17 Travel Hacks to Earn More Rewards

Travel rewards make it easy to stretch your budget and see the world at prices you can afford, but that doesn't mean they're easy to earn. These travel hacks will help you get the most of your spending and rack up more rewards you can use for your next trip.

Most travel credit cards give you a big signup bonus when you become a cardholder and meet a minimum spending requirement in a set amount of time, usually three months. You can earn the bonuses on multiple travel credit cards over time, which can help you rack up a huge stash of points in a hurry.

While most cards have a standard welcome offer, they will periodically offer more points and miles - usually a few times per year. Wait for the best signup bonus offers available and you'll maximize your spending even more. This takes some planning and some patience, but your efforts will pay off in spades.

Also, remember that both you and a spouse or partner can earn the same signup bonuses on the same travel rewards credit cards - even if you live at the same address. Make sure you each sign up for your own credit cards to earn a bonus, and you'll earn considerably more points and miles every single year.

Most travel credit cards let you add authorized users to your account for free. Getting your teenager or another family member their own card on your account can help you earn points on their purchases as well as your own. Keep in mind, however, that you're ultimately responsible for repaying any charges made to your account - even if the authorized user doesn't pay you back.

The best way to earn more rewards is by using a travel credit card for all your regular spending including bills. That's right; use your travel credit card to pay for groceries, gas, utility bills, medical bills, and more. The more purchases you can charge to a credit card, the more points you'll earn. Just make sure you're paying your bill in full each month.

As you compare all your options, keep an eye out for travel credit cards that offer bonus points where you spend the most. Some travel credit cards offer more points for groceries, dining out, or travel, for example. When you strategically choose cards with popular bonus categories, you're in a better position to maximize your spending.

If you have a small business or a side hustle that earns an income and you don't have a business credit card, you're missing out. Not only can a business credit card help you keep personal and business spending separate, but you can rack up some serious points and miles by using the right business card for all your business-related spending.

If you travel for business, consider offering to pick up the tab with the promise of reimbursement. Charging all your travel expenses to your own personal travel credit card can help you earn points and miles on business trips, and you can submit all your receipts when you get back.

Most airlines and travel rewards programs have their own shopping portals, including popular options like American AAdvantage, Southwest Rapid Rewards, and Chase Ultimate Rewards. By clicking through a portal when you buy something online, you'll earn extra points on top of the rewards you earn with your travel credit card.

Booking travel online gives you the distinct advantage of comparing offers and earning even more rewards. You may be able to earn cash back by booking travel through Rakuten Rewards, for example. You can also earn more points by booking and paying for travel through various portals, including Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Don't forget that you can often book hotels and rental cars through airlines and rack up extra miles. Southwest Rapid Rewards offers this option, as does American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and plenty of others. Some airlines even offer thousands of bonus points when you use them to book a vacation package.

Also remember that signing up for hotel and airline loyalty programs is free. You should be earning points and miles any time you book airfare or stay in a hotel, but you'll only rack up rewards if you belong to the program and add your loyalty number to your reservation.

Some airlines like Southwest let you earn miles for completing surveys online. You won't earn a ton of miles for answering questions via their website, but this strategy is easy (and free) and you can answer survey questions online and from the comfort of your home.

Each of these websites let you earn airline miles in some of your favorite airline loyalty programs whenever you use them to book a hotel. While the number of miles you can earn per booking varies, PointsHound.com says you can earn up to 10,000 miles per night.

Keep your eye out for programs that offer crossover rewards, or rewards in a different program when you spend money on a service. A good example is the Delta SkyMiles/Lyft partnership, which lets you earn Delta SkyMiles any time you ride with Lyft after you connect your accounts and enroll online.

One way to get more value out of your rewards game is focusing on flexible rewards programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards. Both programs let you earn flexible points you can transfer to airline and hotel partners, which can help you get a lot more bang for your buck.

American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, Southwest Rapid Rewards, and other airlines have dining clubs that let you earn more points when you dine out at participating restaurants. And remember, the rewards you earn with these programs are in addition to points earned on your travel credit card. These programs also let you sign up for free.