A Newbie’s Guide to Travel With Points and Miles: Getting Started

When we became empty nesters, I knew it was finally time to chase my dream of seeing the world. After booking our first few international trips, I was hooked. But with a growing travel wishlist, I needed a way to stretch our budget without sacrificing quality. Enter: Travel with points and miles.

I’d heard about using credit card rewards and loyalty programs to fund travel, but I had no idea where to begin. So, I dove in. I read articles, joined forums, and sifted through endless posts. Honestly, much of it was overwhelming for a beginner, and figuring out how to turn all that information into a practical strategy was tricky.

Little by little, I learned the lingo, built a plan, and started earning and redeeming points. Now, I want to help you do the same. This guide is designed for anyone who is ready to explore the world with points and miles but doesn’t know where to start. Let’s make your travel dreams a reality!

Why doesn’t everyone do this?

Simply put, it takes work! Like any hobby, the benefits are directly tied to the effort you put in. Getting started with points and miles takes time and research, and finding the absolute best deals requires patience and strategy. But once you experience the thrill of that first incredible redemption, you have all the incentive you need to keep going!

Basic Info about Points/Miles

If you have ever had a credit card, you know that credit card companies are doing SO well, they offer incentives to sign up for their products. This is typically either points/miles for travel or a certain percentage of cash back on purchases. In this guide, we are focusing on the world of travel rewards.

Each airline, hotel, and credit card has a unique “currency” in the form of points or miles. These rewards aren’t interchangeable unless you specifically transfer them between programs. However, not all programs allow transfers, and when they do, the exchange rate isn’t always 1:1. Understanding these nuances is key to maximizing your travel benefits.

The Big Four Banks for Travel Rewards

The four main banks that offer points earnings are Chase (Ultimate Rewards/UR), American Express (Membership Rewards/MR), Citi (Thank You Points/TYP), and Capital One (Capital One Miles/COM). They each come with a hefty list of transfer partners which you will want to carefully evaluate to find the best fit for your travel goals (more on that later).

Because these points can be transferred to various airline and hotel programs, they’re considered flexible and hold more value than those tied directly to a single airline or hotel. While other banks, like Barclays or Wells Fargo, also offer point-earning cards, this guide will focus on the “big four” for maximum impact.

Airline Alliances

While most airline-specific miles can’t be transferred between different airline programs, airline alliances offer a clever workaround for maximizing rewards. There are three major alliances (click for member list): Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and OneWorld. Together, these alliances provide extensive global coverage, and the best part? You can often book flights on Partner Airline 1 using the miles from Partner Airline 2 within the same alliance.

This opens the door to strategic redemptions, as some airlines offer far better value for award bookings than others. That is one of the most important pieces of information to take away from this article – the exact same flight can have drastically different reward costs on different partner airlines. By leveraging these partnerships, you can stretch your miles much further!

How are Points/Miles Earned?

You earn points from travel credit cards by earning a sign-up bonus OR with your regular monthly spending.

Sign-up Bonuses (SUBs)

A sign-up bonus (SUB) gives you a big chunk of points all at once—after you meet a minimum spending requirement within a specific time frame. These bonuses can vary throughout the year, so before applying for a card, make sure the current offer isn’t at a low point.

I use Offer Optimist to track historical SUBs and ensure I’m applying when the bonus is at or near an all-time high.

For example:
A card might offer 80,000 points if you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months of opening. But if you spend $3,999, you’ll get nothing. That’s why it’s so important to read the terms carefully and ensure you meet the requirement exactly—no exceptions!

Monthly Spend

Each time you use a credit card, you earn points or miles in that card’s specific rewards currency. Most cards offer different point multipliers depending on the category of your purchase.

For example, one card might give you 3x points on gas, while another only earns 1x point per dollar for the same transaction. These bonus categories are an easy way to maximize your everyday spending—so it’s worth knowing which card to use for what!

Other Card Benefits

Many travel cards offer a range of other benefits that can help directly offset their annual fees. You may get reimbursement for Global Entry, CLEAR, or TSA Precheck, or a direct credit when you book through that card’s travel portal. To maximize your benefit from any given card, make sure you utilize all reimbursements and credits that are available to you.

Time to Get Started!

Set Travel Goals

Start by assessing your needs—what are your travel goals and how much time are you willing to dedicate to this “hobby”? It is fun to start off by focusing on a “dream trip” a year or so in the future. That gives you enough time to accumulate the points needed to make it happen, as well as jump on any airline or hotel deals to maximize the usage of those points. If you want to fly 2 people business class to Japan, you will have a different strategy than someone who wants to fund a family trip to an all-inclusive in Mexico.

