Rookie Travel Tips with Shannon

May 6, 2011 - Shannon

Rookie Travel Tips Friday And A Major Deadline!Last weeks winning tip goes to Charles Clark. See Last weeks Post!
Our April Winner is Jacob C. Jacob, Email Rick your address so we can mail you your $100 Gift Card!

Today I am off to West Palm Beach Florida for some much needed R and R. I booked a free airline ticket using Delta Airlines frequent flier miles I scored from the Suntrust bank deal last year. My flight leaves Columbia SC at 2:25 PM arriving in West Palm Beach at 6:16 PM with a short stop in Atlanta. My husband will be flying on U.S. Airways as a gold member and I will be stuck in a Delta coach seat with the normal people. One of my goals over the next few years will be to start learning about status and the many ways to upgrade. I think I am figuring out how to get frequent flier tickets and next I want to know how to get up into one of those large, comfortable front seats. But for the time being a free plane ticket in coach will suffice.

I am hoping to get out into the land a bit while in Palm Beach. We may check out Grassywaters Preserve , a local nonprofit 20 square mile wetland nature preserve, Okeeheelee Nature Center which inculdes 2.5 miles of trails among 90 acres of pine flatwoods and wetlands, and I will hopefully get to McCarthys Wildlife sanctuary as well.

I really want to go to Crystal River and swim with the Manatees. I have also found some snorkeling tours in West Palm Beach. I read a few reviews saying that snorkeling on Peanut Island is wonderful and there are multiple boat tours that service the island. I have read a little about the City Place , Clematis street and Antique Row being great spots for shopping, eating and people watching.

No Matter what I find “to do ” I am traveling to a place I have never gone before and that is excitement enough for me. On this adventure I’ll be sure to keep true to my three E’s of travel, Explore the land, Engage with the people, and Eatlocal fare.Any Tips on Travel To Palm Beach Florida?-Shannon, The Rookie10% Off American Airlines Code

Patrick sent this in in the spirit of the blog. He is not sure of the expiration date but is somebodies for the asking.

LRRE9PQ3R6RN Let me know when it has been used.

Delta Gold SkyMiles Card 25,000 Miles, No First Year Fee, Free First Checked Bag

Susan

Rick – you may have your platinum as a 'left over' from last year. You will requalify from 60K points from all of the following:

Points for hotel stays.
Points for credit card sign ups.
Promotion points posted.
Purchased points.

I, myself, was not sure about the purchased points until I took advantage of the AMEX Deals purchase. Those points re-qualified me for Platinum for 2012.
I needed 13K more points or 40 some odd stays. When I checked yesterday, the purchased points had posted…. and the requalified notice was there. (I'm just not 100 % sure about the re-deposited points).

Now, time to focus on SPG!
gpapadop

Points for hotel stays? YES
Points for credit card sign ups? YES
Credit card spend? YES
Promotion points posted? YES
Purchased points? YES
Points for cancelled cash and points reservations that I had to cancel? NO

To Rick: going for round 2 on BA card, expecting a letter confirming discussion I will get it…to be continued;-)
Michael Murray

What Rick said really is true. I've sent the link to get this card to all my brothers and sisters and they just won't do it. They wouldn't do the AA 75,000 card either even though it had no fee, but they are all amazed at the miles I've piled up without taking any trips.
Anonymous

Wait — the BA web site says "apply by May 6," which usually would mean including May 6. But the real deadline is midnight on the 5th?
Anonymous

This blog should be renamed the "Credit Card Guy". I swear that's 99% of your content. Oh sorry, I mean the "Credit Card Guy and Andrew's trip reports" would be more accurate.
Anonymous

The British Airway application site says that the offer expires tomorrow, May 6. Do you have other information that makes you believe that it really is today?
Anonymous

Hey FTG! Found your site through google searching, I just applied for the 100k miles offer and was approved. Awesome!

Even aside from the (amazing) 100k bonus, the card itself looks like a much better deal than I'm getting now (1% cash back).

Anyhow, thanks a ton!

Nathan
Anonymous

In regards to your Priority Club question, all new points posted to your account count towards your status. So even if you buy 60,000 points, you automatically earn Platinum status.
JohnnyT1948

Regarding your questions about PC Platinum status:
"What points count towards the 60,000 point requirement?

Points for hotel stays?
Points for credit card sign ups?
Credit card spend?
Promotion points posted?
Purchased points?
Points for cancelled cash and points reservations that I had to cancel?"

