Expert explains how to use credit card point conversion to save money when traveling
Exploring new cultures and regions is one of the favorite pastimes of Brazilians. Thus, the period of vacations and extended holidays is one of the most anticipated to travel and tends to significantly move the tourism sector. According to a report by the National Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC), the long holidays of 2023 should move around R$ 74.3 billion in Brazilian tourism.
However, calculating expenses before traveling is essential and tends to discourage some tourists. To avoid this problem, airline miles are a great alternative, as they can be accumulated through credit cards and used for different purposes in addition to travel, such as discounts on purchases and even extra profit.
Therefore, points and miles are becoming popular, but many people still do not know how to carry out this operation. Thinking about it, Larissa Brioso, financial educator at Mobills, a financial solutions platform, lists 4 tips for those who want to enter this universe. Look!
1. Be aware of card benefits
If you already use a credit card, the first step is to know what benefits it provides and if accumulating points and miles is one of those advantages. Then, check how many miles you earn with your credit card, according to your expenses. For example: for every 1 dollar spent, receive 1 mile or 1 point. Finally, be aware of the expiration date of your points, as for many cards, the miles expire after some time.
two. Find out about the rules for earning points
In order to earn miles with a credit card, you must be registered in a loyalty program. Some cards have automatic participation, while others require prior registration, but simple to do. The rules for adding points and exchanging them for miles vary greatly for each card. Lower variant cards, such as International and Gold, usually add 1 point per dollar spent. Meanwhile, other higher tiers like Platinum, Black, Infinite, etc. typically add up to more points per dollar spent on the card.
It is important to know this, since, from the your expensesyou will know if you have the ideal card for your profile or if you need to change your card by making a upgrade your category or choosing another issuer. It is worth noting that most credit cards do not accrue miles directly, but points that can be easily converted into miles.
3. Check the mileage programs that the card participates in
After researching the main points programs, it’s time to concentrate your points on one or two miles programs at most, to accumulate points faster. Each program grants exclusive benefits and facilities on the airline the user travels with frequently. Latam, for example, has Latam Pass, Gol has Smiles, Azul has TudoAzul, etc.
Registration for the airline rewards program is free. However, the client who wants to evolve and become a member of the loyalty program, to receive exclusive benefits, will need to purchase a subscription.
4. Convert points to miles
After the steps already mentioned, it’s time to transform your points into miles and even earn money with the credit card. To do so, consult your Internet Banking, bank App, or ask the card’s call center for help to locate the option to transfer points to another program.
But be careful: check the transfer rules, as, in some cases, it is necessary to have added a minimum amount to transfer to a miles program. If everything is right, complete the operation. You can also wait for the best time to convert your points, such as a bonus promotion between programs.
By Larissa Andreoli
Source: Maxima
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.