Check Your Credit

Before you start applying for cards, you’ll want to confirm you are within their credit score parameters (these vary by card). Otherwise, you will need to wait a few months and work on increasing your score. I keep an eye on it with Credit Karma (it’s free)!

Many people mistakenly believe that opening new credit cards will hurt their credit score. In reality, it’s often the opposite! One of the biggest factors in your score is your credit utilization ratio—the percentage of your available credit that you’re using. Having more available credit can actually help improve your score, as long as you manage it responsibly.

Consider your “Home Airport”

Consider your home airport and its airline partners when deciding which rewards programs to focus on. For example, if you’re based in the Atlanta area like we are, you’re in luck—Atlanta is a Delta hub, which means you’ll have access to tons of direct domestic and international flights, especially on Delta and its SkyTeam partners.

If you’re in the Midwest near smaller or mid-sized airports, you may have fewer direct options, but potentially more airline flexibility, depending on routing and connections.

East Coast flyers typically have better access to Europe, with more frequent and affordable flight options. On the flip side, those on the West Coast will often have an easier time reaching Asia and the Pacific.

Sign up for Loyalty Accounts

Sign up for loyalty accounts with any airline or hotel group you think you might use—even if you don’t have immediate plans. These programs are free to join, the points typically don’t expire, and having an account ensures you’re ready to book quickly when the right deal comes along. No one wants to miss out on a great redemption because they’re waiting on a loyalty number to be issued! Signing up in advance means you’re already in the system and ready to earn and redeem without delay.

Set up a Spreadsheet and/or Apps

Now that you’re signing up for loyalty programs, it’s important to stay organized. The easiest way to do that is by keeping all your information—membership ID numbers, usernames, and passwords—in one secure location. A spreadsheet works well, but make sure to password-protect your document for security.

There are multiple good apps, both paid and free, for tracking your credit cards and loyalty accounts. My favorite for credit cards is Travel Freely – as the name implies, it’s free, and does a great job keeping you updated on credit card application rules, when annual fees are due, additional card benefits, and your deadlines to meet your sign-up bonuses.

Sign up for Deal Notifications

I get daily emails from several different sources (The Points Guy, Daily Drop, Point.me, Going, and Thrifty Traveler are some of my favorites). Some alert me to new credit card SUBs or transfer bonuses from a flexible currency card to an airline or hotel, and some focus more on flight and hotel deals.

Getting Your First Card

Now that you’ve laid the groundwork, it’s time to take the plunge and apply for your first travel rewards card! With so many options out there, it can feel overwhelming—but don’t worry. Below, I’ll highlight some excellent beginner-friendly cards that offer great travel perks and are easy to turn into real rewards.

Before you apply, it’s important to understand that each bank has its own set of rules. These rules can affect both your approval odds and your eligibility for welcome bonuses. We’ll walk through those key guidelines so you can apply with confidence and avoid any surprises.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire card perpetually gets top marks. The welcome offer is usually between 65K at the low end all the way up to 100K! Sometimes they include a travel credit as well to sweeten the deal. Chase is the only credit card that partners with Hyatt, which is overall the best hotel chain for reward value. The annual fee is a modest $95, and $50 of that is offset by an annual credit to use toward booking a hotel in their travel portal. Following is a comprehensive list of their transfer partners. I’ve bolded the ones I consider most useful for beginners in the US (no shade against the others, there is great value to be had with them as well).

• Hotel: Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
• Airline: Flying Blue (KLM/AirFrance), Virgin, JetBlue, United, Southwest, British Air Avios, Singapore, AerLingus, Air Canada, Emirates, Iberia

Chase Application Rules

Chase has specific rules that are important to follow when applying for credit cards. The 5/24 rule limits you to a maximum of 5 new credit cards (of any kind, not just Chase cards) within a 24-month period. However, business cards do not count toward this limit because they typically don’t appear on your personal credit report. To keep track of your 5/24 status, use a credit card app, or review your credit report regularly.

Chase also has the 2/90 rule, which limits you to applying for no more than 2 credit cards within a 90-day period. If you apply for more than two in that time frame, your application will be denied (this includes business cards).

To earn a sign-up bonus on a Chase card, you must meet two conditions:

• You haven’t earned a welcome bonus on that specific card in the past 24 to 48 months, depending on the card.
• You don’t currently hold that card.

