How We Earned Over a Million Points in 2024
-
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE:
Packed with Points is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers.
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE:
Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.What. A. Year.
Every year I am amazed at how far our points and miles can take us. Like, how did I book trips like the Maldives, Greece, Mexico and Germany all in one year?! 🤯 It still absolutely blows me away.
This year, my husband (my player 2) and I opened eight new credit cards. This is about average for us; some years one or two less or more. And each year our stash grows and we are able to plan ahead even farther out which is sooo nice! For instance, I am almost completely done booking 2025 travel. 👏🏻
And my goal is to see each and every one of you achieve your travel goals too, so let’s break down exactly what cards we opened and how we maximized our points earning in 2024!
Cards I opened
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
I found an elevated offer online for this card and earned 190,000 points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months of card opening. In total, this card earned me at least 205,000 points!
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
I also opened this card when there was an elevated offer so I earned 120,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first 3 months of card opening. In total, this card earned me at least 128,000 points!
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
This card was also opened when there was an elevated offer for 85,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months of card opening. In total, this card earned me at least 88,000 points!
*All information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit card have been collected independently by Packed with Points. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Cards my player 2 opened
Citi® / AAdvantage Business™️ World Elite Mastercard®
This card was opened when there was a standard offer for 65,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of card opening. In total, this card earned him at least 69,000 miles!
*All information about the Citi® / Advantage Business™️ World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Packed with Points. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
My player 2 opened this card when there was a standard offer for 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first 3 months of card opening. In total, this card earned him at least 108,000 points!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
This card was also opened with a standard offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of card opening. In total, this card earned him at least 83,000 miles!
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
My player 2 opened this card with an elevated offer of 130,000 points PLUS a free night award after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months of card opening. In total, this card earned him at least 133,000 points! Plus a free night reward that can be valued at over 100,000 points depending on where you use it!
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
This card was opened with a standard offer of $750 cash back after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of card opening. We then combined that welcome offer with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and converted those into points. In total, this card earned him at least 84,000 points!
*All information about the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card have been collected independently by Packed with Points. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
So let’s add that up….
From welcome offers and minimum spend alone, we earned 898,000 points and miles. We also took advantage of referral bonuses and referred each other for 6 of these 8 cards. This earned us an additional 165,000 points and miles.
That brings our grand total for welcome offers, referral bonuses, and minimum spend to 1,063,000 points and miles! 🎉
Other ways we earned tons of points!
Even when we’re not working on a minimum spend, we’re making sure to get as many points as possible. And it’s so much easier than you think to rack up the points with your regular spending.
🍽️For instance, every time we go out to eat, I’m swiping my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to get 3x on dining.
🛍️Or when I have big purchases to make, or Christmas or birthday shopping, I love checking my shopping portals for additional offers I can stack on top of the points my credit card is already earning!
💳And when none of my purchases fit into one of the elevated point categories on my credit cards, that’s when I’ll use one of my Capital One Venture cards for 2x on everything!
🫱🏻🫲🏽Lastly, don’t forget about referring your friends and family to a credit card that you love! Not only will you earn a referral bonus, but you’ll get to share this amazing hobby with someone new. ✈️💙
Side note: I cannot say thank you enough for using my links to apply! I earn a commission for those applications at no cost to you, and it helps keep all the free resources and support coming! 🩷
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
