Travel Hacking – 629,000 Points/Miles in Just 11 Months.
When a work decision relocated me to California last June, my girlfriend (now fiance) and I had to figure out a way to travel back and forth between the east and west coast without spending a fortune. Luckily, I came across “travel hacking” and discovered the ability to accumulate points and miles in bulk. How? Leveraging credit card sign up bonuses.
Check out my previous post on how to earn a free flight or hotel when you make a big purchase. This will provide a high-level overview of how you can leverage credit card sign up bonuses to accumulate mass amounts of points and miles without breaking the bank!
Some other helpful posts you should read before “travel hacking” are (you want to make sure you have a credit score 650 or higher):
Below is a breakdown of how we accumulated 629,000 points/miles in 11 months using credit card sign up bonuses.
United Mileage Plus Explorer Card – 50,000 Miles
Credit Card Sign Up Bonus: 50,000 United Miles
Bonus Requirement: Spend $3,000 in first 3 months
Annual Fee: $95
Benefits: 50,000 Miles, 1.5x Miles per dollar, free checked bag
We both have this card and reached the spending requirement within 3 months, total miles accumulated 100,000 + 6,000 for spending the minimum required = 106,000 miles.
Hilton HHonors American Express – 100,000 Points
Credit Card Sign Up Bonus: 100,000 Points (now reduced to 80,000)
Bonus Requirement: Spend $2,000 in first 3 months
Annual Fee: No Annual Fee
Benefits: 80,000 points offered now
Only one of us has this card. The total points/miles accumulated is 106,000 + 100,000 + 2,000 = 208,000 points/miles.
Gold Delta Sky Miles American Express- 50,000 Miles
Credit Card Sign Up Bonus: 50,000 Delta Miles (now reduced to 30,000)
Bonus Requirement: Spend $3,000 in first 3 months
Annual Fee: $0 First Year, $95 After the First Year
Current Benefits: 30,000 Miles, 1.5x Miles per dollar, free checked bag
Only one of us has this card. Total accumulated points is 208,000 + 50,000 Delta Miles + 3,000 spend requirement = 261,000 points/miles.
Chase Sapphire Preferred – 50,000 Points
Credit Card Sign Up Bonus: 50,000 Points
Bonus Requirement: Spend $4,000 in first 3 months
Annual Fee: $0 First Year, $95 After the First Year
Benefits: 50,000 Points, Flexible points 1:1 transfer with hotel and airline partners
Apply Here <– BEST CARD TO GET STARTED!
Only one of us has this card. Total accumulated points is 261,000 + 50,000 United Points + 4,000 spend requirement = 315,000 points/miles.
AAdvantage American Airlines Citi Card – 50,000 Miles
Credit Card Sign Up Bonus: 50,000 American Airlines Miles
Bonus Requirement: Spend $3,000 in first 3 months
Annual Fee: $0 First Year, $95 After First Year
Benefits: 50,000 Miles, free checked bag
Both of us have this credit card. Total accumulated points is 315,000 + 100,000 American Airlines Points + 6,000 spend requirement = 421,000 points/miles.
Chase Sapphire Reserved – 100,000 Points
Credit Card Sign Up Bonus: 100,000 Points
Bonus Requirement: Spend $4,000 in first 3 months
Annual Fee: $450
Current Benefits: Only 50,000 Points, $300 Travel Credit, Priority Pass Access, Flexible points 1:1 transfer with hotel and airline partners
Both of us have this card. Total accumulated points, 421,000 + 200,000 Chase Sapphire Points + 8,000 spend requirement = Total 629,000 points/miles.
In 11 Months we accumulated over 629,000 points/miles leveraging 9 credit cards.
I bet you’re thinking our credit scores are greatly impacted by this…but believe it or not, your wrong. How do you think we got approved for so many cards? Our credit scores have remained in excellent condition and we are able to get approved for cards with each application.
Join us today and start hacking your way to free flights and hotels. We’ve been lucky enough to go on multiple vacations together for less than $50!