Deal of the Day
Posted by FrugalTravelGuy Tuesday, November 15, 2011, No Comments
Dan’s Deals has a really great post about Chase Exclusives, which is a program for Freedom and Ink Bold cardholders that increases your points per $ spent on those cards.
If you spend $200 or more on a Mastercard, you may be able to get a $20 gift card back from them. Million Mile Secrets has all the details for you.
It looks as if the 50,000 point Southwest CC is still available. If you meant to sign up, but never got around to it, here’s your chance!
The Points Guy posts about two 100% bonus opportunities from Delta. One of them is targeted so make sure to check your email to see if you received it. I got the worse of the two offers and won’t be buying them.
Finally, as many of bloggers have posted today is the last day of British Airway’s Executive Club. Tomorrow they will introduce their new Avios rewards program, which many think might raise redemption levels on some routes.
Deal of the Day and NY Times Article on Closing Credit Cards
Posted by FrugalTravelGuy Monday, November 14, 2011, No Comments
Get up to 30% points back when you transfer at least 50,000 Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles
Today Only: 20% off JetBlue flights between Nov. 29 and Feb. 15, excluding Dec. 16 to Jan. 3
You can get 20 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar today only! Thanks, One Mile at a Time
Also, today is the last day of the US Airways Grand Slam so make sure to get any last minute hits in before midnight tonight.
Here is today’s article on closing credit cards from the New York Times. Thought you may all want to read it. Thanks Richard for sending it along
News Flash!
Posted by Rick Wednesday, October 12, 2011, No Comments
Virgin America is having a sale. Fares start at $44.
You can possibly save $20 on any Southwest flight. The deal is for $30 off an LAX-LAS round-trip ticket, but according to the Terms and Conditions, “Cancellation of flight will result in travel credit in passenger’s name at the full value of the ticket purchased, valid for one year from cancelled date.” It seems that you might be able to purchase the deal, cancel the flight, then use those funds towards any flight. This is definitely a huge your-mileage-may-vary offer, so be careful.
American Airlines is offering double miles (not EQMs) for flights between JFK and the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Puerto Rico.
Priority Club Insider has a great list of current “hidden” promotions for Priority Rewards. If you’re staying at an InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) hotel anytime soon, I would suggest checking the list out and registering for anything that applies.
AAdvantage Geek discovered a great way to both save $25 and give $25 to the Susan G Komen Foundation by signing up for/renewing your American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge membership.
Loyalty Traveler is giving away 5000 Hyatt points!
If you don’t have a TripAlertz account, sign up for one here! You can learn more about TripAlertz here.
Rookie Travel Tips with Shannon and More on The Starwood Preferred Guest Program
Posted by Shannon Friday, August 19, 2011, No Comments
It’s Rookie Travel Tips Friday
with Shannon
Our winning tip from last week came by email from Dan. (Keep submitting your travel tips for a chance to win a $100 gift card.)
“When you call United, just bark these words into the phone at the prompts and it will take you right to a representative:
Agent
Agent
Domestic (or International if you’re flying international)”
– Dan
Starwood Preferred Guest Program
As I shared at the beginning of the month, my bank of hotel points is pretty lame. Okay, really lame. My husband got the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) card about six months ago for a 30,000 point sign-up bonus. We are awaiting our last 20,000 points to deposit now as we just completed the minimum spend. That will put us somewhere around 45,000 SPG points total.
At the same time I applied for a Chase card with a Continental Airlines bonus and the SPG card. I was denied them both and had to write letters of reconsideration. Chase approved me and I let the SPG card go.
Well, this last week I decided to re-apply for the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) Credit Card from American Express with the 30,000 point bonus and I was instantly approved! I got my card a few days ago and I am using it for all of my everyday purchases. The minimum spend is only $4500 in three months and I’m sure I can do that one. Why did I get approved this time? I have no idea. But I’ll be enjoying every bonus point from here on out.
Transferring SPG Points into Frequent Flier Miles:
You may transfer up to 79,999 SPG points into a participating airlines frequent flier program within a 24-hour period. For every 20,000 SPG points transferred you will receive a 5000 point bonus! Each airline is different. For example: Air New Zealand’s maximum per transaction is 39,975 Starpoints (34,975 of your SPG points plus the 5000 point bonus). You must inquire about the specifics regarding your airline of choice.
