Houston is a major hub for culture, activity and fine cuisine, not to mention two bustling international airports. Plus, the beach is only a short drive away. So if you’re planning a trip and wondering how to travel to Houston on points and miles, we’ve got you covered in this step-by-step guide.

Getting to Houston

Nearest airports

The airports serving Houston include:

The George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

The William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).

IAH is by far the larger of the two and the one you’re most likely to fly in and out of. It may be 20 miles north of the city center, but there are plenty of ways to get to where you want to go after you land. Many hotels offer shuttles, but there are also rideshare apps that serve the airport, buses that will take you to the surrounding area, downtown or between IAH and HOU, plus shuttles to rental car pickup.

Major airlines flying to Houston

Many major national and international airlines fly into IAH and are spread out over five lettered terminals (A-E). The airport serves as a hub for United, so expect to find plenty of flights in and out on that airline. Other airlines that fly into IAH include:

IAH airlines

Aeromexico.Air Canada.Air China.Air France.Air New Zealand.Alaska Airlines.American Airlines.ANA.Avianca.British Airways.Delta.Emirates.Ethiopian.Eva Air.Frontier.Interjet.JetBlue.KLM.Lufthansa.Qatar.Singapore Airlines.Spirit.Turkish Airlines.United.VivaAerobus.Volaris.WestJet.

HOU, on the other hand, which is just southeast of the city, hosts only a handful of airlines:

HOU airlines

Allegiant.American Airlines.Delta.Southwest.

Flying to Houston on points and miles

If you’re looking for a good award flight deal from either of the city’s airports, here’s your points and miles guide to Houston so you can get to booking.

IAH

IAH is a large, busy airport offering plenty of domestic and international flights. So you can expect to find a fair amount of direct flights to cities around the country and the world, including on points and miles. Here are some of the award flight sweet spots when traveling to Houston.

United Airlines. Since IAH is a hub for United, expect plenty of flights in and out of the airport to destinations across the Western Hemisphere, from South America to Canada to Hawaii to New York. But to find a good deal on an award flight to Houston on United, your best bet is to be flexible with dates and travel times, since United’s award pricing is based on demand. That said, the airline lists current flight award deals right on its website, and many can be found for as low as 5,000 miles (between Houston and Los Angeles).

Spirit Airlines. The best points and miles for cheap flights to Houston may come courtesy of Spirit’s newly updated Free Spirit award program. Free Spirit allows travelers to fly to Houston from U.S. and international destinations, including San Jose, Costa Rica, for as few as 2,500 points each way. That’s an even better deal when you consider the same destination on American Airlines starts at 10,000 miles. Just remember that the key to finding the best award flight prices on Spirit is flexibility.

HOU

HOU may be a smaller airport, but it can still offer cheap and simple ways to get to Houston using points and miles. The short list of airlines, several of which offer limited service beyond certain regions or seasons, means fewer award flight options, but still solid ones.

Southwest Airlines. Southwest offers several options for using points and miles to book an affordable Houston trip. In fact, you can fly one-way from Las Vegas to Houston for as few as 2,510 points and from Seattle to Houston for 4,193 (compare that to a similar award flight on Alaska that requires 10,000 miles each way). As with many other airlines, award prices fluctuate, but cheap award flights can definitely be found.

Consider airline alliances

Remember, too, that because so many airlines fly out of Houston airports, you can often take advantage of airline alliances to make your miles go further by booking award travel with airlines on the same team. KLM, Delta, Air France and Aeromexico are part of SkyTeam; Oneworld brings together Qatar, British Airways and American Airlines; and many of the other international airlines, plus United, are connected through Star Alliance.

Now that you know, you can start planning your Houston trip with points and miles.

Hotels in Houston

No matter where you stay in the city, there are good deals to be had on award bookings. Here’s some guidance on using points to book an affordable Houston hotel stay.

