So many of you have asked me about the "best credit card" lately, so I put everything I know in one place. This is the exact system I use to travel the world for almost nothing, paid for with everyday spending. Right now the Chase Sapphire Preferred® bonus is 100,000 points, which is honestly one of the best deals I have ever seen. If you are going to start, now is the time.
The card I recommend
You do not need all of these. My ranking is simple: #1 the Chase Sapphire Preferred (my universal pick, flexible points, and the 100K promo makes it a clear winner right now), #2 the United Explorer (or its premium sibling, the Quest) if United is your airline, and #3 the Capital One Venture as a popular alternative if you prefer airlines other than United. One thing to know: sign-up bonuses move with the seasons, so if you are ever choosing between cards, lean toward whichever has the bigger bonus at that moment.
This is my referral link. I may be rewarded if you are approved, so if you found this guide helpful, please use this link. See the disclosure below.
Slide to see the points you could earn in a year, just from normal spending.
You could earn 39,600 to 52,800 points per year.
Simply based on your current everyday spending.
If you sign up this year, that is at least 139,600 points. That could cover, as a minimum:
Estimated at roughly 1.5x to 2x points per dollar (a realistic range depending on how much of your spend falls into bonus categories like 3x dining, groceries, and streaming, and 5x on Chase Travel). Flight counts use the conservative low end plus the 100K bonus, and common award prices (domestic United one-ways often around 13,500 points; Europe one-ways around 36,000). Award prices and availability change. Not a guarantee.
This is my referral link. I may be rewarded if you are approved, so if you found this guide helpful, please use this link. See the disclosure below.
Not a referral link. I do not earn from this card, I include it because it is genuinely good.
Card quiz
Not sure which of my three picks fits you? Tap through this quick quiz and I will point you to your best match. There are no wrong answers, and you can retake it anytime.
This is my personal travel advice, and you are always welcome to compare notes with other people before you decide. In my experience the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best universal starting card because its points are flexible, and the current 100K promo makes it an unusually good deal that will not last forever.
So why did I personally start with United? Two reasons. First, when I began, United had the stronger sign-up bonus at that moment, and I always lean toward whichever card offers more points at the time. Bonuses change every season, so the "best" card can shift. Second, United is my preferred international airline, and I am a big believer in building loyalty with one airline early instead of spreading yourself thin across several programs. That focus is how you rack up enough miles for a real trip faster.
Bottom line: if you are starting today, the Sapphire Preferred with the 100K bonus is the move. This is the card, and this is the time.
The quick overview
The whole idea, and the whole plan, in about a minute. Want more depth after this? Jump to the full guide.
You use credit card points or airline miles to cover the expensive part of a flight, and you usually only pay taxes and fees out of pocket. On some one-way international flights, that can be as low as $5.60. The flight is not technically "free," it is just heavily discounted. (Quick note: banks give you points, airlines give you miles, and points can be turned into miles. More on that below.)
A starter card if you have no credit yet, or a travel card if your credit is already good. Right now that travel card is the Sapphire Preferred, thanks to the 100K promo.
Groceries, gas, dining, things you already buy. Do not spend extra to chase points.
The points arrive after you hit a minimum spend within about the first 3 months. Most Americans already spend this much on normal life, so the only real change is behavioral: put all your purchases on this one card.
Choose one that makes sense for where you live. I use United because of its hubs.
Confirm the flight exists, then transfer points. Transferring is easy, just a few clicks in your Chase account and it is usually instant. The catch: once you move points to an airline, they are locked to that airline and cannot come back to Chase. So only transfer after you have found the exact flight.
Book with your airline miles, cover the small taxes (sometimes just $5.60), and go. Want this spelled out click by click? See the full step-by-step walkthrough.
Many of the best deals show up inside airline apps, not on desktop. Having the airline loyalty account plus the airline credit card plus the mobile app can unlock special reduced-point offers. A real example: I flew Amsterdam to Kansas City for 36,000 miles at a fixed mileage rate, booked less than 48 hours before departure, when every cash fare was over $1,500. See the full walkthrough for the details.
United offers discounted young-adult cash fares. Sometimes they are actually cheaper than using points. Always compare both before you book.
Your first goal: earn about 40,000 points and book one international flight. This is easily done once you complete the minimum spend on the card, since the sign-up bonus alone usually gets you most of the way there. After you do it once, this gets much easier every time.
