June 2, 2023 | View Online | Sign Up
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IÂ stumbled into an interesting situation this week, one which could be hugely lucrative or downright frustrating.
In February, I used a new credit card to book a Paris Airbnb. The purchase covered the spending requirement, and 40,000 points dropped into my account. This week, the host canceled my reservation. I received a full refund but IÂ already used the points. There are two outcomes here:
I’ll have the points deducted and see my account hit -40,000 points
I’ll slip through the cracks and have basically earned 40,000 free points
I’m anticipating the first outcome, which will prompt a four-hour call with the company, where some poor representative will feel the polite wrath of an angry Scottish man.
Let’s get to the points.
In this week’s cheatsheet:
Another airline bumps up its card bonus
Should you buy Hilton points right now?
How to plan your travel hacking trip
Cheers,
Steven
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| CARD OF THE WEEK
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60,000 Points are up for Grabs with This Airline's Card
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Fans of this directionally named airline (hint; it’s not Northeast) can rejoice! The airline’s co-branded credit card has increased its intro bonus to a solid 60,000 bonus points.Â
The bonus, earned by spending $3,000 in three months, also comes with a 30% discount on flights booked between now and October 31, 2024. That discount applies to award flights too, which makes that 60,000-point haul worth 85,000 points–or $1,200 in travel.
While the airline isn’t quite as valuable an airline for big international travelers, it’s an excellent choice for domestic, Caribbean, and Mexican flights. Those points can carry you a long way. Its points are tied to the value of the flights, so if there’s a sale, the award flight price will also be lower.
For a card costing just $69 a year, that’s a pretty good deal. Throw in 3,000 bonus points each year, a 25% discount on in-flight purchases, and a 10,000-point boost to your Companion Pass eligibility; a loyal flier would be crazy not to open the card.
Apply here.
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| TRAVEL HACKING NEWS
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Hilton’s 100% Points Buying Bonus
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You’re probably looking at this headline and thinking, “Why the hell would I buy points?”.Â
It sounds weird. Why pay for something you usually earn as a by-product? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of travel hacking?Â
Usually, yes. But not necessarily.
Hilton’s current promotion allows targeted Honors members to earn a 100% bonus on any points purchased. So, if you buy 160,000 points, you’ll get 320,000. Hilton typically sells its points for one cent each, so this promotion effectively lets you buy them for 0.5 cents a piece.
Effectively, that would still cost you $1,600 for those 320,000 points. So how can that be helpful?
When you should buy points
If you didn’t have points and intended to pay cash for a stay. It could represent a huge discount. Luxury properties generally earn the best value in these situations.
For example, let’s say you were considering splashing $2,500 for a night in one of Hilton’s most luxurious properties. The highest standard award rate Hilton offers is 150,000 points. Using the current promotion, you could buy those points for $750. You just saved $1,700.
It works the same for cheaper properties too, and when combined with Hilton’s 5th night free policy on award stays, you’ll increase the value even more. But, never buy points if you don't have a plan for them.
If you’re interested, the targeted bonus runs until July 18th. You’ll need to log into your account and head to the “Buy Points” section. The minimum purchase is 5,000 points. Note that you may not be offered 100%. Some members have reported 80%.
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| TRAVEL TIPS
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How to Travel for Free with These 4 Simple Tricks
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Travel can be expensive, and not everyone has the budget to jet off to far-flung corners of the globe. What if we told you that learning how to travel for free involves just a few simple tricks?Â
From using airline points to free night hotel certificates, there are creative (and free) ways to make it happen.
So, if you’re ready to embark on an adventure of a lifetime without breaking the bank, check out our favorite ways to travel the world for free.
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| TRAVEL HACKING FOR DUMMIES
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How to Plan a Trip by Travel Hacking
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If you’ve been following along with our Travel Hacking for Dummies section, you’ll now have some basics under your belt. Today, I’ll show you how to put it all together and plan a trip using points to maximize your value.
1. Who, where, when, why, and how long
Before you do anything, you need to know where you’re going, how long for, what kind of trip it is, who you’re paying for, and when you’re going. Flexibility with the destination and dates is a travel-hacking superpower, so try not to be too narrow. For example, let’s say you want to visit Paris with a friend in May 2024. You’re flexible on dates but want to go for five nights. You’re only covering your own expenses and you’re flying from Chicago.
2. Find good reward flights and stays
Before you open a new card, do some heavy research. Find the airlines that fly there, and make a list of redemption rates. For example, United would cost 70,000 points for a roundtrip. This is the best you can find. A five-night stay in a cheap Hilton hotel in Paris costs 120,000 points.
3. Locate cards that can meet that goal.
For the United flight, look at co-branded cards and general cards that list United as a partner. The Chase Sapphire line all transfer to United but only offer 60,000 point bonuses. However, you find a United co-branded business card with a 75,000 point bonus after spending $5,000 in the first three months of opening the card. This is within the range of your small business spending. Open that one.
The Hilton Honors Surpass card comes with a 130,000-point bonus. This covers your hotel stay and might even score you an upgrade. Be careful to open your second card long enough after the first one to ensure your natural spending passes the threshold.
Doing things in this order is essential. If you open cards without deciding a destination or means of travel, you’re bound to those cards. Plan your travel, and choose a card that fits your needs and spending habits.
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| WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING
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*This link is sponsored
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