Written by Jason Foley
Updated on Tue, 03 Feb 2026

We’ve designed this site to give you the facts as efficiently as possible. Below is a quick punch list of the basic guidelines for collecting points. Following them can get you thousands of dollars in free travel each year.

Start With the Right Foundation

• Pay off your cards every month using auto pay.
• If you are not in a financial position to do this, check out our article Am I Financially Ready For This Hobby?

Signup Bonuses Drive the Value

• The majority of your credit card spending should go toward meeting the bonus on your newest card.
  • Most signup bonuses return around 20% of the required spend in value, which makes the 1–2% earned from cash back cards feel negligible by comparison.
  • Chasing signup bonuses typically means opening a new card every 2–4 months.
• You’ll need a strategy to prioritize which cards to open next.
  • Only apply for cards with a first-year value of $650+ (available on our card rankings page).
  • Bank rules limit how many cards you can open, so don’t waste approvals on low-value cards like department store cards.

Apply in the Right Order

• As a general rule, apply for cards from banks with more stringent approval rules first.
  • Tier 1: Chase and Capital One
  • Tier 2: Citi
  • Tier 3: Amex

Work Together for More Points

• If you have a significant other, working together is ideal (called two-player mode). When doing this, you can:
  • Alternate new card applications.
  • Refer each other to earn extra bonus points.
  • Combine spending to meet bonus requirements.
  • More easily stay within bank rules for opening cards and earning bonuses.

Let Goals and Timing Guide You

• Prioritize cards based on your specific travel goals.
  • Decide whether you want points for hotels, airlines, or a specific destination.
  • Different point systems are better suited to different goals. See our Best Card For series.
• Prioritize limited-time, elevated offers, especially with Amex, since you can usually earn each bonus only once every 7-10 years.
• Have the flexibility to jump on great offers, but stay mindful of your overall plan.

Take Action Consistently

• Apply for your next card as soon as you finish the minimum spend on the previous one.
  • Waiting months between applications can mean missing out on thousands of dollars in bonuses.
  • Points Navigator helps you choose your next card quickly and avoid application mistakes that lead to declines.
• Our personalized suggestions tool automates these decisions for you.

You Don’t Need to Read Everything to Get Started

• You don’t have to read hundreds of articles to play the points game.
• You don’t need to understand every nuance before getting started.
• Cards, rules, and banks are always changing, even for people who’ve been in the hobby for years.
• Answer five quick questions to get free personalized recommendations.

Use this overview to get started. Open your first card, focus on meeting the signup bonus, and build from there. With a plan and consistent action, you’ll be turning points into free travel before you know it.