Capital One has one of the most interesting rewards programs out there — and with more than a dozen airline and hotel transfer partners, using Capital One points to fund an adventure has never been easier.
That’s because Capital One has some solid airline transfer partners, including Cathay Pacific, where you can book a seriously roomy first-class seat, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, which offers one of the best first-class experiences in the sky, thanks to its multicourse food and wine service.
From booking flights to hotels and rental cars, here’s what you need to know about redeeming Capital One points for travel.
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Redeeming Capital One reward points for flights
You can redeem Capital One miles for flights booked through the Capital One Travel portal. The number of miles you’ll need varies depending on the ticket price; the exact amount will be displayed during your search.
You can also redeem Capital One reward points by transferring them to an airline partner. There are 15 partners, ranging from Air Canada and Air France to TAP and Turkish. Most of these transfer at a 1:1 ratio.
Booking domestic flights with Capital One reward points
In our experience, you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on domestic flights if you transfer your rewards points to British Airways Avios, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
Our favorite, though, is British Airways Avios. British Airways uses a distance-based award chart, meaning the amount of Avios required is tied to the distance of the flight. The shorter your flight, the fewer Avios are required for a reservation.
For example, if you want to fly from Las Vegas to Phoenix (a distance of 255 miles), you’ll need just 8,250 Avios for a one-way ticket.
This distance-based award pricing also applies to U.S. territories. For instance, if you want to fly from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami (a distance of 1,045 miles), it’ll cost just 11,000 Avios.
British Airways Avios are great for booking American Airlines business- and first-class flights domestically as well, thanks to that same distance-based award chart.
For instance, if you wanted to book a Flagship First domestic flight between New York and Los Angeles, you’d need just 64,500 Avios (which you can accumulate by transferring Capital One points).
In comparison, you’d need 85,500 more miles per dollar if you booked directly through American Airlines AAdvantage.
Booking international flights with Capital One reward points
Booking international flights with Capital One rewards points is as simple as booking domestic flights, thanks to programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and Singapore KrisFlyer.
We like Aeroplan because of the Star Alliance awards you can book, such as United Polaris and Turkish Airlines business class, but one of our favorite ways to use Aeroplan points is on Etihad, where one-way tickets in economy start at 55,000 Aeroplan points.
We also love using Aeroplan points for business-class seats on SWISS. They’ll run you just 60,000 Aeroplan points each way from the U.S., giving you nearly eight hours in a comfortable, lie-flat business-class seat on one of the world’s best airlines!
If you booked that same flight through Capital One or United Airlines MileagePlus (also a Star Alliance partner, like SWISS), it would cost nearly 30,000 more miles. Needless to say, we strongly suggest transferring Capital One miles to an airline program like Aeroplan or British Airways to maximize their value.
Other ways to redeem Capital One reward points
Cash back or statement credit
You can redeem Capital One reward points for cash back or a statement credit. When redeemed for travel, Capital One miles are worth 1 cent each. That means if you were to book a $200 flight, you’d need 20,000 Capital One points.
However, this isn’t the most efficient way to use your points. Instead, we strongly suggest putting them toward travel, particularly flights, to get the most value.
Transfer to airline partners
Capital One has 15 airline partners you can book flights with:
- Aeromexico Club Premier
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Emirates Skywards
- Etihad Guest
- EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
- Finnair Plus
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- TAP Miles&Go
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- Virgin Red
Your Capital One points will convert to the following ratios, depending on the program:
- 1:1 ratio: 1,000 Capital One miles convert to 1,000 miles or points
- 2:1.5 ratio: 1,000 Capital One miles convert to 750 miles or points
- 2:1 ratio: 1,000 Capital One miles convert to 500 miles
Once you’ve transferred Capital One points to airline partners, you can redeem them for flights.
Earning Capital One points with credit cards
Capital One travel credit cards are the quickest and easiest way to earn a ton of points for travel purchases. These cards usually come with big welcome bonuses — sometimes as high as 100,000 points after meeting a minimum spending requirement and paying an annual fee. Some cards, like the Venture X Rewards credit card, offer airport lounge access, travel credits, and statement credits on travel purchases, such as Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
To make sure your personal and/or business credit cards cover travel purchases that earn points, open a Capital One card that earns travel rewards, such as the Capital One Venture X and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
The best flights to book with Capital One reward points
The best flights to book with Capital One reward points are Emirates First Class (when you transfer to Emirates points), Cathay Pacific First Class (when you transfer to Asia Miles), and Singapore First Class and Suites (after transferring points to Singapore KrisFlyer). You can also redeem miles to book United Airlines Polaris-class flights through Aeroplan.
The worst flights to book with Capital One reward points
The worst flights to book with Capital One reward points depend solely on your travel preferences. That said, you should avoid using your Capital One reward points on non-travel purchases, like credit card statement credits, gift cards, and PayPal, Amazon, or Capital One Entertainment purchases. You’ll definitely get more bang for your buck if you redeem on flights or hotels.
Redeeming Capital One reward points for other travel
Your Capital One reward points can be used to cover travel purchases paid for with your Capital One card. You can also redeem reward points to book a flight, hotel, or rental car through Capital One Travel.
Frequently asked questions about using Capital One points
Can I book flights with Capital One reward points?
Yes, you can book flights with Capital One points and reward points. You can either book through the Capital One travel portal or transfer your points to one of 15 airline transfer partners.
Which airlines take Capital One points?
Fifteen airlines take Capital One points, including Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and Air Canada. You can transfer your Capital One points to these loyalty programs to book flights with those airlines. You can also use your Capital One points directly with Capital One Travel.
How do I transfer Capital One points to an airline?
To transfer Capital One points to an airline, you’ll need to be logged in to your Capital One account. Select your credit card, then hit “View Rewards” and “Convert Rewards.” Next, you’ll choose the airline you want to transfer points to and link your Capital One account to the airline’s loyalty program if you haven’t already done so. Finally, choose how many points you want to transfer (the minimum is 1,000).
How many Capital One points do I need for a free flight?
The number of Capital One points you need for a free flight depends on several factors, such as the airline, route, dates, how far in advance you book, and which partner you redeem your points with.
Can I partially pay for a flight with Capital One reward points?
Yes, you can partially pay for a flight with Capital One reward points using the Capital One travel portal, as long your account is open and in good standing.
Which Capital One credit cards earn reward points?
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit, Capital One Venture X, and several business cards earn reward points.
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