false urgency here; I’ve lost track of how many times they’ve extended this offer. But once upon a time the standard sign-up bonus was $30.)
Enjoy the weekend! 🦥
If you go to Starbucks, be sure you’re getting all your points (maybe even the hotel points). ☕