Gen Z, listen up: If you’re a frequent traveler who hasn’t yet entered the world of points and miles, you’re missing out.
Collecting points and miles doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or confusing. Trust me, I’m a Gen Z myself, and I was initially intimidated by anything other than cash back cards. With some research and education, I learned how to maximize points and miles fairly quickly.
Now, my rewards card is essential to my travel style.
At TPG, many of my Gen Z colleagues have their own unique perspectives on incentive travel. Let’s get to know the staff, how they started their points and miles journey, and the advice they have to share.
Gabriel Bernardini
Role: Senior Points and Miles Editor (Gen Z, selected by the association for their love of TikTok)
The first transferable points card: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees)
How did you get started on your points and miles journey?
I wanted to book an ideal (and out of my budget) ski trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I started looking for ways to lower my cash costs and opened my first travel rewards card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, to get a welcome bonus on booking flights and accommodations.
Advice for beginners on incentive travel
Get to know yourself and your goals and start looking into how points and miles can help you. If you fly frequently with American Airlines, start researching “How to Use Points and Miles to Book AA Flights.” While you’ll initially encounter opening an American Airlines co-branded card, you’ll also start to learn how to book American Airlines flights through partner airline loyalty programs like British Airways Club.
To read more from Gabrielle, check out her author page.
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Olivia Mitak
Role: Credit Card Editor
The first transferable points card: American Express® Gold Card
How did you get started on your points and miles journey?
While I was stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, I started delving into personal finance. i kind of know American Express Platinum Card® I had done some research in high school, but I knew very little about the world of points and miles until I discovered a video on a channel called “Yellow Productions” about credit cards that earn points and miles.
Suffice it to say, I’m obsessed with the idea of ”free travel” because the high cost of international flights and hotels has always frustrated me. My first credit card was Petal 2. My second credit card was my first real foray into points and miles: Chase Freedom Flex® (See Rates and Fees).
Petal 2 credit card information is collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Advice for beginners on incentive travel
Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Many seasoned credit card enthusiasts have numerous credit cards and thousands or even hundreds of thousands of points and miles. They all took years to get to this point, so don’t be discouraged if you qualify for a starter card now or a card that doesn’t earn transferable rewards. Patience is the key!
To read more from Olivia, check out her author page.
Chris Nelson
Role: credit card writer
The first transferable points card: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
How did you get started on your points and miles journey?
My points and miles journey began when I took what was then the longest flight in the world to Singapore. I had to walk through business class to get to my economy seat. That was my eye-opening moment and I immediately started researching how to get ahead without getting rich.
Advice for beginners on incentive travel
Don’t always look for big, fancy exchanges. Find an exchange option that works for you, saves you money, and is practical. Also, don’t think you have to save up all your points and miles to make one big redemption. Instead, consider smaller, smaller redemptions.
To read more from Chris, check out his author page.
Luisa Nino
Role: Senior Email Analyst
The first transferable points card: American Express Gold Card
How did you get started on your points and miles journey?
I grew up in a family where credit cards were only used in emergencies, so when I joined the TPG team, my interest was piqued. I learned how to get rewarded with free travel without spending any money.
Advice for beginners on incentive travel
I’ll give some tips:
- Get a card that best suits what you want to achieve, and then see which cards are best for earning those points or miles. If you value better hotels over flights, focus on cards with good hotel partners, or maybe even a specific co-branded card if you’re already loyal to a brand. If you want a better travel experience, look for a card that offers TSA PreCheck, lounge access, or free checked bags.
- If you rent, get Bilt MasterCard®*(See Rates and Fees). This is too good a program and there is too much money spent on rent each month to take advantage of the Bilt Rewards program.
- When it comes to redemption, start small. It’s great if you can do your best redemption on the first try, but sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to wait until the perfect moment.
- When you do have the flexibility to wait, choose multiple destinations and multiple time frames that interest you. Broaden your search rather than narrow it. There will be more choices out there.
*TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt advisor and investor.
Augusta Stone
Role: credit card writer
The first transferable points card: Chase Sapphire Preferred
How did you get started on your points and miles journey?
While I’ve always loved traveling and being busy, I initially became a big fan of cash back cards. They’re simple, and I was too busy in my early twenties to really understand points and miles. However, once I learned how much value you can get from carrying travel credit cards (especially ones that earn transferable rewards), I was completely hooked.
Advice for beginners on incentive travel
If you’re collecting points and miles, take some time to learn the best ways to redeem them. Research transfer partners and use award search tools like Seats.aero to make the entire process easier. Once you make your first few redemptions, you’ll realize that maximizing your rewards isn’t all that complicated.
To learn more about Augusta, check out her author page.
bottom line
Once I got into award travel, I realized that developing a points and miles strategy could be as easy as dreaming about your next trip. Even when I was new to the world of credit cards, there were still many ways to get started.
I recommend taking your time and thinking about what is most important to you when traveling. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be on a plane in no time.
If you want more first-person experiences from the TPG team, check out our article with tips for beginners from our millennial employees.
For Birt Mastercard rates and fees, please click here.
To learn about Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits, click here.
