A Small Points Win That Made a Big Difference

Not every points redemption needs to be flashy or worth 5+ cents per point to be a win. Sometimes, the best use of points is simply saving real cash when you need it most. This booking is a perfect example of that.

The Situation: Getting Help With the Kids

As a family of six, childcare is no small thing—especially when we’re planning future travel. We needed a trusted friend to fly from Seattle to Salt Lake City to help watch our kids, and buying another plane ticket wasn’t really in the budget at the time.

That’s when we turned to our points stash.

Using Chase Ultimate Rewards → KLM Flying Blue

We transferred 10,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Flying Blue and booked a one-way flight for our friend from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).

Here’s how the numbers broke down:

• Points used: 10,000

• Cash price at booking: $142

• Taxes & fees paid: $11.20

That comes out to 1.24 cents per point.

On paper, that’s not an award chart unicorn—but in real life? It was exactly what we needed.

Why This Was Still a Great Redemption

Would we normally aim for higher value per point? Absolutely. But points aren’t just about maximizing spreadsheets—they’re about solving problems.

This booking meant:

• ✅ No $142 out-of-pocket expense

• ✅ Our friend could come help with the kids

• ✅ Less stress during trip planning

• ✅ Points saved the day when cash was tight

And honestly, not spending money you don’t have is sometimes the best value of all.

The Takeaway for Families

If you’re a family using points and miles, remember this:

You don’t have to “win big” every time for points to be worth it.

Using a modest number of points to:

• bring help,

• reduce expenses,

• or make life easier

is still a huge success.

Points are a tool—and this time, they helped us take care of our family without opening our wallets.