How many credit card points do I need to fly to Tokyo for free?

A round-trip economy flight to Tokyo costs approximately 70,000 points via Virgin Atlantic Miles, which transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards. The best route books ANA flights — one of the highest-value redemptions available. Business class to Tokyo requires about 160,000 points round-trip.

What credit card gives the most points for travel?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve earn the most transferable points for travel. The Sapphire Preferred offers a 60,000-point signup bonus after $4,000 in spending, which is enough for a round-trip economy flight to Paris. The Amex Platinum and Capital One Venture X are also top travel cards with large signup bonuses of 80,000–100,000+ points.

How long does it take to earn enough points for a free flight?

Most people can earn enough points for a domestic free flight within 3–6 months using one credit card signup bonus. For international travel, combining 2–3 travel credit card signup bonuses typically earns enough points within 6–12 months. For example, getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred (60K bonus) and Amex Gold (60K bonus) in the same year gives 120,000 points — enough for round-trip economy to Europe or Asia.

What is the cheapest destination to visit for free with credit card points?

Domestic US travel is the cheapest — as low as 15,000 points for a one-way flight on Southwest. For international, Cancun is one of the best values at 20,000 points round-trip via Southwest. Caribbean flights start around 25,000 points. European destinations like London and Dublin start at 40,000 points round-trip.

Can I travel for free if I have a fair or low credit score?

Yes, but your options are more limited. With a fair credit score (580–669), you can qualify for starter travel cards like the Capital One VentureOne, Discover it Miles, or secured travel cards. These still earn points toward free travel, just with smaller signup bonuses. Building your credit score to 670+ opens up the best travel cards with 60,000–100,000 point signup bonuses.

How does the Travel for Free Roadmap tool work?

The Travel for Free Roadmap is a free 5-step tool from StackEasy. You pick a destination (31 options including Tokyo, Paris, Maldives, and more), enter your credit score range and current cards, input your monthly spending by category, and set your preferences. The tool calculates exactly which credit cards to get, in what order, and shows you the total points you'll earn plus when you'll hit your goal — with no signup required.

What are transfer partners and why do they matter for free travel?

Transfer partners are airlines and hotels that let you convert credit card points into their miles or rewards at a 1:1 ratio (or better). Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to United, Hyatt, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air France Flying Blue, and more. Amex Membership Rewards transfers to Delta, Air France, Singapore Airlines, and others. Transferring to the right partner can double or triple the value of your points — for example, transferring Chase points to Virgin Atlantic to book ANA business class to Japan is worth 5–10 cents per point vs. 1 cent for cash back.

Is it worth getting travel credit cards with annual fees?

Often yes. The Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95/year) more than pays for itself with 5x points on travel, 3x on dining, and travel protections worth hundreds of dollars. The Amex Platinum ($695/year) offers $200 airline credit, $200 hotel credit, $240 digital entertainment credit, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry, and Priority Pass lounge access — offsetting the fee for frequent travelers. The key is matching the card's benefits to your actual spending patterns.

StackEasy ← All Destinations

90,000 points · 3 months timeline

How to Visit Cape Town, South Africa for Free with Credit Card Points

Quick Answer

Flying to Cape Town, South Africa costs 90,000 points for economy or 200,000 points for business class (round-trip). The best route is United via Star Alliance (South African Airways or Ethiopian). Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (60,000 bonus after $4,000 in 3 months) and reach your goal in 3 months.

