How I Booked a $1,200 Flight for Just $5.60 Using Credit Card Points

A few years ago, I thought travel hacking was just a gimmick.

Now? I book international flights for less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee.

Here’s how I recently flew from Los Angeles to Barcelona (round-trip) for only $5.60 out of pocket — and how you can do the same.

Step 1: I signed up for the right travel credit card.

I picked a card with a strong welcome bonus (70,000+ points), no annual fee for the first year, and the ability to transfer points to airline partners.

If you’re just starting, I recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Step 2: I hit the bonus without going into debt.

Most cards require $3K–$4K in spending within 3 months to unlock the bonus.

I didn’t go on a shopping spree — I just put regular expenses on the card:

Rent (via a 3rd party app)
Groceries
Gas
Group dinners (friends paid me back on Venmo)

Step 3: I transferred my points to a partner airline.

Instead of using the credit card portal (which usually gives lower value), I transferred my points to United Airlines. This gave me access to “Saver Award” flights — flights that cost fewer points if you book smart.

Step 4: I booked my flight.

The flight would’ve cost over $1,200, but I paid:

55,000 points
$5.60 in taxesThat’s it.

No crazy hacks. Just understanding how the system works.

What’s the catch?

You need a decent credit score and smart spending habits. But once you learn the game, you’ll never want to pay full price again.

If you want to learn how to travel the world on points and make money online selling digital products, I share all the tools, tips, and real-life examples.

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