Thursday’s Top Travel Tips

Hey Travellers,

Welcome to this Thursday’s edition of Top Travel Tips. This is a shorter edition of Sunday’s main newsletter designed to give you some quick wins from tips shared in our community.

Start with Smart Sign-Ups and Shopping

Jumpstart your points collection by signing up for the Marriott Bonvoy mailing list, an effortless way to bank an instant 250 Marriott Bonvoy Points. Additionally, consider subscribing to Readly via the shopping portal to snag a 500 Avios point bonus. These initial boosts require minimal effort but set the stage for more substantial rewards.

Amplify Your Earnings with Strategic Card Use

The Barclaycard Avios Mastercard is a gem for places that don’t accept AMEX. It’s free of annual fees, making it an excellent alternative for everyday spending. If you’re in a partnership where both can apply for the card, do so—doubling your points-earning potential can significantly fast-track your rewards. For instance, some of our community members reported amassing over 64,000 Avios in just a couple of weeks using this strategy!

Leverage Welcome Bonuses and Referrals

The Barclaycard Avios Mastercard also offers a tantalizing welcome bonus of 25,000 Avios if you hit a spending target of £3,000. To keep the points flowing, consider a strategy of ‘card cycling’—once you’ve earned the initial bonus, cancel the card and have your partner apply, repeating the bonus benefits. Furthermore, don’t overlook referral bonuses; American Express, for instance, offers a whopping 14,000 Avios for each successful referral.

Make Every Purchase Count

Extend your earning potential by making purchases through the British Airways e-Store. Shopping at popular outlets like Sainsbury’s and eBay through this portal can earn you substantial rewards for everyday spending. For example, a regular £40 grocery shop at Sainsbury’s could add an impressive 2,800 Avios to your account.

Optimize Larger Expenses and Business Spending

For those with business expenses, the American Express Business Gold Card offers a high earning rate on purchases, with points transferable to various airlines. It’s a stellar choice, especially with its generous welcome bonus and first-year fee waiver. Also, for times when Amex isn’t accepted, integrating your card with PayPal ensures you still earn points on every transaction. For broader business expenses, the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card is excellent, offering 1:1 points on payments like PAYE and supplier costs.

Maximize Usage with the Avios App

Lastly, make sure to download and utilize the Avios app. It not only allows you to manage your points effectively but also boosts your earnings through the ‘Buy/Collect’ feature, which can triple the points on certain transactions.

Final Note

As always, thank you for reading. If you have any top tips you’d like to share, please email us or drop them in the group.

Bye for now!

Jack @ Smart With Points

📌 Bangkok, Thailand

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