Need A Credit Card?

Posted on November 14, 2015 by 2btravel

I earn far more miles from credit cards than I do from flying or from hotel stays. Credit card sign-up bonuses can give a big boost to anyone’s account! While I’m not one of the big bloggers who gets a cash comission from the credit card issuers, the credit card companies will allow regular members to receive a referral fee (of points/miles) if they refer someone to the card.

Delta Gold CardI’m a little late putting this one out there, but from now through this Tuesday, November 17, 2015, if you’ll allow me to refer to to the Gold Delta Amex card, I’ll earn bonus miles if you’re approved. You’ll get 50,000 bonus miles after using the card to make $2000 in purchases within the first three months after the approval date (not the date you receive the card). If you make a Delta purchase with the first three months you’ll also get a $50 statement credit. To refer you, just send me your first name and your email address to 2btraveling@gmail.com.

NOTE: You may be able to get an offer for 60K miles + $50 statement credit. You can find instructions here. Also, it is not open to those who currently have this card or have had it in the past. I believe the $95 annual fee is waived for the first year but cannot guarantee that.

Marriott Credit Card
If you don’t need Delta SkyMiles, what about hotel points? I’m also allowed to refer folks for the Chase Marriott Visa. I value this card if only for the reason that it offers a free night stay each year that you renew the card. The free night is good at any category 1-5 Marriott, so that pays for the annual fee right there. This card does not have foreign transaction fees, making it a good one for international travel.

In addition, this card earns 2x points for purchases from airlines, car rental companies and restaurants and 5x points for Marriott purchases. Plus for every $3000 in purchases, you get one credit toward elite status – that’s in addition to the 15-night credit you get each year at your account anniversary!

You’ll get 50,000 bonus points if you spend $2000 in the first three months after account approval. The annual fee is waived the first year and is only $85 after that.

If you think you’d be interested in this card, just send me an email at the address above and I’ll send you the phone number and the codes you need to get this offer.

Note that there is an alternate version offering 80K after $3K spend, but the $85 annual fee is not waived. Application Link. I won’t get bonus miles for this but it is a better offer so I wanted to be sure it was out there. Neither of these offers is available to those who currently have the card or have received the new cardmember bonus in the last 24 months.

Categories: American Express, Chase, Delta, Delta Amex, Marriott, Marriott Rewards Card | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Alaska Airlines Mystery Miles Sale

Posted on November 14, 2015 by 2btravel

2015-11-14 Alaska Mystery BonusAlaska Airlines is offering a mystery bonus when you buy miles. The bonus amount varies by individual. I got the most generous bonus:

  • Buy 10,000-19,000 miles, get a 20% bonus
  • Buy 20,000-39,000 miles, get a 35% bonus
  • Buy 40,000-60,000 miles, get a 50% bonus

With the 20% bonus that’s 2.29 cents per mile. With the 35% bonus that’s 2.037 cents per mile and with the 50% bonus it’s 1.83 cents per mile. Ben of One Mile At A Time values Alaska miles at 1.6 cents each while Brian, The Points Guy, values them at 2 cents apiece. That could make it worth your while to buy points, especially if you already have a use for them in mind.

What if you don’t live anywhere near Alaska? Not to worry, they have lots of partner airlines, despite not being part of a global alliance. Domestically they team with both Delta and American. Internationally you can use Alaska miles on AeroMexico, Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Fiji Airways, Hainan Airlines, Icelandair, KLM, Korean Air, LAN and Qantas.

Note that purchases are processed by Points.com and as such do not count as airline spend for your credit cards.  There is also a 7.5% Federal Excise Tax and GST/HST for Canadian residents.

So if you want to be like Jennifer Anniston and fly the first class with the bling and take a shower on board, you can use Alaska miles on Emirates to do just that!

Categories: Alaska Airlines, Purchased Miles | Tags: , | Leave a comment

UK Registered Traveller Program Available For Global Entry Participants

Posted on November 13, 2015 by 2btravel

Though I generally only travel internationally once or twice a year, I love being part of the Global Entry program. This program allows expedited entry into the US simply by using a kiosk upon arrival. You get to skip long lines and go straight to the exit podium at most airports. Plus, you almost always get TSA PreCheck when traveling domestically. As you know, PreCheck allows travelers to keep their shoes on, skip the nude-o-scope (usually) and leave laptops and liquids in their carry-ons when passing through airport security. All this for only $100 for five years.Global Entry LogoNow comes word that those of us enrolled in Global Entry are eligible to apply for the new UK Registered Traveller Service. The cost is £70 but if your application is unsuccessful you’ll get £50 back. The service is good for one year.