If you already know you want in, the move right now is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® while the bonus is 100K. Apply through my referral link here. If this guide helped you, using my link is the easiest way to say thanks.
Learn the basics
Everything explained slowly and in plain language. Tap any section to open it. You do not have to read it all at once, and you can always come back.
Credit card points are a reward banks give you for using a card. You earn them on everyday spending like groceries, gas, dining, and flights. Instead of cash back, you get points you can later use for travel, especially flights.
The key thing: you are not spending extra to earn points. You are earning them on money you were already going to spend. Think of it like store credit for airlines.
This trips up almost every beginner, so let me be very clear: points and miles are not the same thing.
When you use a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you earn points. These are flexible. They live in your Chase account, and they are not tied to any single airline. You can move them to United, or to several other airlines and hotels, whenever you choose. Flexibility is their superpower.
When you use an airline card like the United Explorer, you earn miles. Miles live in that specific airline's program (United, in this case) and can generally only be used with that airline and its partners. Less flexible, but they go straight to the airline you fly.
Here is the bridge: you can transfer Chase points into United miles, usually at a 1 to 1 rate, in a few clicks. That is why I love flexible points. You collect points with Chase, then convert them into United miles only when you are ready to book a specific flight. Just remember the one-way rule: once points become airline miles, they are locked to that airline and cannot come back to Chase.
Quick way to remember it: banks give you points, airlines give you miles, and points can turn into miles, but not the other way around.
This is written for people who live in the United States. To use these strategies you need a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), and a U.S. bank account.
You do not need to be wealthy or travel often. You do need to be at least 18, have some income, and be willing to pay your balance in full every month. If you cannot open U.S. credit cards, this guide will not apply to you the same way.
A score around 680 or higher is usually needed for approval, and 700 or higher gives you a much better shot. Approval also depends on income, credit history length, and existing accounts. You can check for free with tools like Credit Karma or your bank's app. Below 680? It is better to wait and build credit first.
The biggest factor is paying your bills on time. Also important: using only a small portion of your credit limit (do not max it out), keeping accounts open over time, and avoiding late or missed payments. In short, use a card responsibly and pay it on time, every month.
That is common for students and young adults, and it is not a bad thing. Start with a beginner card such as a student card, a starter card from your bank, or a secured card (a refundable deposit becomes your limit). Chase's starter option is the Chase Freedom Rise®. Use it for small purchases, pay in full, and after about six months of on-time payments you will usually have a score high enough for travel cards. If unsure, a banker at a local bank or credit union can walk you through options in person.
Never apply for multiple cards on the same day, and wait about 2 to 3 months between applications. If you have solid credit, I would make the Chase Sapphire Preferred your first card today, mostly because of the 100K promo. Which card is "best" to open first really comes down to whichever has the bigger sign-up bonus that season, and right now that is clearly the Sapphire. Add a United card or the United Quest later if United becomes your airline.
This is the single most important thing to know before you apply for any Chase card. Chase will usually decline you if you have opened 5 or more credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months. This is called the 5/24 rule. Because of it, order matters: open the Chase cards you want most (like the Sapphire Preferred) while you are still under 5/24, before you fill those slots with other banks' cards. If you are brand new to credit, you are almost certainly under 5/24 already, so you are in the perfect spot to grab the Sapphire now.
Most travel cards want you to live in the U.S., have an SSN or ITIN, steady income, and often some established credit. If approved, the card usually arrives within 7 to 10 days. Getting denied once is common for beginners and will not ruin your credit long-term.
Most people start with just one card. Here is my ranking of where to begin, followed by a few other cards I have used over the years. If I had to pick one to start with today, it would be the Sapphire Preferred while the bonus is this high.
A general travel card that earns flexible points instead of airline-specific miles. Earns 3 points per dollar on dining, 2 on travel, 1 on everything else. Points transfer to airline programs like United, which gives you the most booking options. This is the card I point almost everyone to, and the current 100K bonus makes it an easy call.
One of the best beginner airline cards, and the one I personally started with. Usually no annual fee the first year, then about $95 per year. Earns 2 miles per dollar on United flights, dining, and hotels, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else, plus perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. Great if you regularly fly United.
When you are ready to level up, the United Quest Card is the premium version of the Explorer: a higher annual fee offset by annual travel credits, and stronger earning at 3 miles per dollar on United and 2 on dining and travel. Think of the Explorer as your starter United card and the Quest as the upgrade once United is clearly your airline.