I can't comment on the last item (points for cancelled cash and points reservations that I had to cancel) but can definitely say that all other points count towards the 60,000 point level. My wife got 60,000 points for her credit card app in January and immediatly got platinum status for
the rest of this year and all of next year.
Anonymous

And if you took advantage of the great 80,000 offer with the Priority Club Visa, you got automatic Platinum. If you did not, then now's your chance!
SoCal Dude

Rick, you wrote "It does not appear if you got this card last time the promotion was available, you will not qualify for the 100,000 miles again." (double negative) But did you mean "It does appear…." because I don't know anyone who got the card last year who was approved for the 100K miles this year. I know many who got the card but the follow-up letter indicating that they don't qualify for the miles… boo-hoo.
Anonymous

Yes, I agree it is amazing how many people aren't willing or able to jump on this (and other awesome) deals, but are the first to ask you for free tickets … I am also amazed how many people do not have good credit. I think a good % of those who aren't interested in the end really don't go through with it because they know their credit is bad. Oh well, more miles for us all I guess! Chase et al, keep the large offers coming!
Ri

Hi Rick,
I'm a new reader who is trying to get two tickets to Europe this fall for "free", so after a lot of research I went ahead with the BA Visa card mentioned above; thanks for telling us about it. One thing I can't seem to figure out is how to book domestic flights using BA points (fyi, I've never had a card with points/miles before, newbie!). The BA website states that you can book everything through their website, but every time I search, it says my cities (Boise to Sacramento or San Jose) are not on their timetable. Both American and Alaska fly out of Boise (but not BA). Do I need to book through Am or Al directly? I understand if you don't want to get into the details with everyone who comments, but I wondered if anyone else had run into this problem.
Thanks!
FrugalTravelGuy

Anon Deadline is tonite at 11:59PM Eastern

Anon: You can call me anything but "Collect" you want. When the most lucrative way of obtaining miles for the least cost is credit card sign ups, that is what I'll continue to talk about most. It is a large portion of the blog, but not 99%

SoDude: Sorry about the double. If you got it last time, you will NOT get it this time.
caseyfriday

I was going to pass it up, but I'm going to apply for the BA card with your affiliate link. 100k is too much to pass up. I recently closed my Chase CO card, so I'm guessing I'll get declined, but I've got to try anyway!
tima1212

@Rick — What is the signup bonus offer on the Alaska card? Who is the issuer? THANKS!
FrugalTravelGuy

tima1212: Bank of America and 25K for personal card
leslie

I closed my Chase United card in March, and was guessing I would not be approved for this BA card. (I applied for two other cards (approved) in March as well.) However, after much contemplation, I decided it was worth the risk of having a few points knocked off my credit score to try for this card. I applied two days ago, and called today and found out I was approved! (Well, they said it was technically pending but they were "building my benefits" and they wouldn't be doing that unless I was approved.) Thanks again Rick!
Lantean

I just called and I was told the application is still pending and needs to be reviewed… not sure what to think, should I call the reconsideration line right away?
FrugalTravelGuy

Lantean: You got your app in on time. Just wait it out for now.

good Luck
Kurt

Rick: Nothing more than 'thank you', for this and for so many previous offers. LMK if you need anything from Paris – I'll be there in a cpl months, largely due to your advice
Anonymous

Anon @9:40 — Is there a link to the 80K Priority Club offer that is not targeted? I seem to be the only person who has not gotten the offer (and I am opted in to receive all PC emails). I got the card recently using the 60K link (needed it for crack the case), but would love to ask Chase for a 20K adjustment.
Susan

Just an update… applied for the Chase BA card at 10:55 pm. Already have the PC, United, and Continental (all received within the last year). Their response:

[b]Congratulations. Your application has been approved. You will receive your card and complete account information within 2 weeks by mail.[/b]

Woot! Thanks Rick.
Anonymous

Anon @8:39. No, as much as I've looked, there's no link. I received the targeted offer, but my husband did not. We finally accepted the 60,000 offer for him, and they would not agree to upgrade it.
chemist661

Wife applied for BA card last night. Got we will let you know in 10 days. Applied for Hyatt & CO card in March. Had to close inactive UA card to get CO card.

She will probably get turned down but it was worth the inquiry. Will talk to recon & have them move some of the CL (10K of 17K) from either Hyatt or CO.

If she is turned down after talking to recon, she will apply when the 100K comes up again.

She also got in on the Cap One 100K status match, 2 times 30K Starwood last summer, several AA cards including 100K biz, etc. Nice run.
Lantean

Thank you Rick, you were right, just got an email welcoming me to BA Executive club… great sign, I assume I'm approved. Woot!
Sapan

Rick – Thank you again for posting this. I have already score 200K hoping to get the third card approved too.

1. Mine got approved
2. GF's was denied, but I moved Credit limit from her existing CO card and they were glad to approve the BA card.
3. My dad's got denied because of too many new accounts (CO 50K and Capital one 100K). They did say that they will be willing to open it if I closed down the CO account. What do you think? Should I try again and again until they are willing to reallocate credit limit or just go ahead and close the CO card.

Rookie Travel Tips with Shannon

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