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The world of points and miles can seem daunting even if you’re just one or two travelers traveling together. Imagine the hurdles families face when trying to figure out how to plan for family travel involving four or more people!
Thankfully, with proper planning and by taking advantage of things like pooling points, families can enjoy the benefits of travel with points and miles, too. Here’s how to create a travel rewards credit card strategy for families.
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Overview of Travel Rewards Credit Card Strategy for Families
Due to simple mathematics, families need a lot more points than solo travelers to make the same trip happen. While it's great that you can redeem 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles to fly in Qatar Airways Qsuite from the U.S. to South Africa, a family of four would need 300,000 miles for that same trip. And that's just one way.
When it comes to hotel rooms, depending on the size of your family, you may need to book two rooms. And if you've got finer tastes, paying twice as much per night for two rooms can add up quickly at a Waldorf Astoria or Ritz-Carlton.
Earning and redeeming credit card travel rewards is the not-so-well-kept secret to turning your everyday spending into points that you can redeem for travel. Even if you don't earn enough to pay for an entire trip with points and miles, they're sure to alleviate some of the financial stressors of family vacations.
The secret to a travel rewards credit card strategy for families is to work in two-player mode — when each adult in the family earns rewards in their own name and accounts — and take advantage of things like companion passes, transfer bonuses, and credit card sign-up offers.
Related: Start Here for Collecting Points and Miles for Free Travel
Family Airline Credit Card Strategy
Airfare is often the largest expense for a family vacation, so let's start there.
It's important to choose an airline, loyalty program, and airline alliance that's most convenient for you and where you live. For example, the largest airport near my home is San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which is a hub of United Airlines. Other popular hub cities for major airlines include Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) for Delta Air Lines and Miami International Airport (MIA) for American Airlines. Southwest Airlines doesn't have traditional hubs, but some airports see more flights than others.
Some airports are great for multiple airlines. SFO isn't an American Airlines hub, but it has a strong presence there, making it another great option for potential flight redemptions. Plus, American Airlines partners — including Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Qantas — all operate out of SFO.
Choosing the right airline alliance
An airline alliance comprises dozens of partner airlines with reciprocal benefits for earning and redeeming miles within each other's programs. When earning miles to redeem for future travel, it's just as important to choose the right alliance as the right airline.
For example, as an alliance partner of Singapore Airlines, you can redeem United MileagePlus miles for Singapore Airlines flights found on United's website. You can also earn MileagePlus miles when flying Singapore Airlines-operated flights.
Before deciding which alliance to be loyal to and who to earn miles with, ask yourself a few questions: Do these airlines fly to destinations that I want to travel to soon? What particular airline within that alliance will be best and easiest for earning and redeeming miles on partner airlines? If they do, you can also redeem miles with these airlines.
Choose the one airline that you'll fly with most of the time — or at least that you plan on redeeming miles with — and start to earn miles within that program. Only one person needs to carry an airline credit card to earn the benefits listed in the table below. However, if miles are all you're after, it makes sense to earn sign-up bonuses when you can.
Best airline credit card perk for families
Airline credit cards offer generous sign-up bonuses as well as other valuable perks to frequent and infrequent travelers alike.
The best airline credit card perk for families, however, is easily a companion pass. The Southwest Companion Pass, for example, is probably the most well-known, but Aer Lingus, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Lufthansa all have companion fares, passes or discounts that you can earn in various ways. And the savings add up.
Companion certificates offered by Delta and American are both tied to credit cards. Depending on which co-branded Delta card you hold, you'll get a companion certificate each year that you renew your card membership and pay the card's annual fee. With American, you can earn up to two companion certificates when you spend between $20,000 and $30,000 on select credit cards.
Alaska Airlines also offers a companion fare to its cardholders. Those with either of Alaska's credit cards need to spend $6,000 on purchases by their account's anniversary to earn the companion fare after the first year.
No matter which airline you choose, a companion pass will go a long way. You could save hundreds of dollars and thousands of points when you can use a companion pass instead.
