Points and miles have helped me Travel more (and better) this year. In fact, I’ve already saved thousands of dollars, and it’s only September.
I earn some rewards through loyalty programs, but most of my points and miles come Using different credit cards.
If you’re new to the game or trying to maximize your points before your next trip, here are some great tips I wish I’d known when I started.
Now is the best time to start
My only real regret when it comes to points and miles is that it didn’t start sooner.
getting Free travel The points felt too good to be true, and I didn’t want to cheat. But once I started looking at it more seriously, I saw it for the money-saving hack that it is.
If you’re considering upgrading to a credit card with a better points system, my best advice is to do it sooner rather than later. Waiting around will only cost you potential points.
The card’s travel portal doesn’t always have the best deals
The first time I used my points, I bought an airline ticket by myself Credit card travel portal. But now I know that’s rarely a good approach.
If I had transferred my points and redeemed directly through the airline I probably would have gotten the same tickets for less.
Cards with annual fees almost always pay for themselves
I used to think paying an annual fee for a credit card was a terrible idea. But these more prestigious cards typically offer more points and better signing bonuses.
Even my highest annual fee is easily offset by the value of the points I earn with the card. It still hurts to pay the lump sum, but I know it’s a good investment.
Diversifying your cards can help you save more
Major card issuers, such as Chase, American Express and Capital One, have a variety of travel partners. for example, Chase the ultimate rewards Transferable to United Airlines and Hyatt.
Having a large number of points with one account can be beneficial, but it sometimes limits how you can maximize the value of points.
I try to earn with a few different credit cards to diversify the payments. This way, I can have pools of transferable points for flights, Stays in a hoteland other broad travel categories.
Transfers are a goldmine for bonus points
Travel partners will periodically offer bonuses for transferring points from your card to their program.
For example, transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards to under a recent promotion Marriott Bonvoy 70% bonus earned – 1,000 credit card points converted to 70,000 Bonvoy points.
The only downside is that points cannot be transferred back. I like to have flexibility, so I’m usually reluctant to transfer. But since Marriott has nice hotels around the world, taking advantage of its generous bonuses is a no-brainer.
Miles are for spending, not collecting
At first, I was obsessed with collecting points and miles. But as airlines and hotels increased the number of points required for bookings, I quickly saw the value of my collection drop.
Now, I “earn and churn” by using my points on time unless I’m saving up for a big trip.
Points may offset transaction fees
I used to avoid paying by card if I had to cover Transaction fees. I didn’t see the point of paying the extra 2% when I could use cash.
But I’ve learned that it makes sense to pay a bit more if the value of the points outweighs the value of the add. It takes some math, but it helps me increase my earnings.
Points and miles aren’t the only perks that come with credit cards
The main reason I use a credit card is to earn points and miles. But many of the cards in my wallet come with other benefits, too, and they shouldn’t be overlooked.
For example, my Amex regularly offers money-off deals on movie tickets.
Because of my laser-like focus on earning rewards, I didn’t pay enough attention to these other benefits and missed out on some great deals.
Find out where your card earns the most points
Many credit cards earn more rewards in certain categories, such as restaurants or gas.
It took me a long time to really start paying attention to which of my cards would get me the most points. For example, mine gives one Triple points at restaurantsBut when the bill came, I would forget and reach into my wallet for any old card.
Now, I make sure to use the cards for their intended purposes to earn more points on every purchase.
Bringing your friends on board helps everyone earn more points
Many credit cards offer bonuses to existing cardholders for referring friends.
I was reluctant to encourage friends to open credit cards. But when they started asking me How often do I travel?I had the ease of sending them my referral link.
If they sign up, I get a nice bonus, and they start earning their own miles – it’s a win-win.
Don’t think too much about it
The more seriously I get into the points and miles game, the more I find myself painstakingly analyzing the best deals. But if I overcomplicate these decisions, I might burn out and waste my hard-earned savings.
At the end of the day, I’m grateful that these perks have allowed me to travel more, even if I can’t grab every bonus deal or extra point.
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