We’ve all seen the articles where a frequent traveler uses credit card miles as a hack for earning free travel and ends up taking some fabulous trip while only paying a few bucks out of pocket. While it may seem far-fetched and too good to be true, there are legitimate ways to earn miles on everyday spending and offset some of the major expenses associated with travel. The best part is, with a little strategy and smart use of the right credit card, you, too, can rack up points quickly and start jet-setting around the world.
And contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a frequent traveler or take multiple flights yearly to load up on miles. You can start earning right away for purchases you’re already making, and most require little effort — you only need the right rewards program.
What are credit card miles?
Certain credit cards are available where cardholders earn rewards for spending with a particular credit card and are eligible for a loyalty program. One type of card is a miles rewards card, where you earn “miles” for every dollar you spend using the credit card. These miles have a value attached to each, which the travel or airline partner and the credit card company determine. Values range from .85 to 2 cents per mile, depending on the reward. These miles can be redeemed through various travel or airline portals or the credit card rewards travel portal.
It’s important to note that the airline sets the miles required for a free seat, upgrade, or other travel benefits. The number of miles needed for free or reduced-cost travel depends on the destination, whether or not it’s peak travel season, plus the regular cost of a flight without the use of miles.
Since some flights require more miles than others, you want to take advantage of every possible opportunity to earn miles, especially if you can do it with purchases you’re already planning to make.
You should also note these rewards miles are separate from airline frequent flyer miles. A frequent flyer program requires you to fly with the program to earn miles. Rewards miles are earned through purchases but can be combined with frequent flyer miles for even more value.
How do I earn miles on everyday purchases?
Let’s look at how you can maximize the number of miles you can earn with these top strategies.
1. Start with the right credit card rewards program for you
The first place to start earning is to look at how you’re currently spending your money. Once you analyze your monthly, quarterly, or yearly spending patterns, you’ll notice which categories you spend more in than others. Popular reward categories where you earn boosted rewards include:
Groceries
Dining
Travel purchases, including hotel, airlines, car rentals, and cruises
Gas stations
Streaming services
Wholesale club purchases
Next, look for a credit card rewards program offering the most reward points or miles for the categories most aligned with your spending categories. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers points for dining purchases (including eligible delivery) made with the card. These points go towards the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, which allows you to transfer points to airline miles or hotel points with Chase transfer partners or convert them to cash back or statement credits.
With a quick spending analysis, you can pick a rewards program better suited to your finances, which is a quick way to earn miles for everyday purchases. Plus, you can ensure the cost of the card, such as the annual fee, is worth it for you.
2. Pay attention to bonus categories
Some rewards cards feature a flat-rate structure, where you earn one mile or one point per dollar spent, no matter the category. Other cards offer higher rewards for specific categories throughout the year, such as on groceries and these categories. Lastly, some rewards programs offer bonus categories throughout the year, a chance for you to maximize miles or points earned.
If you belong to a rewards program offering bonus categories, make sure you note how often the categories are announced. Some programs publish their bonus category plans for the entire calendar year, while others only publish it one quarter at a time. Either way, if you mark it in your calendar, you ’ll know when to use the card for the bonus category, so you can earn extra miles. Also, be aware you sometimes have to activate the category by selecting it within the rewards program portal.
3. Enroll all eligible cards in a dining rewards program
Dining rewards programs are another simple way to earn points or miles daily. Dining programs offered by brands such as
Chase credit cards or
Hilton Honors Dining make this a mindless way to earn.
First, you enroll in the dining program, separate from the rewards programs, to take advantage of this. Then, you link all of your eligible credit cards or debit cards that you would use to pay for dining out (or takeout or delivery). Anytime you eat at a participating restaurant featured in the dining program, you earn points or miles. It doesn’t have to be linked to a rewards credit card either, although if it is, you can double-dip points!
Some credit card companies, such as
Capital One, offer their shopping portal, so you can earn more points by simply conducting your online shopping while earning points with eligible purchases within their portal. For instance, if you have a Capital One credit card eligible for Capital One Miles, you can go through the Capital One portal to purchase on Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers.
Using a program’s shopping portal is another super easy way to earn more points on everyday shopping purchases, including gift cards or purchases for you and your family.
5. Regularly check for bonuses
One of the easiest ways to earn a large chunk of miles at once is to pay close attention to — and take advantage of — any welcome offers or sign-up bonuses a rewards program offers. Numerous rewards cards offer a welcome or sign-up bonus when you are a brand-new cardholder. They usually involve you spending a certain amount within a short period of time, such as three or six months within account opening, and in return, you earn more miles or points.
The number of miles you earn from qualifying for the welcome bonus depends on the current offer. For instance, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has offered up to an additional 60,000 in Membership Rewards points for spending $4,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Terms apply.)
Rewards programs regularly offer special promotions where you register to participate and possibly earn bonus miles during special events. A good illustration of this is a former promotion with American Airlines that provided 1,000 miles after spending $25 within the first 30 days of enrolling if you enrolled in the
AAdvantage Dining Program. Pair this promotion with a card where you earn American Airlines miles (or with a card where American Airlines is a transfer partner), and you can supercharge your miles quickly.
The bottom line
Credit cards include many perks, from extra travel protection to roadside assistance with some cards. These cards become even more valuable when you take advantage of rewards programs-especially if you can earn points or miles on everyday purchases. Many of these programs offer amazing travel partnerships, which means there are various options for redeeming for travel or other products. With a little strategy, you can earn miles for everyday purchases and get ready to plan your next adventure in no time.
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