Travel Cards
Earn Free Flights!
Earning travel miles and points in Europe isn't quite as easy as in the US, but there are still amazing opportunities to turn your everyday spend into travel miles through the use of multiple American Express Cards.
This strategy is written for solo travellers however it can work even better for couples as you can take advantage of the signup bonuses which give you the most points.
Below we share our optimal strategy for accessing free flights!
The first step to free flights is to sign up to Amex Gold which is free for the first year and has a 20-40k signup bonus points. This card comes with a bunch of added perks, such as 4 free entrances to airport lounges a year, but we're here for the signup bonus. You can then cancel the card after the first year to avoid paying the yearly bill. You should have now racked up quite a few Avios points after your first full year of spending with Amex.
We don't recommend spending anything over your usual amount that you would spend on a debit card as the interest rates are high! Next you'll want to transfer your account from Amex Gold to Amex BA which is free and has the perk of being able to claim a companion voucher. With a companion voucher your points are effectively doubled - allowing you to bring a partner or friend on any redemption of Avios points you make.
Step 3: Redeem
Now you've done all the hard work it's time to enjoy the rewards - after two years spending on Amex aswell as claiming the signup bonus, you should have quite a few points. More than enough to redeem a long haul flight which paired with the companion voucher, allows your partner to go also (or 50% off a single ticket).
Now you're sitting in the Philippines on a beach after your free flight, you might also have some points left which will do the job nicely for smaller internal flights to get you around. Enjoy!
Summary
1. Sign up to Amex Gold to earn the signup bonus
2. "Downgrade" your Amex Gold to the Amex BA before the first year end to avoid paying the yearly fee
3. Earn the BA companion voucher
4. Redeem all of your free flights!
This strategy also works great with multiple people as you can have more signup bonuses!
Low Fees Abroad
Have you ever tapped your card abroad to later find out your bank charges a high percentage fee and offers a terrible conversion rate?
Or maybe you've sent money to a bank account abroad and got stung with high fees?
We've been there - many times! So here are our favourite travel cards with no fees on day-to-day spending and the best conversion rates available.
