When we talk about miles and points, many of us think about big sign-up bonuses, quiet airport lounges, and surprise seat upgrades. Those things are fun and easy to get excited about. But there is another move that looks small and simple, and it can still help you and your family earn more value from one account.
That move is adding an authorized user.
Adding an authorized user will not feel as exciting as getting a giant pile of points at once. Still, giving someone their own card on your account can lead to more lounge visits, easier payments while you travel, and even a stronger credit history for them. When you do it the right way, that one extra card can help your whole household.
You should not add someone just because you can, though. If you pick the wrong person or pay a fee that is too high, you can lose money and even hurt your own credit. In this guide, we explain what an authorized user is, when adding one can help, when it can cause problems, and how to decide if any extra fee is really worth it.
What An Authorized User Actually Is
An authorized user is someone you choose to connect to your existing card account. That person receives a card with their own name on it. They do not fill out a full application or go through a credit check the way you did as the main account holder.
They can use their card to pay for things in stores, online, and while traveling. Every purchase they make shows up on the same monthly statement that you see. Even if most of the spending comes from them, you are still the one who must pay the bill on time. The account belongs to you. They are allowed to use it, but they are not the owner.
In many cases, the authorized user can also share some of the account perks. This will depend on what your account offers. For example, they might be able to enter certain airport lounges when they fly from big airports like Los Angeles International Airport or John F. Kennedy International Airport. They may also be able to trigger credits or refunds for trusted traveler or security programs, such as TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, when those benefits are part of the account. On top of that, the purchases they make can earn points or miles that are added to your main rewards balance.
There can also be a credit-building side to this. Many issuers send information like payment history and account age to the credit bureaus for both the main account holder and any authorized users. If you pay on time and keep your balance at a healthy level, that good history can show up on the authorized user’s credit report too.
Smart Times To Add An Authorized User
Adding an authorized user can be a strong move when you choose the right person and the right reason. Here are some common situations where it can actually help.
Sharing Travel Perks When You Fly Together
If you travel often with a partner, a family member, or a close friend, giving them their own card on your account can make your time at the airport less stressful.
Instead of always going into lounges as your guest, they may be able to show their own card to get in. They can also be the one to pay for checked bags, seat fees, or trusted traveler programs when those purchases are eligible for statement credits. When you are on a trip, they can pay for hotels, rideshares, and meals with their own card instead of handing your card back and forth.
In busy airports, this can mean less rushing and confusion at the gate or lounge desk and more time to relax before you board. If you already use your account for travel benefits, adding the person you travel with most often can make those perks easier for both of you to use.
Helping Someone Build Credit History
Adding someone you trust to a well-managed account can help them start or rebuild their credit, as long as you keep the account in good shape.
When you pay your bill on time every month, keep your balance at a safe level compared with your limit, and keep the account open for a long time, that positive history may appear on the authorized user’s credit report too. Over time, this can help them look more stable when they apply for their own account, a car loan, or even a rental.
This approach can be especially helpful for:
- Teens or young adults who are completely new to using credit.
- A partner who has not used credit much and now wants to build a record.
- Someone who had money problems in the past and now wants to build better habits.
There is a clear tradeoff here. If you pay late, carry high balances, or let the account fall behind, those negative marks can also show up on the authorized user’s report. Instead of helping them, you might make things harder. That is why you should always check how the issuer reports authorized users and make sure you can manage the account well before you use this tactic.
Reaching A Spending Target Faster
Some accounts give you a bonus or a special earning rate when you spend a certain amount within a set time or in certain categories. In many cases, the purchases made by an authorized user count toward that same goal.
If you add a trusted person and let them put some of their regular spending on the account, you might reach that target faster. Everyday expenses like groceries, gas, streaming services, phone bills, and shared travel plans can all help you get to the required amount.
This can be useful when there is a clear deadline to unlock a bonus, when your own monthly spending is close to the target but not quite enough, or when you and the authorized user already share a budget and are just moving spending that would happen anyway. The main thing is to watch the total so you do not overspend just to chase a bonus and end up with a balance that is hard to pay off.
Keeping Your Household Spending In One Place
Sometimes the best reason to add an authorized user is simply to stay organized.
When more than one person in the same household uses their own card tied to one account, all of that spending appears on a single monthly statement. You can quickly see where the money went and how many rewards you earned.
