Traditionally, you could possibly solely redeem Capital One miles at a fixed value. However in 2018, Capital One added switch companions as a further redemption choice for a few of its playing cards. Capital One has since added new switch companions at principally a 1:1 switch ratio.
Capital One presently has greater than 15 airline and lodge switch companions. On this information, we’ll focus on methods to earn Capital One miles after which stroll by means of every Capital One switch companion so you’ll be able to resolve which of them to be taught extra about.
Find out how to earn Capital One miles
Some, however not all, Capital One credit cards earn Capital One miles. Here is a listing of some presently obtainable client cards that earn transferable Capital One miles:
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 10 miles per greenback on accommodations and rental vehicles booked by means of Capital One Journey, 5 miles per greenback on flights booked by means of Capital One Travel and a couple of miles per greenback on different purchases. Plus, you’ll be able to earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening; $395 annual charge (see rates and fees).
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 5 miles per greenback on accommodations and rental vehicles booked by means of Capital One Journey and a couple of miles per greenback on different purchases. Plus, you’ll be able to earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening; $95 annual charge (see rates and fees).
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Earn 5 miles per greenback on accommodations and rental vehicles booked by means of Capital One Journey and 1.25 miles per greenback on different purchases. Plus, you’ll be able to earn 20,000 bonus miles when you spend $500 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening; $0 annual charge (see rates and fees).
In the event you’re on the lookout for a enterprise card, listed here are some choices that earn Capital One miles:
- Capital One Venture X Business: Earn 10 miles per greenback on accommodations and rental vehicles booked by means of Capital One Journey, 5 miles per greenback on flights booked by means of Capital One Journey and a couple of miles per greenback on different purchases. Plus, you’ll be able to earn 150,000 bonus miles if you spend $30,000 within the first three months; $395 annual charge (see rates and fees).
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Earn 5 miles per greenback on accommodations and rental vehicles booked by means of Capital One Journey and a couple of miles per greenback on different purchases. Plus, you’ll be able to earn a one-time bonus of fifty,000 miles when you spend $4,500 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening; $0 introductory annual charge for the primary 12 months, then $95 after (see rates and fees).
- Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business: Earn 1.5 miles per greenback on purchases. Plus, you’ll be able to earn a one-time bonus of fifty,000 miles when you spend $4,500 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening; $0 annual charge.
The knowledge for the Capital One Spark Miles Choose has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
You may want at the least one of many above playing cards to earn Capital One miles. However, after you have a card that earns Capital One miles, you’ll be able to convert cash back from your other Capital One cards into miles. So, it is perhaps price pairing one of many above playing cards with a few of our favourite Capital One cash-back playing cards, such because the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, for those who’re trying to enhance your stash of Capital One miles.
Associated: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture Rewards: Which $95 card should you get?
Each day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Capital One switch companions overview
As talked about above, Capital One has greater than 15 switch companions. Here is every of the Capital One switch companions and the ratio at which you’ll be able to switch Capital One miles to every companion:
- Aeromexico Rewards: 1:1 switch ratio
- Air Canada Aeroplan: 1:1 switch ratio
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue: 1:1 switch ratio
- Accor Dwell Limitless: 2:1 switch ratio
- Avianca LifeMiles: 1:1 switch ratio
- British Airways Govt Membership: 1:1 switch ratio
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: 1:1 switch ratio
- Alternative Privileges (solely U.S.-based accounts): 1:1 switch ratio
- Emirates Skywards: 1:1 switch ratio
- Etihad Airways Visitor: 1:1 switch ratio
- EVA Airways Infinity MileageLands: 4:3 switch ratio
- Finnair Plus: 1:1 switch ratio
- Qantas Frequent Flyer: 1:1 switch ratio
- Singapore Airways KrisFlyer: 1:1 switch ratio
- TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go: 1:1 switch ratio
- Turkish Airways Miles&Smiles: 1:1 switch ratio
- Virgin Crimson: 1:1 switch ratio
- Wyndham Rewards: 1:1 switch ratio
Not all of those transfers will happen instantly. So, take a look at our information to Capital One transfer times to see how lengthy transfers to every companion often take.
Associated: Tips and tricks to get maximum value from your Capital One miles
Greatest Capital One switch companions
TPG’s valuations peg the worth of Capital One miles at 1.85 cents every. However the worth you may get out of your Capital One miles is determined by the way you redeem them. So, that will help you get a excessive worth out of your miles, we’ll focus on among the finest Capital One switch companions on this part.
