Applying for travel rewards credit cards has a multitude of advantages. You can earn miles for free air travel, get upgrades while on the go, and even gain access to some very fancy airport lounges. However, unless you know how to maximize the benefits, your card can simply weight you down with its annual fees and interest rates. Following are some important pointers to keep in mind so that you can maximize the benefits on your travel reward card. Aim for the Welcome Bonus Most people apply for a particular travel rewards card because of its joining bonus. This bonus can be worth thousands of points, which in turn may be worth several hundred dollars. However, very few actually earn the bonus. This is because there is usually always a clause to the bonus. For instance, you might need to spend a minimum of $2000 on the card in the first three months. Therefore, when choosing among the travel rewards credit cards be sure to pick one which has conditions that you can manage to fulfill to benefit from the points. Only pay for services you use When applying for a travel rewards card, it might seem tempting to click on all available options.