Houston Marriott hotels

Hotel ICON

Part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the ICON is located in the heart of bustling downtown Houston on lively Main Street. More than just a hotel, it’s a historic structure, originally built in 1911 as the Union National Bank Building. Now, it’s an impressive representation of neoclassical architectural style and elegance. The property features valet parking, the Line & Lariat restaurant and a shiny new full-service spa. Rooms are all class and luxury and range from king rooms with sweeping city views to sprawling executive suites.

Under Marriott's new dynamic awards system, all rewards rates will vary based on demand, much like cash rates.

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy stays: Check out the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase. The card’s current welcome bonus is: Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Plus, you’ll receive 15 Elite Night Credits and achieve Silver Elite status automatically each year, plus enjoy a free night award every year after your account anniversary, valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level up to 35,000 points.

If you don’t want to commit to a Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit card but you still want Gold status, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express, which also comes with automatic Marriott Gold Status. Plus, the card is currently offering this welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Those points can typically be transferred to the Bonvoy program at a 1:1 ratio.

Houston Hilton hotels

The Sam Houston

Named for the city’s founder, this hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection. It’s close to the popular George R. Brown Convention Center, but also more entertaining destinations like the aquarium and the Astros' baseball stadium. Want to explore more of the city? Nearby Preston station will get you there by rail.

Cost to book in points: Rooms start at 28,000 points per night for standard rooms and 61,000 for suites. Hilton doesn’t use a set award chart, so award prices may fluctuate slightly depending on demand, but NerdWallet values Hilton points at 0.5 cent per point.

Additionally, when you pay for your stay with Hilton Honors points, book four nights and get your fifth night free with no blackout dates.

How to earn Hilton Honors points: Co-branded Hilton Honors credit cards are a great way to really rack up points and other perks. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card comes with a $150 annual fee and offers the following welcome bonus: Earn 170,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply. The card also grants immediate Gold status, which offers an 80% bonus on base points and complimentary room upgrades if available. Terms apply.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card’s welcome offer is as follows: Earn180,000Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.Offer Ends 1/17/2024. Plus, you'll get a weekend night award after you join, and then one each year that you renew your card. It also comes with Diamond status, which means you get a 100% bonus on base points so you can earn free stays even faster, plus executive floor lounge access. Keep in mind that these perks come with an upfront cost: the card’s annual fee is $550. Terms apply.

If you want status or the ability to book with points but don’t want to commit to a Hilton Bonvoy-branded credit card, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express, which also comes with automatic Hilton Gold Status. AmEx points can typically be transferred to the Hilton Honors program at a 1:2 ratio, which means 1 American Express point can be turned into 2 Hilton points. Terms apply.

Houston Hyatt hotels

Hyatt House Houston/Galleria

Photo courtesy of Hyatt

Extended-stay hotels are excellent for those who plan to stay for more than a night or two and expect to do a fair amount of work, cooking or lounging in their room. And the Hyatt House Houston/Galleria is no exception. Rooms feature kitchens, sofas, desks and more. The hotel offers amenities like on-site dining at H Bar and a complimentary grocery shopping service, and is just a short drive to Houston’s lively Museum District.

Cost to book in points: The Hyatt House Houston/Galleria is the most spacious Category 1 Hyatt hotel close to the city center. Rooms start at 5,000 points per night. Or you can book a premium suite, like a two-bedroom king suite, for 10,000 points per night. NerdWallet values Hyatt points at 2.3 cents per point.

How to earn Hyatt points: For the most World of Hyatt points in the least amount of time, check out the World of Hyatt Credit Card from Chase. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent. The card comes with a $95 annual fee, but benefits include a free night every year after your cardmember anniversary and five qualifying nights toward the next status level every year.

The bottom line

We hope we’ve simplified how to get to Houston with points and miles in 2022, and offered a better idea of how to get there, how many points and miles you’ll need and how to go farther for less in Texas’ largest city. There are plenty of airlines to choose from for your flight to Houston, but IAH will offer more options than HOU. Accommodation options are likewise ample, making Houston a worthy destination for spending your points and miles this year.