April points-and-miles deals

April’s travel deals are not one sale. They’re a pile of expiring mini-offers: discounted award flights, hotel rebates on points bookings, shopping-portal bonuses, and targeted credit card credits that can disappear before the month ends. (thepointsguy.com) The cheapest trip is often not the one with the lowest cash fare. A transfer bonus can turn 50,000 bank points into 60,000 or 65,000 airline miles, which is enough to change a route from “not bookable” to “book it now.” (upgradedpoints.com) (frequentmiler.com) One live example this month is Chase Ultimate Rewards sending points to Air Canada Aeroplan with up to a 30% bonus through April 30, 2026, with the highest bonus tied to Aeroplan cardholders. That means 50,000 Chase points can become as many as 65,000 Aeroplan points. (upgradedpoints.com) Another April lane is buying points outright, but only when the math beats the cash rate. Current promotions listed across the market include Hilton Honors with a 100% bonus, IHG One Rewards with up to an 80% bonus, and Choice Privileges with up to a 35% bonus. (thegatewithbriancohen.com) (upgradedpoints.com) Airlines are doing the same thing with miles. Air France-KLM Flying Blue is showing up to an 80% bonus or a discount on purchased miles, Air Canada Aeroplan is offering up to a 30% discount on bought points, and United Airlines MileagePlus is showing discounts of up to 45% in current April roundups. (thegatewithbriancohen.com) (thepointsguy.com) The catch is that many of the best April deals are targeted. The Points Guy says some offers on its April page are not available to everyone, which means two people can log into the same program and see different prices, bonuses, or statement credits. (thepointsguy.com) Registration rules can be as important as the bonus itself. A current Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards promotion requires members to register by April 12, 2026, for double points on eligible flights, so a traveler who books first and notices later can miss the extra payout. (slickdeals.net) Hotel deals work the same way: the headline number is not the whole story. Loyalty Lobby’s April roundup lists promotions like triple points with IHG One Rewards and other hotel bonuses that depend on booking windows, stay dates, and sometimes specific regions or brands. (loyaltylobby.com) That is why flexible travelers get the biggest edge in April. If your destination, airline, and hotel are all movable, you can stack a transfer bonus, an award sale, and a hotel promotion in the same trip instead of chasing one flashy offer in isolation. (thepointsguy.com) (nerdwallet.com) The bad version of this game is buying points because a sale banner says “100% bonus.” The good version is pricing the exact flight or room first, checking whether award space is actually open, and only then moving or buying points before the April deadline closes. (upgradedpoints.com) (thepointsguy.com)