Using Points and Miles for Unforgettable Experiences

Since 1995, the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party has become the must-attend event for Hollywood’s elite, with an after-party that can only be matched by Vanity Fair’s. Previous guests have included stars like Halle Berry, Kevin Costner, Lady Gaga, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and, naturally, Sir Elton John himself. If you’re not among Hollywood’s elite, it may seem impossible to attend such an illustrious event—but it’s more attainable than you think. Dressed to the nines on March 10, 2024, I found myself walking the red carpet behind Heidi Klum, dining with Donatella Versace, enjoying a surprise performance of “Are You Ready for Love,” and dancing the night away with musician Orville Peck (and several Oscar winners). I wasn’t nominated for an award (though I wished I were!); I was just an AAdvantage® Mastercard cardholder who took advantage of the chance to celebrate like a star—literally—during and after the Oscars, thanks to an American Airlines mileage donation.

Indeed, Elton John’s Oscars celebration is one of over 30 exclusive events available to AAdvantage® Mastercard holders, made possible through the partnership between Mastercard Priceless experiences and American Airlines. By creating experiences that money can’t buy, American Airlines is establishing AAdvantage miles as the premier currency for extraordinary adventures.

But American Airlines isn’t the only one making these moves; loyalty programs from other airlines, hotels, and credit cards are following suit. Earlier this year, for instance, Marriott Bonvoy members could exchange 500,000 points for a trendy weekend package centered around Taylor Swift in Miami, which included two top-tier tickets to the Eras Tour in October 2024, a two-night stay at W Miami South Beach, a 90-minute massage for two, and more. Likewise, Hilton Honors members had the opportunity to bid their points for a chance to play football with superstar Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and Swift’s partner.

Discover how to explore the extraordinary opportunities available through leading loyalty programs and learn how to redeem your points and miles for these unique experiences.

Exploring Unique Experiences

Today, nearly every major event, festival, sports team, and stadium is supported by a significant airline, hotel, or credit card company. Through these sponsorships or partnerships, brands create special opportunities to enhance customer loyalty, showcase the value of their loyalty programs, and outshine their competitors. This often translates into exclusive access to VIP events and presales with credit card companies, while airlines and hotels highlight their loyalty offerings with experiences that can’t be bought—but can be obtained with points and miles.

The simplest way to find these experiences is by visiting the landing pages of select loyalty programs that showcase how to live your best life using points and miles:

• American Airlines AAdvantage Priceless Platform
• Delta SkyMiles Experiences
• Hilton Honors Experiences
• Marriott Bonvoy Moments
• United MileagePlus Exclusives

These platforms highlight past, current, and future opportunities for using miles in ways you may never have dreamed of, both grand and modest. (For instance, while the Oscars party costs a staggering 500,000 AAdvantage miles for two tickets, there are also options like United MileagePlus Exclusives’ one-day flight attendant training, available for just 20,000 United miles per person.) In most instances, availability is very limited, so it's wise to keep track of when these experiences will open for booking to secure your tickets as soon as possible.

Redeeming Your Points

Most loyalty programs offer two methods for redeeming your points and miles: fixed-price options or auction-style bidding. Holders of the American Airlines AAdvantage® Mastercard can look forward to fixed pricing for all experiences. In contrast, Delta employs online auctions for all their redemptions, while Hilton Experiences, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, and United MileagePlus Exclusives provide both options depending on the experience.

Fixed-price redemptions are simple and hassle-free. Just add the experience you want to your cart and proceed to checkout. Once you complete the transaction, the experience is yours to enjoy!

Auction-style bidding demands close attention to secure a win. It's a personal decision on how many points or miles you’re willing to spend. In May 2024, the bidding for the Ultimate Kelce Jam Experience with Travis Kelce—which included joining the NFL star at his annual music festival, throwing a football with him, and receiving plenty of signed merchandise—started and concluded at 200,000 Hilton Honors Points via Hilton Honors Experiences. Conversely, the auction from Marriott Bonvoy Moments to meet Lewis Hamilton and attend the Dutch Grand Prix (which included a five-night stay at W Amsterdam) began at 2,500 Bonvoy Points on June 26, 2024, and wrapped up at 1.25 million points on July 10, 2024.

Important Rules to Remember

Every loyalty program has its own guidelines regarding redeeming points and miles for experiences, so it’s crucial to understand them if you aim to secure several of these unique opportunities. For instance, certain United MileagePlus Exclusives are exclusive to members with United elite status, others are reserved for those with United cobranded cards, and some are available to all MileagePlus members, while American Airlines’ experiences are strictly for AAdvantage® Mastercard holders—being an AAdvantage member alone is insufficient. Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy members can only redeem for a maximum of five experiences per calendar year through the Marriott Bonvoy Moments program (including up to two packages per event).

VIP Access via Credit Card Companies

Keep in mind that while airline and hotel experience platforms provide access to extraordinary opportunities using points and miles, premium cards from Capital One, American Express, and Chase can also grant entry to many VIP events throughout the year—often requiring cash, but sometimes redeemable with points. The Platinum Card® from American Express features a Premium Events Collection for its cardholders, offering VIP experiences in entertainment, sports, dining, arts, and culture, which change from year to year. Currently, this includes exclusive access to the 2025 BNP Paribas Open, prime sideline seats at Wimbledon 2025, and a September 2024 AmEx-exclusive private tour of the Armory Show in New York, away from the public. Payment for the Premium Events Collection must be made with your AmEx card.

Conversely, Chase and Capital One may allow their cardholders to purchase exclusive experiences using either cash or points. For the iHeartRadio Music Festival, sponsored by Capital One in September 2024, Capital One cardholders can access packages that feature a preconcert Soundcheck Party with New Kids on the Block, including light snacks and drinks. These packages, along with all other Capital One cardholder exclusives, can be purchased using either cash or points on the Capital One Entertainment platform. Meanwhile, Chase cardholders have the option to use points for certain Chase exclusives via the Ultimate Rewards platform.