Traveling on a tight budget has never been simpler with so many available options for travel hacking - utilizing frequent flyer points and miles as effectively as possible to realize your dreams of free travel!
Travel hacking strategies involve credit card churning, tracking "mistake fares" and airline sweet spots, shopping portals, dining rewards programs and surveys - as well as maintaining an diversified points balance to guarantee award space is always available when needed.
Credit Card Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses can be an ideal way to kick-start rewards travel. Most credit card issuers offer welcome bonuses as an inducement to sign up, typically requiring certain spending in a certain timeframe to unlock them.
Be wary when making any purchases that might meet minimum spending requirements - some cards specifically exclude gift card and cash advance purchases from these minimum requirements, so always double-check. In addition, paying off your balance each billing cycle to avoid interest charges that could eat into any welcome offer earnings.
Points and miles that can be redeemed directly through airline loyalty programs can be among the most valuable. TPG has an awards versus cash calculator to help you determine which redemption options make more sense for you.
Airline Companion Passes
Airline companion passes are one of the most exciting travel perks available to travelers, enabling them to choose a companion who will fly virtually free with them for a specified period, usually one year, with just taxes and fees to pay.
Companion passes are typically earned by flying or spending a minimum amount of points; however, some airlines offer promotions that accelerate travelers' earnings towards this coveted perk.
Southwest has launched an unprecedented offer that makes earning a Companion Pass easier than ever, until March 11. Travelers who open qualifying new cards and meet spending requirements will get an eight-month Companion Pass valid until February 2025, worth up to an estimated value of up to $1,848 depending on how often a person flies.
Shopping Portals
Many airlines, hotels and credit card issuers offer shopping portals where you can earn extra points or rewards on purchases you would have made anyway - making these portals invaluable when trying to meet spend requirements for signup bonuses or stack category multipliers on travel and dining purchases.
As soon as you click through a portal and make your purchase from an online retailer, browser cookies will track the transaction and award bonuses accordingly. Make sure only use promotions found within that portal; using other promo codes could cause it to fail and leave you ineligible for bonuses.
Tracking multiple shopping portals can be time consuming, but there are aggregators like CashBack Monitor which make finding great offers faster and easier. Check it out as a reliable and constantly up-to-date resource!
Dining Rewards Programs
Peak travel seasons - such as summer and the holidays - can see airfare, hotels and transportation prices skyrocket, making now an opportune time to put points and miles to good use.
Airlines and hotels often offer dining programs to reward members who spend at participating restaurants. Most programs require members to register a credit card with them, which then tracks your spending; some cards also let you double up with rewards from both dining programs as well as shopping portals for one purchase!
Redeeming points and miles for vacations can save you thousands of dollars that could go toward other travel expenses, like first-class flights or hotel stays. But it's essential that you understand when redeeming them makes the most sense.
Surveys
Travelers love taking online surveys, which can help them earn extra points and access travel deals. But before doing so, be sure to read all of the fine print so you know exactly what to expect; otherwise this travel hack could backfire and it is best to steer clear.
As with any financial strategy, travel hacking involves setting your goals and finding ways to achieve them. Credit cards, airlines and regulations change frequently; keeping an eye out for new opportunities is the key. Remember, slow and steady over time can bring amazing travel experiences; once you experience lie-flat business class seats or hotel suites for yourself "normal" may no longer suffice!