According to the email I received, membership in the Registered Traveller program includes these benefits:
· Access to ePassport gates at airports across the country

· Use of the UK / European Union queue at airports across the country

· A dedicated Registered Traveller lane at Gatwick Airport

· Not needing to complete a landing card on arrival to the UK

· No credibility interview with a Border Force officer.
UK Registered TravellerI don’t travel to/through the UK often enough for this to make it worthwhile for me but it’s nice to know it’s available. If you want more information check out the Registered Traveller website.

Categories: Security | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Only Three More First Fridays in 2015

Posted on October 2, 2015 by 2btravel

CSPIt’s the first Friday in October and by now you know that means 3x points on dining when you use your Chase Sapphire Preferred card.  Is it a huge bonus, no – unless you can convince the gang at work to pay you cash and you can put everybody’s meals on your card!  Chase will be discontinuing this bonus starting in January 2016, so get those bonus points while you can!

Categories: Credit Card Promos, Credit Cards, Sapphire Preferred | Tags: | Leave a comment

Earn Up To 125,000 Bonus Miles on American

Posted on September 25, 2015 by 2btravel

From now through the end of January you can earn up to 125,000 bonus American Airlines AAdvantage miles on flights to Europe when you fly with American, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, OpenSkies or US Airways. Registration prior to travel is required. You can register HERE.

2015-09-25 AA 125K Promo

The number of bonus miles you get depends on your class of service. To earn the full 125,000 bonus miles you’d have to fly in Business or First Class on five round-trip flights. For each Premium Economy or Full Fare Economy (fare classes Y, B, H) flight you can earn 7,000 bonus miles. And for all other Economy fares you’ll earn 2,000 bonus miles per flight.

2015-09-25 AA 125K Promo Chart

Note that those mileage figures are for each round-trip flight.

The registration page has full information on which classes from the other airlines qualify for each of the bonuses.

Even though I currently have no plans to visit Europe, I’ll still register because – why not, it’s free!

Categories: American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, OneWorld, US Airways | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Free 500 IHG Points

Posted on September 24, 2015 by 2btravel

2015-09-24 IHG Promo

If you have the IHG® Rewards Club Credit Card you can get a free 500 points by adding the card to your Rewards Club profile by October 31, 2015.

Rewards Club is the loyalty program of the Intercontinental Hotel Groups, which owns the Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plaza and Hotel Indigo brands, among others.

Just by owning the credit card you get Platinum status with IHG, though it’s not worth a whole lot – but can be used for status-matching to competing hotels. Best of all, the credit card gives you one free night per year at any IHG brand hotel, including their top-level Intercontinental hotels, all for a low annual fee of just $49. And the fee is even waived the first year! The card earns 5 points per dollar at IHG hotels and 2 points per dollar at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants. So the card pays for itself.

IHG Credit CardIHG hotels do have a large world-wide footprint with over 4500 properties. If you want to apply for the card, check out this blog post from The Frequent Miler on how to get an 80K sign-up bonus AND a $50 statement credit.

Categories: Credit Card Promos, Credit Cards, IHG | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Activate 4th Quarter Bonuses Now

Posted on September 21, 2015 by 2btravel

We’re over halfway through September and that means it’s time to register/activate the bonus categories for the 4th quarter of 2015.

2015-09-21 Discover Q4 Bonus

Discover Card

Discover offers 5% cash back in the following categories:

  • Amazon.com
  • Department Stores
  • Clothing Stores

Those are great categories for holiday shopping. Some department stores also carry gift cards, which means that 5% can last much longer than just the three month period!

You can earn the bonus cash back for up to $1500 in spend throughout the quarter.

Sign up for the Discover cash back bonus HERE. If you don’t sign up, you will NOT get the bonus.

