New to Points? This Is Your Starting Line

So, you’ve heard about people flying for free using credit card points, and you’re wondering:
“Where do I even start?”

Right here.

Welcome to your starting line—a simple, no-nonsense guide to help you go from zero to your first free flight with travel points. No complicated strategies, no spreadsheets, no headaches—just a clear, step-by-step path to getting started.

Let’s break it down.

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Step 1: Understanding Travel Credit Cards

At the core of this whole system is the travel credit card—a type of rewards card that earns points or miles on every dollar you spend. These points can then be redeemed for flights, hotels, upgrades, and more.

There are two main types of travel credit cards:

1. Flexible Points Credit Cards

These cards earn points that can be transferred to multiple airlines and hotels, giving you more redemption options. Examples:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred (Chase Ultimate Rewards)
• American Express Gold Card (Amex Membership Rewards)
• Capital One Venture X (Capital One Miles)

2. Airline/Hotel Co-Branded Credit Cards

These cards earn miles or points tied to a specific airline or hotel. Examples:

• Delta SkyMiles American Express (Delta miles only)
• United Explorer Card (United miles only)
• Hilton Honors American Express (Hilton hotel points)

For beginners, a flexible points card is usually the best option because it gives you choices when it’s time to redeem.

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Step 2: How to Get Big Points Bonuses (Sign-Up Bonuses)

The fastest way to build up a travel points balance isn’t by daily spending—it’s by earning big sign-up bonuses.

How Sign-Up Bonuses Work

When you open a travel credit card, the bank will often offer a large bonus (60,000+ points) if you meet a minimum spending requirement (e.g., spend $4,000 in the first 3 months).

Since 60,000+ points is often enough for a round-trip domestic flight or even a one-way international flight, these bonuses are the key to getting your first free trip fast.

How to Hit Minimum Spend Without Overspending

• Use the card for all your everyday purchases (groceries, gas, dining)
• Prepay bills (utilities, streaming services, insurance)
• Buy gift cards for future expenses
• Cover big expenses like home repairs or medical bills

Pro Tip: Never spend more than you normally would just to earn a bonus. The key to making this work is paying off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges.

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Step 3: When to Start Looking for Reward Flights (Booking Timeline)

Booking with points isn’t quite like booking a cash ticket—award seats can disappear fast, so timing is everything.

The General rule of thumb is to keep an eye our for reward seats 11 months before your travel date.

Key Tips for Finding the Best Award Seats:

• Search early—Many airlines release award seats 330 days in advance
• Be flexible—If your exact dates aren’t available, look a few days before/after
• Set fare alerts—Use tools like Google Flights or airline notifications
• Check partner airlines—Sometimes, partner airlines have better availability

Pro Tip: If you don’t see any availability, keep checking! Airlines release more award seats as the departure date gets closer.

Want More Tips? Stay Tuned!

It’s time to stop letting your points sit unused and start turning them into real travel experiences.

Welcome to the world of free travel. Let’s make it happen. ✈️