That $795 annual fee stings less when you realize $300 of it comes back as a travel credit. The problem: travel credits expire on a fixed schedule, do not roll over, and no one reminds you.
First, learn your card's reset date — it is rarely January 1. Some cards reset on your account anniversary, others on the calendar year. Write it down or, better, let SwipeWise watch the deadline for you.
Second, know what counts. "Travel" sounds broad until you discover that your card only credits airline incidentals, or only bookings made through its own portal. Read the fine print once; it pays for itself.
Third, do not save the credit for a big trip. The smartest move is to burn it early on something you would buy anyway — a seat upgrade, a checked bag, airport parking. A credit used in February beats a credit forgotten in December.
Credits are the easiest money in the points game because you already paid for them via the annual fee. Treat them like cash with an expiration date.