UNLOCKING THE full value of travel rewards takes strategy. From stacking points through shopping portals and card-linked offers to navigating travel credits and partnerships, there are countless ways to boost your earnings. However, booking through third-party portals often comes with hidden downsides.
Savvy travellers know to use rewards cards to earn points and miles on purchases. However, they should also look into ways to stack earnings through bonus points or cashback on purchases.
One of the easiest ways to do this is through online shopping. A bounty of portals reward shoppers with bonus airline miles, hotel points or cashback. To score these rewards, you need to log in and click through the link before completing your purchase with a merchant as you otherwise would.
Many card issuers also offer rewards for making purchases at particular merchants. These offers typically require a cardholder to enroll before making an eligible purchase. For example, American Express members can earn cashback or bonus points/miles on purchases through Amex Offers. Other examples include Chase Offers, Citi Merchant Offers, Capital One Offers and Barclaycard Cashback Rewards.
Travellers should also look for partnerships between travel brands. For example, Marriott and Emirates lets eligible travellers "double-dip" by earning points and miles on flights and stays. Accor has inked similar partnerships with airline programmes, including Flying Blue, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Qantas.
In short, there's likely some way of boosting your points earnings (or cashback) on almost any purchase you make, whether through a shopping portal or travel partnership. If you're looking to boost your points and miles earnings, it's worth digging in to figure out just how you can do so.
Booking through travel portals
Many card issuers have added new travel-related statement credits as card benefits. Increasingly, these credits require booking travel through a specific portal to be used. Examples include the US$300 travel credit on the Capital One Venture X, the US$50 hotel credit on the Chase Sapphire Preferred, and new Delta Stays credits on Amex-issued Delta cards.
If fully utilised, these credits can offset a significant amount of the card's annual fee. However, travellers should be wary of the downsides of booking through any third-party portal. These include travellers not earning hotel points or elite status credits, and elite members not enjoying perks when booking a stay through a third party.
Other pitfalls might not be as clear-cut. For example, hotels often offer cheaper member-only rates when you book directly through the hotel brand that cannot be booked through a third-party ...
Savvy travellers know to use rewards cards to earn points and miles on purchases. However, they should also look into ways to stack earnings through bonus points or cashback on purchases.
One of the easiest ways to do this is through online shopping. A bounty of portals reward shoppers with bonus airline miles, hotel points or cashback. To score these rewards, you need to log in and click through the link before completing your purchase with a merchant as you otherwise would.
Many card issuers also offer rewards for making purchases at particular merchants. These offers typically require a cardholder to enroll before making an eligible purchase. For example, American Express members can earn cashback or bonus points/miles on purchases through Amex Offers. Other examples include Chase Offers, Citi Merchant Offers, Capital One Offers and Barclaycard Cashback Rewards.
Travellers should also look for partnerships between travel brands. For example, Marriott and Emirates lets eligible travellers "double-dip" by earning points and miles on flights and stays. Accor has inked similar partnerships with airline programmes, including Flying Blue, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Qantas.
In short, there's likely some way of boosting your points earnings (or cashback) on almost any purchase you make, whether through a shopping portal or travel partnership. If you're looking to boost your points and miles earnings, it's worth digging in to figure out just how you can do so.
Booking through travel portals
Many card issuers have added new travel-related statement credits as card benefits. Increasingly, these credits require booking travel through a specific portal to be used. Examples include the US$300 travel credit on the Capital One Venture X, the US$50 hotel credit on the Chase Sapphire Preferred, and new Delta Stays credits on Amex-issued Delta cards.
If fully utilised, these credits can offset a significant amount of the card's annual fee. However, travellers should be wary of the downsides of booking through any third-party portal. These include travellers not earning hotel points or elite status credits, and elite members not enjoying perks when booking a stay through a third party.
Other pitfalls might not be as clear-cut. For example, hotels often offer cheaper member-only rates when you book directly through the hotel brand that cannot be booked through a third-party ...
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Business Traveller Uk (Digital) - 1 Issue, February 2025