Reviewed by Michelle TipswordHow to Earn Travel Rewards
Reviewed by Michelle Tipsword
Quick Answer
- You can earn travel rewards by using your credit card to make purchases, signing up for airline or hotel rewards programs, using online shopping portals or dining out.
- Using multiple strategies can help you earn rewards even faster.
Whether you travel often or only occasionally, the cost can add up quickly. Travel rewards can help offset these expenses. The best part? You can earn rewards for things you'd be doing anyway. Here's how.
How to Earn Travel Rewards
There are multiple ways to earn travel rewards you can use to redeem for your next trip. One of the most popular is to use a rewards credit card. When you combine the use of your card with other strategies, you'll earn rewards even faster. Here's how.
1. Earn With a Rewards Credit Card
Using a travel rewards credit card is a simple and effective way to earn rewards on purchases you'd make anyway. Here's how they work:
For every purchase you make with your card, you earn a specific number of points or miles you can cash in to pay for travel expenses. Different cards have different reward structures, and many offer bonus points or miles for certain types of purchases, such as dining out or groceries. Many cards also offer welcome bonuses that allow you to rack up tens of thousands of points or miles when you meet a minimum spending requirement within a few months of opening the card.
Travel cards can be used to earn airline, hotel and general travel rewards. As you'd expect, airline miles offered by airline-specific travel cards can be redeemed for flights, but you may also be able to redeem them for hotel stays, cruises, spa packages and other experiences, as well as gift cards and merchandise. However, you usually get the most bang for your buck when you cash them in to cover airfare. The same is true for hotel points earned using hotel loyalty credit cards. Points earned from general travel rewards cards may offer more value across brands because they're not linked to a specific provider.
While a travel credit card is a quick and easy way to earn travel rewards, it's only worth it if you use the card wisely. Consider using it only for purchases you'd make anyway and can pay off each month. By paying your balance in full and on time, you'll avoid late fees and interest that can wipe out the value of the points you earned. Making on-time payments is also a key component to maintaining a good credit score.
Best travel cards of 2026
Compare cards from our partners that earn valuable points or miles and unlock travel perks on flights and hotel stays.
Offers from our partners
American Express Platinum Card®
Intro bonus:
As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Ongoing APR:See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards:
1x - 5x (Points per dollar)
Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
Annual Fee:$895
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
Intro APR:0% for 15 months on Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Rewards:
2x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights
Annual Fee:$0
Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Rewards:
1x - 6x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 6 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked through aadvantagehotels.com. Earn 3 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery. Earn 1 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual Fee:$350
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro bonus:
100,000 Bonus Points
Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
2x - 6x (Points per dollar)
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$650
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro bonus:
Earn 2 Delta Comfort Flight Certificates + 50K Miles
Earn two domestic Delta Comfort Flight Certificates + 50,000 Bonus Miles after $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. A 21+ day advance purchase required. Taxes and fees up to $80 per person apply. Terms and other restrictions apply. Offer ends 11/04/2026.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
1x - 3x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$650
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Intro bonus:
As High As 80K Miles + $250 Statement Credit
You may be eligible for as high as 80,000 Bonus Miles and a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply to find out your offer. Terms Apply. Offer ends 11/04/2026.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
1x - 2x (Miles per dollar)
When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.
Annual Fee:$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Intro bonus:
As High As 90K Miles + $300 Statement Credit
You may be eligible for as high as 90,000 Bonus Miles and a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply to find out your offer. Terms Apply. Offer ends 11/04/2026.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
1x - 3x (Miles per dollar)
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$350
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
Intro bonus:
85,000 Bonus Points
Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable
Rewards:
2x - 6x (Points per dollar)
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points). Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee:$250
See all our best travel credit cards for 2026.
2. Earn With Shopping Portals
Some airlines, hotel chains and credit card issuers have shopping portals that work like an online mall with links to major retailers. Shopping through an online portal is an easy way to boost your rewards. When you make a purchase through one, you earn points or miles on eligible purchases―on top of the rewards you earn for using your credit card to pay.
When you make a purchase using the retailer's link in a shopping portal, your account will be credited with the points or miles you earned.
3. Earn by Flying or Staying at a Hotel
You can earn travel rewards even if you don't have a rewards credit card by signing up for airline and hotel rewards programs. Once you're a member, you'll earn miles or points on eligible flights or hotel stays. Plus, you'll receive notifications about promotions that may allow you to earn bonus rewards.
Want to boost your rewards even more? Use a hotel or airline rewards credit card to pay for your flights or hotel stays. You'll often earn more for every dollar you spend with the brand than you will on other purchases. It's an easy and effective way to grow your rewards balance quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to get started but still have questions? Here are some answers to help you on your way.
The Bottom Line
One of the quickest ways to earn travel rewards is by using a credit card to make purchases you'd already be making. Combining the use of your card with other strategies allows you to maximize your rewards opportunities. You can keep track of how your credit card usage is affecting your credit score by requesting your FICO® ScoreΘ for free from Experian.
Get the rewards you deserve
Cash back? Miles? Points? Whatever suits your goals, we can help match you to personalized rewards card offers. Start with your FICO® Score for free.
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About the author
Jennifer Brozic
Jennifer Brozic is a freelance content marketing writer specializing in personal finance topics, including building credit, personal loans, auto loans, credit cards, mortgages, budgeting, insurance, retirement planning and more.
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