August 20, 2024 | View Online
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Yesterday marked five years of full-time travel for me.
While I would likely have struggled forward without points and miles, there’s no doubt in my head that learning the ins and outs of airline and hotel loyalty programs has granted me a level of freedom I could never have dreamed of.
If you’re interested in taking things up a notch, check out my crash course. I’ll explain more below.
Let’s get to the points:
Happy travels,
Steven
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| CARD OF THE WEEK
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Living It Up in the Lounge
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If you’re looking for a taste of the high life on your next travel day, one of these cards might be your ticket to free bubbly and a few moments of peace before you venture back into the Wild West hell-hole of the airport departure lounge,
But, before you go a bit mental and start opening cards left, right, and center, make sure you open the one that’s right for you. I’ve listed a few here, but check out my full roster of lounge-access-loaded credit cards.
💳 One card to rule them all
The big shiny one is (and has always been) the best card for lounge access. With a full Priority Pass membership, as well as access to its own line of outstanding lounges, there’s no card that can top it for sheer lounge-ability. The bad news is that it’s damn expensive, and if you’re not savvy with your points and perks, it’ll become a liability.
🫰🏻The best bet
While this is a premium card, it’s far cheaper than the previous one. Better yet, its annual fee is remarkably easy to recoup in value thanks to simple-to-use statement credits. It comes with the same Priority Pass access, which means over 1,400 lounges worldwide, plus a few of its own lounges, too—although there aren’t many. If you’re going for a card just for the lounge access, this is the one to go for.
✈️ The not-so-frequent flier
If you want access but have the self-awareness to know you just don’t travel enough, this card is for you. You’d be surprised how many people open expensive cards only to use the lounge once a year on an LA to Tulum flight. This no-annual-fee card comes with four annual Priority Pass visits a year, and even has a TSAPreCheck and Global Entry statement credit, so you can make the whole travel day a breeze
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| TRAVEL TIPS
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Make the Airport a Breeze With Premium Parking Services
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Travel days can be hectic, especially when you're rushing to the airport. Avoid the stress and save money by booking your airport parking ahead of time. Whether you’re flying out of Atlanta or another major hub, we’ve got you covered with exclusive discounts on top-rated parking services.
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Flying from another airport? No problem. Airport Parking Reservations and Park Sleep Fly offer affordable, convenient options across the US and Canada.
Time is ticking! With Labor Day Weekend and the fall travel season upon us, parking spaces are filling up fast. Don’t wait until the last minute – secure your spot now and enjoy a stress-free start to your journey.
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| STEVEN'S TIPS
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Always Double-Check Your Transfer Bonuses
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I missed a big opportunity a few weeks back by booking our Kilimanjaro trek by wire transfer instead of opening a new card.
It’s a bloody expensive thing to do, and the price for both of us would have comfortably scored us a hefty intro bonus—even with the transfer fee taken into account, it would have been worth it. Alas, I was focused on other things and neglected to sort a new one out.
It’s a bigger nuisance because I’ve known we were taking this trip for months now. I usually plan well ahead to ensure any big purchases are doubled down on. Here’s why it’s usually such an integral part of my plans.
➕ It’s a bonus, bonus
Big purchases are usually extra spending. When I’m planning my card strategy, I open cards based on my monthly outgoings and my high-spend categories. If a card has a $4,000 spending threshold, I estimate how long it’ll take me to hit it. But extra expenses, like vacations, a new tv or fridge, or any major expense that comes out of the blue is a chance to hit another. I’m able to spend like normal for the previously planned bonus and nab a new one in the process.
⚖️ They can do some serious off-setting
If you’ve been reading for a while, you might remember my last two London trips. One of the trips was for fun, but the other was a necessary five-day visit. We would have needed to spend around $800 to $1,000 for a poorly-placed hotel that met all of our needs. Instead, Jess’ new laptop allowed to us to grab the entire stay (in a better hotel) for absolutely nothing. She spent around $2,500 and we grabbed about a grand in direct savings—more if you count the free breakfasts and shuttles.
🎉 It’s a good way to grab specific point stores
I generally promote a diversification strategy. In short, I suggest making transferable points and miles the core currency of your points hauls. If you don’t know why that is, you need to read the newsletter more...
But big expenses offer you a chance to throw in some more specific points. I wish I’d asked Jess to open an American Airlines card for Kilimanjaro. Some SkyMiles or a high-value hotel program like World of Hyatt are a good option too. They might not always come in handy, but they’ll be there when the moment comes.
Now, Christmas is on the horizon. Now might be a good time to start looking at potential cards if you’ve got a big spending spree coming your way.
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| SMART POINTS: THE COURSE
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How My Crash Course Can Save You Thousands
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The screengrab above shows the rough trajectory of my movements for the last five years. Five continents, over 120 thousand miles, and the best years of my life so far. Getting around like that is expensive. The first year and a half was rough going financially. We edged forth on a tiny teaching salary, grabbing budget flights where we could.
✈️ That all changed when I started to grasp how points and miles work.
From then on, flights stopped being a barrier. Our path was no longer dictated by the limits of our wallets (although that’s fun, too), but by our curiosity. Amongst those red lines is a business class flight from Europe to Thailand, there’s a drunken me on a British Airways flight to Bucharest, and there’s an epic Japan to Dubai route with free legs in Amsterdam and Glasgow thrown in for fun.
I can’t stress how much points and miles changed the way we do things. But it can be bloody frustrating to learn. I’m still learning, five years later. I've made brutal mistakes (and still do) but still came out saving an average of around $10,000 a year.
Nothing is stopping you from doing the same thing. In fact, from what a lot of you tell me, your potential is far higher than mine ever will be.
🧑💻 What's the course like?
My course is there for you to lay the groundwork. It’ll walk you from the smallest steps into your first big redemption, priming you for huge travel savings down the line—hopefully for life if the system kicks around.
If you’re interested, you can sign up for $150 here. That’s lifetime access to the entire video library, as well as an open inbox if you find yourself a bit confused or stuck with the material. Don’t expect it to be a wonder pill, though. It’s giving you the tools. You still have to practice.
If you’re uncertain about whether it’s right for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d be happy to talk your concerns over and give you a little insight as to whether it’s the right thing for you.
Sign up and start saving.
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| MONEY MOVES
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$20.00 after your first eligible purchase!
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