Max Your Earnings: Tips for Earning Points with Kids in Tow

Introduction

Earning travel points can transform family vacations from costly ventures into nearly free getaways. With multiple travelers in tow, families need more points than solo travelers or couples, making it essential to have a solid strategy for maximizing earnings. Between flights, hotels, meals, and activities, the costs of family travel add up quickly—but so do the points if you know where to look. This guide offers practical, family-friendly strategies to supercharge your points balance through everyday spending, welcome bonuses, and smart credit card usage.

Earning Big with Welcome Bonuses

One of the fastest ways to accumulate a large stash of points is through credit card welcome bonuses. Many premium travel cards offer tens or even hundreds of thousands of points just for meeting a spending requirement within the first few months. For example, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express has offered up to 120,000 Membership Rewards points as a welcome bonus—enough for multiple flights or several nights at a luxury hotel. By strategically applying for cards with high-value bonuses, families can quickly build up enough points to cover a significant portion of their travel expenses.

A powerful strategy for families looking to maximize bonuses is the “two-player mode.” Instead of just one parent applying for a credit card, both parents can sign up separately for the same card to double the welcome bonuses. Additionally, many credit card programs allow you to earn referral bonuses when inviting a spouse or partner to apply. This creates an opportunity to not only collect two welcome bonuses but also earn extra points from referrals, further accelerating the family’s rewards balance.

Maximizing Everyday Family Spending

Family expenses can be a goldmine for points accumulation when paired with the right credit cards. Many premium travel cards offer elevated rewards on common household spending categories like groceries and dining. For example, the American Express® Gold Card earns 4X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in spending per year, making it one of the best options for families who regularly spend on groceries. Similarly, dining out—whether grabbing takeout on a busy night or enjoying a family meal at a restaurant—can also yield significant rewards when using a card with a dining bonus category.

Beyond food-related spending, families can take advantage of point-earning opportunities through large expenses like daycare, extracurricular activities, and school-related costs. Some credit cards offer elevated rewards on these purchases, while others allow tuition or daycare payments through third-party payment services that still earn points. For families who anticipate high spending on childcare, finding a card that offers bonus points on these expenses—or simply using a new card to meet a welcome bonus requirement—can be an easy way to earn additional rewards without changing everyday habits.

Using Shopping Portals to Earn More

Shopping portals are an easy and often overlooked way to rack up extra points on purchases families are already making. Many airlines and credit card issuers offer online shopping portals where users can earn additional miles or points simply by clicking through their links before making a purchase. For example, United MileagePlus Shopping and Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall partner with hundreds of retailers, allowing shoppers to earn extra points per dollar spent on everything from clothing to electronics. These portals function as a simple way to multiply rewards without spending extra money.

The key to maximizing shopping portal earnings is strategic timing. During the holiday season, back-to-school sales, and other major shopping events, many portals increase their bonuses, sometimes offering up to 10X points at select retailers. Families can further stack their earnings by using credit cards that provide bonus points in certain categories, such as a card that earns extra on online shopping or specific retailers. This combination—using a shopping portal alongside a bonus-earning credit card—allows families to "double-dip" and maximize their rewards on everyday purchases.

Referral Bonuses: An Easy Win

One of the simplest ways to earn extra points without spending a dime is through credit card referral programs. Many major issuers offer referral bonuses when you invite friends or family to apply for a card you already hold. For example, the American Express Business Platinum card often provides 20,000 Membership Rewards points per successful referral, with an annual cap of up to 225,000 points. This means families can significantly boost their balances just by recommending cards to others who qualify.

For families with two or more adults, referral loops can be a highly effective strategy. One spouse can refer the other, earning bonus points in the process, and then the second spouse can do the same for future cards. This method helps maximize rewards while keeping applications within the same household. However, families should be mindful of referral limits and ensure they’re applying responsibly to avoid potential rejections due to too many new accounts in a short period.

Pooling Points for More Redemption Power

Some loyalty programs make it easier for families to book award travel by allowing members to combine points into a shared pool. Programs like JetBlue and United Airlines offer family pooling options, where multiple household members can contribute their miles to a single account. This feature is especially valuable when individual balances are too small to book a flight, as it allows families to reach redemption thresholds faster. Instead of points sitting unused in separate accounts, pooling makes it possible to leverage collective earnings for full award tickets.

Beyond airline pooling, families can also optimize travel redemptions by combining points from different programs. Transferable currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards offer the flexibility to move points to a variety of airline and hotel partners, making it easier to find award availability. For example, Chase Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to Hyatt, Southwest, or United, depending on which program offers the best redemption value at the time. By strategically combining points from multiple sources, families can unlock even greater travel opportunities.

