How to use small orphan amounts of frequent flyer miles and hotel points – Part 2

This is the second part of the updated article we began 10 days ago, discussing the best ways to ‘zero out’ loyalty card accounts which you want to abandon.  You need to remember that you may first need to ‘top off’ an account by earning a few more points before you can reach the smallest redemption level.

Part 1 looked at how to use unwanted points in hotel schemes.  Today I look at some of the major European airline schemes and Tesco Clubcard.

I have not covered Avios as Head for Points readers are generally keener to build those up.

Tesco Clubcard (points convert to Virgin Points)

If you have multiple Clubcards in your name, try to get them up to 150 points using extra points coupons or offers.  150 points is the trigger to receive vouchers or allow in-app points conversion.  You can then chuck the card.

Tesco can also merge accounts together if you contact them.

American Express Membership Rewards

If you are closing your American Express card and emptying out your Membership Rewards account, you will discover that transfers to Avios are in multiples of 1,000.

If this leaves you with 1-999 spare points, get a Nectar account and transfer the exact balance there.  There is no minimum conversion into Nectar.

Radisson Rewards is another option, requiring a minimum transfer of just three Membership Rewards points.  Hilton Honors requires a minimum transfer of 200 points.

Another option, if you are closing a Preferred Rewards Gold or The Platinum Card from American Express card to avoid the annual fee, is to get the FREE The American Express Rewards Credit Card.  Holding this card will keep your Membership Rewards balance alive after you have closed your Gold or Platinum. You can learn more about The American Express Rewards Credit Card in this article.

Virgin Flying Club / Virgin Points

• SPEND – You can use a small amount of points as part-payment towards a cash flight on Virgin Atlantic.  You will get £16.50 per 3,000 miles used.  You also use points at the same rate to part-pay with Virgin Holidays.
• SPEND – Virgin Points (10,000+) can be transferred into Hilton Honors (1:1.5) and IHG One Rewards (1:1)
• SPEND – 2,000 points gets you a £10 Virgin Voucher, valid at many Virgin Group businesses
• SPEND – The Virgin Red app lets you redeem Virgin Points for lots of low value items. Now that the Greggs partnership is over, the cheapest redemption is a £5 Starbucks digital gift card for 1,000 points.
• SPEND – The Virgin Trains Ticketing app lets you redeem points (minimum just 200) for 0.5p per point off a rail ticket
• SPEND – You can redeem Virgin Points for hotel rooms booked via the Kaligo.com site. The value per point varies from terrible to decent.
• SPEND – Remember that one-way flight redemptions are available, so you may need fewer points than you think for a flight (use Avios to come back!)
• SPEND – With Air France, SAS and KLM now redemption partners, you can book low cost flights to France, Scandinavia and the Netherlands from as little as 4,000 points one way
• TOP-UP – There is an 18,000 points sign-up bonus with the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard credit card and a 3,000 points sign-up bonus with the free Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard
• TOP-UP – You can top-up your account from various hotel schemes, Tesco Clubcard, Heathrow Rewards, the Virgin Atlantic credit cards, American Express Membership Rewards, or via a car rental
• TOP-UP – Some hotel chains give Virgin Points even when they do not give Avios points
• TOP-UP – Virgin Trains Ticketing is an interesting option for earning Virgin Points at 3 per £1 spent, with occasional ‘double points’ offers making it even more useful

Lufthansa Miles & More

• SPEND – You can redeem for UK High Street gift cards from 4,200 miles for £10
• SPEND – There are hotel and car hire redemptions available via the Miles & More hotel booking portal
• SPEND – Remember that one-way redemptions are allowed on Lufthansa and its partners, so you need fewer miles than you think for a flight
• SPEND – Keep an eye on the regular list of destinations which are on mileage sale, for travel on Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, LOT Polish Airlines and Luxair
• TOP-UP – You can also earn Miles & More miles from shopping at Bicester Village

Emirates Skywards

• SPEND – You can redeem Skywards miles for Arsenal football tickets, both general seats and the Emirates Skybox, although at present they are restricting tickets to Gold members
• SPEND – Other event tickets pop up throughout the year.  Here are details of a 2023 VIP package at the Queen’s Club tennis tournament for example.
• SPEND – You can redeem Skywards miles for easyJet travel credit
• SPEND – New for 2025, you can convert 4,000 Emirates Skywards miles into 1,000 Accor Live Limitless hotel points, worth €20 off a future stay
• SPEND – New for 2025, you can convert Emirates Skywards miles into Marriott Bonvoy hotel points, at a ratio of 3:2 and with a minimum transfer of 3,000 miles
• SPEND – If you are travelling to Dubai, Skywards miles can be used for gift vouchers for various Dubai shops and tourist attractions
• SPEND – You can use your miles to book a hotel via this Emirates / Rocketmiles site
• TOP-UP – Emirates Skywards is an American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner albeit at 4:3 and not the usual 1:1.  Miles transfer INSTANTLY as long as your accounts are already linked.

Etihad Guest

Following the 2024 changes, Etihad Guest miles have a very strict expiry policy. They will expire unless you take a flight with Etihad or a partner airline every 18 months.

Etihad is a partner with Amex Membership Rewards which lets you top up your account to a suitable level for a redemption.

You can also cash out via the Etihad Guest Rewards Card / PointsPay.  This is an impressive scheme for small balances which I have used – you get 0.50p per point, delivered as a ‘virtual Visa’ card number.  There is no excuse for having an unused Etihad balance.

SAS EuroBonus

Remember that SAS moved from Star Alliance to SkyTeam last year. This means that small amounts of miles can be redeemed for short haul flights on SkyTeam airlines such as Air France and KLM.

You can redeem SAS points for Radisson hotels, Scandic Hotels and Thon Hotels – see here.  There is also a general hotel booking portal.

SAS EuroBonus is an American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner if you need to top-up your account.

Flying Blue

Apologies for the lack of Flying Blue coverage but this scheme is really not our strong point.

The obvious way to cash out of Flying Blue miles is by transferring them into Accor Live Limitless hotel points in chunks of 4,000.  Please leave any further suggestions or ideas I have missed in the comments below.

Remember that Part 1 of this article, which shows how to use up or top up hotel loyalty points, is here.