Amex, Chase, Capital One, Citi — they all have airline and hotel partners. But which one fits how you actually travel?
Focus on your destination first, then the currency. Below is a comparison of what people in the points community actually value about each program.
Who Has What?
American Express Membership Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Capital One Miles
Citi ThankYou Points
What The Points Community Says
Amex MR
People love MR for the airline roster. It's the deepest — more international carriers, more routing options. ANA business class to Tokyo? MR can get you there. Virgin Atlantic sweet spots? MR. Delta domestic? MR.
The catch: hotel transfers (Hilton, Marriott, Choice) are usually poor value. Consensus among award travelers: save MR for flights.
Chase UR
Chase gets called beginner-friendly. Even simple portal redemptions give you 1.25–1.5¢ per point. No transfer required. That's a real floor.
But the real edge: Hyatt. Amex doesn't transfer to Hyatt. Chase does. Hyatt points routinely deliver 1.5¢–2¢+ per point at a wide range of properties.
Capital One
Capital One used to lag Amex and Chase in partner reputation. That's shifting. The partner list has expanded. You can transfer to Flying Blue, Virgin, British Airways, Singapore, and others.
Or redeem at ~1¢ toward any travel purchase — no transfer, no portal gymnastics. Some award travelers note fewer domestic options (no United, no Delta direct).
Citi ThankYou
Citi gets less airtime than Amex and Chase. But among people who know the programs, ThankYou has fans. It offers niche international partners that others don't.
Partner availability can vary by which Citi card you hold. Less straightforward for beginners.
Where Each Currency Shines
International Premium Cabin
Deeper international roster (ANA, etc).
Hyatt Hotel Stays
Exclusive transfer partner for Hyatt.
Domestic U.S. Travel
United/Southwest (Chase) vs Delta (Amex).
Flexible Redemption
Erase any travel purchase at 1¢/mile.
What "CPP" Really Means
CPP isn't science. It's based on real redemptions shared in travel forums and blogs.
- Amex MR: 2¢+ for premium air; under 1¢ for portal.
- Chase UR: ~1.5¢ floor via portal; higher via Hyatt.
- Capital One: Improving list; great for simple 1¢ "erasing".
- Citi: Varies widely by card and target partner.
Key Takeaways
- Don't chase high CPP on carriers you never fly.
- Match partners to your actual travel routes.
- Always check award space BEFORE transferring.