Earning points on your Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card can be a fantastic way to turn your everyday spending into exciting travel adventures or even statement credits for dining! This guide will walk you through every step to maximize your point earnings.
Ready to Unlock Your Travel Dreams? Let's Get Started!
Are you excited to see your spending turn into free flights, hotel stays, or delicious meals? If you've got your Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card in hand (or are planning to get one), you're already on your way! Let's dive into how you can make the most of its rewards program.
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| How To Earn Points On Bank Of America Travel Credit Card |
Step 1: Understand the Core Earning Rates
The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card offers a straightforward points system, which is part of its appeal. Knowing the basics is crucial for smart spending.
1.1: The Everyday Earning Rate
The primary way you'll earn points is on all your regular purchases. For every $1 you spend on eligible purchases, you'll generally earn 1.5 points. This applies to almost everything – groceries, gas, utility bills, online shopping, and more. This consistent rate makes it easy to accumulate points without worrying about rotating categories or spending caps.
1.2: Boosted Earnings on Bank of America Travel Center Bookings
Here's where it gets really interesting for travel enthusiasts! When you book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center, you can earn an enhanced rate of 3 points for every $1 spent. This includes flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises booked directly through their portal. This is a significant boost and a key strategy for maximizing your travel rewards.
Step 2: Leverage the Welcome Bonus – A Fast Track to Points!
One of the quickest ways to jumpstart your points balance is by earning the welcome bonus.
2.1: Meet the Spending Requirement
Typically, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card offers a welcome bonus (e.g., 25,000 online bonus points) after you make a specific amount of purchases (e.g., $1,000) within a set timeframe (e.g., the first 90 days of account opening). This bonus alone can be worth a significant statement credit towards travel.
QuickTip: Look for lists — they simplify complex points.
- Tip: Plan your larger purchases, like upcoming vacations or home improvements, around the time you open your card to easily meet this requirement. Don't spend money you wouldn't otherwise, but optimize your existing spending.
Step 3: Unleash the Power of Preferred Rewards® (If Applicable)
If you're already a Bank of America customer with significant assets, you could supercharge your earnings through the Preferred Rewards program.
3.1: Understanding Preferred Rewards Tiers
The Preferred Rewards program offers bonus rewards on your Bank of America credit cards, along with other banking benefits, based on your combined balances in eligible Bank of America deposit accounts (checking, savings, CDs) and/or Merrill investment accounts.
- Gold Tier: $20,000 - $49,999 combined balance (25% rewards bonus)
- Platinum Tier: $50,000 - $99,999 combined balance (50% rewards bonus)
- Platinum Honors Tier: $100,000 - $999,999 combined balance (75% rewards bonus)
- Diamond Honors Tier: $1,000,000+ combined balance (75% rewards bonus)
3.2: How Preferred Rewards Boosts Your Travel Points
If you're a Preferred Rewards member, your base earning rate of 1.5 points per $1 will be boosted by your tier bonus. For example:
- At the Gold tier, 1.5 points becomes 1.87 points per $1.
- At the Platinum Honors tier, 1.5 points becomes an impressive 2.62 points per $1!
This means your everyday spending becomes significantly more rewarding. Make sure to enroll in the Preferred Rewards program if you qualify.
Step 4: Strategic Spending Habits
Beyond the core earning rates and bonuses, smart spending habits can lead to even more points.
4.1: Make it Your Primary Card
Since the Bank of America Travel Rewards card offers a consistent 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases (or more with Preferred Rewards), make it your go-to card for everyday spending. Every transaction, no matter how small, contributes to your travel fund.
Tip: Pause, then continue with fresh focus.
4.2: Optimize Travel Bookings
Whenever possible, book your flights, hotels, and car rentals through the Bank of America Travel Center to earn that accelerated 3 points per dollar. This is a crucial step for maximizing your travel-specific rewards.
4.3: Monitor BankAmeriDeals®
Bank of America often offers special deals through its BankAmeriDeals program. These are typically targeted offers that provide cash back (which can be seen as an additional reward on top of your points) when you use your Bank of America card at participating merchants. Check your online banking or mobile app regularly for new offers.