A simple, flexible card that earns 2 miles on every purchase. Being fully honest: I do not use this one, because I am loyal to United and Capital One does not transfer to United. That said, it is genuinely popular and a strong choice if you like other airlines. It transfers to partners like Aeromexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, Qatar Airways, TAP Air Portugal, and British Airways, plus many more. Air Canada Aeroplan and British Airways in particular open up a lot of routes for U.S. travelers, so if you are not tied to United, the Venture is worth a look.
Amex Gold and Platinum (business use): powerful if you have lots of corporate or business expenses, since you can earn points even on reimbursed spend. Amex transfers to many airlines, but not to United. Worth knowing before you choose.
BILT Card (rent points): unique because it lets you earn points on rent, which is normally paid by debit or bank transfer. BILT points can transfer to airline partners including United, useful for expenses you normally cannot put on a card.
Airline cards like United's are best if you mostly fly one airline and want perks like free bags and priority boarding. General travel cards like the Sapphire and the Venture give flexibility to transfer points to different airlines. Many people use a mix, but if you are choosing one to start, flexible wins for most beginners, which is why the Sapphire is my number one.
I chose United because I travel through its hub cities: Chicago (ORD), San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), Denver (DEN), and New York (NYC), and it is my preferred international airline. If you live near a United hub, United cards often make sense. If you are near a Delta or American hub, another airline may fit you better.
One piece of advice I feel strongly about: when you are starting out, pick one airline and build loyalty with it rather than spreading yourself thin across several programs. Concentrating your miles in one place is how you reach a free flight faster. The flexible Sapphire points are perfect for this, because you can pool them and then transfer to your one chosen airline when you are ready to book.
I also use Iberia to fly in and out of Madrid for very low point costs. Iberia often lets you mix points and cash, so you do not have to cover the whole ticket with points, and it frequently offers low point prices to and from Madrid.
Many United domestic routes fall into predictable mileage ranges, so even when cash prices spike during holidays, the miles required can stay the same (for example, Fresno to Chicago for 15,000 miles one-way, even at peak). United award flights are also flexible, so you can usually cancel and get miles back, or rebook without change fees.
This is the perk I use the most. Award prices are typically a flat rate, so a last-minute ticket usually costs the same miles as one booked months in advance. When a cash fare would have spiked to over a thousand dollars, my mileage price does not move. I have booked flights the same day and still paid the normal mileage rate.
The flexibility goes even further. If plans change, you can cancel an award flight and get your miles redeposited, often right up to an hour before departure. I have literally canceled an hour before a flight I knew I would miss and gotten my miles back. Try doing that with a cash ticket. This combination of flat pricing plus easy cancellation is what makes travel with miles genuinely flexible, not just cheap.
Credit card companies actively monitor for fraud and may freeze a card if something looks unusual. If fraud happens, you are usually not on the hook, and the bank investigates and reimburses you. With debit cards, fraud pulls from your actual checking account, and getting that cash back can take much longer.
Many cards include purchase protection, trip delay and cancellation insurance, and baggage protection when you book travel on the card. They also make disputing incorrect charges easier.
No foreign transaction fees (saves about 3% abroad), rental car insurance, extended warranties, price protection, and travel assistance services. Not every card has all of these, but knowing they exist helps you get more value.
Most travel cards require you to spend a minimum amount within about the first 3 months to earn the sign-up bonus. Here is the reassuring part: most American consumers already spend this much on normal life, so you usually do not need to spend a single extra dollar. The only shift is behavioral, meaning you route all of your everyday purchases through this one card instead of a debit card or several cards. The one rule stays the same: only use the card for expenses you already have.
Safe ways to hit it: groceries, gas, dining, flights, phone bills, internet bills, and everyday transportation. Never buy random things or spend money you do not have just to earn points. If you cannot hit the requirement naturally, wait and apply later.
Common mistakes: transferring points too early, paying interest, or using debit cards instead of credit cards. Avoiding these is just as important as earning points.
Do not open cards just because friends, social media, or TikTok make it look easy. Go at your own pace and only open cards you actually understand.
This is condensed from my complete write-up. You can read the full versions here: Beginner Guide and One-Page Summary.
