Points-and-miles glossary

Chase will decline new credit card applications if you've opened 5 or more credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months. Includes business cards from some issuers.

Business credit cards. From most major issuers (Chase, Amex, Citi, Cap One), business card applications don't appear on your personal credit report, so they don't count against 5/24 or other personal-card limits.

Amex's policy: you can only earn the welcome bonus on a given card 'once per lifetime' per the application terms. Different Amex cards have different lifetime rules.

A warning screen that appears during an Amex application stating you're not eligible for the welcome bonus on this card. Effectively a soft-decline of the bonus, not the card.

Converting an existing credit card to a different card in the same family (e.g., Amex Platinum → Amex Gold) instead of canceling and reapplying.

Same as downgrade, converting one card to another in the same family without applying for a new card. Chase calls this a 'product change.'

The cheapest published points price for a flight or hotel night. Award charts publish two tiers: saver (lower, capacity-controlled) and standard (higher, more available).

Award seats released at the cheapest published price. Typically 0-4 saver seats per flight, often released 11 months out and then closed within hours.

An overnight (or longer) layover on an award ticket, usually allowed once per direction on certain programs. Effectively two destinations on a single award.

An award ticket where the outbound destination and return origin (or outbound origin and return destination) are different cities.

A single award ticket that includes multiple long-haul segments across multiple continents. Available on a few programs (Star Alliance, oneworld).

An award flight on one airline booked using another airline's program. The booking carrier's chart applies; the operating carrier provides the flight.

When an award-search tool shows saver availability that actually doesn't exist when you try to book. Caused by stale cache, indirect partner integration delays, or already-booked seats.

Single-letter code (F, J, Z, etc.) indicating the type of fare on an airline ticket. Determines eligibility for upgrades, mileage earning, and refunds.

The algorithmic system airlines use to set fares and award availability. Dynamically prices both cash and award seats based on demand, time-to-departure, and competition.

Cancelling and re-booking an award ticket to capture a lower point price after the award chart drops or a partner-program transfer bonus appears.

The most-premium cabin available on long-haul international flights. Typically suite-style seating with sliding doors, separate beds, butler service, premium dining.

Premium cabin on long-haul international flights. Lie-flat seats with all-aisle access on most modern wide-bodies. Replaced First Class on most carriers.

Mid-tier cabin between economy and business on long-haul flights. Wider seats, more recline, separate cabin, but not lie-flat. Half the price of business in cash.

A business-class seat that fully reclines to a flat bed for sleeping. Standard on modern wide-bodies, becoming standard on long-range narrow-bodies (A321XLR).

Business-class seat configuration where every passenger can reach the aisle without climbing over another passenger.

The non-hardware elements of a flight experience: amenity kits, bedding, pajamas, meals, wine list, lounge experience, ground service.

The physical seat, suite, and cabin layout of a flight. Includes seat pitch, recline, all-aisle access, privacy door, screen size, storage.

American Express's flagship premium card. $695 annual fee, 80+ benefits, 5x on flights booked direct, 5x on prepaid hotels via Amex Travel.

The starter Chase Ultimate Rewards card. $95 annual fee, 5x on travel via Chase, 3x on dining, 2x on other travel.

The premium Chase Ultimate Rewards card. $550 annual fee, $300 travel credit, Priority Pass lounge, 3x on travel/dining.

American Express's transferable bank-points currency. Earned via Amex Gold, Platinum, Business Platinum, Green, and Business Gold cards.

Chase's transferable bank-points currency. Earned via Chase Sapphire (Preferred, Reserve), Ink (Business Cash, Preferred), and Freedom cards.

Citibank's transferable bank-points currency. Earned via Citi Premier, Strata Premier, Prestige (legacy), Custom Cash, and Rewards+.

Capital One's transferable bank-points currency. Earned via Venture, Venture X, Spark Miles.

Bilt Mastercard's transferable bank-points currency. Earned via rent payments and other spending. Transfers 1:1 to most major travel programs.

How long it takes for transferred bank points to land in an airline or hotel loyalty account.

Limited-time promotion where a bank-points program offers extra points when transferring to a specific airline or hotel partner. Typically 20-40%.

Welcome offer when you open a new credit card and meet a minimum spend requirement (typically $3-15k in 3-6 months).

The amount you need to spend on a new card to trigger the sign-up bonus. Typically $3,000-15,000 within 3-6 months of opening.

Periodic sales where a loyalty program lets you buy points directly at a discount. Typically 50-100% bonus on top of base purchase rate.

Buying gift cards or money-order equivalents with a credit card to artificially hit minimum spend requirements without natural spending. Generally discouraged in mainstream points-and-miles.

Four-digit code that classifies what type of merchant a transaction is with. Card-bonus categories depend on the MCC, not the merchant name.

Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors benefit: book 5 award nights and the cheapest night is free. Effectively a 20% discount on long-stay redemptions.

IHG One Rewards benefit: book 4 award nights with the IHG Premier card and the cheapest night is free. Effectively a 25% discount.

A dollar credit on specific purchases that resets each card-membership year. Examples: Amex Platinum $200 airline credit, Amex Gold $120 dining credit.

A phone or chat service available on premium credit cards (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Visa Infinite) that handles bookings, recommendations, and problem-solving.

Cash surcharges added to award flights, technically classified as fuel surcharges but really airline revenue. Can run $500-1000+ each way on premium cabins.

American Express's flagship airport lounge network. 20+ locations globally. Free access for Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders.

Third-party lounge network with 1,300+ airport lounges globally. Free membership comes with Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum (limited), Cap One Venture X.

United Airlines's premium lounge network for international business-class passengers. Locations at EWR, ORD, IAH, IAD, SFO, LAX.

Higher tiers of airline or hotel loyalty programs earned through annual spending or stays. Provides perks like upgrades, lounge access, bonus miles, and waived fees.

When one loyalty program grants you equivalent status based on your status with a competing program. Often time-limited and requires a 'challenge' (spend or stays) to keep.

Status credits earned through flights, separate from frequent-flyer miles (which are for redemptions). Determine annual elite-status qualification.

Most airline and hotel programs expire points after 18-24 months of inactivity. A single qualifying transaction (purchase, transfer, redemption) extends the clock.

Annual airline ratings published by SkyTrax. Categories: World's Best Airline, World's Best First Class, World's Best Business Class, World's Best Cabin Staff.

The cash value you get for each point spent on a redemption, expressed in cents. Example: 30,000 points for a $600 hotel night = 2¢/pt CPP.

Some programs (Iberia, Avianca, World of Hyatt) charge fewer points for awards on dates outside peak travel demand.

A published table of how many points an airline charges for various routes and cabins. Originally fixed (legacy programs); now mostly replaced with dynamic or region-based charts.

Same as CPP, the cents-per-point value you realize on a specific redemption.