Air Canada Aeroplan
The Air Canada Aeroplan loyalty program noticed significant changes in 2020. Now, the Aeroplan award chart lists award ranges for Air Canada flights however has mounted charges for many companion awards.
Aeroplan doesn’t pass on carrier-imposed surcharges, which means you need to use this system to guide Star Alliance award tickets with comparatively low taxes and charges. And based mostly on the Aeroplan stopover policy, you’ll be able to guide a stopover on a one-way award for simply 5,000 factors. However you may must pay a companion reserving charge of 39 Canadian {dollars} (about $29) per ticket for awards with partner-operated segments.
Aeroplan’s companion award chart can present wonderful worth on short-haul awards to Canada and worldwide premium-cabin awards. For instance, partner-operated flights of lower than 500 miles inside North America value 6,000 factors every manner in economic system.
And, if you’ll find award house, most transcontinental business-class flights operated by United Airways are 25,000 factors every manner.
When touring from the continental U.S. to Europe on considered one of Air Canada’s companions (excluding Emirates, for which award costs observe the Aeroplan award chart for Emirates and Flydubai flights), you may sometimes pay 35,000 or 40,000 factors for economic system, 60,000 or 70,000 factors for enterprise and 90,000 or 100,000 factors for first-class. It’s because most transatlantic flights from the U.S. fall into the under-4,000-miles distance band or the 4,001-to-6,000-miles distance band.
Associated: The best ways to maximize Air Canada’s Aeroplan program
Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca LifeMiles is understood for providing low-cost redemption charges on Star Alliance companion flights and never passing on fuel surcharges on companion awards.
LifeMiles raised award costs to Asia in late 2022, however there are nonetheless many issues to like about this system. For instance, you’ll be able to redeem 87,000 LifeMiles for Lufthansa first class between Chicago and Frankfurt with $26.70 in taxes and charges.
Because of a beneficiant pricing construction for mixed-cabin awards, you may be capable to drop that worth even additional. In the event you’re flying in long-haul first-class and connecting to a different vacation spot, it is nearly assured that your connection shall be in a decrease class of service. Avianca refunds you the distinction, which means including a connection could make your flight cheaper. For instance, this is an award with the identical flight from Chicago to Frankfurt in Lufthansa first-class and a brief economic system flight that will value you 83,820 LifeMiles plus $39.61.
Avianca LifeMiles can also be great for domestic travel on United. Most economic system awards throughout the U.S. value 13,500 LifeMiles or much less every manner plus taxes and charges, however you’ll be able to guide loads of short-haul United routes for as few as 6,500 LifeMiles every manner in economic system.
Associated: Using LifeMiles to book Aeromexico business-class award tickets
British Airways Govt Membership
There are numerous the reason why you must care about British Airways Avios. For instance, even after the current British Airways devaluation, you’ll be able to nonetheless get important worth if you guide short-haul American Airways and Alaska Airways award flights by means of British Airways.
There are additionally some ways to maximize the British Airways distance-based award chart. For instance, you’ll be able to guide off-peak business-class flights from select U.S. cities to Madrid for 34,000 Avios plus about $131 in taxes and charges one-way.
You can even transfer British Airways Avios to Qatar Airways Privilege Membership, Iberia Plus, Vueling Membership and Aer Lingus AerClub, most of which have candy spots you’ll be able to get pleasure from.
Associated: Which airlines can I book with Avios?
Turkish Airways Miles&Smiles
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles has lots to like about it. This system nonetheless makes use of award charts and gives an elusive however interesting candy spot: United-operated flights to Hawaii for just 7,500 miles one-way in economy.
Fuel surcharges might be problematic if you wish to fly choose Star Alliance carriers. However you will not be charged gasoline surcharges on United-operated flights, and gasoline surcharges are considerably cheap on Turkish-operated flights. You may generally get good worth when redeeming for Turkish-operated promotional award flights.
Associated: Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles sweet spots you can use to maximize your transferable rewards
Virgin Crimson
Virgin Crimson is the loyalty program for the Virgin household of manufacturers. Amongst different issues, you need to use Virgin factors to guide flights by means of the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club program and cruises with Virgin Voyages.
