I did a double check this week on our current account balances and came up with a combined total of just over 2 million in mine and Katy’s accounts. I know that to many of you that is a fraction of your balances, but for me it is a real testimony of what this hobby can provide for us. At a bare minimum value of 1 cent per mile or point it represents $20,000 of travel in the bank. In all reality it is probably more like $50,000 worth of future goodies to be had. I can’t think of any other hobby pursuit that pays so well.

Awardwallet has turned out to be a blessing in my life. At the advanced age of 61 my “forgetter” is working full time and I’m having a harder time remembering where all the miles and points are. My buddy Ray, on Amelia Island, has a beautiful elaborate system of files that goes back years with old promos and card signups. I’m still dealing with the same old white three-ring binder I’ve had for years and “messy” is an understatement to say the least.

I needed two hotel nights in Seattle for the 16th of June and by opening Awardwallet I located 67,000 Choice Privilages points that worked just fine for the Sleep Inn SeaTac airport. It still left me a 43,000 point balance. Did I get the best value out of the points? Quite honestly, I don’t know how I even got them and not paying for the hotels was good enough for me.

Do you find yourself with “bread and butter accounts”? Ours are American Airlines and Starwood points. We’ve got about 750K AA miles and 250K SPG points. They seem to be the first place I go when looking for a redemption. Katy still has about 250K of United miles that I use for domestic one ways. I’ve got another 111K Membership Rewards points ready for transfer, but just am undecided on where to throw them. I can’t pull the trigger on a British Airways transfer as any American Airlines flights I’d take with them are not direct and must connect through Dallas. I wish I could throw them at United when Katy’s stash gets low. No hurry with that one and glad to have Membership Rewards as a backup.

My most perplexing miles are Alaska Airlines. I’ve got about 85K and Katy has 60K. I’ve never flown Alaska nor redeemed their miles on their partners Delta and American. They just sit there from previous card applications. At 25K per new application, I’m not apt to add to the pile, and with no experience redeeming them, and the prospects of award availability unknown, I tend to just shy away from them. Do you ever find yourself in that situation?

Help me use my Alaska miles please.

Home airport Savannah (SAV).

Desired destination: A beautiful view (maybe the mountains) away from the summer heat, with an infinity swimming pool. I fondly remember one in Maui overlooking two adjacent islands. I liked that swimming pool.

Talk about having “high class problems”? This miles and points game can be a tough one

Deal of the Day

For today’s Deal of the Day we have TripAlertz who is donating  $50 in Trip Cash for the best overall travel deal submitted. A great mileage run, mistake fare, partner promo, new card sign-up offer, or the special twist you figured out on a deal today. Add it to the comments section of this post (make sure to include your first name, last inital, and home airport) or this afternoon’s Deal of the Day post to be eligible to win.