This can make it easier to track shared expenses without juggling several different accounts. You can spot areas where you are spending more than you expected and make sure most of your purchases follow the same rewards plan instead of being spread across random accounts. If you like clear tracking and fewer moving pieces, one main account with a couple of authorized users can make your points strategy easier to manage.
Moments When Adding An Authorized User Is A Bad Idea
Even with all the possible benefits, there are also times when adding another person to your account is not a good move. Here are some warning signs.
When Extra Fees Eat Up The Value
Some accounts charge an extra yearly fee for each authorized user who gets access to high-level perks. These extra fees can be small or quite large, depending on the account. If the person you want to add hardly ever travels, rarely goes into airport lounges, and will not use travel credits or protections, that extra cost is likely wasted.
In that case, you are paying more each year for a card that does not change their day-to-day life. Before you add anyone, think about how often they will really use the perks during a full year and compare that to the extra fee. If the value they get does not clearly beat the cost, it is usually better to keep the account in your name only.
When You Do Not Fully Trust Their Spending
When you add an authorized user, you are giving them access to your limit. That can be risky if they do not handle money well.
If they charge things without talking to you, ignore spending rules you both agreed on, or take a long time to pay you back for shared costs, you are the one who has to deal with the bill. You still owe the issuer. Any late payments or very high balances show up on your credit report, not theirs.
You should only add someone whose money habits you understand and trust. If you feel nervous about how they use debt or if you worry they will not respect limits, it is safer to keep your account separate. Protecting your own credit history is more important than trying to be nice with access to your account.
When They Will Not Use The Perks At All
Some people like the idea of carrying a card tied to a premium account, but they never use the special features that make it valuable.
If the person you are thinking about rarely flies, does not care about lounges or faster lines, and does not travel abroad or need travel protections, then paying an authorized user fee for them usually does not make sense.
In that situation, it may be better to help them get a simple, low-fee account in their own name later. That way, you keep your costs lower, and they still have a chance to grow into their own setup when they are ready.
When You Need To Guard Your Credit Utilization
Credit utilization is a ratio that shows how much of your available revolving limit you are using right now. Many scoring models prefer this ratio to stay below certain levels.
When you add an authorized user, every purchase they make uses part of your available limit, just like your own spending does. If both of you charge a lot and let the balance stay high compared with the limit, your reported utilization goes up.
High utilization can push your credit scores lower. It can make it harder to get new accounts on good terms and make it look like you depend too much on borrowed money, even if you plan to pay it off soon. If you are getting ready for an important application or you already stay close to the utilization level you feel comfortable with, think carefully before letting someone else add their spending to the same limit.
Is Paying An Authorized User Fee A Good Trade?
Once you understand the basics, the real question becomes simple. If there is an extra fee for an authorized user, do the perks they get give you more value than the cost you pay?
If adding an authorized user comes with a separate fee, you want to look at how that fee compares to what they will actually use in real life. Paying the extra amount can make sense when the authorized user flies several times a year and often uses lounge access, travel credits, or protections. It can also make sense if they travel alone and need a way to show their own card at lounges, hotel desks, or check-in counters, and if the total value of lounge visits, statement credits, and protected trips clearly adds up to more than the authorized user fee.
In that kind of situation, the fee can feel like a smaller membership cost that gives someone you care about their own access to strong travel benefits. On the other hand, if they mostly want to earn a few extra points on the occasional dinner or weekend shopping trip, paying an extra fee for authorized user status usually does not add up.
In that case, it might be smarter for them to open a basic, no-annual-fee account in their own name when they are ready or for you to keep all the spending on your single account. Always read the latest terms and fee details from the issuer before you make a final choice.
Take The Next Step With Us
If you are thinking carefully about adding someone to your account, it means you already care about using your points and miles wisely. You do not have to figure out all of these choices on your own. In our free TheMilesAcademy community, we walk through real-life situations like this together, share simple strategies, and help you decide which moves actually fit your goals.
Inside the community, you can ask questions, learn from other travelers, and see how different people use authorized users, travel perks, and rewards to support their own plans.
When you are ready to go deeper, you can also use our free card finder tool to explore which types of cards might match the way you spend and travel. It will not tell you what to do with a specific product, but it will help you see which kinds of features and rewards structures could make sense for you before you add someone to your account or open anything new.
If you want your next decision about sharing your account to feel calm, clear, and well-planned, join our free TheMilesAcademy community and try our free card finder tool as your next step.
