How to Plan a Family Trip Using Points and Miles

Traveling as a family can be one of life’s most enriching experiences — it builds memories, broadens children’s horizons, and strengthens bonds. However, it also often comes with a hefty price tag. Fortunately, using points and miles for family travel can dramatically reduce your costs while maintaining comfort and flexibility.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to turn your everyday spending into unforgettable family vacations using travel rewards. From finding flights and accommodations to navigating loyalty programs for groups, we’ll break it all down step by step.

Why Family Travel with Points Makes Sense

A family of four flying roundtrip to a destination like Hawaii or Europe could easily spend $3,000–$5,000 just on airfare — and that’s before adding hotels, food, and activities. However, by strategically collecting and redeeming miles, those flights could cost less than $400 total in taxes and fees.

More importantly, points let you upgrade the travel experience — think business class seats for long flights, spacious hotel suites, and flexible changes without heavy penalties.

Step 1: Determine the Best Program for Your Family

The first step in family travel with points is knowing which programs align with your needs. For families, some reward programs are more advantageous than others due to their low redemption rates, ease of earning points, or transfer partners.

Top programs for family travel include:

• Chase Ultimate Rewards – Flexible transfer options, especially to Hyatt and United
• American Express Membership Rewards – High-value airline transfers (ANA, Air Canada, etc.)
• Capital One Miles – Easy to earn and transfer to 15+ airline partners
• Southwest Rapid Rewards – Free checked bags and Companion Pass
• JetBlue TrueBlue – Points never expire and family pooling allowed

Also, look for programs that allow you to combine or pool points across family members, like JetBlue, Hilton Honors, and Chase Ultimate Rewards (if shared via household).

Step 2: Pick the Right Destination for Family Travel

Your destination should match both your points inventory and your family’s travel style. Consider:

• Short-haul domestic trips (ideal for Southwest or Avios)
• Theme parks like Orlando or Anaheim
• Beach destinations like Cancún, Hawaii, or the Caribbean
• Cultural hubs like Paris, Tokyo, or London
• National parks in the U.S. or Canada

Let’s say you’re planning a trip from Chicago to Orlando for four people to visit Disney World. Using Southwest Airlines, you might need around 12,000 points per person roundtrip, or just 48,000 points for the family. Taxes and fees? Just about $22.40 total.

Step 3: Maximize Welcome Bonuses from Credit Cards

Earning enough points for four or more people may seem daunting — but welcome bonuses make it easier.

Some cards currently offering strong welcome offers include:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred: 60,000 points (worth $750 in travel)
• Amex Gold Card: 60,000–90,000 points (great for flights)
• Capital One Venture X: 75,000 miles (redeemable for any travel purchase)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus: 50,000 points — enough for multiple domestic flights

If both parents apply for a card each, that’s easily over 120,000 points — which can be stretched to cover flights and a few hotel nights.

Tip: Don’t apply for too many cards at once. Stagger them and make sure you meet each minimum spending requirement.

Step 4: Look for Family-Friendly Redemptions

Flights

• Southwest Airlines: No blackout dates, free changes, 2 free checked bags, and family boarding
• United MileagePlus: Good economy availability, especially with Excursionist Perk
• ANA via Amex: Book 2 adults + 2 kids in business class to Japan for as little as 88,000 points each
• British Airways Avios: Great for short-haul domestic flights (even on American Airlines)

Hotels

Family-friendly hotel brands include:

• Hyatt Place and Hyatt House – Suites and breakfast included
• Hilton Garden Inn and Embassy Suites – Spacious rooms and evening receptions
• Marriott Residence Inn – Kitchens and multiple bedrooms available
• IHG Staybridge Suites – Great for longer stays and family cooking

Point redemptions vary by brand and location. For example:

• Residence Inn Orlando: 25,000–35,000 Marriott points per night
• Hyatt House Anaheim: 12,000–15,000 points/night
• Hilton Hawaiian Village: From 50,000 points/night

Always compare the cash rate vs. points to determine if redemption is worth it.

Step 5: Plan Ahead for Award Availability

Booking early is essential for family travel. Airlines may only release a few award seats per flight, especially in peak travel seasons (summer, winter break, spring break).

Book as early as:

• 11 months ahead for airlines like American, Delta, or United
• 355 days out for programs like British Airways
• Up to 12 months ahead for hotel programs like Hyatt and Marriott

Use tools like:

• Point.me – For award flight searches
• Seats.aero – To spot business class award availability
• ExpertFlyer – Track availability on specific dates

If you can’t find enough award seats, consider booking economy and upgrading later using points or cash.

Step 6: Don’t Forget About Transfer Bonuses

Several programs offer transfer bonuses, which can stretch your points even further.

Examples:

• Chase → Aeroplan: 20–30% bonus
• Amex → British Airways Avios: 30% bonus
• Capital One → Air France Flying Blue: 15% bonus

If you’re short a few thousand points, this can help cover the gap and allow you to book for the whole family without buying points.

Step 7: Use Travel Portals for More Flexibility

While transferring to airlines often yields the best value, don’t overlook travel portals. With cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can use points directly on the Chase Travel Portal for a flat value of 1.25 cents per point.

Booking $1,000 worth of flights? You’ll need 80,000 points instead of worrying about award availability.

Same goes for Capital One and American Express Travel, especially when hunting for hotels with family rooms or rental cars.

Sample Itinerary for a Family of 4

Let’s plan a family vacation to Orlando to visit Disney World.

Flights:

• From New York to Orlando roundtrip on Southwest
• 12,000 points per person = 48,000 points total
• Taxes: $22.40

Hotel:

• 5 nights at Residence Inn by Marriott
• 30,000 points per night = 150,000 points
• Breakfast included, suite with kitchen

Rental Car:

• $300 cost offset using Capital One Miles

Total rewards used:

• ~200,000 points/miles
• Cash savings: ~$2,000+
• Actual out-of-pocket: Less than $100

Extra Perks for Families Using Points

• Travel protections from credit cards
• No baggage fees with airlines like Southwest
• Free hotel breakfast at Hyatt Place, Embassy Suites, etc.
• Priority boarding and seat selection with some co-branded cards
• Access to airport lounges with premium cards (great with kids!)

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Booking only 1 or 2 award seats when you need 4 — check for full availability
• Ignoring blackout dates for specific hotel chains
• Not double-checking points expiration policies
• Transferring points without confirmed availability
• Forgetting to book return flights early

Final Thoughts: Travel Together, Spend Less

Traveling as a family doesn’t have to break the bank. By understanding how to accumulate and use points and miles effectively, you can unlock travel opportunities that might have felt out of reach. Whether it’s a magical week in Orlando, a beach vacation in Hawaii, or a cultural journey through Europe, family travel is more accessible than ever — especially when you let your points do the heavy lifting.

Start planning early, strategize your credit card signups, and be flexible with your dates. Most importantly, focus on the joy of experiencing the world together.