nyt travel show points final
TRANSCRIPT
Who Is The Points Guy?
You can find me at:[email protected] Facebook.com/thepointsguyTwitter.com/thepointsguy Instagram.com/thepointsguy
My Love for Points Started at a Young Age
The Basics: Why Miles and Points Matter
Earning and Redeeming Miles and Points
Airline Miles, Hotel and Credit Card Points
Basics for Beginners / Continuing Education For Advanced
Join us after for a Q&A!
For more information visit: : www.thepointsguy.com
Terms You Should KnowMiles
Mileage Run
Points
Award Miles
Elite Miles
The “Are You Freaking Kidding Me” Look
What’s The Value of a Mile/Point?
Differs for every person and how they redeem
Simple value equation = Value of redemption/ points used
Example: Flight to Europe in Coach is around $750 and you want to use American miles
Off-peak 40,000 miles, your value is 1.875 cents per mile
Peak SAAver is 60,000 miles, value drops to 1.25 cents per mile
Anytime AAward: 120,000, value drops to .625 cents per mile!
My RankingsAirlines
1) United: 2 cents
2) American: 1.8 cents
3) US Airways: 1.7 cents
4) British Airways: 1.6 cents
5) Aeroplan: 1.6 cents
6) Delta: 1.1 cents
Hotels
1) Starwood: 2.3 cents
2) Hyatt: 1.9 cents
3) Hilton: 0.7 cents
4) Club Carlson: 0.7 cents
5) Priority Club: 0.6 cents
6) Marriott: 0.6 cents
What is the Best Frequent Flyer Program?
Two Types of Airline ProgramsTraditional or Distance BasedFixed Value
Factors Involved:Airline PartnersEase of RedemptionTypes of Awards Elite Status
Earning Miles With Elite Programs
Distance-Based
Earning Miles With Elite Programs
Fixed-Value
Be Smart With Your MilesSign up for everything!
Track everything using sites like AwardWallet and UsingMiles
Don’t let your miles expire -It happens, but it doesn’t have to!
You don’t need to get on a plane to keep them active
Online shopping and dining out
Some programs don’t expire like Delta SkyMilesTake the pledge!
Promotions: Rare But Lucrative
Double EQM’s on American
Delta $150 Mistake Fares
Mistake FaresFlyertalk, FlightDeal and AirFareWatchdog
Be quick - Use Twitter! Follow @TPG_Alerts
Find Low Fares Using ITA Software
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/
Maximize your airfare purchase with the right credit card and portal
Racking Up Miles Without FlyingCredit Cards: Come tomorrow!
Dining Out: Rewards NetworksOpenTableRestaurant.com
Online Shopping Portals: 10-20 points per $1
Buying Miles: Sometimes it’s a good deal – bonus promosExample: 90,000 US Airways miles business class to Asia costs only $1,620 with 100% bonus promoNote: Know your program, and have a specific redemption in mind and do the math! Some promos are not worth it like on American or Delta transfer promos.Good for top ups
Topping Up Accounts Without Buying Miles
Transfer from Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards or Starwood
Household Accounts
Share Miles Promos
Maximizing One-Way Awards
Note: Most airlines allow you to book award tickets for anyone, so no need to transfer
Advanced Topic: Prepaid Cards and Amex Bluebird
Pay bills, utilities, rent, mortgage, etc. using prepaid cards that act as debit cards or even checking accounts
Load these cards using points-earning credit cards
For more information check out my Bluebird Series
Redeeming: Common Problems
There’s no availability – this is a lie! Use it to your advantage and use partners
Website doesn’t work
Fees are too high
The airline doesn’t fly where I want to go – use your options!
For example: US Airways doesn’t fly to Asia but you can redeem miles to get there by redeeming on United, Singapore, ANA, Thai, Asiana…you can get almost anywhere!
Finding AvailabilityOneworld
Use Qantas.com.au then call the airline you want to book
SkyTeamDon’t use Delta.com, Use Airfrance.us and search for Classic Awards
Star Alliance AwardsUse United.com – Saver Awards generally bookable in any Star Alliance currency Example: Flights from LAX to JFK – 70,000 miles round trip in first classSame flight is only 50,000 US Airways miles.