Don't forget about complimentary checked bags, either. Several airline credit cards with annual fees under $100 offer free bags as a perk of carrying the card. And depending on the card, this benefit can extend to several people traveling on the same reservation. That's hundreds of dollars in additional savings per year!
Family Hotel Credit Card Strategy
Unlike airlines, hotels do not belong to alliances, and therefore their loyalty programs stand alone. Hotel loyalty programs continue to evolve, whether that be by offering more properties or expanding on or removing certain elite perks. Either way, no two loyalty programs are exactly alike.
Choosing a hotel loyalty program
The most popular hotel loyalty programs are Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt. Additional and less common programs include Accor Live Limitless (ALL), Choice Privileges, Radisson Rewards, and Wyndham Rewards.
Most people have a preference for which hotel chain they like to stay at. In addition to loyalty perks, award redemption prices and how easy it to earn points play a major factor in which hotel chain you'll want to be loyal to.
Marriott has the largest footprint globally, but, unfortunately, often requires a lot of points to redeem a free night. So despite its wide-reaching availability, it can take a lot to stay for free. World of Hyatt has fewer properties but is a fan favorite, thanks to great redemption rates. It continues to grow its footprint including all-inclusive resorts and Mr and Mrs Smith properties. Hilton offers generous sign-up bonuses on its co-branded credit cards but sometimes requires a ton of points for a free night as well.
Additional programs may catch your attention if they have properties at your intended destination. Families should no doubt choose a hotel credit card offered by their favorite loyalty program — one that offers perks that are valuable to them. Perks can include automatic elite status — like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card — annual or monthly credits, and free night certificates.
Similar to airline credit cards, families won't need each adult to have the same card. Even if you've booked multiple rooms to accommodate your family, each room under your loyalty number will qualify for the same perks. That means only one partner will need to pursue elite status with a particular rewards program. That way everyone can enjoy the perks as long as you're traveling together.
Related: How to Get Hotel Elite Status for Free (or Almost Free)
Best hotel credit card perks
The best hotel credit card perk might be, hands-down, elite status. Elite status is traditionally only earned by staying at a particular hotel brand so many times a year — such as 50 or 60 nights. But with the right credit card, you can earn elite status just by being a cardholder and paying an annual fee.
Elite status perks vary by brand and status level. However, you can expect benefits like space-available room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and more rewards earned on each (paid) stay.
Related: All Hotel Elite Status Match & Fast Track Opportunities
Some hotel credit card perks go beyond hotel-related benefits. A card that comes with annual travel credits like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card can also help families save money when paying cash for their hotel stay. This card grants a $100 on-property credit when staying two nights or more at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels, as well as up to $25 in monthly dining credits.
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Family Transferrable Points Strategy
A credit card that earns transferrable points is a must-have for any rewards traveler. It's especially important in a credit card strategy for families. Transferrable points are easier to earn than hotel points and airline miles and go even further. That's thanks to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners you can send your points to for higher value redemptions.
Because transferrable points are so valuable, it almost always makes sense that two players would have a card that earns the same points. For example, one might hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the other the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, both of which earn Ultimate Rewards points. Chase doesn't allow one person to hold both of these cards, but two players could take advantage of the sign-up bonuses of each and can combine their points for redemptions.
Non-premium travel credit cards are a great first stop when entering the points and miles world. In addition to lower annual fees, they also come with valuable perks. Below are some popular non-premium credit cards:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- American Express® Gold Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
These cards have various transfer partners, such as Virgin Atlantic, World of Hyatt, and Southwest Airlines, as well as a lower annual fee than their premium counterparts. They're also great starter cards. You can transfer points to partners for maximum value or use them to book travel directly through their respective travel portals.
Related: Practical Airline Award Sweet Spots for Families
Premium travel credit cards
On the other hand, you've got the premium versions of the credit cards listed above. Depending on the card, you'll gain access to exclusive hotel collections and resorts, lounge access, annual credits toward travel, elite status with other travel brands, and much more.
