Turning everyday spending into free travel is easier than you think—if you know how to work the system. Between credit card rewards, loyalty programs, and cashback stacking, you can cover flights, hotel stays, and upgrades without spending more than you already do. Here’s how to strategically earn and redeem points to make your travel goals a reality.
Use a rewards credit card for everyday purchases
The foundation of any good travel rewards strategy is a credit card that earns flexible points. Cards that offer rewards allow you to earn on everyday categories like groceries, gas, and dining—then redeem those points for flights, hotels, or transfer them to travel partners.
For those working toward a sign-up bonus, consider prepaying for subscriptions, upcoming travel, or even gift cards to meet the spending threshold—without wasting money.
Stack with cashback apps for triple rewards
Credit card points are just the first layer. Cashback platforms like Fluz, Rakuten, and Ibotta let you double down by earning instant cash back on purchases you were already going to make. This is especially useful when booking travel or buying gift cards for brands you know you’ll use.
For example, you can earn cashback with a Hotels.com gift card when purchased through Fluz, then use that card to book your stay while still earning points from your travel credit card and potentially racking up loyalty nights.
Flying somewhere soon? You can get rewards with a Delta Airlines gift card or earn cashback with a Southwest Airlines gift card to save upfront while stacking airline miles and card rewards.
Transfer points to loyalty programs for better value
Once you’ve built up your credit card points, don’t rush to redeem them for gift cards or statement credits. Instead, consider transferring them to hotel or airline partners where they’re often worth significantly more. Programs like World of Hyatt, Air France Flying Blue, and Singapore KrisFlyer are known for outsized point redemptions.
A single transfer can get you multiple hotel nights or a one-way business class flight—value that far exceeds what you’d get from a flat cash redemption.
Watch for transfer bonuses
From time to time, issuers offer bonus points for transfers to specific partners—sometimes as high as 30–40%. These can unlock even more value if timed right. Keep an eye on your card issuer’s transfer portal for these promotions and plan redemptions accordingly.
Layer deals with discounted bookings
Booking sites like Expedia, Travelocity, or Priceline often have flash sales or limited-time discounts. Combine those with gift cards bought through Fluz for a triple-stack. For instance, you can earn cashback with a Hotels.com gift card during a hotel flash sale and still redeem your credit card rewards points to offset any remaining cost.
The takeaway
A well-planned travel strategy combines smart spending, rewards credit cards, loyalty transfers, and cashback tools to unlock free travel. Every flight, stay, and booking becomes an opportunity to multiply value. With tools like Fluz and flexible points programs, your everyday purchases can take you farther than you imagined.
