Best Ways to Earn Travel Rewards and Points Quickly
Author: Mike Fakunle
Travel rewards and points are a great way to save money and enjoy better trips. Many people dream of free flights, fancy hotel stays, or upgrades but don't know how to earn rewards quickly. I'll share simple ways to collect points so you can reach your travel goals sooner.
How Travel Rewards Work
Travel rewards are given through loyalty programs from airlines, hotels, or credit card companies. When you spend money, you earn points or miles. You can use these to pay for flights, hotel stays, or other perks.
Types of Travel Rewards
Airline Miles: These are used for flights, seat upgrades, or free checked bags.
Hotel Points: These can pay for free nights, upgrades, or extra services like breakfast.
Flexible Points: Some programs allow you to use points for a variety of travel expenses, such as car rentals or activities.
Join Loyalty Programs
Airline Programs
Airline loyalty programs are free to join and help you earn miles whenever you fly. Many programs also let you earn miles by flying with their partners.
For example:
If you’re a member of Delta SkyMiles, you can also earn miles when flying with partners like KLM or Air France.
Hotel Programs
Hotel loyalty programs reward you for booking directly with them. Chains like Hilton, Marriott, or Hyatt offer points for each stay, which can add up quickly.
Use Travel Credit Cards
A travel credit card can help you earn rewards faster than any other method.
Look for High Sign-Up Bonuses
Many credit cards offer large bonuses when you sign up and meet a spending goal. For example:
A card may give you 50,000 points if you spend $3,000 in the first three months.
These bonuses can often cover a round-trip flight or several hotel nights.
Use Cards That Reward Bonus Categories
Some cards earn extra points for spending in specific categories. Examples include:
Travel: Earn points for booking flights or hotels.
Dining: Get more points when eating at restaurants.
Groceries: Some cards even reward you for everyday shopping.
Transfer Points to Partners
Some credit card points can be transferred to airline or hotel loyalty programs. This is helpful if you need more points to book a reward.
Shop Through Travel Portals
Many loyalty programs have online shopping portals. When you shop through these websites, you earn extra points for every dollar spent.
For example:
Buy from stores like Target or Macy’s through an airline portal and earn 2-3 miles per dollar.
This is an easy way to earn rewards on items you already planned to buy.
Maximize Everyday Spending
Using your travel credit card for regular expenses can help you earn points without changing your routine.
Use Your Card for Bills
You can use your travel card to pay for everyday items like groceries, gas, or phone bills. Over time, this can accumulate a lot of points.
Cover Group Expenses
When dining out with friends or travelling in a group, offer to pay the bill with your card. Have others pay you back so you earn points for the entire amount.
Watch for Promotions
Airlines, hotels, and credit cards often run special promotions where you can earn bonus points.
Limited-Time Offers
Keep an eye out for deals like:
Double miles for flying specific routes.
Extra points for staying at a hotel for multiple nights.
Dining and Shopping Promotions
Some programs offer bonus points for dining at certain restaurants or shopping at partner stores.
Combine Points from Multiple Sources
Earning points from different programs can help you reach your goals faster.
Pool Points With Family
Some loyalty programs let you combine points with family members. For example:
Hilton Honors allows you to pool points with up to 10 people.
Transfer Points
If your credit card allows it, transfer points to your airline or hotel program to boost your balance.
Travel More to Earn More
Flying or staying at hotels more often is one of the simplest ways to earn rewards.
Book Partner Airlines
If you're not flying with your leading airline, booking flights with its partners will still earn you miles.
Plan Shorter Trips
Shorter trips can help you earn miles without spending too many points. For example, a weekend getaway may cost fewer points than a week-long vacation.
Stick to One Brand
You can earn status faster if you consistently use one airline or hotel chain.
Benefits of Elite Status
When you earn elite status, you get perks like:
Bonus points for every flight or stay.
Free upgrades to better seats or rooms.
Free checked bags or priority boarding.
Earn Points Beyond Flights and Hotels
There are other ways to earn travel rewards, even if you're not travelling often.
Car Rentals
Many loyalty programs offer points when you rent cars through their partners.
Book Experiences
Some programs let you earn points for booking tours, concerts, or other activities through their platform.
Avoid Common Mistakes
Don’t Let Points Expire
Many rewards programs have expiration dates for unused points. Check your account regularly to make sure your points don’t disappear.
Don’t Overspend
It can be tempting to spend extra money to earn rewards, but this can cost more than it's worth. Instead, focus on spending within your budget and using points wisely.
Redeem Points Smartly
Look for the best value when you're ready to use your points.
Choose Off-Peak Times
Travelling during less busy times can help you use fewer points for flights or hotel stays.
Look for Upgrades
Using points for upgrades instead of free flights or stays can give you more value.
Final Thoughts
Earning travel rewards doesn't have to be complicated. Following these tips and staying consistent, you can quickly collect points and enjoy more affordable, comfortable trips.
