Sunday Success Story – Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

July 15, 2012 - Rick

All of our Sunday Success Stories serve as a living example that all of us average Americans can, indeed, see the world at prices we all can afford. We can do this by working together and sharing our stories. Send your story to me at rick@frugaltravelguy.com. Include your first name and last initial, along with your occupation and a photo, if you wish. - Rick

Rick -

I’ve been a dedicated reader of your blog for a good part of the past 4-5 years. I wanted to thank you for everything that you do for those of us who love travel and those experiences that enrich our lives. I’ve learned a great deal from both your handbook & the daily blogs. It was slightly amusing to find that there were others smart enough to “discover” this concept than just myself. In that time since, I’ve literally traveled around the world using miles/points with very little cash outlay, from short trips to Fort Lauderdale or New York City w/Rapid Rewards points, to lengthier ones to Hawaii, Europe, Tahiti, Asia, (& this coming November to Australia & Fiji) w/AAdvantage & Star Alliance miles.

Moreover, I broached the subject of travel rewards credit cards with my parents several years ago, and they were quite skeptical and staunchly hesitant against the idea (from previous troubles with credit card companies). NO FREE LUNCH is what I was told. Yet, whenever they learned I was travelling to a new destination for little to no cost, it piqued their interests until finally I convinced them. All it took was the first $750 in purchases with the AA Citi card to yield 50k points each & ultimately a $10 AAdvantage fare to Hawaii to get them hooked. Now, with your techniques in play, they’ve been to Puerto Rico & Miami for cruise embarkations and Hawaii twice (with a 3rd trip planned); all within the last 3 years. It’s more than I could have asked for to help my folks get treated to things neither I nor they could have ever afforded on our own without saving for years. And, to be able to enjoy an entire week in Hawaii as a family last December was priceless! We just missed you at the Kona Sheraton by 3 days, otherwise I’d have told you in person how thankful we were.

Sincerely - Ian

Ian, thanks for sharing and bravo for helping your parents. No free lunch indeed; they’ve earned their free travel, we’ve just helped them figure out how to cash in.

Coalgatetrekker

Rick,

I am fairly new at actively pursuing this hobby (less than a year). In February, I booked our first family vacation using points and miles.   After many hours of reading, getting a credit card and having built up quite a Hilton Honors bank, I decided to try my hand in this business.     Here’s what I did – DFW to Haneda Japan in first class roundtrip – my cost $1500 for a family of 3.   (I know this isn’t a GREAT bargain, but 1st class for all 3 – we were thrilled!)   We took advantage of the AA Japan 50,000 roundtrip from SFO to Japan for first class.   I also had a $300 travel voucher from an earlier oversold flight!   Thanks, AA!   I did have to buy the 40,000 AA miles and a couple of the tickets for the domestic portion.   Then we stayed at the Conrad Tokyo for 6 nights all on points.   My family fell in love with my points and miles hobby with such a world class trip using primarily miles and points.   On the way back, we found ourselves on the oversold flight. We volunteered our seats and picked up another $900 voucher.

We had an amazing adventure.   Now I learned a lot since February and learn everyday something else.   I had Asia Miles, AA miles and the $900 voucher.   In November we are going to London/Paris.   My total out of pocket expenses for our airline portion is $369.00.   $350 of it is for 2 of us to depart from LHR on AA.   But overall, I am super pleased and excited to do this.

Now my mileage balance is almost 0 so I must save, earn and learn even more.   My family picked Australia as our next adventure – 225,000 AA miles is what we need.    We’ve got a long way to go, but I can’t wait to see the world on a budget I can afford.   Without the knowledge that you and others share, I could not offer the world to my family.

Thanks again,
Kathryn I – OKC

Sunday Success Story – Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

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