Finding AvailabilityExpertFlyer.com
Can Search for award seats, upgrades, and set seat alerts69 airlines
Use a Booking ServiceBook Your Award: www.bookyour award.comPoints Pros: www.pointspros.com
Maximizing Redemptions: Stopovers and Layovers
Transfer/Layover: Less than 24 hours international, 4 hours domestic
Stopover: More than 24 hours international, 4 hours domestic
Open Jaw: Returning to/from different city
Sample Routing:
US Airways to Australia via Asia
My Oktoberfest Trip: JFK-Munich, Munich-Berlin, Berlin-JFK for 68,000 Amex points in business
Aeroplan to Asia via Europe and the Pacific
Rules for Individual AirlinesAeroplan (Air Canada): 2 stopovers
American: 1 Stopover at US gateway on international itineraries
British Airways: As many as you want but you pay for each one a la carte
Delta: 1 stopover or open jaw (ways to get around)
United: 1 stopover or open jaw
US Airways: 1 stopover and 1 open jaw
How to Avoid Huge FeesAmerican: Don’t fly British Airways
British Airways: Don’t fly American, British Airways or Iberia to London; JAL or American to Tokyo; Qantas to Australia; Royal Jordanian (no close-in fees)
Delta: Avoid award originating outside North America, no close-in fees
United: Low fee structure, avoid close-in fees
US Airways: Low fuel surcharges, big phone ticketing, change, cancellation and close-in fees
Book more than 21 days in advance to avoid fees
Changing Award TicketsCheaper than changing purchased tickets
American and United will let you change dates and routing as long as origin and destination are same. Redeposit fee: $150
Delta and US Airways: $150 for changes or to redeposit miles
British Airways: $40 to change or cancel and redeposit
Tip: Don’t cancel if you don’t need to- wait for flight changes/cancellations to avoid fees
Tip: Having elite status reduces fees
Top 10 Tips on Maximizing Hotel Programs
1. Cash & Points Redemptions – stretch points and hedge against foreign currencies specifically Starwood, Hilton, Club Carlson
2. Free night stays like Starwood’s Fifth Night Free
3. Discounted Awards: Priority Club PointsBreaks, Marriott PointSavers
4. Using Points for Upgrades: Hyatt example, up to 4 nights in a Regency or Club room for just 3,000 points
5. AXON/GLON Hilton discounted awards
6. Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
7. Elite Status From Crdit Cards
8. Quarterly Promos
9. Leveraging Elite Status: Starwood and Hyatt are my favorite
10. Transfer to Airline Miles
Hotel Strengths and Weaknesses
Other ResourcesBlogs: Frugal Travel Guy, View From The Wing, One Mile At A Time, Frequent Miler, Mommy Points, Million Mile Secrets, Loyalty Traveler
Other sites: FlyerTalk, Milepoint
Social Media: Follow @ThePointsGuy
Come to tomorrow’s session on Credit Cards
Q&A Session: Will be in this room following the presentation
Putting It Together: South AfricaUsed United.com to find a business class ticket on South African Airways – JFK-JNB-CPT (destination)-JNB (stopover)-IAD-JFK. Booked it with US Airways miles.
Total: 110,000 miles + $127 in taxes and fees instead of $8,775, 7.8 cents per mile!
Putting It Together: HotelsThe Westin Cape Town
Rate was $220, but used Cash & Points to pay 4,000 points + $60, 3.5 cents per StarpointUpgraded because of elite status to a Junior Suite
Hilton Cape TownRate was $114 so I paid instead of using 30,000 points or a free night from my Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve cardPoints Earned: 2,280 base points + 50% Diamond Bonus + 1,000-point Diamond point amenity + 1,000 Virgin Atlantic Miles for Double Dipping (converted to Hilton points) – Total = 8.560 points for $228.
Hyatt Regency JohannesburgRate $335 a night, or 8,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points – rate per point 4.2 cents
Putting It Together: The Fun12 night South Africa Trip of a Lifetime for: ~$3,000 and 126,000 miles/points. Retail value: $12,698