GET A FREE HOLIDAY USING LOYALTY CARDS

IT seems too good to be true. Is it really possible to bag a free break simply by totting up points from a weekly shop?

For years, savvy travellers have been using loyalty cards and airline schemes to accrue enough points to pay for flights and holidays. To the uninitiated, it can seem like a minefield. But follow a few simple steps and it’s easier than you might think to get started…

FOCUS ON FLIGHTS

You can use airline points and miles to purchase a range of things, from hotel rooms to ferry crossings or even cases of wine.

“But to gain the best value, use them for flights,” says Nicky Kelvin, self-proclaimed aviation geek and head of travel advice website The Points Guy (thepointsguy.co.uk).

APPLY FOR CREDIT CARDS

“Using credit cards is key when it comes to racking up lots of points, especially because of the generous welcome bonuses that we’re seeing now and because of the ongoing earning rates on every pound that you spend,” says Kelvin.

BUT – you need to keep on top of your game and pay off the full balance each month to avoid hefty interest.

If you are confident to pay with plastics, Kelvin recommends opting for the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card and Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard Credit Card, amongst others.

DO A SUPERMARKET SWEEP

Fortunately, there are still plenty of ways to earn points outside of credit cards. Kelvin recommends making purchases through airline shopping portals and supermarket loyalty schemes, such as Nectar or Tesco ClubCard.

For example, Wightlink, who operate ferries to the Isle of Wight, currently offers triple the value of Tesco Clubcard vouchers, so every 50p in vouchers is worth £1.50.

Crossings start from £57.50 for a car and up to seven passengers. Butlins Family Breaks and Intrepid both offer £15 to use for every £5 voucher, while Virgin offer 625 points for every £2.50 voucher.