How to Use Points and Miles to Get Free Flights to Las Vegas

Let’s dive into how to use points and miles to get free flights to Las Vegas.
grab free flights to las vegas using points and miles


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What are travel credit cards, and how do they work?

Travel credit cards are financial products that offer various rewards and benefits geared towards frequent travelers. They typically earn you points or miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases. These rewards can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses. Travel credit cards may also include perks like travel insurance, airport lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees.

How do I choose the best travel credit card for my needs?

Choosing the best travel credit card depends on your travel habits, spending patterns, and preferences. Consider factors like the type of rewards offered (points, miles, or cash back), the card’s annual fee, sign-up bonuses, earning rates, redemption options, and additional travel perks. Analyzing these features will help you find a card that aligns with your lifestyle and offers the most value.

What are the benefits of using a travel credit card over other types of credit cards?

Travel credit cards provide unique advantages for travelers, such as earning rewards specifically tailored to travel expenses. Additionally, many travel credit cards offer travel-related perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and travel insurance. Some cards also waive foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for international travelers.

What is a sign-up bonus, and how can I qualify for it?

A sign-up bonus is a promotional offer provided by the credit card issuer to entice new cardholders. To qualify for a sign-up bonus, you usually need to meet specific spending requirements within a certain timeframe after opening the account. The bonus can be in the form of points, miles, or cash back, and it’s a great way to jump-start your rewards earning.

Do travel credit cards charge foreign transaction fees?

Not all travel credit cards charge foreign transaction fees. Many of the top-tier travel cards waive these fees, making them ideal for international travel. However, it’s essential to read the card’s terms and conditions to confirm this before using it abroad.

How can I maximize the rewards earned with my travel credit card?

To maximize rewards, use your travel credit card for everyday expenses and large purchases. Take advantage of bonus categories and special promotions to earn more points or miles. Consider combining your travel credit card with loyalty programs to stack rewards and get even more value out of your purchases.

All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by The Daily Navigator. American Express® Green Card is no longer available through The Daily Navigator.

Ah, Las Vegas. Sin City. Adult Disneyland. The Glitter Gulch. Whatever you call it, whether you love it or hate it, it’s not going anywhere—which is why you’re likely here, looking to score cheap flights to Las Vegas events this weekend. 

In terms of Las Vegas events happening this weekend, check out this source, which updates weekly—so no matter when you’re reading this, you’ll find plenty of enticement to make the Vegas journey.

And frankly, the only people who don’t like Vegas haven’t been or didn’t do it right. And no, that doesn’t mean replicating “The Hangover.” The city is bursting with family-friendly attractions, big and small, offering far more than buffet feeds and a day spent hunched over a slot machine.

As an American city, it’s far easier to get yourself here than some of our other destinations (like Australia), but that doesn’t mean you should pay for your ticket. If you’ve got a stash of points and miles ready to redeem, there are plenty of ways to wrangle them into a Vegas flight for pennies on the dollar.

Let’s check out some ways to use points and miles to get cheap or even free flights to Las Vegas.

How to find the best deals on flights to Las Vegas events this weekend

Flying to Las Vegas is easy enough. It’s a popular destination with a busy airport, so you can guarantee plenty of flights from around the country to get you to Las Vegas events this weekend. 

But because it’s popular, the prices of those tickets can soar. Weekends, holidays, and special events, like the Las Vegas Super Bowl or Formula 1, can impact both the cash price and points value of any given flight.

If you’re not flying with a budget airline, there’s a good chance you’ll be on one of the US’ big airlines: Delta, American, or United. So I’ll dive into the best way to fly with each airline.int:it’s not always by using their own search pages.

Let’s find out how to get cheap or even free flights to Las Vegas using points and miles.

For the sake of comparison, we’ll look at flights fromNew York to Las Vegas for each of our airline redemptions.

Delta

Delta’s main New York hub is JFK, and there are a ton of flights leaving the popular airport every day. Finding a flight to redeem your SkyMiles should be easy, but it might not always be your best value option. With that said, in this example, it does come up trumps. 

A quick search will show the lowest price throughout the year for a one-way flight from JFK to Las Vegas is 17,000 SkyMiles plus $6. It’s not terrible, and if you have some SkyMiles kicking around, you might want to use them. It’s also a good idea to check out the airline’s SkyDeals page, which has regular rock-bottom deals for specific destinations.

Using Virgin Atlantic to Redeem Delta Flights

If you don’t have any Delta SkyMiles or American Express Reward Points to transfer to Delta but still want to fly with the airline, try Virgin Atlantic.

Sadly, the rates are higher than they used to be. Virgin bumped its Delta redemptions at the end of 2023, so it’ll now cost you 20,000 Virgin points plus $6 to get to Vegas. If you don’t have another choice, it’s there for you.

Using KLM/Air France Flying Blue to Redeem Delta Flights

Another option for redeeming Delta flights is Flying Blue, the combined loyalty program for KLM and Air France. Its rates fluctuate wildly, and the best rate we could find was 18,500 points. American Express also transfers to KLM, but you’d be better served transferring them to American Express.

You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Reward Points, Capital One Venture Miles, and Citi ThankYou Points to Flying Blue. So, if you’re short of Amex points, you have a better option than Virgin available.

Which credit cards can earn you those points?

The only credit cards capable of earning Delta SkyMiles are American Express products, whether that’s a general travel card or a Delta co-branded card.

American Express® Gold Card

The Amex Gold card is a more affordable option than the Platinum but still offers an excellent intro bonus that’s more than enough for your Vegas trip. 

