Recently, there has been a surge in people promoting ‘savvy travel’ and ‘travel hacking’ with points and miles. Honestly, there are countless ways to make travel more affordable. Whether it’s taking advantage of the sharing economy, working abroad, volunteering overseas, or tracking down bargain flights, travelling has never been more accessible. Despite price hikes across our lives, travel remains relatively inexpensive, with plenty of ‘hacks’ still to be used. One area that I think people should focus on more is using credit card points and air miles. In America, credit cards have been well used for decades, but in the UK they’re not talked about as much. And honestly, I don’t know why! 

I have only recently got into learning about the best credit cards for travel rewards, points and miles. January 2024 I got my first travel rewards credit card and March 2025 was when I really started to understand the benefits. If you’re not tapping into this, you’re leaving a lot of savings behind and spending far more on travel than you need to!

What exactly are points and miles?

Collecting points and miles essentially just means signing up for loyalty programmes and accumulating points from everyday spending. The same way we have Tesco club cards and Nectar cards, we can also use credit cards that collect points that can be used specifically for travel rewards such as flights, hotels, upgrades and general spending (although this is not where the value of points is best).

While there are many advanced hacks, most people either don’t know the power of points and miles, or simply don’t know where to get started. The whole process can feel overwhelming with so many programmes and cards out there, it’s difficult to know which is the best credit cards for travel rewards in the UK. Which card should you choose? How do you ensure you’re maximising your points? And how exactly do you redeem them?

It’s a lot to take in but it doesn’t have to be as complicated as it sounds. At it’s most basic level, it is just using certain travel rewards credit cards for your everyday spending so that you can earn additional benefits. Simply using these cards to pay for groceries, fuel, meals out and other everyday spending, you can start earning travel benefits.

How to get started with points and miles

Step 1: Decide your travel goals

The first step to making the most of travel rewards, points and miles is to clarify what you actually want to get out of them. Are you saving up for a big family vacation? Just hoping to snag the occasional free economy flight or hotel stay? Looking for a luxury first-class upgrade? Or are you a frequent flyer who wants perks like lounge access and priority upgrades?

There’s no right or wrong answer here, but it’s important to make this decision as it will guide which points and miles credit card is best for you. It’s also easy to get lost if you aren’t clear on what your goals are and you may lose out on benefits if you choose a card that doesn’t align with your goals.

For example, if you’re loyal to British Airways or Virgin, this is extremely important as there are specific credit cards that will benefit you. With these cards, you will gain extra points and miles when you book with these airlines, using their credit card. They also offer upgrade and companion vouchers each year. If you chose a different credit card, you wouldn’t get these benefits.

Alternatively, if you don’t have any particular airline you fly with, a normal American Express credit card would be better due to the unique benefits they offer. Such as airport lounge access and greater potential for points through sign up bonuses and referral programmes. American Express points can also be easily transferred to other points and miles programmes.

Other reward programmes don’t involve credit cards, such as hotels. I am a member of Hilton Honors so I earn points when I stay with them. 

Note – hotel rewards are great but they are specific to hotels and don’t offer the benefits of a credit card, these are just added bonuses if you use certain hotel groups.

You also need to think about how often you travel. There are beginner cards which don’t have a fee and there are advanced cards which do have a fee. You will find the paid cards have much greater benefits. But if you don’t travel enough to make the most of them, it just isn’t worth it. There is lots of information about the best travel rewards credit cards in the UK.

Once your goals are clear, you can identify which cards and programmes will best help you reach them.

Step 2: Apply for a travel credit card

Once you know what you want and the perks that matter, start looking for a suitable credit card.

Firstly, always make sure you’re getting more value from the card’s rewards and benefits than the fee costs (if you’re paying for one). For frequent travellers, this is usually easy — especially if you start with a card with a low fee. If you want to start small, with no fee, and just collect points and miles, then getting value is less of an issue and you need to pick the card that best aligns with your goals.

Things to keep in mind before applying:

There is no such thing as a perfect card — each has pros and cons depending on your goals. Don’t blindly trust information that highlights a single travel rewards credit card as the ‘best’. Try to focus on articles that compare cards, so you can come to a decision yourself, based on your goals and lifestyle.

Pick cards with low annual fees and no foreign transaction fees where possible. Unfortunately, the best UK credit cards for points and miles usually do have foreign transaction fees. I only use mine to buy things in the UK and book my trips.

Make sure the welcome bonus is achievable (explained more below).

You must be able to pay off your monthly balance to make it worth it — only apply if you can pay your card off in full each month.

What makes an ideal travel card?

A generous welcome bonus — The best travel rewards credit cards offer big introductory bonuses that can jump-start your points and miles balance. In the UK, the bonuses are a bit lacklustre. However, they range from 10,000 to 50,000 points. This is still a great starting point and they often hold special offers where welcome bonuses are worth more. Considering what these points can get you, and the fact you get them for simply spending your normal expenditure, they’re great! 

