How to earn points and miles on everyday spending

May 21, 2026 View in browser

Some of my favorite cards Brian Kelly Founder, The Points Guy Thank you for signing up for The Points Guy’s newsletter. I know you might have a lot of questions as you embark on your points and miles journey, so I thought I’d introduce myself and tackle the question I get the most. When I started The Points Guy back in 2010, I was booking award trips for people. That eventually progressed to a blog and then to the website we have today, covering everything from points and miles to the many facets of the travel industry. Even today, the question I hear the most from readers is, “Which credit card should I apply for?” So, I thought I’d start by sharing some of my favorite cards and how I use them.

Chase Sapphire Reserve The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers lucrative earning rates and valuable perks, including lounge access, and Chase just dropped the highest-ever offer on this premium card. Limited-time offer: Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. I earn 8 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, receive an automatic $300 annual travel credit and also get a $300 annual dining credit (split up as two semiannual $150 credits) for Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are super valuable when transferred to one of Chase’s many transfer partners to book award tickets, but I also love using my points to book luxury hotels with Points Boost. In fact, some of my favorite stays this year have been at the Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech and Hotel Christoper St. Barth, booked on points. You can still get some redemptions at The Edit hotels for 2 or even 2.5 cents per point. And that’s why I will stay loyal to Points Boost and use my Chase Sapphire Reserve and stack my annual up to $500 hotel credit for The Edit stays. This new limited-time 150,000-point offer is a no-brainer if you are in the market for a premium travel card that’s loaded with perks and benefits. Don’t miss out! Get the details

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card stands out because it delivers real value without the usual coupon-book mentality of a premium card. The $395 annual fee is competitive, the card earns a simple 2 miles per dollar spent on everything, and the lounge access alone can be a game changer (the new 24-hour Capital One Lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport saved my family on a recent trip). You’ll get a $300 annual travel credit to use for booking on Capital One Travel and 10,000 miles each year on your card’s anniversary. Current offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening. Get the details

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card I love my Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and its bonus categories — especially the online advertising category, which earns 3 points per dollar on up to $150,000 a year (and 1 point per dollar after that). If you spend more than that for your business, the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ has no spending cap on this category, but it does have a higher annual fee. In my opinion, the Ink Business Preferred card is a heavyweight, especially for the low annual fee of $95. Current offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Get the details

You don’t have to spend a ton of money to earn lucrative rewards that you can redeem for travel. Whether you want to travel in economy domestically or book a business-class award seat to Europe, there’s a rewards currency that’s a fit for you. For some additional resources, check out our free Points 101 program. Over a series of 10 emails, you’ll be guided toward setting a goal for your first redemption and learning a little more about the various points and miles programs along the way. If you need help deciding what the best credit card might be to add to your wallet, check out our CardMatch tool. Just answer a few simple questions about your goals and how you travel to get personalized results (and maybe even some targeted welcome offers!). Thanks for joining the TPG community. We’re happy to have you. BK

You are receiving this email because you opted in at thepointsguy.com. Where to find us: The Points Guy 100 5th Ave., 16th Floor New York, NY 10011 USA USA Changed your mind? You can unsubscribe at any time. Advertiser Disclosure: The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. THE POINTS GUY © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2026