How do credit card miles work?

Credit card miles are a type of reward you can earn by making purchases with a travel credit card. How you redeem those miles depends on the card.

What you’ll learn:

• A travel rewards cardholder typically earns miles by making purchases with their card. 

• Credit cards that offer miles as rewards include general travel rewards cards and cards offered in partnership with businesses like airlines and hotels.

• Rewards redemption options vary by card. But they can include things like covering travel-related purchases or redeeming rewards for a check, statement credit or gift card. 

• Some card issuers offer bonuses for opening a travel card and spending a set amount with the card in a specific period of time.

Credit card miles are a form of rewards currency that’s earned through purchases made with travel rewards cards. These miles can often be redeemed for travel expenses like flights, hotels and car rentals. But the specific way to earn and redeem miles depends on the particular credit card and the credit card issuer.

There are two types of travel credit cards that typically offer miles as rewards.

• Co-branded travel credit cards: Some credit card issuers partner with an airline or hotel to offer a co-branded credit card. The airline miles you earn with a co-branded airline credit card could be transferred to the frequent-flyer account of that particular airline or group of airlines. They can generally be redeemed for airfare or other perks. 

• General travel rewards credit cards: Some credit card issuers offer travel rewards credit cards that aren’t tied to a specific airline or hotel. The miles you earn from purchases with these cards can generally be used more flexibly. For example, you can use Capital One miles to cover things like flights and other travel expenses. And if you aren’t planning a trip, you have lots of other options to redeem your miles.

Think of miles and points as different currencies of credit card rewards programs. You typically earn miles with co-branded airline credit cards. You typically earn points with co-branded hotel credit cards. And depending on the card issuer, a general travel rewards credit card could earn you points or miles. Capital One travel rewards come in the form of miles.

Here are two common ways to earn credit card mileage with a Capital One travel rewards credit card.

• Earning an early-spend bonus: An early-spend bonus might also be called a sign-up bonus or welcome bonus. Some credit cards offer these bonuses to new cardholders who spend a certain amount on the card within a set time frame. With the Capital One Venture card, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles if you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months of the account opening.¹ 

• Making purchases with the card: With Capital One, you earn miles by using a travel rewards card. Depending on the card, different types of purchases may have different reward rates. For example, the Venture card offers unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase and 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Ways to earn miles can vary by credit card issuer. So can ways to redeem them. 

Co-branded airline credit card miles might be redeemed through the specific airline’s frequent flyer program. General travel credit cards, like those offered by Capital One, typically offer rewards that can be redeemed more flexibly.

Here are some ways Capital One cardholders can redeem travel credit card miles. 

• Travel purchases: Use miles to cover all or part of a travel-related purchase. That generally includes purchases from airlines, hotels, rail lines, car rental agencies, limousine services, bus lines, cruise lines, taxis, travel agents and timeshares.

• Capital One Travel: Use your miles to book hotels, vacation rentals, rental cars and flights through Capital One Travel. 

• Miles transfers: Capital One partners with more than 15 airline and hotel loyalty programs. You do need to have an account with the program before you’re able to move your rewards. 

• Cash: Turn your miles into cash in the form of a check or statement credit, which can reduce how much you owe on your next statement. 

• Gift cards: Redeem miles for gift cards from retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores and much more. 

• Capital One Entertainment: Use your miles, your card or a combination of the two to buy concert tickets and other unforgettable experiences on Capital One Entertainment. 

• Amazon®: Pay for Amazon purchases with your miles by linking your eligible Capital One rewards card to your Amazon account.² 

• PayPal®: Link your Capital One rewards card to your PayPal account. You can use your miles for purchases anywhere that accepts PayPal, including sites like Target, Apple and the Home Depot.³

Here are some commonly asked questions about how credit card miles work.

You can earn credit card miles with airline credit cards or general travel credit cards. The amount of miles you earn per purchase and how you’re able to redeem them varies by credit card. 

Capital One offers travel rewards credit cards with exclusive benefits and elevated rewards that can help make your travel experience more enjoyable. View important rates and disclosures.  

• Explore travel rewards cards with unlimited miles you can actually use. 

• Earn a one-time 75,000-mile bonus and receive an additional 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary, with the Venture X card.

• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day, and earn a one-time 75,000-mile bonus with the Venture card. 

• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day, with no annual fee with the VentureOne card.