Never let a mile go to waste. Sign up for the program even if it’s just a one-off earning event. Many programs don’t expire miles anymore. "I joined HawaiianMiles 21 months ago and I just added to them, and now they may even wind up as Alaska miles which are far more valuable." Having points in my Hawaiian account already meant transferring fewer from Amex recently. Even programs I don’t engage with much (less than every year and a half) are still worth picking up miles in rather than foregoing the points.
Similarly always sign up for promotions. You want to earn the most points for your activities. When you see a promotional offer such as double points at a hotel chain, spend a couple of seconds clicking register when an offer comes in; then let the bonus points roll in without thinking about it.
Track your points. Keep everything in one place. For well over a decade I’ve used Award Wallet to keep everything together and track balances.
Earn points for your online shopping and dining out. While you can maximize this, at a minimum make sure to earn points available for activities you undertake anyway. Link your primary restaurant spend credit card to the dining program of the loyalty program you like best.
But don’t spend more money than you otherwise would. Don’t let online points-earning or credit card rewards induce you to spend more money.
Never earn just one mile per dollar for your credit card spend. It’s easy to supercharge your credit card points-earning since credit cards constitute a majority of earned points.
Perhaps you have The Platinum Card® from American Express: "The only spending I put on this card is airfare since it earns an amazing 5 points per dollar spent." Fortunately those who want to stay in the Membership Rewards ecosystem have The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express which earns 2X Membership Rewards® Points on all eligible spending annually without any fee (see rates and fees).
Maybe you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Those cards excel at travel and dining spends but not other purchases since they’d earn just one point per dollar elsewhere.
Understand why you're getting, keeping, and using your rewards card: A rewards credit card generally provides three types of value - know why you're getting it before committing long-term after earning initial bonuses or specific benefits like lounge access or companion airfare perks.
Be strategic about accumulating reward point accumulation aligning them with goals avoiding redundancy e.g., Lufthansa Miles & More while ignoring non-essential ones leading expiration underutilized potential etc
Transferable Points better airline-centric flexibility; eg use Ink Business Preferred Credit Cards’ vast transfer options leveraging enhanced versatility topping off accounts pre-planned redemptions easier handling varied awards higher returns frequent traveler savvy optimization yielding max gains effectively utilizing diverse partnership structures etc
Earn-and-burn practice recommended caution avoiding saving distant future unforeseen devaluation occurrences reducing immediate value significant losses balanced rational approach sustainable ongoing periods maximizing current advantages stabilizing cumulative overall results minimizing risks inherent volatile market fluctuations affecting mileage values preserving relative consistency long-term planning incorporating periodic evaluations responsive adjustments safeguarding interests participants maintaining rewarding experience beneficially productive framework achieving optimal outcomes accordingly adaptive strategies reflecting evolving dynamics preferences evolving circumstances continual basis ensuring comprehensive satisfaction engagement sustained positive momentum throughout journey collectively shared insights recommendations
What would you add/remove from these ten lessons making room alternative suggestions potentially considering deferred advanced levels exploring other aspects expanding coverage addressing broader audience needs refining existing guidelines improving overall utility practical applicability delivering enhanced informative resource facilitating better understanding effective management maximizing collective experiences benefiting community members continuously?
For rates/fees The Platinum Card® from American Express click here.
For rates/fees The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express click here.
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