Maximizing Rewards: A Case Study on Ticket Purchases
Earning points and miles can prove challenging beyond initial welcome bonuses. To enhance these earnings, utilizing shopping portal bonuses and other promotions is essential.
Recently, I bought three tickets for a Portland Timbers game, totaling approximately $180. Had I used a card that typically offers only 1 point per dollar spent without any additional promotions, I would have gained a mere 180 points.
Instead, by leveraging my Chase Freedom Flex®’s quarterly categories and current promotions from Rove and Paze, I managed to accumulate close to 4,000 points, equating to more than $75 in value. Below is a detailed breakdown of my earnings.
Freedom Flex Live Entertainment Quarterly Category
For the third quarter of 2026, the Freedom Flex card included select live entertainment as part of its rotating 5% bonus categories, applicable to up to $1,500 in qualifying spending (activation required).
Though marketed as a cash-back card, the Freedom Flex generates Ultimate Rewards points. Consequently, my earning rate for live entertainment purchases this quarter was effectively 5 points per dollar spent, given that I hold an eligible card that allows conversion of my Freedom Flex rewards into transferable points.
This category alone resulted in approximately 900 points, a significant increase compared to the 180 points I would typically earn outside this category. Nevertheless, I aimed for higher earnings during my purchase.
Having utilized Rove extensively for various events, I appreciate its potential for points accumulation. Members can earn Rove miles, which are transferrable to over 20 airline and hotel partners, including those not covered by traditional credit card loyalty programs.
Joining Rove is free. While Rove provides a travel booking portal, I specifically targeted its shopping portal for this transaction. At the time, Rove offered 6.5 miles per dollar on StubHub purchases.
By processing my ticket purchase through StubHub, I earned over 1,100 Rove miles. However, an inconvenience with Rove is the delayed posting of miles, which can take until early December in some cases.
Always initiate your purchase via the Rove app, website, or browser extension. If using the browser extension or desktop, ensure other shopping portal extensions are disabled.
In addition to using Rove, leveraging the checkout with Paze presented another opportunity to maximize my rewards.
Maximizing Rewards with Paze
Eligible Chase cardholders currently have the opportunity to earn an extra 10 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent when checking out with Paze at select merchants, including StubHub, until December 31. This added layer of rewards allowed me to triple-dip with my purchase.
Using Paze for checkout contributed approximately 1,800 additional points to my total.
Selecting Paze at checkout is straightforward; just choose it as your payment method comparable to using a digital wallet. However, I encountered a technical issue on mobile, which resolved smoothly on desktop.
Total Earnings Breakdown
In summary, here’s how my earnings and their monetary value shaped up:
| Method | Approximate Rewards Earned | Approximate Valuation* |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Flex | 900 | $18 |
| Rove | 1,100 | $22 |
| Paze | 1,800 | $37 |
| Total | 3,800 | $77 |
*Valuations are based on TPG’s November 2026 evaluations and are not provided by credit card or program issuers.
Why My Freedom Flex Remains Essential
My Freedom Flex card has been a staple in my wallet for years, primarily due to strategies like this. Although the Paze promotion isn’t exclusive to this card, it’s the only Chase card currently available to new applicants with rotating 5% quarterly bonus categories.
Live entertainment is regularly featured as a quarterly category, so I anticipate being able to replicate this approach in 2027.
As you open more credit cards, identifying new welcome bonuses becomes increasingly difficult. Given that welcome offers often provide the bulk of rewards, finding alternative ways to earn points and miles is vital when those opportunities dwindle.
Understanding how to optimize your significant purchases, especially those shared with others, can significantly bolster your rewards balance even without actively seeking new credit cards.
For those who do not currently possess a Freedom Flex card, applying can earn you $250 cash back or 25,000 bonus points after spending $500 in the first three months. This lucrative welcome bonus is time-sensitive.
If you hold an eligible Ultimate Rewards card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can transfer the points earned through your Freedom Flex to Chase’s 14 transfer partners.
Conclusion
Although the Timbers did not secure a win, the nearly 3,800 points and miles I accrued from my ticket purchase significantly mitigated the disappointment of the loss.
Creating a reward strategy like this is feasible with virtually any card in your wallet. Assess the current offers, time-sensitive earning rates, and promotions tailored to your specific card, while also exploring shopping portals such as Rakuten and Rove for various options.
Effectively tapping into your card’s earning potential involves a thorough understanding of available offers and strategic combinations. This effort may require some additional work, but the rewards can contribute to your next memorable trip.
For further details, review our comprehensive guide on the Chase Freedom Flex.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex
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