Frequently asked questions
Common questions about points, miles, credit cards, and how we work — answered in plain English.
The questions we get asked most often, answered. If your question isn’t here, contact us — we read every message.
I’m completely new to points and miles. Where should I start?
Start with our Beginner’s Guide to Points and Miles. It covers everything from how rewards programs work to how to choose your first card. After that, our first card guide walks you through the actual application decision.
What’s the single best card for a beginner?
For most beginners, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the strongest starting point. It earns into Chase Ultimate Rewards (one of the most valuable transferable points currencies), has a reasonable $95 annual fee, and a strong welcome bonus. Our full Sapphire Preferred review covers the details.
Will applying for a credit card hurt my credit score?
Every application generates a hard inquiry that drops your score by a few points temporarily. The impact usually disappears within a few months, and the increased credit limit from a new card typically improves your score over the medium term as long as you pay balances in full. We’re not credit counselors though — if your credit is fragile or you carry balances, talk to a financial advisor before applying.
Should I get the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Sapphire Reserve?
The Preferred ($95 fee) is the right choice for most people. The Reserve ($795 fee) is only worth it if you’ll use the lounge access, the $300 travel credit, and the higher earning rates on travel and dining enough to offset the much higher fee. We compare them in detail in our Sapphire Preferred review and Sapphire Reserve review.
What is the Chase 5/24 rule?
Chase will typically not approve you for most of their cards if you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards (from any issuer) in the past 24 months. This is a soft rule that’s enforced consistently — there’s no easy workaround. We cover the full implications in our 5/24 guide.
Should I cancel a card before the annual fee posts?
It depends. Sometimes the issuer will offer a retention bonus or fee waiver if you call to cancel. Sometimes a product change to a no-fee version of the card preserves your credit history while eliminating the fee. Sometimes cancellation is the right move. Our cancel-vs-product-change guide walks through the decision.
What’s the difference between transferable points and airline miles?
Transferable points (Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Points, Bilt) can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel partners — giving you flexibility. Airline miles and hotel points are tied to one specific program. Transferable points are almost always more valuable because of that optionality.
How much is a point actually worth?
It varies wildly by program and how you redeem. Chase UR points are typically worth 1.5–2.0 cents when redeemed through transfer partners. Amex MR is similar. Airline miles can be worth 1–6 cents depending on the route and class of service. Our points valuation tool publishes current values for every major program.
Do points expire?
Most transferable points programs (Chase UR, Amex MR, Capital One, Citi TY) don’t expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. Airline miles often expire after 18–24 months of inactivity, though even minor activity (a purchase through a shopping portal, for example) usually resets the clock. Hotel points typically expire after 24 months of inactivity.
How do I find award flight availability?
Searching directly on each airline’s website is slow. We recommend tools like Seats.aero, Point.me, or AwardHacker to search across multiple programs at once. Our award availability guide covers the strategy.
When should I transfer points to an airline?
Only when you have a specific booking lined up. Transfers are one-way — once you move points from Chase UR to United, you can’t move them back. Confirm availability and have your booking ready before transferring.
What’s a “sweet spot” redemption?
A redemption that gives you outsized value relative to the cash price — typically because of how a specific airline or hotel program prices its awards. Examples: 60,000 American AAdvantage miles for Qatar Airways business class to Doha (cash price often $5,000+), or 5,000 Hyatt points for a Category 1 property (cash price often $200+). We track these in our sweet spot redemptions guide.
How do you make money?
We earn affiliate commissions when readers apply for credit cards through our links. Full details are on our advertiser disclosure page. Our recommendations are not influenced by commission rates — see our editorial policy for the safeguards in place.
How often do you update your reviews?
Card reviews are reviewed at least quarterly, and updated immediately when an issuer makes a material change to a card’s terms, bonus, or benefits. Every review page shows its last-updated date at the top.
Can I republish or quote your content?
Brief excerpts (under 100 words) with attribution and a link to the source are fine. For anything beyond that — including republishing full articles, using our methodology, or commercial use — please contact us for permission. See our terms of service for details.
I found an error in one of your articles. What should I do?
Email editors@wedopoints.com or use our contact form and select “Correction or error report.” We typically fix material errors within 24 hours and add a correction note to the affected page.