Want to use miles to fly First Class around the world? Yes, it can be done! Sure, it sounds like one of those ‘too good to be true’ things, but it really works. We at Frequent Miler have been traveling in First Class for peanuts for years using the tricks explained in our blog, podcast, social media, and RU-vid videos. The catch (and yes, there’s always a catch) is that it takes knowledge and organization to pull it off. That’s where we can help!
No, it won’t stop you earning the status with Priceline and IMO it’s the cheapest option ever with same benefits and experiences that other companies do offer.
I second VV cruises as a good use of points. I got it for free with the status MGR. But my second cruise on VV next year, I will definitely be through Virgin Red program. I cannot afford their cruises otherwise, and they are SO much fun. Pro-tip. I created a FB group for my specific sailing and people knew to search for it and join. We had so much fun getting to know people beforehand and organizing meet-ups and independent excursions this way. I would do this again in a heartbeat. Greg! The bummer about doing the Mediterranean is that you really don't have enough time at the port. You are visiting all these amazing places, and you want to be there a few days at a time, and to go back right away at 5 or 9 or 10 pm, it really makes it not relaxing, to cram in all this land travel to rush back to the ship. I probably won't cruise Europe ever again for that reason. But the experience itself and the ports-- literally everything was enjoyable.
The elephant in the room is that the reason why all of the best redemptions are being devalued/removed at an accelerated rate is because we now have points and Miles blogs and RU-vid channels with hundreds of thousands of eyeballs and millions of views. In just 2020 there were a few niche blogs that had a couple of hundred or ar most a few thousand readers. We like to think of optimizing CC rewards game as a small niche but it is no longer small anymore. Did you notice as soon as a phenomenal award redemption becomes talked about on all of the blogs it is instantly removed 3 to 6 months later. Coincidence?
As an example, the amount of airplanes with JAL F seats hasn't changed much today from five years ago. Now imagine five years ago maybe a few dozen people knew about that redemption with Alaska or American miles and now at least hundreds of thousands of people intimately know how to do that redemption.
Do you guys know whats gping on with using Virgin for last minute ANA flights? I hear thats not working anymore. Inhear its only long out redemtions working.
Trading is difficult, I'd spend the five grand on education for trading. It's not easy. Investing is different, that's easier. Short term or long term gain is the question.
Not to burst your bubble on Virgin but it seems to me that overall Virgin points are no longer attractive. Imho there were 2 good use cases. That's just not broad enough for me. But I do appreciate the video. I have 110k points I need to use eventually. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.
This is the first I’ve heard of needing to keep an Amex card open to a year after SUB is earned, does this mean we are obliged to pay the second year s annual fee for every new card too?
When Greg suggested contacting the hotel about a cash upgrade offer, I wonder how far in advance he did that (months out at time of booking?). My impression is that hotels want to wait to see if suites sell at full price before making a cash upgrade offer.
Yes, great point. In my case I waited until about 10 days prior, if I recall. It's possible I could have gotten a better deal if I had waited until a day or two before. -Greg
If these are life hacks I am Spiderman. The gift tax exclusion has not been $14k for a while, it shows the depth of the research. And can you imagine being at a party and someone says "hey, Comcast owes you $5.69 cents"? Anyway, this is all marketing cross promoting each other's businesses. And, wow, make sure you hire an EA for $3k a month to life hack yourself to the moon smh.
Note that there is a lifetime gift tax exclusion for $13.61 million. If you want to gift more than $18k to someone in a year, there is no tax implication unless you have gifted >$13.61 million. You just need to file a Form 709.
Chris is a wealth of ideas. I found him about a year or more ago. I don't listen to all of his podcasts but I do listen to the ones that interest me. Of course I listened when you guys were on his! I recently heard him on another points podcast!! Here he is again on my favorite points podcast!!. Oh boy-- I have ATT-- may need to look into this! Great job guys!
@@nyu9819 I didn’t, couldn’t get through the others guys first few sentences. But I’ll be back tomorrow night for the live. Hope to see you there as well! Don’t forget to like and subscribe!
@iankm1 I agree. This guy is out of touch with probably a good amount of FM listeners. Most FM listeners are trying to get every ounce of juice from the squeeze and this guys is talking about $3k for an executive assistant. #KnowYourAudience
This is our expertise. We love this topic! Our family of 6 has traveled to Mexico, Costa Rica, Bahamas, Aruba, Japan and Iceland within a 12 month period. 👏 🙌
Amazon Prime Visa Card gives 5% on Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods and 2% on restaurants Bank of America Customized Cash Card gives 3% on dining and 2% on groceries Navy Federal More Rewards Card gives 3x on restaurants and 3x on groceries U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Card gives 2x on dining and 2x on groceries U.S. Bank Altitude Go Card gives 4x on dining and 2x on groceries Verizon Visa Card gives 4% on groceries and 2% on dining
Pass. Most of the times, much of the rates on Expedia (and the like) are slightly inflated vs booking direct. Anyways. Only way this card is worth it is if it’s made for sub-primer borrowers.
I think the biggest advantage to this would be the ability to earn and offset the Vrbo purchases. If you do vacation rentals frequently, this seems like a solid way (and potentially simplest way) to cover those costs. From a hotel prospective, I completely agree - way better options out there.
I think that Priceline card is better. I have grandfathered version which gives 2x on everything and 5x on Priceline. New version gives 1x on everything. Both also give VIP Gold status, which is second highest, and is suppose to give some discounts. Each point worth 1.67c. It works as a Priceline travel eraser, so its easy to use. There is no AF and no FTF.
Wells Fargo hands out Cell Phone insurance like Candy. Every Wells Fargo card (even the Balance Transfer Reflect card), core and co-branded has at least $600 per claim and a $25 deductible. The Journey does go up to $1000
Yes, and Choice cards and Autograph card have a category for phone plans. 5x for Choice Select and 3x for Autograph and Choice cards. Both Choice cards give $800 phone insurance with $25 deductible.
does One Key take up 5/24? i think its a good and simple card.. Example, instead of buying IHG point for 1000$ and get 200000pt to spend at a hotel in tokyo(Indigo Shibuya), which if you were to pay cash would be $1150 booking on Expedia and that price includes the pay 3 get 4th night free. You only save about $150......... which i think booking directly through EXPE is a much better choice you get 10-20% cashback from Rakuten, and then you also get Onekey cash to use on your next trip, and the purchase also coded as travel which earn you more points than buying points. assuming you have no high status with any hotel chain and you wont get upgrade... i think booking with EXPE is way better with trying to go through the hole of points and probably saves nothing
@@yurig2530 i already considered the 4th night free in my match which doesnt really save anything. just booking with EXPEDIA youll about the same deal without going through all the complicated buying point and trying to redeem.
@@yurig2530 already included that 4th night free in my math.. booking thru Expedia for 10-20%rakuten cashback + Onekey cash back is better(also coded as travel more point) choice than buying IHG point to redeem at IHG (and only earn 1x point for most credit card)
