You might have noticed that the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve get recommended a lot in the points and miles community. There’s a good reason for that.

Rewards earned with these cards can be transferred to a number of airline and hotel loyalty programs, making it possible to book all kinds of travel for free (or almost free).

If you’re a Delta Air Lines flyer, you might think the cards offer little value to you because Chase doesn’t partner with Delta SkyMiles. However, don’t dismiss the Sapphire-branded cards so quickly.

The American Express® Gold Card, with its high reward rate in certain spending categories, is one of the best rewards cards to hold for dining and travel lovers.

The card’s elevated welcome bonus is enough to book a flight in business class on multiple airlines.

With its Giza pyramids, Sahara Desert and the Nile River, Egypt is known for many things and therefore is a popular travel destination. I must admit that this African country had been on my bucket list for an embarrassingly long amount of time, and I’m happy to share that I finally checked it off the list.

Egypt opened borders in July to travelers who can provide a negative PCR test for COVID-19. A visa is also required for U.S. citizens.

In case you're joining us for the first time, or missed a prior post in this series, please check out the index below:

Credit Card Reward Programs for Travelers: An IntroductionThe Basics of American Express Membership Rewards The Basics of Chase Ultimate RewardsThe Basics of Capital One Rewards (this post)The Basics of Marriott BonvoyThe Basics of Citi ThankYou Points

Today we’ll take a look at an underrated player in the points and miles world: Capital One.

Capital One offers cards desirable to travelers, including those which earn transferable points as well as cards offering cash back.

Update, 11:35 pm ET, 10/15: The Flying Blue Promo Awards Special Edition deals are now live!

Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France and KLM, looks like they've got some great deals coming via their new Promo Awards Special Edition sale.

There are just two days left to take advantage of the 30% transfer bonus between Citi ThankYou Points and Flying Blue, and three days left to book Flying Blue's August Promo Awards...the cheapest of which will get you from New York City to Paris for only 8,000 ThankYou Points if you stack both promotions.

Flying Blue's latest Promo Awards, stacked with the current 30% Citi ThankYou Point to Flying Blue transfer bonus, can get you between Houston or Washington, D.C. and Europe this September or October for as little as 18k ThankYou points roundtrip.

American Express is offering some lucrative incentives to spend on their cards right now. Not everyone will have these Amex Offers available as they are targeted.

REMINDER: These changes kick in this Friday, June 1. If you had your eye on a Flying Blue award, check this post and/or the Flying Blue Calculator to see if you should book now or post-June 1. I have updated the pricing changes section since last publication to include more Flying Blue award chart sweetspots, and how those prices will fare come June 1. 

As of June 1, Flying Blue--loyalty program of Air France, KLM, Aircalin, Hop!, Joon, Kenya Airways, Tarom, and transavia--is changing the way awards are priced.

Flying Blue–the loyalty program of Air France/KLM, Air Europa, Kenya Airways, and TAROM Romanian–has released its newest Promo Awards that let you fly from select North American cities to anywhere in Europe or to Israel, Morocco, Tunisia, or Algeria for 25% off standard economy and Business Class award prices.