It is attainable to unlock unbelievable worth with Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership. For instance, you’ll be able to fly from the U.S. West Coast to Japan in All Nippon Airways business class for 45,000 factors one-way (plus taxes and charges), though you may must name to guide. And you may nonetheless get strong worth on some Delta Air Lines-operated awards with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, corresponding to this flight from Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia:
Associated: How to upgrade your next Virgin Atlantic flight with Virgin points
Mid-tier Capital One switch companions
A number of of Capital One’s switch companions fall into what we’ll name the mid-tier group. These applications can supply strong worth in the suitable context, however it’s under no circumstances a assure. Run the numbers on your bookings earlier than transferring Capital One miles to those applications.
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France, KLM, Transavia, Aircalin, Kenya Airways and TAROM, makes use of dynamic award pricing. This dynamic pricing makes it tough to debate particular award pricing as costs fluctuate drastically.
Nonetheless, there are a number of Flying Blue sweet spots. For instance, Flying Blue can be a good way to book Virgin Atlantic award tickets. And it is comparatively simple to use Flying Blue to fly from the U.S. to Europe in economic system for 20,000 miles one-way or much less.
Flying Blue additionally affords month-to-month Promo Rewards that allow you to guide choose award flights at a reduction.
Associated: Flying Blue stopovers: Extend your trip and book an additional flight at no extra cost
Accor Dwell Limitless
Lodge chain Accor makes use of a fixed-value redemption scheme in its Accor Live Limitless program. So, transferring miles from Capital One will at all times symbolize a strong — although under no circumstances aspirational — worth. Accor Dwell Limitless permits you to redeem 2,000 factors for 40 euros (about $44) off of a keep.
Given the two:1 switch ratio, you’d must switch 4,000 Capital One miles to get $44 off your keep. In the meantime, you could possibly get $40 from the identical 4,000 Capital One miles for those who redeemed your miles for current journey purchases utilizing Capital One’s fixed-rate redemption option. Whereas it is solely a $4 distinction, you may get a barely higher worth by transferring your miles to Accor if you wish to keep at an Accor property.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
As a result of Cathay Pacific Asia Miles makes use of distance-based award charts, this program might be costly if you wish to fly Cathay Pacific to or from the U.S. Nonetheless, though the Asia Miles changes in late 2023 brought about many premium-cabin award charges to extend for Cathay Pacific flights, economic system charges dropped in some circumstances. For instance, now you can fly one-way in economic system from Los Angeles to Hong Kong for 27,000 Asia Miles plus 1,177 Hong Kong {dollars} (about $150) in taxes and charges.
Booking British Airways flights with Asia Miles could allow you to pay decrease carrier-imposed surcharges. The Asia Miles program will also be helpful if you wish to check out Cathay Pacific first class, as Asia Miles generally has entry to extra Cathay Pacific award house than companion applications. Nonetheless, Cathay Pacific first-class award house between the U.S. and Hong Kong is extraordinarily tough to seek out proper now.
Emirates Skywards
Emirates Skywards might be helpful if you wish to guide one of many service’s premium cabins. The award charges aren’t low-cost, particularly after a number of devaluations. However Emirates Skywards is one of the best ways to book Emirates first class.
Emirates Skywards additionally companions with a number of different airways, which means you can even redeem Emirates miles for flights on choose companion airways.
Singapore Airways KrisFlyer
A number of devaluations have marred Singapore KrisFlyer over the previous couple of years. In 2022, this system increased award prices by more than 10% (together with awards on KrisFlyer partners).
However, if you wish to guide Singapore Suites or first-class, Singapore KrisFlyer is this system you may wish to use.
You might also typically discover good worth if you redeem KrisFlyer miles for Singapore Airlines’ Spontaneous Escapes.
Associated: You can convert Singapore KrisFlyer miles to Marriott points — but should you?
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Qantas Frequent Flyer makes use of distance-based charts, which means long-haul flights from the U.S. to Australia are often prohibitively costly. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to journey from the East Coast to Europe for about 20,300 factors. One instance is a nonstop American Airways flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) for beneath 21,000 factors.
Wyndham Rewards
TPG’s valuations solely peg Wyndham Rewards factors at 1.1 cents every. But it surely’s definitely attainable to get extra worth when redeeming Wyndham factors. For instance, you’ll be able to redeem Wyndham points for home rentals at a flat 15,000 factors per bed room per night time.