Capital One Venture Rewards Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards card typically has a 75K SUB, but it really shines when it comes to your monthly spend. You get 2x points on everything besides travel portal purchases, which carry a 5x multiplier! I also like the ease of the travel purchase eraser – you can reimburse yourself with points for any purchase coded as travel from within the last 90 days. This is great for hotels that you book through their portal, airbnb/VRBO – any non-chain stay. It also boasts an impressive list of airline transfer partners although they are a bit weaker on hotel partners. The full list is below, with the most useful IMO bolded!

• Hotel: Choice, Wyndham
• Airline: Flying Blue, Virgin, Air Canada, British Air Avios, Aeromexico, Qantas, TAP, Singapore Airlines, Avianca, Emirates, Turkish Miles and Smiles

Capital One Application Rules

Capital One allows you to be approved for 1 card every 6 months, including both business and personal cards. You can also earn a welcome bonus on each card, but you’re only eligible for a bonus every 48 months.

American Express

Amex doesn’t have a traditional “starter card” like some other banks, but they offer a wide range of solid options, with some of the best transfer partners in the industry. If you’re near a Delta Hub, Amex is an obvious choice since it’s the only bank that partners with Delta. In fact, Amex is known for having one of the best selections of airline transfer partners, making it a great option for maximizing your travel rewards.

You could go with one of their co-branded Delta Gold card for Delta flight credits and get an automatic 15% off all ticket purchases with miles. The Amex Blue Business Plus card (no annual fee!) has a 2x multiplier on all purchases. (Yes, you qualify for a business card if you even sell items on Facebook marketplace a few times a year!) The Amex Gold card ($325 annual fee) is also a great option with 4x restaurant AND grocery multipliers as well as $300 in annual credits for Resy, dining, and individual restaurant purchases. Travel partners listed below!

• Hotels: Marriott, Hilton, Choice
• Airlines: Flying Blue, Virgin, Delta, JetBlue, British Air Avios, Hawaiian (right now, their miles can be used for Alaska Airlines as well due to their merger), Air Canada, All Nippon Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Aeromexico, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Quantas, Qatar Airlines, Avianca, Aer Lingus

Amerian Express Application Rules

You can hold a maximum of 5 American Express cards at any given time. Amex also limits the welcome bonus to once per lifetime for each card, though in practice, this is closer to once every 8 years. However, a recent rule states that if you have a higher-tier card (like the Amex Platinum), you will not earn a welcome bonus on other cards in the same family (e.g., Amex Gold, Blue, or Green). Business cards seem to be an exception to this rule.

One silver lining: when you apply for a card with Amex, prior to running your credit they will let you know if you are eligible for the bonus or not so you don’t waste an inquiry!

Citi Strata Premier

The Citi Strata Premier card ($95 annual fee) offers some strong multipliers (3x at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations), a 75K SUB that’s nearly always available, and a solid list of transfer partners. However, there is a frustrating downside—many users (including us) get flagged for fraud prevention repeatedly, making the card unusable until you contact customer service. This happened to us about 5-6 times while earning the SUB.

Despite this issue, I still think it’s worth considering, just a bit further down the list. For most U.S. travelers, Citi’s best partners also work with Chase, Amex, and Capital One. Here’s a list of their partners:

• Hotel: Choice Hotels, Wyndham ,Accor, Leaders Club, Preferred
• Airlines: Flying Blue, Virgin, JetBlue, Avianca, Cathay Pacific, Aeromexico, Emirates, Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles, Etihad Airways, Quantas, Qatar, Eva Air, Singapore Airlines

Citi Application Rules

With Citi, you’ll need to wait 48 months before being eligible for another welcome bonus on the same card. Additionally, you can only apply for one card every 8 days (either personal or business) and no more than 2 cards in a 65-day period—which is a bit of an odd rule! Be sure to plan accordingly!

Earning Your Sign Up Bonus (SUB)

Once you have your new card, make meticulous note of the deadline and amount of spend to earn the bonus (or set up an app to do that for you). Note that the clock starts when you are approved for the card, not when it arrives! Then it is time to switch all your monthly bills to your new card. I always immediately add a new card to my Apple Pay and Google Wallet for ease of use! You should put all possible spend on your new card until your bonus has been achieved. The only items I pay from my checking account are my mortgage and my credit card balances. *VERY IMPORTANT*: All of this is for nought if you carry a balance and pay interest on your credit card(s) – be sure to pay in full each month!

Now That You Have the Points and Miles, What’s Next?

Ooh, it’s time for the fun part, booking the flights and hotels! We will go over finding deals and sweet spots in award travel in part 2, coming up next!