Getting a credit card to maximize the points you want
(One of the links below is an affiliate link- at no additional cost to you I would receive commission points upon purchase. I support the product regardless, but transparency matters.)
Points are king and finding the best travel credit card for you is your coronation. I’ve used points to get flights to San Diego for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships of horse racing. The trip wouldn’t have happened without those points because the event tickets ate up the budget. I’ve also used hotel points that I have been squirreling away to find a loophole in ridiculously priced hotels in Louisville for the Kentucky Derby. I cannot say enough about having stockpiles of points to make your trips happen. Don’t call it a dream. Call it a plan.
This series has covered why you should be in travel loyalty programs, all the different ways to earn points with or without cards, and how to maximize earning points with specific travel credit cards. Now, finally, let’s conclude with what you should consider before you pick your travel-branded credit card.
For this list, all you need is to consider your own needs. I’m also not going to break down comparisons of different rates, fees, specific transfer points, etc. If you want an easy breakdown, thepointsguy.com owns this territory for good reason.
Getting into a credit card
First, it is a credit card. Even awesome trips aren’t worth stress from massive debt. So consider your credit score, your spending habits, what a smart limit is for you, and how likely you are to pay off a bill in full each month. The interest rates with a lot of these types of cards are in the 20% + range. Most of these types of travel branded cards have a yearly fee, most around $100 for the year. Some are lower, some waive a fee, most allow you to use your points to pay off that fee. Read the fine print.
How you want to use your points from the credit card
What do you want? Most of these cards come with perks. Priority boarding. Priority check in. Free lounge passes each year. Anniversary points. Some possibility of free upgrades (but don’t count on it unless you’re elite.) Bonus points on every purchase from their shopping platforms. Ability to use points for non-travel purchases. The list continues. Check to see if the specific perks you want are a part of that airline or hotel’s credit card.
Where you want the mileage and points to take you
The key question before getting a travel credit card is where you want those points to take you. Airline credit cards are the best use of your plastic. Flights are often the least flexible and largest expense. There is also the fabulous perk of using points to upgrade. With the massive sign up points these cards give, you start with free flights. So it’s important to think of WHERE you want to go.
For instance, if your bucket list dream trip is to Italy, you don’t want to build those points on your Southwest card (no Europe). If you want to possibly have a nice upgrade, you don’t want to build points with Frontier. Get a nice, generic airline if you’re not sure where you want to use the points or if you want to go a lot of places. If you want to save points to take the kids anywhere domestically, Southwest, baby. Southwest. Because…
Who do you want to your points to cover
If you’re flying, and you are a parent wanting to travel with kids (or an adult child wanting to treat your parents) check to see WHO you can use your points for. For instance, I have points with United. I can use my points to buy a United flight for me. That’s it. If I already have a paid ticket for Hubs, I can use my points to upgrade both him and myself, but I can’t get him a points ticket. I also have Southwest points. And I can use my Southwest points for anyone on my itinerary. You get a flight. And you get a flight. Everybody gets a flight. No additional fee. So if you want to take the kiddos along for a dream point redemption- consider who will let you use the points for the kids. For most in the US looking for a lot of domestic travel, Southwest is the answer. One of these three choices* will have you covered.
Remember, you don’t have to have any credit card, much less a travel-branded one, to earn points. If you do want a travel branded card don’t settle for less than a 40K points bonus sign up. And before you pick your card, think about what, where, and who. Research what fits you or have me help. Points are one of the best ways that make bucket lists doable, even luxurious. Where do you want to go? Let’s make it happen.
May the road rise to meet you, travelers, and may your miles take you there.
(Fourth in series: Maximizing Travel with Points)
(*As stated above, TYB receives points compensation upon referral purchase for this link.)
