September 03, 2025

60 Best Ways to Fly Free* from New York Using Credit Cards for Hotels & Travel

Pointrs Editorial Team

September 03, 2025

Pointrs Editorial Team

60 Best Ways To Fly Free From New York Using Credit Cards For Hotels & Travel

60 BEST FLY FREE* FROM NEW YORK BY USING CREDIT CARDS TO PAY FOR HOTELS AND OTHER TRAVEL EXPENSES 

In our blog “Fly Free* by using one of the 7 best credit cards to pay for hotels and other travel expenses", we explored how you can pay for your hotel and other travel expenses using the best credit cards to earn enough points and miles to fly to your dream holiday for free*, even in business class! 

With the best credit cards, you can earn up to 12 credit card points/miles for every $ spent on hotels and other travel bookings. You can then transfer these points/miles to airline loyalty programs and use them to fly free*! 

 

7 Best Credit Cards to Pay for Hotels & Travel Expenses for Free* Flights (2025)
Best Credit Cards to Pay for Hotels & Travel Expenses for Free* Flights (2025). Reveal full list here.

 

HOW DO I SPEND THE LEAST AMOUNT POSSIBLE ON THESE CREDIT CARDS TO FLY FREE*? 

By paying for hotels and other travel expenses using one of the 7 best credit cards, and by paying the fewest number of points/miles for your flights, you can fly free* return by spending less than ever before. 

By using the worst credit cards and the worst airline loyalty programs, you can easily spend 10x that much to take the exact same flights. 

To spend the least amount possible on your credit cards, follow these 5 steps:

  • 1. Use one or more of the 7 best credit cards.
  • 2. Book your hotels and other travel expenses through their travel service
  • 3. Earn 8-12 credit card points/miles for every $ spent
  • 4. Transfer these credit card points/miles to airline loyalty programs, each time using the airline loyalty program requiring the fewest number of points/miles for your flight
  • 5. Use the airline loyalty program’s point/miles to book your flight and fly free, paying only any taxes, fees and surcharges 

HOW DOES POINTRS HELP ME SPEND THE LEAST AMOUNT POSSIBLE ON CREDIT CARDS FOR FREE* FLIGHTS 

Under “Flights”, every “Spend Less” Pointr will tell you the least amount you’ll need to spend on credit cards to take the flights for that Pointr, along with the credit card you need to use. 

Each Pointr will also tell you how much you need to spend on every credit card you can use for that Pointr, including spend on each spending category, giving you the complete picture so you can make the best decisions to spend the least amount possible for your flights.

View your credit card for ways to spend less and to see how your credit card compares against others. 

60 BEST FLY FREE* FROM NEW YORK BY USING CREDIT CARDS TO PAY FOR HOTELS AND OTHER TRAVEL EXPENSES 

Planning to fly from New York? You can fly free* return in economy by spending as little as $1,250 on your credit cards. And you can fly free* return in business and first by spending as little as $2,500. 

All you need is the best combination of airline loyalty program, airline and credit card. You can see these in each and every “Spend Less” Pointr.  

For New York, here’s our 60 Best Fly Free From New York By Using Credit Cards To Pay For Hotels And Other Travel Expenses. These show you the lowest credit card spend required for different destinations and what you need to do to spend only this amount. 

From New York, sorted by Spend:

Pointr #

 

Return To

In

Using This Airline Loyalty Program

Flying This Airline

Paying For Hotels And Other Travel Expenses Using This Card

Spending Only This Much On The Card

35351

Los Angeles

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$1,250

36715

San Francisco

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$1,250

36224

Cancun

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$1,666

11184

Honolulu

Economy

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

$1,666

36156

Mexico City

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$1,666

37168

Amsterdam

Economy

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

KLM (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,000

37104

Paris

Economy

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Air France (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,000

37676

London

Economy

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,500

35355

Los Angeles

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,500

35359

Los Angeles

First

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,500

36717

San Francisco

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,500

36721

San Francisco

First

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,500

36226

Cancun

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$3,334

11186

Honolulu

First

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

$3,334

12372

Lima

Economy

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$3,334

36158

Mexico City

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$3,334

37160

Barcelona

Economy

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$3,458

37116

Milan

Economy

Emirates Skywards

Emirates (non-stop)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

$3,500

37148

Frankfurt

Economy

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$4,166

37098

Rome

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$4,166

35776

Buenos Aires

Economy

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$4,292

12367

Santiago

Economy

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Latam Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$4,292

37090

Sao Paulo

Economy

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$4,292

36144

Tokyo

Economy

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

ANA (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$5,416

11452

Doha

Economy

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Qatar Airways (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$5,834

1979

Lima

Business

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$5,834

11458

Dubai

Economy

Emirates Skywards

Emirates (non-stop)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

$6,000

32306

Denpasar

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,250

9379

Hong Kong

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

Cathay Pacific (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,250

36403

Sydney

Economy

Cathay Pacific Cathay

Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,334

35725

Auckland

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

Qantas (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,666

11202

Johannesburg

Economy

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,666

39010

Male

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

Qatar Airways (via Doha)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,666

35120

New Delhi

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,666

9391

Singapore

Economy

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,334

37172

Amsterdam

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

37164

Barcelona

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

37152

Frankfurt

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

37680

London

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

37120

Milan

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

37108

Paris

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

37100

Rome

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

37094

Sao Paulo

Business

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$9,167

11334

Abu Dhabi

Economy

Etihad Airways Etihad Guest

Etihad Airways (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$10,000

36148

Tokyo

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

ANA (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$10,000

37684

London

First

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

British Airways (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$11,332

32308

Denpasar

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$11,666

11454

Doha

Business

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Qatar Airways (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$11,666