Point Cost Breakdown

Category	Points Required	Est. Cash Value	Best Program
Flights (Economy RT)	90,000	$1500–$2300	United via Star Alliance (South African Airways or Ethiopian)
Flights (Business RT)	200,000	$5000+	United via Star Alliance (South African Airways or Ethiopian)
Hotels (per night)	15,000	$200–$400	HYATT (Hyatt Regency Cape Town / Park Hyatt Cape Town (coming))

Fastest Path: 3 months to Cape Town, South Africa

Timeline: 3 months

1Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and spend $4,000 in 3 months to earn 60,000 bonus points
2Transfer your points to United MileagePlus
3Search for award space on United via Star Alliance (South African Airways or Ethiopian)
4Book your flights — 90,000 points for economy RT, 200,000 for business class
5Book Hyatt Regency Cape Town / Park Hyatt Cape Town (coming) using HYATT points (15,000 points/night)

Why Chase Sapphire Preferred + Star Alliance (South African Airways or Ethiopian) Is the Best Route

United MileagePlus is one of the most versatile programs for international travel because United is a Star Alliance member with partner agreements covering 40+ airlines. For Cape Town, South Africa, United miles book both United-operated flights and partner airlines, often with better availability than booking directly. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to United at 1:1, making it one of the easiest programs to top off.

Book United MileagePlus awards at united.com under 'Use miles'. The United system shows both United-operated and Star Alliance partner flights. Filter by 'Saver' awards for the best rates. For Cape Town, South Africa, search 6–8 months out for best availability. United's 'Excursionist Perk' lets you add a free one-way stopover on certain itineraries — useful for multi-city trips that might include Cape Town, South Africa plus a nearby destination.

The bottom line: Cape Town, South Africa requires approximately 90,000 points for economy or 200,000 for business class. With Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (60,000 bonus points), you can reach this goal in 3 months. The points value delivered — compared to cash fares of $1400–$2300+ for economy — makes this one of the most powerful travel strategies available.

Where to Stay Free in Cape Town, South Africa

Hyatt Regency Cape Town / Park Hyatt Cape Town (coming)

HYATT · Best hotel redemption in Cape Town, South Africa

15,000 pts

per night

Hyatt Regency Cape Town / Park Hyatt Cape Town (coming) offers an exceptional points redemption in Cape Town, South Africa. At 15,000 HYATT points per night, you're getting outstanding value compared to cash rates in the area. Hyatt Regency is great value. Cash rates in Cape Town are reasonable — points stretch well. Transfer your credit card points to HYATT and book directly at hyatt.com — award availability for most properties in Cape Town, South Africa is generally strong outside peak holiday periods.

Book Hyatt Regency Cape Town / Park Hyatt Cape Town (coming)→Redeem HYATTpoints →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many points do I need to fly to Cape Town for free?

A round-trip economy flight to Cape Town (CPT) costs approximately 90,000 United MileagePlus miles via Star Alliance partners. Business class is 200,000 miles. Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa (ADD) typically has the best award availability for US-South Africa routing on Star Alliance metal.

What's the best credit card for South Africa flights?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred (60,000-point bonus, transfers to United) is the best starting point — though you'll need additional points for the 90,000 economy requirement. Pair with Chase Freedom Unlimited (20,000 bonus) to reach 80,000, then earn the remainder through regular spending. South Africa is a multi-card destination.

How do I book flights to Cape Town with United MileagePlus?

Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to United MileagePlus, then search for CPT at united.com using miles. You'll likely connect through Addis Ababa (ADD) on Ethiopian Airlines (Star Alliance) or Johannesburg on South African Airways. Search with flexible dates — award space is limited and booking 6–11 months out is recommended.

Is Cape Town worth the 90,000 points? It's a lot of points.

Cape Town requires a significant points investment, but cash fares run $1,200–$1,800 economy round-trip — giving 1.3–2¢ per point for economy. Business class at $5,000–$8,000 for 200,000 miles delivers 2.5–4¢ per point, making it excellent value for premium travelers. The trip itself is genuinely bucket-list quality.

Start Your Personalized Roadmap to Cape Town, South Africa

Enter your credit score, spending habits, and travel style to get a step-by-step points plan customized for you — including exactly which cards to get, in what order, and when you'll hit your goal.

Build My Free Travel Roadmap →

⚡ Velocity Calculator 🏆 Rewards Optimizer

← Back to all destinations