Signing Up Kids for Frequent Flyer Accounts

Many families overlook the fact that children can earn their own frequent flyer miles just like adults. While kids under two years old typically don’t accrue miles when flying as lap infants, children with their own seat can start accumulating points from an early age. Airlines like JetBlue, United, and American Airlines allow kids to have their own loyalty accounts, ensuring that no miles go to waste. Over time, these miles can add up and contribute to future family trips, making it a worthwhile strategy for families who fly regularly.

Managing multiple loyalty accounts across different airlines and hotels can be challenging, but various tools can simplify the process. Apps like AwardWallet help track balances, expiration dates, and redemption opportunities in one place. Families can also use spreadsheets or dedicated email folders to keep track of account details and upcoming promotions. Staying organized ensures that no points are lost and that families can maximize their rewards efficiently.

Stacking Rewards for Maximum Gains

Stacking rewards is one of the most effective ways to supercharge point earnings without additional spending. The key to this strategy is double- (or even triple-) dipping by combining multiple bonus opportunities. For example, booking a hotel through a shopping portal using a credit card that earns bonus points on travel while also leveraging an ongoing promotion can lead to significantly higher earnings than just using one method alone. A real-life example would be using a Chase Sapphire Preferred card to book a Hyatt stay through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall, earning both portal and category bonus points in a single transaction.

Certain times of the year provide even greater opportunities for stacking. Holidays, back-to-school shopping, and Black Friday sales often come with increased shopping portal bonuses, airline promotions, and credit card offers. Families can maximize their earnings by timing big purchases—such as new luggage, holiday gifts, or even annual memberships—to coincide with these seasonal promotions. By staying aware of these limited-time opportunities, families can multiply their earnings without increasing their expenses.

Earning Extra with Dining Programs

Dining rewards programs are another easy way to accumulate extra points without extra effort. Many airline and hotel programs offer dining programs that allow members to earn points simply by linking a credit card and dining at participating restaurants. Programs like American Airlines AAdvantage Dining and Hilton Honors Dining provide bonus miles or hotel points for every dollar spent at eligible locations.

To get the most out of dining rewards, families should link a rewards credit card that also earns extra points on dining. For example, using the American Express Gold Card, which earns 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants, in combination with an airline dining program can provide a powerful stacking opportunity. Families who frequently dine out can turn everyday meals into valuable points, making dining rewards one of the easiest ways to accelerate earnings.

Conclusion

Earning points as a family doesn’t require spending more—it just requires smarter spending. By strategically using welcome bonuses, shopping portals, referral programs, and loyalty partnerships, families can significantly boost their points balances and make travel more affordable. Whether it’s double-dipping with stacked rewards, maximizing seasonal promotions, or ensuring kids earn their own frequent flyer miles, these strategies create more opportunities for family adventures.

While earning points is exciting, responsible credit card use is crucial. Always pay balances in full to avoid interest charges that can quickly outweigh the value of earned rewards. With careful planning and smart spending, families can turn everyday expenses into unforgettable travel experiences. Now it’s time to put these strategies into action and start earning points for your next family getaway!

FAQ: Maximizing Family Travel Points

1. Can I earn points for my child’s flights, even if they don’t have a credit card?
Yes! Many airlines allow children to have their own frequent flyer accounts, so they can earn miles for every flight they take. Programs like JetBlue TrueBlue and United MileagePlus even allow families to pool points, making it easier to redeem miles for future trips.

2. What is the best credit card for earning travel points on family expenses?
It depends on your spending habits. The American Express Gold Card is great for groceries and dining, offering 4X points in those categories. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a solid all-around travel card with flexible redemption options. If you have high business expenses, the Ink Business Preferred from Chase offers generous category bonuses and a strong welcome bonus.

3. How do shopping portals work, and why should I use them?
Shopping portals allow you to earn extra points or miles when making online purchases through participating retailers. Simply log in to a shopping portal (like Chase Ultimate Rewards or United MileagePlus Shopping), click through to the store where you’re shopping, and earn bonus points on top of what your credit card already offers. This is an easy way to maximize points on purchases you were already planning to make.

4. Is it worth signing up for dining rewards programs?
Absolutely! Dining rewards programs let you earn extra points simply by linking your credit card and dining at participating restaurants. Since this stacks with credit card category bonuses, it’s an effortless way to earn additional travel rewards on meals you’d buy anyway.

5. What’s the best way for parents to maximize welcome bonuses?
One of the best strategies is "Two-Player Mode," where both parents apply for the same credit card separately and refer each other for additional points. This allows you to earn two welcome bonuses and referral points, significantly increasing your points balance while keeping expenses manageable.