|
March 26, 2024 | View Online | Sign Up |
 |
|
Pro-tip for beating jet lag: Be Scottish in Vegas on St Patrick’s Day, where everyone thinks you’re Irish and buys you drinks.
The subsequent apocalyptic hangover means time and space will no longer matter.
Let’s get to the points:
Cheers,
Steven |
|
|
|
|
| CARD OF THE WEEK |
 |
|
The Alternative to Last Week’s Big-Time Card |
|
Last week, I pointed you in the direction of one of the most iconic and most expensive cards on the market. It’s one people flock to in droves, often for the wrong reasons. But, if you’ve shown some restraint and know its astronomical annual fee just isn’t worth it for you, I’d recommend grabbing this pair of hard-working, perk-laden products instead.
💳 Same issuer, different angle
The aforementioned shiny card is packed with perks, but it falls short on earning potential after the intro bonus. If that’s a no-go for you, opt for the issuer’s second-tier product. It’s a different type of shiny and is stripped back in terms of benefits, but its earning potential on things like restaurants and supermarkets is unmatched.
Throw in a hefty 60,000 point intro bonus (earned after spending $6,000 within six months of opening it) and you’ll be flying in no time. And the year after that, and the year after that, and...you get the picture.
🥂 Make up for the lost perks
The big downside to not opening the first card is not getting your hands on its luxury perks. Thankfully, Capital One’s premium card offers many of the same benefits for an easier-to-stomach annual fee.
Not only do you grab access to over 1,400 lounges worldwide using the included Priority Pass, its $300 annual hotel credit and bonus of 10,000 miles every year means you don’t have to get strategic to balance out the $395 annual fee–using those effectively pretty much puts you five bucks up with minimal effort.
If you’re up in the air about opening the first card, maybe take a second to check this pair out. But, don’t forget, the card’s 80,000-point intro bonus could cover the annual fee for two years. You’ll just need to spend $8,000 within six months to earn it. |
|
|
|
|
| VISIT ANCHORAGE |
 |
|
The Year-Round Destination To Add to Your Bucket List |
|
Alaska invites adventure of all kinds: Whether you’re seeking an adrenaline rush, a serene outdoor oasis, rich northern cultures, or iconic wildlife encounters, the Great Land teems with opportunities to experience wide open spaces and an unforgettable way of life. But how do you fit it all into one trip? Anchorage makes it easy.
With Alaska’s largest city as a base camp, premier adventures await in every direction.
-
Be awed by ancient, dazzling glaciers.
-
Hike mountain trails under the midnight sun.
-
See some of Alaska’s most memorable wildlife.
-
Paddle turquoise waterways through a vast state park.
Then relax, reset, and recharge with Anchorage’s outsized assortment of top restaurants, cozy accommodations, vibrant arts and cultures, and a buzzing variety of local entertainment.
Planning the perfect Alaska getaway is easier than you might think. Direct flights from major U.S. hubs make it an easy entry point for any Alaska adventure and accommodation options range from name brand hotels to boutique B&Bs. Learn more here.
|
|
|
|
|
| STEVEN'S TIPS |
 |
|
I Tried Out the Delta Sky Club and Wasn’t Impressed
|
|
As if I needed any more impetus to close my recently opened Delta co-branded card, I tried out one of its big perks and was left feeling underwhelmed.
In case you missed that newsletter, here’s what happened.
Despite Delta stripping the benefits of its card line, I’d been persuaded to open its premium offering, primarily to take advantage of its hefty elevated intro bonus. To my dismay, I was accepted for the card itself, but not the intro bonus. I’d received no notice that I was ineligible, and had started spending on the card under the assumption I would earn the points.
After I discovered the bonus would not be arriving, I had to decide between keeping the card and paying the big annual fee or closing it early and taking the temporary hit on my credit. I opted to close it after my recent work trip, hoping an excellent Sky Club experience would maybe validate things a little, and offer an experience that might soften the frustration..
It did none of these things. At least the one in Seattle didn’t.
While the space itself was fine–spacious and bathed in natural light–its food offerings, comfort, and bar area left a hell of a lot of room for improvement.
Despite the app telling me the lounge was “not busy,” it took me over five minutes to find a seat with a table, and even the sofa area was almost full. I ended up on a bar-style high seat in the corner, mulling over my lukewarm breakfast sausage and soggy egg bake and waiting for the Starbucks coffee dispenser to be refilled.
My in-flight experience with Air Korea for the following 12 hours was a significant improvement. I closed the card when I got back to Bangkok. Sad times but lesson learned. |
|
|
|
|
| TRAVEL HACKING NEWS |
 |
|
United Adds Points-Pooling…With Some Annoying Limits
|
|
I was thrilled to see the news that United added a points pooling function to its MileagePlus program. I’m a big advocate of the program as, despite being dynamic, it still offers some pretty incredible deals on flights around the world.
But, on multiple occasions, I’ve been left frustrated when booking for my partner and me. We’ll often have enough points between us, but not quite enough in either account to redeem the flights.
In theory, the news changes all that, allowing us to create a points pool to book flights. It’s brilliant news, and it’ll help us in some situations, but the rules mean it’s not quite as valuable as we’d initially hoped.
📝 What’s the small print?
It’s actually pretty generous. You can add up to five people to a pool–great for families–there’s no limit on the number of points, and there’s even a 24-hour grace period for reversing transactions.
But the caveat…you can only use it for United-operated flights. That means those amazing partner redemptions around the world are currently off-limits for the time being. United has some brilliant options for its own flights, particularly its domestic routes, so it’s not all doom and gloom, but it’ll be a frustration for people like me who are unlikely to fly United on a regular basis.
Either way, it’s a great tool to note down for future use, with families primed to reap the greatest benefits from it. |
|
|
|
|
| WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING |
|
*This link is sponsored. |
|
|
|
|
