AYCE (All You Can Earn): Miles and Points Binging

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Travel for free by maximizing your frequent flyer miles and hotel points: AYCE (All You Can Earn): Miles and Points Binging.

AYCE (All You Can Earn): Miles and Points Binging

Part 1: Earn 100,000 Miles or Points in 60 Seconds Without Leaving Home

Part 2: AYCE (All You Can Earn): Miles and Points Binging

Part 3: Points vs Miles

Part 4: Mad Max: Ways to Maximize Miles and Points

Part 5: The Best Credit Card

Five things to keep in mind before you start an AYCE (All You Can Earn): miles and points binging blitz:

1)  Stay away from the light

a) Know your upfront costs

Don’t get sucked into the lure of large enrollment miles and/or points. There is an actual cost to those miles and points.

Before applying for a new credit card be sure you know the impact the application will have on your credit score.  I’m repeating myself here but your credit is your most valuable possession.  This can’t be stressed enough.

b) Review your credit report

Get a copy of your credit report before you start your applications. It will give you a good idea if you’re a good credit risk.

2) Have a goal

Take time to plan and decide what you want from your miles and points and where you want to travel.   Then determine which credit card will be the vehicle to get you there.

If you want to fly to an international destination other than Guadalajara, Mexico City, Cancun, Morelia or Zacatecas, then it doesn’t make sense to apply for a Southwest credit card.

Check what airline flies to where you want to go and focus on earning miles on that airline.  But remember that you don’t have to focus exclusively on one airline, you can focus on several airlines within

More of a backpacker and prefer staying in hostels to save money?  Skip the hotel branded credit card in favor of an airline-branded credit card.

It doesn’t make sense to waste a credit card pull on a credit card that won’t help you achieve your goal.

3) Hold your horses

Patience is a virtue.  Bide your time and wait before you apply for any credit cards if you’re planning on purchasing a home, refinancing, buying a car, or seeking a loan for other purposes.

Each credit card pull will temporarily lower your credit score.

4) Split the team

If you’re married, a partner, or significant other, you can double your miles and points earning potential.

But be smart and strategic with your applications by spreading them out.  Instead of both of you applying for the same card, alternate your applications.

Alternating your credit card applications will allow you to:

a) Avoid yearly fees

If you get card A with the annual fee waived the first year in year 1, then in year 2  your spouse gets the same card while you cancel yours.

Resulting in two signup bonuses for your household and $0 in annual fees for two years.

b) Spread out the minimum spend requirement

If card A requires a $2,500 spend in the first three months to earn the bonus miles/points, if you both get card A at the same time, then you have to spend $5,000 in three months.

Waiting until those first three months are over before the second person applies, means you’re spending $5,000 over six months vs $5,000 over three months.

5) Money for nothin’

Generally the larger bonus credit cards tend to have minimum spend requirements.  However, there are quite a few credit cards, both airline and hotel branded, that have no minimum spend requirements.  Focus on credit cards with no minimum spend to really maximize your AYCE (All You Can Earn):  miles and points binging.

A complete list of airline and hotel branded credit cards that have no minimum spend requirements can be found in this post.

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Traveling Well For Less has partnered with Your Best Credit Cards for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and YBCC may receive a commission from card issuers.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining, $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.

 

Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and how to apply

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of my favorite cards for earning cash back card and travel rewards. It offers a welcome offer of an additional 1.5% cash back on all your purchases up to $20,000 your first year.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal, 3% cash back at drugstores and restaurants (including delivery and takeout), 1.5% cash back on all other purchases and no annual fee. When paired with cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card or Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, you can use your points to travel for free.

 

Learn more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and how to apply