Credit card points, mistake fares, and one very specific Tuesday strategy that nobody talks about. This is the full breakdown.
Last month, I flew business class from Los Angeles to Bali. Lie-flat seats. Champagne on demand. A meal that was actually edible. Total cost? $340 in taxes and fees. Zero dollars for the actual ticket. Here’s exactly how I did it — and how you can too.
Step 1: The Credit Card Game (No, Really)
I know what you’re thinking: “Credit card points are a scam.” Wrong. They’re only a scam if you’re bad at math. Here’s the deal: I opened two travel credit cards last year — the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the American Express Gold. Both had sign-up bonuses: 60,000 points (Chase) and 75,000 points (Amex) after spending a certain amount in the first three months.
I didn’t go on a shopping spree. I just put my normal expenses on these cards: groceries, gas, Netflix, therapy. Within three months, I had 135,000 points without spending a single extra dollar. That’s roughly $1,700 in travel value. The annual fees? $95 (Chase) and $250 (Amex). Do the math. It’s not even close.
Step 2: Transfer Points Like a Pro
Here’s where most people mess up: they use credit card points to book flights directly through the card’s travel portal. Don’t. Just don’t. The value is terrible — usually 1 cent per point. Instead, transfer your points to airline partners.
I transferred 80,000 Chase points to Singapore Airlines. Why Singapore? Because they have one of the best business class products in the world, and they fly to Bali via Singapore. The LAX to Bali route would normally cost $4,500 in business class. With points? 80,000 points + $340 in taxes. That’s a value of 5.5 cents per point. See the difference?
Step 3: The Tuesday Trick
Here’s the thing nobody tells you: airlines release award seats (seats you can book with points) on a rolling schedule. Most people just check random dates and give up when nothing’s available. Don’t be most people.
Set up alerts on ExpertFlyer or AwardHacker for your route. Check availability every Tuesday morning at 8 AM PST. Why Tuesday? That’s when airlines typically release new award inventory. I checked for three weeks straight before I found the perfect date: mid-April, shoulder season in Bali, perfect weather, and wide-open business class availability.
Step 4: Be Flexible (This Is Non-Negotiable)
If you have to fly on a specific date, this won’t work. If you can be flexible — even by a week or two — you’ll find amazing deals. I was originally planning to go in June, but award availability was terrible. I shifted to April and boom: business class for 80,000 points. June would have cost 120,000 points for economy. Flexibility is everything.
The Breakdown
- Chase Sapphire Preferred sign-up bonus: 60,000 points
- American Express Gold sign-up bonus: 75,000 points
- Normal spending bonuses: 15,000 points
- Total points earned: 150,000 points
- LAX to Bali business class: 80,000 points + $340 in taxes
- Points remaining: 70,000 (enough for another trip)
Total out-of-pocket cost: $340 + $345 in annual fees = $685. Retail value of the flight: $4,500. Savings: $3,815. And I still have 70,000 points left.
What to Avoid
Don’t fall for: “cash + points” options (usually terrible value), booking through third-party sites like Expedia (you lose flexibility), or waiting until the last minute (award seats disappear fast). And for the love of all things holy, don’t carry a balance on your credit cards. If you can’t pay it off in full every month, this strategy is not for you.
Is It Worth It?
A month ago, I was lying in a fully flat bed at 35,000 feet, drinking champagne, watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean. I had legroom. I had a real meal. I slept for six hours. When I landed in Bali, I wasn’t exhausted — I was ready to explore.
For $340. Yeah, it’s worth it.
This isn’t a hack. It’s not a secret. It’s just information that the airlines and credit card companies don’t advertise because they’d rather you pay full price. Don’t. Learn the system, play the game, and fly like you’re rich — even if you’re not.
See you in business class.