A reasonable spending requirement — To earn the welcome bonus, you usually have to spend a certain amount within the first few months. I look for cards with spending minimums around £3,000 over 3 to 6 months. It’s important to remember that you shouldn’t chase these bonuses. If you have to spend money that you normally wouldn’t then it’s probably not worth it. Make sure you can meet these requirements through normal spending, not forced purchases. You should only apply for cards you’re confident you can meet the minimum spend on.

Travel perks — Beyond points, many cards offer perks like elite loyalty status, travel insurance, airport lounge access and priority services that can improve your travel experience.

Category spending bonuses — Most cards give 1 point per pound spent, but good ones offer extra points on specific categories like dining, groceries, or brand-specific purchases. These help you rack up points faster.

Once you have found the best credit cards for points and miles for you, it’s time to get earning your points!

Step 3: Earn the welcome bonus

The key to maximising travel credit cards is earning the welcome bonus. These bonuses can be very good, sometimes covering the cost of a long haul round-trip flight or more. For example, the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card offers a welcome bonus of 20,000 points as standard (sometimes up to 40,000 on special offers). If you transfer these points to Virgin, you can fly one way from London to New York for 9,000 points plus taxes.

Don’t miss out on a free flight by signing up for a card whose spending minimum you can’t meet. If you can’t meet the minimum right now, wait until you have a big purchase coming up. For example, a new computer, furniture, or a holiday — to apply.

If you do think you will struggle to meet the spending requirements, you simply need to get creative. For example, when dining out, pay with your card and have others reimburse you, so the whole bill counts toward the minimum spend. Or, ask friends or family if you can put their large purchases on your card to earn points. This is an easy way to hit the minimum spend without overspending yourself.

Step 4: Maximise your category spending

Many travel cards reward extra points for spending in certain categories — restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more.

To make the most of this, always use the card that gives you the best bonus for the purchase. However, this is where things do get more complicated. For now, choose a single card that benefits your everyday spending in the best way.

If you only have one card, put everything on it. When you add more cards, track their category bonuses carefully to avoid missing out. Earning double, triple, or even 10 times points accelerates your rewards, so don’t neglect these bonuses!

Step 5: Refer your friends

Not all travel rewards credit cards offer referral schemes. In the UK it is only really American Express who offer this. Depending on the card you have, you get different amounts per referral. For example, the American Express Nectar Credit Card referral programme offers 4,000 points per referral, whereas the American Express Platinum Credit Card referral programme offers 12,000 points.

No matter which American Express credit card you have, you can earn 90,000 points per year for your referrals. This is a huge amount of points that can be collected for simply having someone use your referral link.

Another benefit with referrals is that your referrals can sign up to any of the credit cards. For example, someone with platinum card will still get 12,000 points if someone signs up to the nectar card.

Step 6: Redeem your points and miles

Now it’s time to cash in your points and make your travel dreams come true! Depending on how much you spend, you might reach your goal in just a few months or it could take years. Either way, you’re not losing anything by having a card and slowly collecting the points. If you’re already spending the money, the points, miles, and potential travel rewards are all just an added bonus.

Frequently Asked Questions – Points and Miles

Do I need to pay off my balance every month?

Yes, you definitely should! Credit cards charge high interest rates, with travel rewards travel cards being at the higher end. This interest will quickly wipe out any gains from points and miles if you don’t pay off the balance each month. Always pay your full balance monthly. The best way to use credit cards is to use it instead of your debit card. This way, you only spend money you normally would and then have the funds in your bank account to pay it off.

Can I withdraw cash with my credit card?

No. Don’t do this. As with the interest mentioned above, cash withdrawals will come with extra charges. Only replace your debit card for purchases you are making with your card.

Can I collect points and miles with bad credit?

Yes, anyone with a travel rewards credit card can collect points and miles. However, it may be harder for you to get accepted initially, and you’ll likely start with a basic card that has fewer perks. Over time, if you consistently pay off your bill, you can improve your credit score.

Will applying for new cards hurt my credit score?

Opening or closing many cards at once can impact your credit, but spacing out applications and paying off balances promptly generally won’t cause long-term damage. I personally have dozens of cards and regularly apply and cancel, and my credit remains excellent. It’s all about how you spend and manage the balances.

Collecting points and miles may seem intimidating, but it really comes down to smartly using one or two credit cards. You don’t need to overcomplicate things.

Don’t leave free money on the table. Get a card, earn the welcome bonus, maximise your points, and repeat. Without any unnecessary spending, you’ll reach your travel goals and enjoy amazing perks!

I have many other articles on the site, whether you need inspiration, travel tips or itineraries.