Step 5: Keep Your Account in Good Standing
This might seem obvious, but it's fundamental to earning and keeping your points.
5.1: Pay Your Bills on Time
Late payments can result in penalties and potentially forfeit your accumulated rewards. Always pay your credit card bill on time and in full to avoid interest charges and keep your points active.
5.2: Avoid Account Closures
Points on the Bank of America Travel Rewards card generally don't expire as long as your account remains open. Closing your account could lead to the forfeiture of your hard-earned points.
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Step 6: Understanding Point Value and Redemption
Knowing how much your points are worth and how to redeem them is the final piece of the puzzle.
QuickTip: Slow scrolling helps comprehension.
6.1: Point Value
Generally, Bank of America Travel Rewards points are worth 1 cent per point when redeemed for travel or dining statement credits. So, 25,000 points are worth $250.
6.2: Flexible Redemption Options
One of the best features of this card is its flexible redemption. You can redeem your points for a statement credit to cover a wide range of eligible travel purchases, including:
- Airline tickets
- Hotel stays
- Vacation rentals
- Car rentals
- Baggage fees
- Cruises
- And even dining purchases (including takeout!)
This means you're not restricted to booking through a specific portal or airline when you redeem. You can book your travel however you like, then simply redeem your points to offset the cost.
6.3: Redemption Minimums
There's typically a minimum redemption of 2,500 points ($25 value).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common "How to" questions about earning and using points on your Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card:
How to check my Bank of America Travel Rewards points balance?
You can easily check your points balance by logging into your Bank of America Online Banking account or through the Bank of America Mobile Banking app. Your rewards balance will be prominently displayed on your credit card account summary.
Tip: Skim once, study twice.
How to redeem Bank of America Travel Rewards points for travel?
To redeem points for travel, log into your Bank of America online account, navigate to your credit card rewards section, and select the option to redeem for a statement credit. You can then apply your points to eligible travel purchases that have already posted to your account (typically within the last 12 months).
How to redeem Bank of America Travel Rewards points for dining?
Similar to travel, you can redeem your points for a statement credit to cover eligible dining purchases. Log into your online account, go to the rewards section, and choose to apply points as a statement credit to your restaurant or takeout charges.
How to earn bonus points with Bank of America Preferred Rewards?
To earn bonus points with Preferred Rewards, you need to have an eligible Bank of America personal checking account and maintain a combined average daily balance of $20,000 or more in your qualifying Bank of America deposit and/or Merrill investment accounts. Once you meet the criteria, enroll in the Preferred Rewards program through your online banking.
How to maximize points on large purchases with my Bank of America Travel Card?
For large purchases, always use your Bank of America Travel Rewards card to earn 1.5 points per dollar. If it's a travel-related large purchase, strongly consider booking it through the Bank of America Travel Center to get the enhanced 3 points per dollar.
How to find eligible travel purchases for point redemption?
When you go to redeem points online or through the mobile app, Bank of America will typically display a list of your past transactions that qualify as "travel" or "dining" purchases, allowing you to easily select which ones you want to offset with your points.
How to avoid losing my Bank of America Travel Rewards points?
To avoid losing your points, ensure your credit card account remains open and in good standing. Points typically do not expire as long as your account is active.
How to get the welcome bonus on my new Bank of America Travel Card?
To get the welcome bonus, you need to meet the specified spending requirement within the introductory period (e.g., spend $1,000 in the first 90 days). Make sure to track your spending to ensure you reach the target.
How to tell if a purchase qualifies for 3 points per dollar?
The 3 points per dollar rate only applies to travel purchases booked directly through the Bank of America Travel Center. All other purchases, including travel booked elsewhere, will earn the standard 1.5 points per dollar.
How to contact Bank of America customer service about my travel rewards?
You can contact Bank of America customer service by calling the number on the back of your credit card. You can also send a secure message through your online banking portal for questions related to your rewards.
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