In the world of reward travel, having a “Player 2” can make a significant difference. Your player 2 is your ride-or-die in the game of travel hacking. This is typically a spouse, partner, or family member. This partner can help you accumulate points so much faster. In this article, I’ll explore why having a Player 2 (jargon alert! This is also known as your P2) can enhance your travel rewards strategy and how to effectively team up to make the most of your credit cards.
Why is it nice to have a travel hacking player 2?
- When a juicy sign-up bonus rolls around, you can each apply – thus doubling your points stash.
- Some cards (Chase Sapphire Preferred, for example) allow you to pool your points between household members. Also, some airline programs (one example is British Airways) allow for household accounts where you can pool your points and miles.
- You can take turns referring each other to cards, thus getting the sign-up bonus AND a referral bonus.
The Player 2 Game Plan
- Wait for a good signup bonus: Once a good bonus offer rolls around, player 1 applies, meets the minimum spend and then earns the sign-up bonus.
- Player 1 refers Player 2: From within their account, player 1 will generate a “refer-a-friend” invitation link. Player 1 texts or emails this link to their player 2, and player 2 applies through this link.
- Player 2 meets minimum spend: Player 2 meets the minimum spend and receives the sign-up bonus. Not long after, player 1 will receive their referral bonus.
- Now rinse and repeat! 🔄 🔄 🔄 🔄 🔄
Getting your P2 ready for their big debut
Your player 2 will want to follow the same steps you followed when you first started. This includes checking their credit report, ensuring they have a strong credit score, and making sure they are able to pay their balance in full every month.
What if your P2 is reluctant to join the party?
Sometimes your player 2 will be reluctant to join in the game. They might think reward travel is too good to be true. Or that it seems too complicated or too much trouble.
That’s fine. Start small. Pick a trip that requires fewer points or miles, something fun but relatively easy to obtain. This can help build their confidence and get them more excited about travel hacking. They usually come around quickly once they get aravel taste of free t.
It may also be that your P2 just gets overwhelmed by the logistics of travel hacking. I’m not going to lie; it does require a degree of organization. This happens to be my strong suit and my P2’s Achilles’ heel. Therefore, we agree that I handle all things reward travel. I manage all the applications, all the spending, and all the downgrades. I hand him a card every month and instruct him on when and where to use it. This arrangement works great for us.
Conclusion
Having a player 2 is vital to maximizing your reward potential. Ensure they are primed and ready to get started. Then start racking up those extra points and miles!