2015-09-21 Freedom Q4 Bonus
Chase Freedom

Chase’s Freedom card also offers 5% back for Q4. There’s an overlap with Discover:

  • Amazon.com
  • Zappos.com
  • Audible.com
  • Diapers.com

The Freedom card actually earns Ultimate Rewards points and you’ll earn 5 points per dollar spent at one of these retailers. If you want to cash those points in, they’re worth a penny apiece. But if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred or one of the Chase Ink business cards, you can transfer these points to several airlines and hotel programs where you may very well get a value of 2-3 cents per point.

To register for the Freedom Q4 bonus, look for the email sent by Chase (I received mine on 18 SEP) or log into your account on Chase.com and look for the activation link.

Categories: Chase, Credit Card Promos, Discover, Freedom | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

First Friday Means 3x Ultimate Rewards Points for Dining

Posted on September 4, 2015 by 2btravel

CSPIt’s your monthly reminder that today you’ll get 3 points per dollar when using your Chase Sapphire Preferred card at restaurants.  No, it’s not a big bonus but this will only be around through the end of this year so why not take advantage of it while you can?

Categories: Credit Card Promos, Credit Cards, Sapphire Preferred | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Free IHG Reward Points for Joining e-Rewards

Posted on August 22, 2015 by 2btravel

I recently received an email from IHG Rewards Club announcing that they’d award me 600 IHG points when I joined e-Rewards and completed two surveys within three months.  As it turns out, I’ve been an e-Rewards member for a long time so I’m not eligible for this promotion.

2015-08-22 IHG e-Rewards Promo

If you’re not familiar with e-Rewards, it’s an organization that sends out surveys and awards you currency for taking those surveys.  You can then use that currency to “buy” hotel points, airline miles or gift certificates.  For example, $25 in e-Rewards currency can be used to “purchase” 500 American Airlines AAdvantage miles, 1000 Club Carlson Gold Points or a gift certificate to Best Buy.  Once you’ve accumulated $25 in e-Rewards currency you can choose to spend your currency at one of 33 merchants (including a few charities).

Some partners have a straight redemption value.  For example, when redeeming e-Rewards currency for American Airlines miles, it’s $25 = 500 miles, $50 = 1000 miles and $100 = 2000 miles, so the redemption value is the same.  On the other hand, Club Carlson will give you a bonus for redeeming more currency. $25 in e-Rewards currency nets you 1000 Gold Points but $50 will bring 2500 points and with a $100 redemption you get 4500 Gold Points.  So you need to keep an eye on what currency is useful to you to know when it’s best to redeem.  Note that you are often limited to one redemption for a particular merchant within a certain time period so if you’re close to the next-higher-level award, it may make sense to wait to redeem.

You’ll be sent survey links and even if you don’t qualify for the survey, you’ll get a token amount of e-Rewards currency.  There are surveys that will award you $5 or more in currency but they are usually quite involved and take a fair amount of time.  I prefer the shorter surveys to fill in the time between doing other things at work.  The currency adds up before you realize it and soon enough you’ve got 500 frequent flyer miles ready to transfer to your account.  Note that the transfer sometimes takes a few days, so plan accordingly.

So if you’re an IHG Rewards Club member, check your email for a similar offer and your personalized link.

Categories: IHG | Tags: | Leave a comment

Bonus When Buying AAdvantage Miles

Posted on August 12, 2015 by 2btravel

From now through September 3rd, American Airlines is offering a bonus when you buy or gift miles.

Since these purchases are processed directly by the airline, if you use one of the Citibank AA credit cards or one of the Barclays AA cards they’ll count as airline purchases and you’ll earn additional miles for your purchase.  You could also use the Amex Premier Rewards Gold card or Citi Prestige Card where you’d earn 3 Membership Rewards or Thank You Points per dollar spent and if you haven’t used your airline credit for the year,  it should apply as well!

Here is this discount chart:

2015-08-11 AA Buy Miles PromoIs it a good deal?  Not particularly.  Unsurprisingly the best deal is if you buy the most miles.  But if you haven’t used your airline credit for the year and have no plans to do so, why not buy the miles and get a $100 (Amex Gold) or $250 (Citi Prestige) discount?!

 

Categories: American Airlines, Purchased Miles | Tags: , | Leave a comment

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