How I Went to the French Open Using Points

When most people think about using travel rewards, the obvious answer is for flights and hotels. And that’s not wrong—those are often where loyalty currencies can stretch furthest.

However, on a recent trip to Paris, I used my points to do something a little different: get into one of the most coveted sporting events in the world and book a hotel for the occasion.

That meant redeeming 20,000 Emirates Skywards miles for a reserved main stadium seat at the 2026 French Open tennis tournament, and 40,000 World of Hyatt points for two nights at the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile.

Together, those redemptions covered an experience that would have cost several hundred dollars in tickets alone, along with a hotel during one of the priciest weeks of the year in Paris. Here’s how it all came together.

The French Open, also called Roland-Garros, is one of the four major Grand Slam tennis tournaments, played each year in Paris on red clay. It’s a highlight for tennis fans, and it’s an event I’ve long wanted to attend.

In early May, I was searching for a French Open ticket when I came across availability through Emirates Skywards. Listed was a reserved seat on Court Philippe-Chatrier (the tournament’s main court) for 20,000 miles during early-round day sessions.

As a point of comparison, second-round Chatrier seats on the verified resale market run roughly between $150 to $500, depending on category and session. (French law makes it illegal to resell tickets above face value without authorization from the event organizer.)

After logging back into my Skywards account and selecting the event, miles were immediately deducted from my balance, and I received a confirmation email. The electronic ticket arrived about 48 hours before the start of the tennis matches.

The Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile sits in the 17th arrondissement, near the northeastern corner of Bois de Boulogne and a short Metro ride from the Roland-Garros tennis complex. It’s a Category 5 World of Hyatt property, and I managed to book two nights in a king room for 20,000 points per night (40,000 total). Considering these dates were during French Open week, typically one of the busiest periods of the year, I felt like I got excellent value.

If you’re thinking of using miles or points for experiences like this one, keep the following in mind:

All told, for a trip that included a seat at a highly sought-after sporting event, along with accommodations during a pricey week for hotels, being able to use points and miles felt like a real win.

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