6 Things to Do When You Get the Orbitz Rewards Visa Card

Editor's note: This card has been discontinued. Consider other great credit cards for travel booking websites.

Getting a new credit card means dealing with a new infrastructure of points, benefits, apps and more. Once you’ve selected your new card, it’s good to take stock of what all of the benefits are so you don’t miss out on any limited-time offers and can start accruing points as quickly as possible.

The Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card is no different, and with a few steps you can be earning more points in no time.

1. Join Orbitz Rewards

This might seem like a no-brainer for a credit card that has Orbitz Rewards in the name, but it's crucial to getting the most out of this card. Orbitz is a great travel site for finding cheap deals on everything from flights to cruises, and you’re getting this credit card to double down on the perks of being a member.

Frequent travelers benefit from using Orbitz to book hotel rooms even without the credit card — 12 or more nights booked through Orbitz gets you platinum status with a slew of benefits including room upgrades, free Wi-Fi and TSA Precheck or a LoungeBuddy pass at no cost. Members paying for hotels with the card on Orbitz.com earn a total of 8% back in Orbucks, while bookings through the app earn 10%. Cardholders earn 6% in rewards for flights and travel packages, while cruises and other activities earn 5%.

» Learn more: The best dining rewards programs

2. Download the Orbitz App

The Orbitz app is a must for holders of the Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card, and not just because it sends automatic trip updates and gives you exclusive deals while booking. Cardholders get an additional 2% back on all eligible hotel bookings made through the app. Just making your bookings or reservations through the app bumps your total Orbucks rewards to 10% of the total booking cost. That’s a significant rewards percentage, especially for a credit card with an annual fee of $0.

3. Join Orbitz Dining Rewards

Orbitz Dining Rewards is an easy way to earn even more points. You’ll automatically earn points whenever you dine at over 10,000 participating restaurants and pay with your registered card. Of course, it’s a good idea to register your Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card, but you can also register any other credit card that you might use while dining out. Regular members of the Orbitz Dining Rewards program earn 5% back, but if you use the Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card you’ll earn 7%.

4. Meet the minimum spend

Many credit cards have initial sign-up bonuses and this card is no different. Its sign-up bonus is as follows: Receive a $100 statement credit when you spend $1,500 with your Orbitz Rewards® Visa® in the first 90 days of account opening.

5. Travel, travel, travel

The Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card is a travel card, first and foremost. Since you’ll be earning rewards that are valuable for travel, you might as well start planning a trip you can look forward to. And don’t worry about planning a trip abroad, because this card doesn’t have foreign transaction fees.

» Learn more: Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card review: Stellar rates, complex terms

6. Enjoy Gold and plan your way to Platinum

Frequent travelers know that even small comforts can improve a trip. Orbitz Rewards members all get great deals from Orbitz, but holders of the Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card get automatic Orbitz Rewards Gold Status. Gold status comes with benefits like free Wi-Fi or breakfast and access to a dedicated Orbitz Rewards customer service line.

If you stay at least 12 nights, you’ll reach the Platinum status level. Platinum Rewards members get free hotel upgrades when available, the choice of TSA Precheck enrollment or a LoungeBuddy pass, and up to $50 in Orbucks reimbursement for upgrades and additional fees.