Reward travel, a guide for beginners [Updated 2022].

Have you ever heard of Ryan Bingham? He stars in a 2009 film "Up in the Air," which became "In the Clouds" in Italian. The film earned six nominations at the 2010 Oscars, for best picture, best director, best actor to George Clooney, best non-original screenplay, and a double nomination in the best supporting actress category for Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick.

The film's protagonist is a serial accumulator of points, miles and any other system that can translate into an advantage when traveling.

That's what the basis of reward travel is all about: accumulating points and miles in your daily life without flying even a dime compared to what Mr. Bingham flies, but getting similar benefits when you decide to go.

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#TFCanswers. How to use 150 thousand American Express Membership Rewards points (ed. 2022)

I only fly when I go on vacation

This is the classic situation of the vast majority of all of us and the purpose of this site is to teach you how to accumulate points with everyday spending: buying groceries at the supermarket, gasoline, buying a book or paying the gas bill.

George Clooney explains very well to his new colleague how to maximize accumulation and how not to waste any points by using the wrong card in the wrong place.

The ultimate goal of the serial point accumulator is to try to get as many points as possible from each and every transaction without spending a euro more than he or she would spend by paying cash, for example.

How I turned Membership Rewards points into a first-class ticket with Singapore Airlines

Because this is the right time to start accumulating

First because more and more merchants are accepting electronic payments, even for small daily expenses, using a 5-euro bill or making a tap with the card costs nothing more, if you use the right card that allows you to accumulate points with your spending here is that day after day you will see an increase one's treasury, for example, of membership rewards points.

The second reason is security: Paying with electronic money is convenient and safe, both from Covid contamination and from risks of fraud and cloning. Thanks to apps today, you can see your uses in real time, suspend/block your card, reverse charges, and more.

Slowly we start traveling again, that's why Amex Platinum is perfect for the "post-pandemic" world

The third reason is that right now there are major welcome offers, or points that are given away, to those who sign up for a new credit card.

Now it is time for the 5 tips for those who want to start in this world

1. Don't miss any news, become a follower of our facebook page Sign up for our weekly newsletter this way. every Saturday morning you will receive in your email the best of the week's news
2. Sign up for company loyalty programs Airline from the ideal loyalty program for your needs And that you think you might need for your future travels
3. Forget about using ATMs, wire transfers, eliminate direct bank account crediting of bills from your mind. You need to put all your expenses on a different credit card depending on the type of expenditure. We for starters recommend the American Express Explora which allows you to multiply your point collection when you use it in certain categories in conjunction with the American Express Gold which right now is free for the first year and that allows you to accumulate bonus points to be turned into miles, discounts and stays.
4. Try to learn how you can Use the various "currencies" such as Membership Rewards, how can you use points in the various airlines.

A reader speaks: "Thanks to TFC's advice, I booked a super vacation in paradise."

There, now I hope I have intrigued you and put the "monkey" in you. I suggest you read how I managed to get 3 business class tickets to go to Tokyo, or if you prefer how Frederick got 4 tickets to go to the Maldives for Christmas.