10½ Ways to Save With Points & Miles
Traveling can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be. By using points and airline miles earned from traveling, credit cards and online shopping you can save money on flights and hotel stays. Here are 10½ tips to help you get the most value out of your points and miles:
1. Choose the right credit card - Make sure to choose a credit card that offers bonus points for travel purchases. Some cards offer as much as 5x to 10x points for travel spending in certain categories like airfare and rental cars.
Photo credit: @servuspaul
2. Sign up for loyalty programs - Join airline and hotel loyalty programs to earn points for future travel. They’re free to signup for, I have joined dozens of loyalty programs!
3. Use shopping portals - Many airlines like Delta and American Airlines have online shopping portals that offer bonus points for purchases made through them. United also as a mobile app called Mileageplus X where you can earn bonus miles from United.
Photo credit: @magellol
4. Transfer credit card points - Transfer credit card points from American Express, Citi, Chase, and Capital One to various airlines and hotels to get the best value.
5. Use airline alliances - Use airline alliances to book flights on partner airlines and earn points on your preferred airline. For example if you want to book flights on United you could also search Air Canada Aeroplan or Avianca LifeMiles because they are all part of star alliance flights and have codeshare agreements to sell each other’s flights with points.
6. Book early or last minute - Book flights and hotels as early as possible to get the best rates and availability, but sometimes you can book last minute and find more availability for certain flights like flying in premium cabins to Europe or Asia.
Photo credit: @towfiqu999999
7. Be flexible with travel dates - Being flexible with your travel dates can help you find better deals on flights and hotels.
8. Use points to upgrade - Some airlines allow you to use points to upgrade your flight for a more luxurious travel experience.
9. Use airline credit cards for perks - If you frequently travel with a particular airline, consider getting their co-branded credit card. These cards often come with perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and lounge access.
Photo Credit: @cleipelt
10. Look for transfer bonuses - Sometimes these credit card companies offer transfer bonuses of 10-50%, which can make your points even more valuable. Bookmark this page, we update those bonuses here regularly.
Photo Credit: Frugal Flyer
10½. Take advantage of welcome bonuses - Many credit cards offer welcome bonuses when you sign up and meet a minimum spending requirement. These bonuses can be worth thousands of dollars in travel rewards if you use them well. Learn more about my favorite credit cards here.
By incorporating these additional tips into your travel planning, you can save even more money and get much more value out of your points and miles.
If you’d like to learn more you can enroll in our free course on traveling with points & miles. Happy travels!✌️
