Step by step guide
Banks offer points & miles in the hopes that you will use their card. Each time you use their card, they charge a transaction fee to the merchant. This is built into the price of everything we buy. However, you can use this incentive structure to your benefit. Use your everyday spending to rack up points! Then use these points & miles to pay for flights, hotels, and more!
01
Sign up for a credit card
Identify a card with an attractive signup bonus and a reasonable minimum spend requirement. Some cards are easier to get than others. Learn more about which cards to target first and how to predict if you are likely to be approved.
02
Meet the minimum spend required for the bonus
Many cards offer a generous signup bonus. Something like, “Get 100,000 points after you spend $2,000 over the first 3 months.” That doesn’t mean you have to go on a spending spree…just put your normal expenses on the card. Make sure you meet the requirement before the deadline and watch the points roll in!
03
Use your points to get airline tickets, hotel stays, & more
Many credit cards offer transferable points, which can be transferred to the award program of your choosing and used to book flights, hotel rooms, and more. Other credit cards partner with specific programs and points earned are automatically deposited into that airline or hotel’s award program. Additionally, many points and miles programs can be used for cashback.
04
Enjoy your stay
Honeymoon on the beach. Snowboarding in the Rockies. Time Square on New Year’s Eve. A once in a lifetime first-class trip around the world. Or just some time away from work. How you use your points is up to you, but your trip will be a little more enjoyable knowing that it is costing you a fraction of what it otherwise would…it may even be FREE!
05
Repeat
The great news is that there are many cards out there, each offering amazing signup bonuses! This is not a one-time opportunity. Monitor your credit score (it often goes up). Pay off your cards at the end of the month. Sign up for another card, meet the spend, and plan your next getaway!
Credit Cards
Learn about which currently available credit cards can have you flying for FREE.
Credit Score
Learn about your credit score and how opening up additional cards may impact your score.