Sunday Success Story
Posted by Rick Sunday, February 12, 2012, No Comments
I moved back to the US with my English husband nearly five years ago. While living in England, we often traveled back and forth to the US using my parents’ miles (NWA at the time) that they were able to accumulate through purchases at their business.
Once we got back here, I thought we really needed to use our own miles and I happened to read an article in the newspaper (Record-Eagle) about your blog. I started out with American Airlines cards (when you could churn them one right after the other). I was worried that my husband wouldn’t be able to join in due to his limited credit history (we started churning after living here just over a year, right after we bought our house), but that doesn’t seem to have been an issue. My parents also got into it, so between the four of us, we have done quite well.
We’ve used our miles for several trips to London (including a long weekend to Rome during one of those trips, just before we had our son) and a trip to Hawaii. My parents have used their miles for three trips to Hawaii and have gifted flights to family members. This summer we’ll be traveling with my parents and seven-year-old nephew to England, Switzerland, and Italy with all flights booked using miles. Our lodging in England will be free thanks to my in-laws. We’re renting a villa in Italy and I think we’ll be using Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) points for a couple of nights in Switzerland. Our next trip, though, will be to Hawaii in March with my parents. Below I’ve broken down our trip and how we did it:
(1) Flight from TVC-OGG on AA using 22,500 miles + $5 each from the 75,000 mile promo (I opened a business card in my name, plus I was able to get a personal card even though I’m sure I’d already had one. My husband was denied for both). Return flight on UA using 20,000 miles + $5 each that came from a combination of cards: American Express Premier Rewards Gold, where we got lucky and each got 75,000 bonus points (which took a lot of hard work on the phone), plus the extra 40,000 that magically appeared one day. We also both got the United and Continental cards, which, I believe, had 50,000 mile bonuses. My parents are using all AA miles. This flight prices out at about $1000 round trip currently.
(2) Round trip flight OGG-LIH on Island Air (direct) using 10,000 Continental miles plus $5 each (see above for where we got the Continental miles). This flight runs just under $200.
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| Grand Hyatt, Kauai, photo by Andrew Ingersoll |
(3) Three nights at the Grand Hyatt Kauai — two of those nights are from my husband opening a Hyatt card. We stayed there two nights last year with my Hyatt card, and the third night is 22,000 points, which come from a transfer of points from the Chase Sapphire card 50,000 point bonus. My parents are doing the same thing. The lowest rate during our stay for a paid night is $350 (not to mention the $25/nt resort fee that we won’t have to pay).
(4) One night in Maui at either the Wailea Beach Marriott for 30,000 points (I just opened the Chase Marriott card with a 70,000 point bonus so that would cover both of our rooms) or at a Starwood property (my husband and I both opened the SPG AmEx with the 25,000 point bonus, same for my mom and dad). The Marriott is $350/night.
(5) The remaining five nights in Maui (which are actually at the beginning of our trip) are at a condo and my parents are paying most of that since they get the bedroom and we’ll be staying on the world’s most uncomfortable sofa bed (the view is actually worth the horrible sleep, though). We’ll either pay the $20/nt extra per-person charge or take them to a nice dinner to make up for the extra cost. My parents will be on Maui four nights before us, so they’ll get some extra time at the condo, too.
(6) We’re paying out-of-pocket for the car rentals, which will be around $500, but really only $250 since we’re getting just one car and splitting the cost. (We did book a car that gives two extra drivers free so we won’t have to rely on just one driver going everywhere.)
So, overall, for my husband, myself, and my son (he’ll turn three while we’re on Maui, and this will be the third birthday he’s celebrated on Maui!), we’re spending $45 on flights, $275 on lodging (the $75 fee for the Hyatt card plus the extra person cost for the condo), and $250 on the rental car for a grand total of $570. If we were to pay for flights and hotel, our total would be $5800 for the whole trip.
Considering our savings, I think we just might splurge a little and treat ourselves to one of the lagoon-side cabanas while we’re at the Hyatt!
Thanks for your blog. We love it!
– Sarah C.
30,000 Delta Miles. No First Year Fee