The full walkthrough
This walkthrough is specifically for booking a United flight to Europe, and it works whether you got the Chase Sapphire Preferred or a United card. When the steps differ, I split them into two clearly labeled paths. The famous "$5.60" is just the required U.S. departure tax you pay out of pocket; the points cover the rest.
As of today, I found a one-way award flight from Fresno (not even a major hub airport) to Amsterdam for 36,000 miles plus just $5.60 in taxes.
Here is why the 100K Sapphire bonus is such a big deal: 100,000 points is nearly three one-way tickets like that, all from spending you were already going to do. Award prices change and availability varies, but this is the kind of value that is out there right now.
Before anything, be honest with yourself: can you pay the full balance every month? If yes, keep going. If not yet, practice with a starter card for a few months first. This whole system only works if you never pay interest.
Apply for the card, then put your normal everyday spending on it to hit the minimum spend within about the first 3 months. Most people already spend enough on normal life, so you usually do not need to spend a single extra dollar. The only change is behavioral: route all your purchases through this one card.
The bonus does not appear the instant you hit the spend. It usually posts after your statement closes, so think weeks, not a weekend. This is completely normal and does not mean you did anything wrong.
You book United award flights on united.com or in the United app, so create a free United MileagePlus account now if you do not have one. Add your birthdate while you are there, especially if you are 18 to 23, so you can also see young-adult fares.
Log into United and search your route as an award flight (for example, your home airport to Amsterdam) using miles, not cash. Confirm the specific date, flight, and mileage price are actually available before you do anything else. Never move points on a hunch.
Complete the booking on united.com with your miles. You pay only the required taxes and fees out of pocket. Here is the key detail: almost all flights departing the United States cost just $5.60 in tax, which is simply the U.S. security fee. That is the famous "fly to Europe for $5.60."
Flights into the U.S. from Europe are a different story, because European taxes and fees are much higher. The mileage price can be identical while the cash taxes are not. See my real return-flight example in the note below.
After booking, save your confirmation number, the confirmation email, and a screenshot of the itinerary. It makes life much easier if anything changes before your trip.
One reason I love United award flights: you can usually cancel and get your miles redeposited, or change the flight without a change fee. If you switch to a pricier flight, you just pay the difference in miles. I have canceled an award flight as late as an hour before departure when I knew I would miss it, and gotten my miles right back. Because award prices are typically a flat rate, even same-day and last-minute flights cost the normal mileage amount, so travel stays both affordable and flexible.
When you apply you may get a hard inquiry on your credit report, you might start with a lower credit limit than expected, and you will have a statement close date and a payment due date. Set up autopay so you never miss a payment. None of this is scary, it is just how credit cards work.
The Sapphire Preferred with the 100K bonus is the move right now. Apply through my referral link here. Prefer to go straight to United? Apply for a United card here.
This week I booked the return leg, Amsterdam to Kansas City, for the same 36,000 miles, but the taxes were $117 instead of $5.60, because European departure taxes are much higher than the U.S. security fee. Same miles, very different cash taxes, purely because of where the flight departs.
And here is the kicker: this was a last-minute booking, less than 48 hours before departure. Every cash fare for that same flight was over $1,500. With miles, I paid 36,000 miles plus $117. That is the real power of points and miles: the mileage price stays stable even when cash prices spike at the last minute.
Travel is not expensive because of distance. It is expensive because most people do not know how to use points and miles. Now you do.
The Sapphire Preferred bonus is 100K right now, which is genuinely one of the best moments to start that I have seen. Read the guide, take your time, and reach out if anything feels unclear. Credit cards can feel intimidating at first, so I hope this was helpful insight from someone who has actually been through it.
Start with the 100K Sapphire Preferred → Prefer United? Apply for a United card here.Hi, I am Estefania. For the past two years I have been a full-time digital nomad, and I have set foot on all six inhabited continents using this exact points system, from Hong Kong to Paris, Bangkok to Marrakesh, Amsterdam to Darwin, and Shanghai to Kansas City. I am not a bank and I am not a financial advisor. I am just a friend who travels a lot, learned this the slow way, and would rather save you the trouble.
Credit cards can feel confusing at first, and I am truly happy to help you. Reach out if you have any questions and follow along to see where the miles take me next.
📸 @estefaniamarpar on InstagramFor over a year, I have been building a travel app that transforms travel goodbyes into a "See You Later."
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