This means you’ve scored yourself free flights to counteract all that dough you’ll be shelling out in Sin City for Las Vegas events this weekend. 

American Express® Gold Card

60,000 Membership Rewards® Points

after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 6 months of card membership. Plus, receive 20 percent back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.

Annual Fee: $325  |  Terms Apply  |  Rates & Fees

Platinum Card® from American Express

Amex’s premium card will gift you 80,000 points after spending $8,000 within six months of opening the card. That gives you plenty of points to get you to Vegas, back, and beyond.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

80,000 Membership Rewards® Points

after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of card membership

Annual Fee: $695  |  Terms Apply  |  Rates & Fees

American Express Green Card

The most affordable of this family of general travel cards, the Amex Green boasts a 40,000-point bonus after spending $3,000 within six months of opening the card. While far lower than its siblings, that’s still enough to get you free flights to Las Vegas events this weekend.

Don’t forget the Chase and Capital One cards mentioned below, which can also help with the Virgin or KLM redemptions.

American Express® Green Card

40,000 Membership Rewards® Points

after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. 

Annual Fee: $150  |  Terms Apply  |  Rates & Fees

United Airlines

United is another of the US’ three most popular carriers and offers similarly huge volumes of flights through its major New York hub, Newark. United’s program can offer some tremendous value in itself, but it’s also privy to one of the best deals in all points and miles strategy.

If you’re hoping to redeem your flight to Vegas directly through United, you’re looking at a best-case scenario of 15,000 points plus $6, depending on the day. Again, that’s not a bad deal, but it can be improved if you opt for one of its partners.

Redeem United Flights with Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada’s Aeroplan is an excellent option for grabbing cheap or even free flights on United. Running the same searches returned some flights as low as 12,500 points plus around $35. You’re using fewer points but spending more cash than the United option.

Redeem United Flights with Turkish Airlines

Using Turkish Airlines to book United flights is a sweet spot you need to remember. Turkish Airlines sets its USdomestic redemptions at just 7,500 points plus $5. That’s an immense deal. The only downside is that award availability doesn’t always show on the website, and you’ll need to call.

Which credit cards can earn you those points?

The only credit cards that transfer points to United Airlines are Chase Products, like those shown below. For Air Canada, you can transfer from Amex, Chase, Capital One, and Bilt. Turkish Airlines, on the other hand, transfers from Capital One, Citi, and Bilt.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Sapphire Reserve has an identical intro bonus to the Preferred but offers some premium perks like unlimited lounge access and travel statement credits. Of course, you’ll pay a higher annual fee for the privilege.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

60,000 Bonus Points

after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 

Annual Fee: $550  |  Terms Apply  |  Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is an excellent mid-tier card, offering customers 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within three months of opening the card. Free flights for your Vegas trip is on the cards with that haul.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Earn 60,000 bonus points

after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 

Annual Fee: $95  |  Terms Apply  |  Rates & Fees

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The Capital One Venture X is one of the best premium cards on the market. Its huge 75,000-mile bonus is earned by spending $4,000 within three months of opening the card. You’ll also enjoy lounge access as a perk, plus its outstanding $300 hotel statement credit almost nullifies the $395 annual fee.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

75,000 Bonus Miles

after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening

Annual Fee: $395  |  Terms Apply  |  Rates & Fees

American Airlines

American Airlines is something of a curveball in the points and miles world. While it boasts some excellent redemptions, it’s not as easy to earn its valuable travel currency. No credit cards transfer their points or miles to the airline, so you’ll need to open a co-branded card or spend money with the carrier or one of its partners to get cheap or even free flights to Las Vegas

If you do have some American Airlines miles, you’ll be able to score flights for as low as 9,500 miles plus $5.60. That’s a stellar deal, even if you need to grab a connection.

But if you don’t have any miles, you’re unable to redeem that flight. Thankfully, there are some ways to book American without having any American points.

Use British Airways Avios to redeem American Airlines flights

If you’re hellbent on flying American, British Airways can rescue you. The rates for this length of journey, especially one with a layover, aren’t great, but it gets you there. Expect to pay around 24,250 Avios plus $5.60 to get there each way.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines suffers from the same issue that American does—you can only earn its points with a co-branded card or by flying with the airline and its partners. But, if you have a store of these points, you’ll find the next best thing to booking with American directly. Using this excellent program, you can find New York to  Las Vegas for just 12,500 miles plus $5.60.

Which credit cards can earn you those points?

As we mentioned, earning American Airlines or Alaska Airlines miles will require you to be invested with the carriers directly, whether with a credit card or by flying with them. But British Airways Avios are far easier to earn.

You can transfer points from American Express, Chase, Capital One, and Bilt. But even with Citi, you can route your points to British Airways through Qatar. Any of the cards mentioned above will get you those points.

Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Don’t be too put off by a business card. A lot more of us qualify for these than you’d assume. And if you do, this card’s amazing cash back bonus could help you get to Vegas.

Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Earn up to $750 bonus cash back intro offer

Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

Annual Fee: $0  |  Terms Apply  |  Rates & Fees

The point

As you can see, there are a ton of ways to get cheap or even free flights to Las Vegas events this weekend. Remember, these redemptions were all from New York. If you live closer there’s a good chance the volume of points required will be even fewer—unless you’re booking with Turkish, as it’s always 7,500 points.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone. This post contains references to products from one or more of our partners and we may receive compensation when you click on links to those products.

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