When SkyMiles can be valuable

What I'm booking

It's easy to ignore domestic economy bookings. They aren't sexy, they don't make for great Instagram photos, and typically don't give you the highest possible redemption value for your points. But the truth is, they can save you A LOT of money!

We're going away for a weekend to meet family in New Mexico, and flights were absolutely outrageous. I decided to use 24,000 Delta SkyMiles to book two one way tickets, and we paid cash for the (much cheaper) return. Because P2 and I both have American Express Platinum cards, we'll be able to check out the new Delta SkyClub at LAX (on a main cabin ticket ... basic economy tickets don't get access). The cash value was $457 for a redemption value of 1.9 cents per point. Did you know you can get that value with Delta SkyMiles? I've found they are really useful for domestic economy tickets on non-hub routes!

Tip: How to book it

Delta SkyMiles have been not-so-lovingly called SkyPesos for years. While Delta has an excellent reputation for service and on-time operations, their loyalty program was the first to undergo major devaluations. That being said, this program can still be valuable - you just have to find the route. Delta SkyMiles can be transferred from Amex Membership Rewards and are therefore very easy to earn. To book this trip, I used a free Google Chrome extension called Points Path. Points Path answers the question "should I book this with points or cash?" While it only works with certain programs at this time, they are constantly adding new programs! It's a great way to do quick comparisons when booking a flight. It showed me that a Delta flight would be a great deal compared to the cash price!

Credit Cards: What I'm using

If you earn Amex Membership Rewards with any card, I recommend adding the no annual fee Blue Business Plus (rates and fees) to your portfolio. The Amex Blue Business Plus earns 2x points on all spend (up to the first $50,000, then 1x points). That's a wonderful return on everyday spend for a no annual fee card. Wonder if you qualify for a business card? Absolutely you do!

If you've ever sold something on a marketplace, had a garage sale, or make 1099 income of any kind, you qualify. Simply use your name as the company, your SSN as the tax ID, and put "Sole Proprietorship" and list your total annual income. Business cards do not need to be used for separate business expenses, but they can really round out your earning potential of transferable points!