{"id":305882,"date":"2025-11-20T09:53:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T09:53:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/how-to-earn-credit-card-points-for-travel-even-as-a-beginner\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T09:53:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T09:53:43","slug":"how-to-earn-credit-card-points-for-travel-even-as-a-beginner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=305882","title":{"rendered":"How to Earn Credit Card Points for Travel (Even as a Beginner)"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Advertiser Disclosure:<\/strong> JenWoodhouse.com is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com<\/a> to learn more.<\/div>\n

If you read my post on how I use Google Flights<\/span><\/a> to strategically plan award travel, you already know that booking a trip with points starts way<\/em> before you search for flights. Before you can book award travel with points and miles, you have to earn them. In this post, we\u2019ll walk through the foundational strategy for earning flexible, transferable points through both personal and business credit cards.<\/p>\n

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Man\u2019s hand holding credit cards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why Amex Is a Key Player in the Points & Miles World<\/h3>\n

American Express Membership Rewards\u00ae points are some of the most valuable and versatile in the game. I\u2019ve personally had a strong relationship with American Express for over two decades. They have a great lineup of transfer partners across all three major airline alliances. That means your Amex points can help you book flights on Delta, Air France, ANA, Emirates, and more.<\/p>\n

Two of the most popular cards in their lineup are:<\/p>\n

Both offer robust earning potential and premium benefits like lounge access, travel credits, and high points multipliers on everyday spending.<\/p>\n

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Pro tip: If you\u2019re just getting started, I usually recommend opening Chase cards first. Chase restricts approvals for people who have opened 5+ cards in the past 24 months, so it\u2019s best to start with them before moving on to Amex and others.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Amex Gold & Platinum \u2014 Are They Worth It?<\/h3>\n

Short answer: YES! The Amex Gold Card<\/span><\/a> earns 4x points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and the Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express<\/a><\/span> unlocks premium perks like airport lounge access, travel credits, and more.<\/p>\n

In our case, my husband Adam is active-duty military, so we benefit from waived annual fees, which makes these high-end cards a no-brainer for us. But even without that perk, many travelers find these cards worth the fee thanks to the value of the points and benefits.<\/p>\n

Just remember: terms apply and enrollment is often required for select benefits. Always check with the issuer for current details.<\/p>\n

Which Amex Card Should You Get First?<\/h3>\n

American Express has a once-per-lifetime rule on welcome offers for each card product. That means if you open one card, you may be disqualified from earning a bonus on a related card in the future.<\/p>\n

For example, if you get The Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express first, you may not qualify for the American Express\u00ae Gold Card<\/a><\/span><\/strong> welcome offer later, so it\u2019s important to plan your application strategy accordingly.<\/p>\n

A common strategy is to:<\/p>\n

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  1. Start with the American Express\u00ae Green Card<\/a><\/span> to establish your Membership Rewards\u00ae account and earn a solid welcome offer<\/li>\n
  2. Then apply for the American Express\u00ae Gold Card<\/a><\/span> to take advantage of strong everyday earning potential<\/li>\n
  3. Finally, add The Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express<\/a><\/span> if you value premium travel perks like lounge access and statement credits<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    You can always check your welcome offer eligibility on the American Express site before applying.<\/p>\n

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    Need Help Choosing the Right Card Strategy?<\/h3>\n

    I offer free personalized credit card consultations<\/strong> to help you:<\/p>\n