How I earned 100,000 points before signing up for my 1st credit card
Imagine a business-class ticket to Europe, two round-trip tickets to Hawaii, numerous short domestic flights or a night of being pampered at a swanky resort. Now imagine those luxuries for free. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
These things can be achieved on a budget, often with 100,000 points or less from various loyalty programs. For many individuals, earning these currencies comes down to two primary options: credit cards rewards and/or traveling.
When traveling as cheaply as possible by redeeming rewards, one cannot accrue awards, as most airlines and hotel brands prohibit earning points and miles from a redemption. Even when paying for travel, many earning structures are directly correlated to the cost of the purchase, so by only taking those cheap flights, it will take a long time to build a substantial balance. How can one secure sufficient points and miles to enjoy these redemptions without buying plane tickets and staying in hotels?
Credit card rewards can be earned quickly via everyday spending and the TPG fan favorite: credit card welcome offers, with the ability to earn 100,000-plus points at once. But there is one issue. If you cannot sign up for credit cards because you are holding off on applications during a home buying process, are out of your country or, in my case, are under 18 years of age and too young, then you cannot earn the associated bonuses. What then?
With a strong desire to travel, I tried to earn as many miles as I could before I was eligible to sign up for my first credit card. While not as substantial as a sign-up bonus, over time, I used the following strategies to earn 100,000 points and miles, many before my 18th birthday.
Shopping portals
Let’s face it, a lot of us spend more money online than we care to admit. Maximizing those purchases is where online shopping portals come into play.
Shopping portals make it easy to earn rewards, only requiring a couple of extra clicks. Rather than going directly to Macy's or Adidas, clicking through a portal can easily earn 2 or more miles per dollar with very little additional effort. Some stores will occasionally have increased offers, making it easier to build your balance.
While it rarely makes sense to spend extra money just to earn miles, there is no harm in clicking through the portal for purchases you were already going to make.
Many of the miles I earned before turning 18 came from American Airlines' shopping portal. Every time I bought a birthday present, clothes for school or new shoes, I purchased them through the portal and slowly but surely started building my balance.
If I needed to order something but did not have an imminent deadline, I waited for a better offer, such as earning 10 miles per dollar instead of 2, or I waited for a shopping portal bonus that would earn bonus points after spending a set amount of money.
Adding a shopping portal button to my browser only increased my earnings. I convinced my parents to add my American button to their browser so in addition to my parents earning rewards by using their credit card, I earned rewards without my parents’ need to navigate the portal.
In addition to American, other airlines and hotel programs have portals, such as Delta, United, Wyndham and more. Make sure to check Cashback Monitor for earning rates and TPG’s points and miles valuations to see the value of the points you can earn.
Related: The beginners guide to airline shopping portals
Card-linked programs
In addition to shopping portals, another way to earn more miles is by linking credit and debit cards to different card-linked programs. When your card is used to pay a certain merchant, the merchant notifies the program. This lets you earn bonus miles, sometimes per dollar spent or on purchases over a certain amount.
I linked my parents’ card to SimplyMiles, an American Airlines partner, which allowed me to earn miles after clicking on offers provided by the program. When they took advantage of an offer, I earned points.
While this approach has helped me earn some points, it does not have nearly as significant or robust a selection of merchants as the AAdvantage shopping portal.
The one thing to note about SimplyMiles is that you must link it to a valid Mastercard. Other airlines such as JetBlue and United offer similar programs through their shopping portals, but some offers are limited to in-store purchases only.
Related: How I plan to earn American Airlines Executive Platinum status with Loyalty Points
Dining programs
Like card-linked programs, dining programs allow you to link a card to your account. When that card is used at eligible restaurants, rewards from that purchase will be added to your account. Many loyalty programs offer dining programs, such as Marriott Bonvoy’s Eat Around Town and American’s AAdvantage Dining.
Many of these programs run on Rewards Network, meaning you can only have a card linked to one dining program at a time. When you try to link that same card to a new program, it will be removed from the previous program. Linking my parents' credit cards to dining programs (with their permission) allowed my parents to earn points from their cards while I was able to earn points through the program.
Related: 10 of the most generous airline and hotel dining rewards programs
Surveys
While many people laugh at the thought of filling out surveys to earn points and miles, there are some situations in which I disagree with them. While filling out these online surveys is often not worth the time, sometimes these programs have offers that are lucrative enough to sign up for.
A little while ago, Hilton ran a promotion offering 10,000 miles after your first survey. At TPG’s valuations, that is at least $60 worth of points and possibly enough points to stay two nights at a select number of properties that cost 5,000 points per night.
I signed up, took my first 10-minute survey and the points showed up in my account within a few weeks, in addition to the 40 or so points I earned for filling out the survey. Other promotions have allowed me to earn about 8,000 more points. Southwest’s Rewards for Opinions is another program I have used, though I earned minimal Rapid Rewards.
Related: Quick Points: Earn points and miles for completing surveys
How I am using the points and miles
| Program | Balance |
|---|---|
American AAdvantage (SimplyMiles, shopping portal and dining) | 56,987 |
Hilton Honors (surveys) | 17,995 |
United MileagePlus (dining and shopping portal) | 12,316 |
Combined Marriott, Delta, Southwest, Spirit, Frontier | About 18,000 |
Total | About 105,000 |
While I could amass 100,000 points and miles, they were spread across many programs. My American, United and Hilton balances, no doubt, were more substantial (about 57,000, 12,000 and 18,000 miles, respectively). However, some of my other balances are small enough to require additional rewards before I can make any worthwhile redemptions.
So far, I have used 30,000 American miles, along with a $5.60 fee, to buy a ticket from Washington, D.C., to Milan that would have otherwise cost north of $550. Also, I transferred 15,000 Hilton Honors points to my dad’s account via the points-pooling feature to top off his account for a premium redemption at the Mango House Seychelles.
I will likely try to use my MileagePlus miles to fly domestically next time United offers low-cost domestic award tickets. This often includes routes such as Washington, D.C., to Newark or Florida. Additionally, I have my eyes set on some American Airlines Web Specials to use the last of those miles to fly somewhere relaxing, like the Caribbean.
Related: Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
Bottom line
There are many ways to earn points and miles other than with credit cards or butt-in-seat miles on airlines that most people do not know about. Some of these methods require patience but, in the long term, can help you accrue a healthy stash of rewards. Adding a few more clicks before your online purchase can add up to make the difference between a paid and free flight (plus possibly airline status).
Why leave any value on the table when you can maximize every dollar you spend? Even before I signed up for my first credit card, I was able to amass significant rewards using my debit card. It is so easy that you can get started before you can get a credit card; after all, I could not vote, but I was able to fly for free using these strategies.
Feature photo by Oleg Breslavtsev/Getty Images.
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.