Redeeming Points for Experiences Is a Trap

By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated August 2026
The short answer: Card issuers offer experiences platforms where you redeem points for concerts, sporting events, exclusive dinners, and meet-and-greets, but the value is almost always a cent per point or less, sometimes far less, and the experiences are often marked up. For transferable travel points worth several cents, spending them on experiences is one of the worst redemptions available.

How experiences redemptions work

Issuers market curated experiences, premium concert seats, sporting events, chef dinners, and exclusive access, that you can pay for with points. They are pitched as money-can-not-buy moments, which makes the poor value easy to overlook. In practice the points are valued at about a cent each, occasionally less, and the underlying experience is frequently priced above its market rate. See what points are worth.

Why it wastes your points

Transferable points from Chase, Amex, Citi, and Capital One can be worth several cents each when moved to airline and hotel partners for premium travel. Spending them on an experience at a cent or less throws that ceiling away, the same problem as gift cards or merchandise. You are converting a high-value travel currency into a low-value entertainment voucher, often for something you could buy directly for cash. See worst redemptions.

When it is acceptable

Experiences redemptions are fine only for fixed-value cash-back points you would otherwise cash out, or for a genuinely unique, once-in-a-lifetime event you would pay cash for anyway and cannot get otherwise. For everyone else, keep transferable points for travel and buy concert or event tickets with cash on a rewarding card. See transferable points.

See exactly what an award costs

Stop guessing at point values. Look up the real award price and live availability for a specific trip before you transfer.

Search award flights on seats.aero →

Frequently asked questions

Is redeeming points for experiences worth it?
Almost never. Experiences platforms value points at about a cent each or less, often on marked-up events, while transferable travel points can be worth several cents. It is one of the worst ways to use high-value points.
How much are points worth for experiences?
Usually about a cent each, sometimes less, and the experiences are frequently priced above market. That is the floor for transferable points, which can be worth several cents transferred to a travel partner.
When should I use points for an experience?
Only for fixed-value cash-back points you would cash out anyway, or for a truly unique event you would pay cash for and cannot otherwise access. Otherwise, keep travel points for travel and pay cash for events.
What is a better use than experiences?
Transfer travel points to an airline or hotel partner for a premium redemption worth several cents per point, and buy concert or event tickets with cash on a card that earns rewards.

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Bryce Casson

Written by Bryce Casson, Founder of Cardocrat. About the author and how we rank cards.