If you want to get into redeeming points and miles, you need to earn them first. So in our second installment of new Starter Kit podcast series, Gunnar and Kyle break down the best strategies for earning tons of travel rewards.
While it might start with credit cards as the engine of an earning strategy – and the guys spend some time outlining their strategies and busting credit score myths – there are plenty of other ways to rack up all the points and miles you need, too.
Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! And be sure to subscribe now to get each new Starter Kit episode every Tuesday morning over the coming weeks!
Please consider supporting the show by spreading the word and leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts! That helps other travel lovers, like yourself, find our podcast.
In This Episode
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- 00:00 – What would do with a blank slate in points & miles?
- 02:35 – The most important step for earning tons of points
- 07:50 – Understanding award travel credit cards
- 15:40 – What to consider when signing up for a credit card?
- 22:20 – Our favorite starter travel rewards credit cards
- 29:30 – Go deeper: Sign up for our free Extra Mile newsletter!
- 30:00 – How to earn points & miles with strategic spending
- 37:30 – The ways to earn points & miles without credit cards
Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot
Vol. 2 Flight Plan
Get Organized: Track and organize your points and credit cards using our credit card benefit tracker, a personal spreadsheet, or a note on your smartphone.
Set a goal & work backwards: Set your travel goals first, then figure out what points, miles, and credit cards can get you there.
Use the “Potter Pause”: Activate that mental block before you make any purchase so you can maximize every dollar you spend.
Ramp up your “accidental earning”: Link your loyalty programs, sign up for shopping and travel portals, and nibble around the edges to stack up points and miles.
Related Episodes
Ep. 67: With Record Card Bonuses, Banks are Going Crazy (in a Good Way!)
Bonus Ep: Chase’s Big Upgrades on the Sapphire Preferred Card
Ep. 61: How to Earn 1 Million Points & Fly Delta One
Ep. 46: What’s in Our Wallets & Our 2026 Points Planners
Ep. 30: Tools of the Trade: How We Earn, Organize & Redeem Points Smarter
We were in Japan for over a month this spring and when we tallied up our 10 favorite experiences none were in Tokyo and only one was in Kyoto. We loved Takayama, Nagano, wild areas in Shikoku and the Japanese Alps, and the rural areas in Western Honshu. For onsens that aren’t crazy crowded try the area around the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway in the mountains near Kamikochi.
BTW, before you go to Japan go online and listen to Japanese pronunciation of place names. Narita, Haneda, and even Kyoto and Tokyo aren’t pronounced the way you probably think and Japanese speakers might not understand you if you use English pronunciation. (For example, Tokyo and Kyoto are both two-syllables.)
Can I have more info about the vpn to use for getting more points?
Hi Mary, search Rakuten for “Express VPN” or “Nord VPN.” Both regularly offer close to 100% back – 100x points when you have your Rakuten account set up that way – for these purchases. At 100% cash back (100x points), you’re essentially buying points for 1 cent apiece if you don’t plan to use the service. Just don’t forget to cancel before the promo rate expires!