A note to all:
“Only one airline transfer transaction per member per program per 24-hour period is allowed; multiple transfer transactions within the same 24-hour period will reject. Both the Starwood Preferred Guest and airline frequent flier program accounts must have identical member names in order to complete this request; different names will cause the transfer to reject.” (taken directly from www.SPG.com)
Exchange ratios vary by airline (Starpoints to airline miles). The major players common to our readers are as follows:
Alaskan Airlines 1:1
American Airlines 1:1
British Airways Executive Club 1:1
Continental Airlines OnePass 2:1
United Airlines 2:1
Hawaiian Airlines 1:1
Delta Airline Skymiles 1:1
U.S. Airways Dividend Miles 1:1
LAN Lanpass 1:2 (here we see some great opportunities to maximize points)
Maximizing Points:
I lived in Brazil for one year and I am always trying to go back to visit so the LAN Lanpass redemption looked appealing as it is a one Starpoint for two Lanpass point ratio transfer. I was looking at their programs redemption chart to see if I could find something worthwhile. It shows that you can redeem a flight from the U.S (probably NYC or MIA) to Brazil (probably SAO or RIO) in economy class for 48,000 points ( Here is a link to the chart ). So theoretically, I could take 20,000 SPG points and redeem them with a 5000 point bonus for a total of 50,000 Lanpass miles. I could get to Brazil on 20,000 SPG points. That is a deal. Right now, to purchase a ticket on LAN from Miami to Sao Paulo, it would cost $791 plus tax and comes with a bunch of travel restrictions. Just to get a comparison with other airlines redemption charts, it would cost me anywhere from 40,000-120,000 American Airline Points to fly from the U.S. to Brazil round trip ( Here is a link for the award chart). This looks really appealing to me. We may be doing Carnival in Brazil next February — on the frugal, of course.
SPG points to LAN Airline Miles — just another way to maximize points if it works in your favor.
– Shannon, The Rookie
New Starwood 30,000 Point Offer Here Limited Time Offer
I Have 110,000 Unused Flight Points from the Thank You Points Program
Posted by Rick Saturday, July 04, 2009, No Comments
I was going through my open credit cards and came across my old beloved Thank You Points Premier Pass Elite Card. It has a $15,000 credit limit that I am not using and I thought I’d just close it to free up some credit and availability to churn some more Citi Aadvantage credit cards.
I had completely forgotten about the flight points in the account, which according to the representative never expire on the Premier Pass card.
Now I’ve got to start thinking again. Do I use the card to capture these flight points? Do I continue with the SPG card that has been performing admirably and racking up that total?
For every $ I spend on the Premier Pass card I will capture one flight point so in essence I get 2 thank you points for every dollar I spend. I was on a promotion for 4 bonus points for gas, grocery and drugs up until April of this year.
My back up card right now is the Citi Aadvantage card which earns me one AA mile per dollar spent, when I can’t use the Amex card.
I hate to admit it, but at times some of these decisions require a nap. Is anyone else facing this dilemma? Not the nap? I can handle that as a must do event, but continuing earning thank you points?
New Hyatt 6 Times Earnings with American Airlines
Hyatt is the one program I have neglected over the years, but they just enticed me aided by a friend of mine in Ann Arbor that suggested I check it out for the Free Faster Nights Promo.
The current promo pays 3000 American Airlines miles for staying two nights at any Hyatt chain hotel before August 31st. It cost nothing to sign up and then I called and had us upgraded to Platinum status as per my post of June 22, 2009.
Many friend rave about the free nights deal and we’ll see what happens. As with every other program we belong to, they are free to join. Why not?
Here is the link to the 6 times earnings promotion.
A New Blog for You to Check Out and Follow
Posted by Rick Sunday, June 14, 2009, No Comments
Many of you were followers of the Best Rate Guarantee blog that helped us load up on Wyndham Best Rate Guarantees. The guys are back again after a sabbatical of just a little over 60 days. Dave is back with two partners and TripTipGuys.com for your reading and browsing pleasure.
I trust Dave will continue to offer meaningful content and help you further your frugal travel goals. The travel industry is too big and too complex for any one site to be able to keep up with all the latest deals and happenings.
It is an honor to be “a friend” of their blog and I am pleased to add them to my links list. Give TripTipGuys.com a try. I’m sure you will not be disappointed.
