Last winter Alex and Erin Miller checked a major item off their bucket list: hitting the road for a thrilling three-week adventure touching Saigon, Singapore, Melbourne and Dubai — and flying business or first class between cities.
No, the Millers aren’t millionaires, heirs to a vast fortune or lottery winners. They’re simply an ordinary couple in their mid-30s living in Austin, TX, who just happen to be extremely savvy about points and miles. How savvy?
The Millers were able to score all the tickets for their once-in-a-lifetime trip for little more than the cost of a cross-country flight for two.
And yet, while the rewards unlocked by travel credit cards can be substantial, a recent Bankrate.com survey found a full 31% of credit card holders don't bother to redeem their rewards at all.
Don’t join the ranks of those missing out: Here are some of the things you need to know about how to begin using your own credit cards to maximize rewards — no complicated algorithms, systems or hours spent poring over points charts required.