Why Taylor Swift and Formula 1 are the Hottest New Trends in Credit Card Points

Getting a cheaper flight or free hotel stay is great, but what if you could use your credit card points to get closer to the action at a Formula 1 race or see a Taylor Swift concert? Some of the best travel credit cards now offer special opportunities to redeem (large) rewards points for extremely exclusive VIP experiences.

If you like earning points with travel credit cards, this new trend could be right for you. Taylor Swift tickets and Formula 1 VIP access are now part of the rewards points redemption game. Let’s look at what this means for credit card customers.

How Credit Card Points Get You Taylor Swift Tickets

Two of the top hotel loyalty programs, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy®, recently offered special benefits that will help members redeem bonus points for ultra-exclusive, real-life experiences.

Taylor Swift Tickets

Earlier in 2024, Marriott Bonvoy offered Taylor Swift fans a special Marriott Moments™ program that allowed them to redeem 500,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a package including Taylor Swift concert tickets, hotel stays and more.

VIP Formula 1 Experience

Hilton Honors recently auctioned points for an exclusive VIP experience at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, with the winning bidder purchasing 2,675,000 points to go behind the scenes of pit stop training with the McLaren F1 racing team.

Looking for an even better way to earn points that can be redeemed for VIP travel? The Platinum Card® from American Express allows you to earn points that can be transferred to Hilton and Marriott loyalty programs.

If you typically book your flights directly with airlines or book prepaid flights or hotels through American Express Travel, you can earn 5X points with the Amex Platinum Card (terms apply). They can add up quickly, giving you another flexible and versatile way to earn points and get closer to high-end experiences like the Taylor Swift show and Formula 1 racing events.

Other Ways to Use Credit Card Points for Fun

Taylor Swift shows and Formula 1 tickets aren’t the only ways to redeem credit card points for experiences. Many travel rewards cards offer points redemption for experiences such as private dining, tours, cooking classes, concert tickets, spa treatments, local tours and sporting events.

And you don’t always have to spend millions of points or win a global trade war to redeem points for great experiences. For example, here are a few Marriott Moments™ offered by Marriott Bonvoy and how many points you’ll need for each:

• Los Angeles Lakers Deluxe Ticket Packages: Starting at 50,000 points
• Manchester United Executive Suite Ticket Packages: Starting at 40,000 points
• US Women’s Soccer Team vs England in London: Hotel and ticket packages from 110,000 points
• Hotel Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), Pre-Hispanic Cuisine and Tour Package in Ixtapan de la Sal, Mexico: Starting at 50,000 points
• Exclusive culinary presentation and Spanish cuisine at The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho: Packages starting from 20,000 points

Using credit card points for fun and unique experiences can be a great way to get inspired for your next vacation and get the most out of it. If there’s a big game you’d like to see, a concert you’d like to attend, or a cuisine you’d like to try, you can structure your trip around it and pay for the experience with points.

Bottom line

Trading points for high-quality experiences is one of the most exciting trends in the credit card industry. Travel enthusiasts can use their points to get exclusive real-life experiences, not just free hotel stays or cheap flights. Some of the best travel cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, help you earn rewards that can be transferred to hotel loyalty programs to earn more miles from rewards redemption.