Delta/Avis Offer
Several readers have notified me of this promo for 5K DL miles for every two day rental from Avis. The maximum is 25,000 miles in earnings. Here is the link Rentals must be completed by July 31st.
Thank you for notifying me of the promo. I think I’m feeling less than impressed as last years 8K for a one day rental made more sense for us mileage hounds. But for business travellers, it may be a worthwhile offer. Enjoy the miles.
MY Wife Loves Coffee
Here is her Creed:
“Among the numerous luxuries of the table…coffee may be considered as one of the most valuable. It excites cheerfulness without intoxication; and the pleasing flow of spirits which it occasions…is never followed by sadness, languor or debility.” ~Benjamin Franklin
“It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity.~Dave Barry
80% OFF Restaurant.com Coupons
The coupon code is PRESENT for $25 coupons for only $2. Check it out
This Email is a Winner at Finding Great Deals and FREE
Anatomy of a Mileage Run and Home Safe and Sound
Posted by Rick Saturday, June 13, 2009, No Comments
I decided it would be a worthwhile exercise to show the cost and benefit of this last Double mileage run.
The run was on United Airlines where I get 200% of miles flown as redeemable miles towards future free tickets because I have 1K status.
I also will collect double Elite Qualifying Miles because I took the trip within the promotion period that ends June 15th, 2009. Elite Qualifying miles are those miles that determine your status with the airline. Status determines:
1. The amount of bonus redeemable miles you will receive.
2. Your place in line on the upgrade list.
3. The ability to book exit row seats and Economy Plus seats on Untied at least.
4. And preferential treatment in the event of irregular operations.
Mileage Run Costs
Two nights hotel $129 used Priceline
Two round trip tickets 416 inc a $100 voucher which I got for a problem with UA
Cab fare 16
Parking 24
Shuttle driver tips 4
Total Trip cost $589
Minus travel credits earned 300 I was bumped and received 4-$75 vouchers
Net Cost $289
Redeemable miles earned including Class of Service Bonus and status bonus 24,314
Elite Qualifying Miles Earned including the Double Elite Qualifying Miles Promo 24,314
Was it worth 2 days of my life for 24,000 redeemable miles at the expense of $289?
NO WAY
Was it worth 2 days of my life and $289 for 24,000 Elite qualifying miles?
ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT QUESTION
100,000 EQM = 6 System Wide Upgrades that readily trade for $400+ each, but have far more value on international trips as they = confirmed upgrades to the next class of service.
I got ¼ of the way there for under $300 plus I earned almost enough miles for a free domestic ticket as well, which I value at about $300.
It was a worthwhile trip from the math standpoint. I hope the math helped some new to Mileage Running.
Home in Traverse City, Michigan
The trip took two extra days with the mileage runs above, but I made it home by 4 PM on the 12th. The trip is 1200 miles going via I-75 and I’m glad to be out of the car.
Get Your Free $30 Off Expedia Coupon
Send me your first, last name and email address and I’ll send you a $30 off Expedia hotel coupon good thru 12/31/09. Send your info to ingy104@gmail.com
SPIRIT AIRLINES $9 FARE CLUB
Posted by Rick Thursday, December 13, 2007, No Comments
If you live in one of the following cities: Spirit Airlines has got a Travel DEAL for YOU.
Aguadilla
Aruba
Atlanta
Atlantic City
Boston
Cancun
Chicago
Detroit
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Myers
Freeport
Grand Cayman
Grand Turk
Guatemala City
Kingston
Las Vegas
Lima
Los Angeles
Managua
Montego Bay
Myrtle Beach
Nassau
New York
Orlando
Panama City
Ponce
Port-au-Prince
Providenciales
Punta Cana
San Jose
San Juan
San Pedro Sula
San Salvador
Santo Domingo
St. Maarten
St. Thomas
Tampa
Washington DC
West Palm Beach
Spirit Airlines promises a great fare deal every 6 weeks for their $9 fare club members ONLY.
These fares are typically one way with limited dates, but can really make a trip happen very cheaply. Of course taxes and fees may apply. The $9 is a three month membership and after that it is $29.95 per year.
Right now they are running a 24 hour $24 off sale for everybody. The last member only sale was for negative fares, where Spirit actually paid part of the members taxes and fees. These guys are great marketers, and you can benefit from their gusty promotions.
I have only flown Spirit once as I don’t live in a Spirit city, but if I did, I’d join just to see what happens.
Check out their website for the $9 Fare Club
