5 Easy Ways for Beginners to Jump-Start Points and Miles Earning
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
With so many airline, hotel and credit card loyalty programs to keep track of, it takes time to become a true award travel expert. But even if you're just getting started with earning miles and points, a few key tips can help you reach your goal in no time. Below, TPG Points & Miles Editor Sarah Silbert outlines five great beginner tips.
Even if you're new to the points and miles hobby, the benefits of collecting travel rewards are readily apparent. After all, who wouldn't want an award flight in first class or a free hotel stay made even better by a suite upgrade? Still, getting from point A to point B can seem daunting, especially with so many loyalty programs and credit card sign-up bonuses to stay on top of. TPG offers a beginner's guide to help get you up to speed on the many steps you should take to start earning and redeeming, but if you're looking for a quick refresher, the tips below should come in handy as well. Here are five simple ways to begin earning rewards toward your next trip:
1. Sign Up for (And Use) the Right Credit Cards
Travel rewards cards are an important part of any award traveler's strategy for earning points and miles, not only because many of them offer incredibly lucrative sign-up bonuses, but because they offer you a return on everyday purchases you'd be making anyway.
Each month TPG publishes a list of the top 10 sign-up bonuses — this is a great way to keep on top of the currently available offers and evaluate which of them align with your travel goals and plans. Before you start applying, though, make sure you're familiar with the four transferable point programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest. Each of these programs partners with a selection of airlines and hotels, giving you various options for redeeming your points. You can earn points in each of these programs through credit cards (with SPG, you can also earn points through hotel stays) — see the link for each program for more info.
After you settle on the cards that earn you the points in your preferred programs (or that earn you transferable points that can be redeemed with your travel partners of choice), consider which ones offer you the best return on any given purchase. For example, if you often shop at office supply stores like Office Depot and Staples, you might want to sign up for the Chase Ink Plus Business Card, which earns you 5x Ultimate Rewards points on the first $50,000 spent in combined purchases each year at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services each account anniversary year. Based on TPG's valuations, that's a return of 10.5% — and you can redeem those points with a number of great transfer partners including British Airways and Hyatt.
One final aspect to consider when it comes to choosing and using the best travel rewards credit cards is the variety of benefits on offer. For example, if you want complimentary airport lounge access, look for a card like the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, which offers Admirals Club membership. There are also several cards that get you elite-like airline benefits.
2. Rethink Where You’re Crediting Miles
American recently announced that it will add a spending requirement to elite status qualification starting in January 2017, making it the last major US airline to add this revenue requirement. This means if you want to earn elite status with American, Delta or United, you'll have to shell out a minimum of $3,000 (for the lowest elite tier).
Delta and United do let you waive the elite-qualifying dollars requirement if you spend at least $25,000 in a year on one of their co-branded credit cards like the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express or the United MileagePlus Explorer Card, though for United this only applies up to Premier Platinum status). It's still unclear if American will offer a similar credit card waiver once its requirement is in place next year, though it's possible given the recently announced partnership with Barclaycard and Citi. In any case, though, earning elite status with these spending requirements may be out of reach — and if you don't think you'll qualify for your desired tier, it could be worth crediting your flights to another program that offers cheaper redemptions and/or more redeemable miles for your travel.
For example, if you usually fly United, you might want to look into crediting your flights to Star Alliance partner Singapore Airlines, since you can only book the carrier's sought-after Singapore Suites first class using KrisFlyer miles, and Singapore also offers lower redemption rates for flights from the US to Hawaii. Similarly, you might want to credit your Delta flights to Flying Blue or your American flights to British Airways or Alaska Airlines.
3. Always Go Through Shopping Portals
Whenever you make an online purchase, make sure you check and see if you can earn extra points or miles by going through a shopping portal. These are essentially online shopping gateways run in partnership with most major loyalty programs that offer you extra points or miles when you click through instead of going straight to a store's website.
For example, with the Delta SkyMiles Shopping site, clicking through to the Staples site will currently earn you 4 miles per dollar on your purchase — and that's on top of any other rewards you'll earn from your credit card. Also keep in mind that most shopping portals offer elevated bonuses for a variety of stores during specific holidays such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, and some also run limited-time bonus promotions when you spend a specific amount in a certain timeframe.
In general, focus on the shopping portal that earns you the points or miles you most value, though don't be afraid to use more than one — especially if you find a particularly high earning rate through one site. If you're looking for the best option for a given store, don't forget to check EVReward.
4. Maximize Dining Programs
Much like shopping portals, these programs offer you the opportunity to "double-dip" on purchases by earning extra rewards. Most major airlines and hotel chains partner with third-party dining programs, and once you enroll you'll earn extra rewards each time you eat at a participating restaurant. Depending on the program, you might even earn a bonus for your first visit or for meeting a certain spending threshold.
When it comes to choosing the best dining program(s) for you, as always, take into account which travel rewards you value the most, as well as which programs have the largest selection of restaurants in your area. Finally, make sure to maximize your purchases by registering a card that earns bonus points on dining with your program of choice. One solid pick would be the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which earns 2x points on all travel and dining spending.
5. Follow TPG for Deals and Tips
Learning the ins and outs of your favorite loyalty programs is half the battle; once you have the basics down, it's crucial to stay up to date on the latest program changes, travel deals and more. That's our bread and butter here at TPG, so follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter to learn how to maximize your travel.
If cheap flights are your scene, make sure to follow our TPG Alerts account on Twitter as well — we post airfare deals to Asia, Europe and beyond. Finally, sign up for our daily and weekly newsletters to catch all our top posts. As you'll see, the saying "Knowledge is power" has never been more true than when talking about the award travel hobby!
What are your favorite tips for getting started with earning points and miles?
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.