How We Used American Express Points to Fly Our Family to Puerto Rico
One of the biggest challenges with family travel is airfare—especially when you are booking six round-trip tickets. For our recent family trip to Puerto Rico, we leaned on American Express Membership Rewards and kept our out-of-pocket costs almost nonexistent.
Here is exactly how this redemption worked and why, even at a modest cents-per-point value, it was still a win for our family.
The Points Strategy
We transferred 211,000 American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta Air Lines. Thanks to Delta’s 1:1 transfer ratio, we ended up with 211,200 SkyMiles, which we used to book:
6 round-trip tickets
Salt Lake City (SLC) → San Juan (SJU)
This covered flights for our entire family on the same itinerary, which is always a big plus when traveling with kids.
The Numbers Breakdown
Points used: 211,200 Delta SkyMiles
Cash value of flights: $2,946
Out-of-pocket cost: $67 in taxes and fees
Redemption value: 1.36 cents per point
On paper, 1.36 cents per point is not a “headline” redemption. But context matters—especially for families.
Why This Was Still a Great Redemption for Us
1. Six Tickets Add Up Fast
Paying nearly $3,000 in cash for flights would have been a big hit to our travel budget. Using points meant we could take this trip without stressing about airfare.
2. Nonstop, Family-Friendly Routing
Flying from SLC to SJU with Delta gave us a straightforward itinerary with minimal hassle—something that matters a lot when you are juggling kids and carry-ons.
3. Points Saved Cash When It Mattered Most
Even “average” point values are valuable when they replace real expenses. This was nearly $3,000 we did not have to spend out of pocket, leaving more room in the budget for experiences once we arrived.
Takeaway for Families Using Amex Points
Not every redemption needs to be 3–5 cents per point to be worthwhile. Sometimes the best use of points is the one that:
Covers multiple tickets
Keeps your cash in your pocket
Makes a family trip possible when it otherwise might not be
This Puerto Rico booking is a perfect example of using points strategically to make family travel easier and more affordable—even if the cents-per-point math looks average on the surface.