9383

Hong Kong

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

Cathay Pacific (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$11,666

39014

Male

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

Qatar Airways (via Doha)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$11,666

35124

New Delhi

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$11,666

35780

Buenos Aires

Business

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$12,874

2549

Santiago

Business

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Latam Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$12,874

11156

Dubai

Business

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$13,000

11204

Johannesburg

Business

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$13,000

35729

Auckland

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

Qantas (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$13,332

36407

Sydney

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$13,332

37076

Frankfurt

First

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

Lufthansa (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$14,500

9395

Singapore

Business

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

Singapore Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$15,000

11336

Abu Dhabi

Business

Air Canada Aeroplan

Etihad Airways (non-stop)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

$17,000

*Personal or business 

From New York, sorted by destination:

Pointr #

Return To

In

Using This Airline Loyalty Program

Flying This Airline

Paying For Hotels And Other Travel Expenses Using This Card

Spending Only This Much On The Card

11334

Abu Dhabi

Economy

Etihad Airways Etihad Guest

Etihad Airways (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$10,000

11336

Abu Dhabi

Business

Air Canada Aeroplan

Etihad Airways (non-stop)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

$17,000

37168

Amsterdam

Economy

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

KLM (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,000

37172

Amsterdam

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

35725

Auckland

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

Qantas (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,666

35729

Auckland

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

Qantas (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$13,332

37160

Barcelona

Economy

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$3,458

37164

Barcelona

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

35776

Buenos Aires

Economy

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$4,292

35780

Buenos Aires

Business

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$12,874

36224

Cancun

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$1,666

36226

Cancun

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$3,334

32306

Denpasar

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,250

32308

Denpasar

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$11,666

11452

Doha

Economy

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Qatar Airways (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$5,834

11454

Doha

Business

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Qatar Airways (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$11,666

11458

Dubai

Economy

Emirates Skywards

Emirates (non-stop)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

$6,000

11156

Dubai

Business

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$13,000

37148

Frankfurt

Economy

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$4,166

37152

Frankfurt

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

37076

Frankfurt

First

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

Lufthansa (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$14,500

9379

Hong Kong

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

Cathay Pacific (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,250

9383

Hong Kong

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

Cathay Pacific (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$11,666

11184

Honolulu

Economy

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

$1,666

11186

Honolulu

First

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

$3,334

11202

Johannesburg

Economy

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,666

11204

Johannesburg

Business

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$13,000

12372

Lima

Economy

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$3,334

1979

Lima

Business

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$5,834

37676

London

Economy

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,500

37680

London

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

37684

London

First

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

British Airways (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$11,332

35351

Los Angeles

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$1,250

35355

Los Angeles

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,500

35359

Los Angeles

First

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,500

39010

Male

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

Qatar Airways (via Doha)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,666

39014

Male

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

Qatar Airways (via Doha)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$11,666

36156

Mexico City

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$1,666

36158

Mexico City

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$3,334

37116

Milan

Economy

Emirates Skywards

Emirates (non-stop)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

$3,500

37120

Milan

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

35120

New Delhi

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,666

35124

New Delhi

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$11,666

37104

Paris

Economy

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Air France (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,000

37108

Paris

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

37098

Rome

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$4,166

37100

Rome

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,916

36715

San Francisco

Economy

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$1,250

36717

San Francisco

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,500

36721

San Francisco

First

American Airlines Aadvantage

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$2,500

12367

Santiago

Economy

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Latam Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$4,292

2549

Santiago

Business

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Latam Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$12,874

37090

Sao Paulo

Economy

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

American Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$4,292

37094

Sao Paulo

Business

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

United Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$9,167

9391

Singapore

Economy

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$7,334

9395

Singapore

Business

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

Singapore Airlines (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$15,000

36403

Sydney

Economy

Cathay Pacific Cathay

Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$6,334

36407

Sydney

Business

American Airlines Aadvantage

Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$13,332

36144

Tokyo

Economy

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

ANA (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$5,416

36148

Tokyo

Business

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

ANA (non-stop)

Citi Strata Elite Card

$10,000

*Personal or business 

Click on any Pointr above for all your options for that flight and for how much you need to spend on every credit card for that flight. And don’t forget to continually check your emails and Pointrs Dashboard for promotions, so you can receive a bonus when you transfer your credit card points/miles to airlines, meaning you’ll need to spend even less to fly free*. 

CAN I USE OTHER CREDIT CARDS FOR THE SAME FLIGHTS? 

Depending on the airline loyalty program, you can also use other credit cards from the 7 best credit cards. You’ll need to spend 20%-50% more for the same flights, but still well below what you would need to spend with other credit cards. 

Here are the other cards you can use, depending on airline loyalty program, and how much more you’ll need to spend:

Airline Loyalty Program

Card/s

Increase In Card Spend Required

Card/s

Increase In Card Spend Required

American Airlines Aadvantage

Citi Strata Premier Card, Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard Credit Card

20%

   

British Airways British Airways Club

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card*

25%

   

Cathay Pacific Cathay

Citi Strata Premier Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

20%

   

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Citi Strata Premier Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

20%

   

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Citi Strata Premier Card

20%

   

Air Canada Aeroplan

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card*

25%

   

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

Citi Strata Premier Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

20%

   

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Citi Strata Premier Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

20%

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card*

50%

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Citi Strata Premier Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

20%

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card*

50%

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Citi Strata Premier Card

20%

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card*

50%

Emirates Skywards

Citi Strata Elite Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card*

25%

Citi Strata Premier Card

50%

Etihad Airways Etihad Guest

Citi Strata Premier Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Card*

20%

   

Happy free* flying! 

*Just pay any taxes, fees and surcharges

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