Utilizing the three-tier Wyndham Rewards award chart for costly nights can even supply excessive worth. One instance is the BeHome by LuxUrban, a Travelodge by Wyndham on Eighth Avenue in New York Metropolis, the place you’ll be able to guide numerous room varieties for 15,000 factors per night time.
In the event you had paid money for the above night time, the speed would have been $324.80 per night time, together with taxes and charges. So, you’d get a redemption fee of two.16 cents per level for those who booked an award keep on this night time.
Associated: The best Wyndham hotels in the world
Capital One switch companions to keep away from
Between costly award charts, dangerous switch ratios, hidden charges and applications which might be tough to navigate, you may seemingly wish to keep away from among the Capital One switch companions. Nonetheless, simply because we do not often suggest transferring Capital One miles to those applications does not imply they have no redeeming qualities.
Aeromexico Rewards
Aeromexico Rewards makes use of dynamic pricing for many award flights, and the charges are sometimes excessive. For instance, this one-way award flight from Mexico Metropolis to Atlanta carries an enormous 2,285 Mexican pesos (about $135) in taxes and charges.
Nonetheless, this system does have at the least one vivid spot: an around-the-world award ticket that permits you to cease in as much as 15 locations. You need to name to guide, however the ticket prices 224,000 factors in economic system class and 352,000 in enterprise class.
Alternative Privileges
There’s numerous worth to be discovered within the Choice Privileges program. For instance, you’ll be able to guide nights for 8,000 factors in Tokyo.
However, since TPG’s valuations peg the worth of Alternative factors at 0.6 cents per level, transferring Capital One miles to Alternative Privileges often will not make sense. As a substitute, think about buying Choice points throughout a sale or signing up for a Choice Privileges credit card if you wish to earn Choice points.
Associated: Redeem Choice points for a Maldives resort, half-board hotels, suites and more
Etihad Visitor
Regardless of not being a member of any main alliances, Etihad Guest has many partners, together with American Airways and Air Canada.
Nonetheless, Etihad Guest removed its ample sweet spots in March 2023 when it launched a brand new standardized award chart. Sadly, Etihad and companion airline redemptions now typically require many extra miles than the quantity listed on the brand new award chart. So far, a note for the award chart states, “The miles displayed are indicative values.” As such, though you should still wish to worth out award flights by means of Etihad Visitor, you seemingly will not like what you see sufficient to switch Capital One miles to Etihad Visitor.
Associated: Complete guide to Etihad Guest, now with simplified award charts and limited sweet spots
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
Capital One already companions with two of the most effective Star Alliance applications for reserving awards — Avianca LifeMiles and Air Canada Aeroplan — so there’s hardly ever a purpose to trouble with EVA. EVA’s award chart is often dearer, and this system is usually tough to navigate.
Finnair Plus
Finnair’s award rates are often purpose sufficient to keep away from this system. For instance, one-way Finnair-operated awards between Europe and Asia, North America, Doha or Dubai value 45,000 factors in economic system, 65,000 factors in premium economic system and 95,000 factors in enterprise class. However you’ll be able to generally get good worth if you use Finnair points to upgrade your flight.
Finnair will change Plus factors with Avios as its loyalty forex March 9. Finnair Plus points will convert to Avios at a 3:2 ratio, however award charges will even be recalculated with the identical 3:2 ratio. As such, this system’s worth seemingly will not change considerably.
Associated: The best websites for searching Oneworld award availability
TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
TAP Miles&Go has award charts. For instance, this is the chart for one-way TAP-operated awards from North America in economic system:
However in observe, you may see different (typically increased) charges if you do an award search. For instance, this is the bottom fare for a one-way economic system award flight from New York to Lisbon on a randomly chosen date:
Throughout sales, you can even sometimes purchase TAP miles for beneath 1 cent per mile. So, even if you wish to guide an award flight utilizing TAP miles, transferring Capital One miles seemingly will not be your only option for incomes TAP miles.
Associated: TAP Air Portugal launches new credit card for US travelers
Backside line
Some wonderful Capital One switch companions can nearly single-handedly carry the worth of Capital One miles.
Nonetheless, not each switch companion will present outsize worth, so keep in mind to match the money worth of your ticket or lodge keep earlier than transferring Capital One miles. Typically, shopping for a paid ticket (or keep) after which redeeming Capital One miles at a fixed value to cowl your current journey buy will yield extra worth.