How to Use a Travel Reward Credit Card

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Travel reward credit cards offer a great way to earn a little back on your spending.

These cards award you with points that can be redeemed for free travel rewards, including flights, hotel stays, holidays and more.

Find out how to use your travel reward credit card to make the most out your hard-earned travel points!

Make the most of your credit card...

- Make sure to get awarded any bonus travel points
If your travel reward credit card offers bonus travel points make sure to follow the offer guidelines so you’ll be awarded the points.

Often, bonus points are awarded on your first card purchase, but they can have a set time frame in which you must use your card to qualify for the bonus travel points.

Find out when and what you need to do to get your bonus points and make sure to use your travel reward credit card in the time specified to claim your bonus points.

Bonus points can be often be enough for your first free travel reward - so they are well worth claiming.

- Change your spending habits
The most important thing to remember when using a travel reward credit card is to change your spending habits and not what you spend money on.

Changing your spending habits means paying for all your normal everyday items with your travel reward credit card instead of another credit card, debit card or cash.

By using your travel reward credit card to pay for your weekly groceries and petrol, you'll soon see your points accumulating quickly.

Remember that any credit card reward should be made to work for you - so you can really enjoy the money-saving benefits of earning travel reward points.

- Clock up additional travel reward points
Find out if your travel reward credit card will award you with additional travel points if you spend with certain retailers or companies.

If your card does offer these partner incentives, remember to use your travel reward credit card when you spend with these named partners - but don't go out of your way to buy things you don't need just for the points.

- Always pay back your spending in full
With any reward credit card, the number one rule is always to repay your spending in full each month.

Clearing your travel reward credit card balance in full will not only keep your travel rewards free - but will also keep you out of debt too!

The interest charged on any credit card is enough to overrule any money saved by earning points - so remember to budget your income and repay your spending in full and on time each month.

Things to watch out for...

- Know what you can and what you can't earn travel points on
Travel reward credit cards will only ever award you with travel points on card purchases - that is buying goods or services from retailers or companies.

By sticking to just using your travel reward credit card for purchases will benefit you in more ways than one. Cash withdrawals on credit cards are often charged at much higher interest rates and are rarely included in the interest free period, so it's always best to use your debit card for accessing cash.

Remember, cash transactions include more than just withdrawing money from an ATM, they also cover getting 'cash back' at the supermarket, buying foreign currency or traveller's cheques and gambling transactions.

Travel reward points will never be awarded on balance transfers either - so if you have an existing credit card balance you'd like to transfer, move it to a 0% balance transfer credit card and keep your travel reward spending separate.

- Claim travel rewards in good time
Travel reward schemes can have expiry dates on their points - this is usually at least 3 years, so you will still have plenty of time to accumulate enough points for a travel reward.

Remember to claim your free travel reward in good time though, so you really enjoy the benefits of having a travel reward credit card.

Most travel reward credit card schemes allow you to claim travel rewards by paying part points and part cash. This can be a great way to spend your travel points without having to wait for years to accumulate enough points for a reward you'll want to use.

- Be diligent with your credit card spending and repayments
Remember to budget your income and keep an eye on all your travel reward credit card spending.

By switching everyday purchases over to your travel reward credit card, you'll quickly clock up money owed on the card, so be aware of your spending and don’t exceed your credit limit.

Travel reward credit cards may take away the points you've earned if you miss a payment or you exceed your credit limit.

Stick within your credit limit and make your travel reward credit card payments on time and not only will you keep away from getting into debt, but you'll also keep your travel rewards safe and free!

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