This week’s trip is from the home-office over at IB. I met Katie a couple of weeks ago when I was in Los Angeles. She told me she’d always wanted to go to London, so I challenged her to figure it out using excess good credit. Here’s the scenario: Katie has a 725 credit score and can manage a spend of $2,000 per month of credit cards ($1,000 of which she’d put through Amazon payments). She doesn’t have a business and she doesn’t want one. She wants to get from LA to London and spend four nights in Old Blighty.

She had a tough time at first. She tried to get more than one personal Chase card. But in the end, our newbie figured out how to do it and only pay the tax.

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KATIE’S APS: Three cards – US Airways Chairman’s Preferred Dividend Miles Premier World Mastercard, Hyatt Credit Card from Chase, Citi Hilton Honors Reserve Card

ITINERARY OVERVIEW: Katie leaves Los Angeles on February 20 on US Airways and arrives in London the following day. She’s booked a round-trip ticket and flies out on February 25.

TOTAL TRIP VALUE: $2,892

HERE’S HOW SHE DOES IT:

February 20 – Round-Trip: Los Angeles – London
Cost: $1,546
Method: Dividend Miles
Cards:

1. US Airways Chairman’s Preferred Dividend Miles Premier World Mastercard– 40,000 miles
   1. Katie receives 40,000 miles after first spend

Explanation: After buying a quick cup of Starbucks coffee, Katie makes her first purchase and collects 40,000 bonus miles. An off-peak awards ticket from the  U.S. to London is 35,000 miles. the FTG link is for 30K miles but this link from the “Rick”s Top Travel Deals” tab, provides 40,000 miles. The Chairman’s Preferred card is 40,000 miles. Make sure you take the 40K bonus card.

As an alternate, if you can stand a higher minimum spend the Citi AA two browser trick will work as well, but it takes a higher minimum spend.

Out of Pocket Cost: Taxes

February 21 – Andaz Liverpool Street
Cost: $580.38 ($290.19 per night)
Method: Free Hyatt Nights
Cards:

1. Hyatt Credit Card from Chase– 2 Free Nights
   1. Katie receives 2 nights at a Hyatt after spending $1,000 within 3 months

Explanation: With the relatively low minimum spend of $1,000, Katie can get two free nights at a Hyatt. The Andaz Liverpool Street, which used to be the Great Eastern Hotel, is part of Hyatt. It’s a great hotel right next to Liverpool Street Station and within walking distance of the London’s east-end.
Out of Pocket Cost: $75 (annual fee)

February 23 – The Bentley London
Cost: $766 ($383 per night)
Method: Free Hilton Nights
Cards:

1. Citi Hilton Honors Reserve Card– 2 Free Weekend Nights
   1. Katie receives 2 weekend nights at a Hyatt after spending $2,500 within 4 months

Explanation: Katie could spend the rest of her time in London at the Andaz and spend several hundred bucks out of pocket, or she could move to the Bentley London in Kensington in South London and experience a different part of the city for free. After spending $2,500 in four months, Katie gets two free weekend nights at a Hilton.
Out of Pocket Cost: $95 (annual fee)

Katie could have extended her trip by another day or two by adding in the Hilton Amex.  Four days in London for a first trip is a solid visit. Not bad for a first timer heading across the pond!