The trade-off is definitely a higher annual fee. For the cards listed below, the annual fee can range from $395 to $695.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Below is a table comparing the benefits of premium credit cards that offer transferrable rewards:
| Benefits | The Platinum Card® from American Express | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Citi Prestige® Card | Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $695 (Rates & Fees) | $550 | $495 | $395 |
| Authorized User Fee | $195 for each additional Platinum Card for Authorized Users (Rates & Fees) | $75 | $75 | $0 for up to 4 authorized users |
| Welcome Offer | Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points | Not accepting new applicants | 75,000 Capital One miles |
| Travel Credit | • $200 Airline incidental credit (with a pre-selected, preferred airline) • $200 pre-paid hotel credit (The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay) | $300 Travel credit | $250 Airline credit (includes airfare) | $300 annual travel credit for bookings made with Capital One Travel |
| Category Bonus | 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com | Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. | • 5x points on air travel and at restaurants • 3x points at hotels and on cruise line purchases • 1x on all other purchases | • 2x miles per dollar on all eligible purchases • 5x miles per dollar on flights when booking via Capital One Travel • 10x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel |
| Priority Pass | 1 guest (Enrollment Required) | 2 guests | 2 guests or immediate family, including access to PP restaurants | Unlimited guests (subject to space limitations at each lounge) |
| Other Lounges | • Centurion Lounges • Delta SkyClub (when traveling same day on Delta) • Select Lufthansa Lounges • Airspace & Escape Lounges • Plaza Premium Lounges (Guest policy varies) | • Chase Sapphire Lounges • Chase Sapphire Terrace | N/A | Capital One Lounges |
| Elite Status | • Hilton Honors & Marriott Gold • Avis Preferred® • Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® • National Emerald Club Executive | National Emerald Club Executive | • National Emerald Club Executive • Sixt Platinum | Hertz President's Circle (through December 31, 2024) |
| Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit | • Every 4 years for Global Entry • Every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck | Every 4 years | Every 5 years | Every 4 years |
| Trip Delay | • 6 hours • $500 | • 6 hours • $500 | As of 09/22/19, Citi no longer offers this benefit | • 6 hours • $500 |
| Baggage Delay | N/A | 6 hours $500 | As of 09/22/19, Citi no longer offers this benefit | N/A |
| Auto Rental CDW | Secondary up to $75K | Primary up to $75K | As of 09/22/19, Citi no longer offers this benefit | Primary up to $75k |
| Additional Perks & Benefits | • Up to $200 annual Uber Cash • Up to $199 CLEAR Plus membership fee reimbursement • Up to $300 Equinox credit •$300 SoulCycle credit •Up to $240 in digital entertainment credit | 1.5¢ per point redemption through Chase Travel Portal | Free night on hotel bookings of 4 nights booked through ThankYou.com — up to twice per year. | • Access to Capital One Premier Collection of luxury hotels with perks including free breakfast and resort credits. • Use miles at 1¢ apiece to offset recent travel purchases made with your card. |
A Note on Annual Fees
Annual fees can be a hindrance for some when deciding which credit card to get. However, the perks offered by many travel rewards cards far exceed the dollar amount paid in the annual fee.
For example, the Amex Platinum is one of those cards that everyone seems to want, but the $695 annual fee (Rates & Fees) understandably stops most people in their tracks.
However, benefits to this particular card include a $200 hotel credit, $200 airline fee credit, $200 in Uber Cash, and $240 digital entertainment credit. These annual benefits vary in form. Most are statement credits, while the Uber Cash goes straight to your Uber account. But they are worth more than the card's annual fee if you can get full value from them. The card has other valuable benefits that, when used, can make the annual fee more than worth it. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
So, don't be afraid of annual fees on credit cards. They can make all the difference in the quality of your family vacation especially if they have the right perks. Just make sure to do the math, based on your family's situation and travel goals.
Final Thoughts
Credit card strategies for families are complex, to say the least. Luckily, there are many ways to piece one together. Hopefully, the information above will make it a bit easier to decide on a credit card strategy for your family.
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For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
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