Points and Miles Terminology for Beginners | Travel Rewards Glossary

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Points and Miles Explained

Key Terms for Beginners

When you first step into the world of points and miles, it can feel like everyone is speaking in code. You do not need to memorize everything. Knowing the basics will make every other guide easier to follow. Use this as your phrasebook for rewards travel.

Quick take

This page works best as a companion to your getting started guides. It links to deeper resources when you are ready to dive in.

Core Points & Miles Basics

Points and Miles

The loyalty currencies you earn through airlines, hotels, and credit card programs.

Transferable Points

Flexible points (Chase UR, Amex MR, etc.) that can move to partners.

Fixed-Value Points

Points tied to a set value (like 1¢ each) or locked to one airline or hotel program.

Co-Branded Cards

The airline and hotel cards that earn points for just that loyalty program. The points or miles earned cannot be transferred.

Earning Points & Miles

Welcome Bonus / Sign-Up Bonus (SUB)

Large one-time points you get for opening a card and hitting a minimum spend.

Minimum Spend Requirement (MSR)

The spending you must hit to unlock the bonus. For example, spend $4,000 in 3 months and get 80,000 points.

Everyday Spend

Using your card for groceries, gas, and bills to earn rewards slowly and steadily on things you would pay for anyway.

Product Change (PC)

Switching a card to another version from the same bank. Many people do this to downgrade a card and have a lower annual fee.

Earn and Burn

Earn points quickly and redeem them rather than holding them long term. Use rewards before a program increases redemption rates or changes benefits.

Using Points & Miles

Redemption

How you use those points: flights, hotels, upgrades, and perks.

Travel Portals

Booking sites run by banks such as Chase Travel or Capital One Travel. They function like third-party bookers, which means changes usually must go through the portal customer service instead of the airline or hotel.

Transfer Partners

Airlines and hotels that accept your flexible points. Each bank currency has specific partners that allow transfers.

Award Chart vs Dynamic Pricing

Some programs publish a chart that lists how many points you need. Others use dynamic pricing where points move with cash price and demand.

Sweet Spots

Redemptions that give you outsized value, like business class for fewer points than an economy cash fare.

Cents Per Point (CPP/CPM)

The value you get from a redemption, measured in cents per point.

Status, Perks & Extras

Elite Status

Loyalty tiers of airline or hotel programs with perks like upgrades, free breakfast, or bonus earnings.

Companion Pass

A perk that lets a chosen travel partner fly with you for little or no cost. Southwest offers a well known version. Delta also offers a Companion Certificate on select credit cards.

Free Night Certificate (FNC)

A free hotel night earned via cards or promotions. Conditions often apply.

Priority Pass (PP)

Access to a large network of airport lounges. Often included with premium credit cards.

Positioning Flight

A short flight that gets you to the city where your main award itinerary starts. Helpful when the best award space begins in another airport.

People & Strategy Terms

Player 1 & Player 2

Player 1 is usually the main household cardholder who tracks balances, bonuses, and redemptions. Player 2 is their partner who also opens cards and earns bonuses. Working together lets you double up on rewards and reach free trips faster.

HUCA (Hang Up, Call Again)

If you receive an unhelpful answer, end the call and try another agent. It often leads to better results.

Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV)

What works for one person may not work for another.

Manufactured Spending (MS)

Generating extra card charges to earn points without increasing real spend. Simple examples include paying group bills and getting reimbursed. Advanced methods carry more risk.

Credit Card Rules & Acronyms

(Chase) 5/24 Rule

Chase will usually deny you if you have opened five or more cards in the last 24 months.

(Amex) No Lifetime Language (NLL)

Some Amex offers do not include the “once in a lifetime” rule.

(Amex) Pop-Up Jail

Amex blocking you from a welcome bonus with an on-screen message.

UR, MR, TYP, C1

Flexible points families: UR for Chase Ultimate Rewards, MR for Amex Membership Rewards, TYP for Citi ThankYou Points, and C1 for Capital One Miles.

Airline Alliances

Groups of airlines that cooperate so you can redeem across member carriers.

Star Alliance (*A)

  • United Airlines
  • Lufthansa
  • ANA
  • Air Canada
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Turkish Airlines
  • Austrian
  • Swiss
  • SAS
  • EVA Air
  • Air New Zealand
  • TAP Air Portugal
  • Thai Airways
  • EgyptAir
  • Copa Airlines
  • Aegean
  • LOT Polish
  • Brussels Airlines
  • Asiana
  • Croatia Airlines
  • Ethiopian Airlines
  • Air India

Oneworld (OW)

  • American Airlines
  • British Airways
  • Qatar Airways
  • Iberia
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Qantas
  • Alaska Airlines
  • Finnair
  • Japan Airlines
  • Malaysia Airlines
  • Royal Air Maroc
  • Royal Jordanian
  • SriLankan Airlines

SkyTeam (ST)

  • Delta Air Lines
  • Air France
  • KLM
  • Korean Air
  • Aeroméxico
  • China Airlines
  • China Eastern
  • Garuda Indonesia
  • Kenya Airways
  • MEA
  • Saudia
  • TAROM
  • Vietnam Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic
  • XiamenAir
  • ITA Airways

Updated: 9/2025 Alliances and partnerships may change over time.