By Joseph Hellman-Benjamin, Founder and CEO of The Points King. Last updated: October 12, 2026. Editorial Policy
Straight answers to the questions people ask us most, about how The Points King works, how and when you are paid, and the risks. If your question is not here, contact us.
About The Points King
What does The Points King do?
We are an online mileage broker. We buy airline miles, hotel points and credit card points for cash, and we sell miles for some programs. We have run the business since 2017 and have worked with more than 1,000 customers.
Who runs The Points King?
Joseph Hellman-Benjamin, our founder and CEO, who writes and reviews the guides on this site. More on our About page.
How do you make money?
From the difference between what we pay for miles and points and what we sell them for. We do not use affiliate links, and no card issuer or airline pays us to recommend anything. Details are on how we make money.
Selling Miles and Points
What do you buy?
Most major airline programs and the big bank and hotel programs, including Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou, Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus and American AAdvantage. See the full lists on our sell miles and sell points pages.
Is there a minimum?
Yes, 50,000 miles or points.
How does selling work?
You tell us the program and the balance. We email you a price in writing. If you accept, we send the transfer steps by email. Once we confirm the transfer, we pay you.
How much will I be paid?
It depends on the program and the balance, so we do not publish rates. We send a written price before you transfer anything, and the price we agree by email is the price we pay.
How and when do I get paid?
By PayPal, usually within 15 minutes after we confirm your transfer. If the transfer is delayed on your side, payment follows when it is done.
Who goes first?
You transfer first, then we pay. That means you are trusting us, so read our customer reviews and our comparison with other brokers before you start.
Rules and Risks
Is selling miles allowed?
Not by the programs. Every major airline, hotel and bank program forbids selling miles or points in its terms, and can take the points back or close the account of a member who sells them. Whether a sale also breaks any law where you live is a separate question; we are not lawyers, and this is not legal advice.
What can happen to my account?
A program can void miles, cancel tickets booked with them, or close the account, and it can act months later. That risk stays with you as the account holder, and no broker, including us, can remove it. Read the risks of selling miles and points before you decide.
Should I sell at all?
Only miles or points you will not use. Using them for a trip, especially a long-haul business class seat, almost always gets more value than selling. Our guides on turning miles into cash and using miles vs. paying cash help you compare.
Buying Miles and Booking Flights
Can I buy miles from you?
Yes, for some programs, such as Delta and Southwest. Airline rules forbid buying miles from anyone but the airline, and an airline can void miles or tickets bought this way, so compare our written price with the airline’s own price and read the rules on each page first. See buy miles.
Do you book first class tickets?
We book discounted premium-cabin tickets for customers; see cheap first class. The same rule applies: airlines prohibit buying award tickets from third parties and can cancel them.
Privacy and Contact
What do you do with my information?
We use it to complete your transaction. Our privacy policy explains what we collect and how we handle it.
How do I reach you?
Use our contact form, and we reply by email.
Update Log
- October 12, 2026: rewritten. Removed the claims that selling miles is “entirely legal” and that accounts “remain safe,” corrected the payment timing to match our process (PayPal, usually within 15 minutes after the transfer is confirmed), and added the minimum, how prices are set, who transfers first, and links to our risk, privacy and how-we-make-money pages.