Credit Cards
The cards I actually use.
These are the credit cards that have funded almost every trip our family has taken in the last 3.5 years. You do not need all of them. Start with one. Build from there. The "Start slow, then go fast" rule applies here more than anywhere else.
Southwest
— the Companion Pass playSouthwest is where the magic of the Companion Pass lives — buy one ticket, your companion flies free (except taxes and fees, usually $5.60 each way domestic). All three personal cards are significantly elevated right now. If a Companion Pass year is on your radar, this is the window.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
The lowest-fee Southwest personal card. Easy spend threshold ($1,000), great place to start if you fly Southwest even a few times a year. Pair with a Player 2 card for the Companion Pass play.
Apply with my link →Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier
The sweet spot of the lineup. 6,000 anniversary points each year (worth more than the annual fee). No foreign transaction fees. My pick if you're going to keep this card long-term.
Apply with my link →Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority
The highest welcome bonus of the trio. 7,500 anniversary points, $75 annual Southwest travel credit, and four upgraded boardings per year. Highest spend, but highest reward — and easier path to Companion Pass.
Apply with my link →Chase
— the best ecosystem, hands downIf you're brand new to this, start with Chase. The Ultimate Rewards ecosystem is the simplest to understand, the easiest to use, and the most flexible. I've used Chase points for everything from Hyatt suites in Paris to Southwest flights to Cayman. Most people start here.
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
This is the gateway card for most beginners. You must hold a premium Chase card to transfer Ultimate Rewards to travel partners — and the Sapphire Preferred is the lowest-fee option that unlocks that.
Apply with my link →Chase Sapphire Reserve®
This is a historic offer. 150K is the highest welcome bonus the Sapphire Reserve has ever had. The fee is steep, but the $300 travel credit + lounge access + premium transfer partners make it worth it for the right person.
Apply with my link →Chase Ink Business Cards
This is the secret to sustaining this hobby. Most people qualify for business cards even without an LLC or EIN — selling on FB Marketplace counts. These don't impact your 5/24 status and let you stack massive bonuses.
Apply with my link →World of Hyatt Credit Card
Hyatt's points system is one of the most generous award charts in travel. Free anniversary night alone often covers the annual fee. We've used Hyatt points for Cancún all-inclusives and Paris suites.
Apply with my link →American Express
— more nuanced, more powerfulAmex is my third love. It's slightly more nuanced than Chase — the redemptions take a minute to learn — but with that complexity comes amazing international possibilities. Membership Rewards transfer 1:2 to Hilton, and Amex runs transfer bonuses (sometimes 20–30%!) that can cut your point cost in half.
American Express® Gold Card
If groceries are a huge chunk of your monthly budget like ours, this card earns points like crazy. The credits offset most of the annual fee if you actually use them.
Apply with my link →The Platinum Card® from Amex
A workhorse for luxury travel. Centurion lounges are next-level. Walk through the math on the credits — they're real, but you have to use them.
Apply with my link →Amex Business Gold
Flexible category bonuses adjust to your business. Good middle-tier business card if you're not ready for the Biz Platinum.
Apply with my link →Amex Business Platinum
Perfect timing if you have a large planned spend coming — taxes, tuition, a remodel. The welcome bonus alone can fund an entire international trip.
Apply with my link →Capital One
— the Denver lounge family favoriteApply for Capital One early in your credit card game — they're inquiry-sensitive and don't love seeing a lot of new card requests on your report. The Capital One Lounge at DIA is my family's favorite perk of all our cards. Free food, coffee, alcoholic drinks, clean restrooms, quiet work rooms — every trip out of Denver starts there.
Capital One Venture X
The annual fee is hefty but the math works fast. $300 travel credit + 10K anniversary points + the Cap1 Lounge alone justify it. Grab this one early in your journey.
Apply with my link →United
— our positioning flight workhorseUnited has been a quiet hero in our family travel. Denver is a United hub, so when we need to position somewhere for an international award flight (like Phoenix for our France trip), United gets us there for cheap. Chase points transfer 1:1 to United MileagePlus, too.
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Pricey, but the United Club access in Denver is real estate worth paying for if you fly United often. Premier members also get access to expanded saver award space.
Apply with my link →The questions everyone asks.
Before you apply for anything, read these. I get the same questions in my DMs all the time.
Will this wreck my credit score?
Honest answer: no, if you do it right. My credit score has steadily climbed over the past 3.5 years. Pay your bills on time, never close a card before it's been open a year, and follow the recommended pacing. The hard inquiry from a new card causes a small temporary dip — but on-time payments and increased total credit limit pull your score back up (and often higher).
How often should I apply for new cards?
My general rule: every 90 days. Not a hard rule — sometimes a killer offer comes along and I'll do 30. If you have a Player 2 (spouse/partner), alternate. I open one, hit the spend, then my husband opens his. Doubles the household earn rate.
What if I can't hit the minimum spend?
Time the application around natural large expenses — insurance payments, car repairs, back-to-school shopping, tuition. You can also pay for friends/family and have them reimburse you. Never overspend just to hit a bonus — interest charges will wipe out any rewards.
Do I qualify for business cards?
Probably yes. Selling on FB Marketplace, Etsy, freelancing on the side, running a short-term rental — all count as a sole proprietorship. You don't need an LLC or EIN. Business cards are the secret weapon for sustaining this hobby.
I'm overwhelmed. Where do I actually start?
One card. Just one. For most beginners, I recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Open it. Hit the spend. Earn your first welcome bonus. See what 60K+ points actually look like. Then we talk about card #2.
Not sure which card is right for you?
Send me an email — most simple questions I answer for free. Or book a 1:1 call and we'll map your whole 12-month plan.
Email me a question →
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