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The Value of Travel Rewards Programs and Credit Card Points
10-11-2016, 07:05 PM
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#1
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,178
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The Value of Travel Rewards Programs and Credit Card Points
For the last year I have been keeping track of how much I spend on travel using travel rewards programs and credit card points. While I have worked at this I am by no means 100% efficient in maximizing every point or promotion $.
Here were my travel parameters for the year
- All Domestic Flights on Southwest or United
- No budget hotels but rather what I would consider comfortable (Hilton, Marriott, or IHG properties)
- Rental cars Full size
Total Number of R/T tickets - 14.5
Total Number of Hotel Nights – 42
Total Number of Car Rental Days – 24
Total Cash Spent $4,861.00
Total Value of Travel $11,122.00
Savings 66.3%
NOTE: The value of retail travel is determined by the best discount I could get on flights, hotels, and rental cars as I shop for the best deal. It does not include the amount of time I did researching my options. Also all trips were trips that I would have taken anyway.
Not too shabby!
JDARNELL
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10-11-2016, 10:33 PM
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#2
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 928
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I enjoy travel, but with 2 school-age kids, it's pricey to fly anywhere. DW is talking about taking an Alaskan cruise in the next year or two, which won't be cheap, either.
I've just recently started trying to rack up points to help pay for some of these adventures. I'd love to hear more details on how you got so much "free" travel.
__________________
I can't complain, but sometimes I still do.
- Joe Walsh
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10-12-2016, 12:43 PM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,178
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ProspectiveBum
I enjoy travel, but with 2 school-age kids, it's pricey to fly anywhere. DW is talking about taking an Alaskan cruise in the next year or two, which won't be cheap, either.
I've just recently started trying to rack up points to help pay for some of these adventures. I'd love to hear more details on how you got so much "free" travel.
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Not free but great reduced by taking advantage of hotel reward programs, bonus offers from credit cards, etc. Check out some of the "Travel Hack" blogs. These guys have it down and use their points for luxurious travel. Since I still have School Age kids mine is more simple.
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10-12-2016, 01:32 PM
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#4
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 400
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I use Southwest for domestic & United for Int'l. Just signed up for the Marriott card so have a lot of points I can use. It really does ease the travel budget.
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10-12-2016, 02:15 PM
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#5
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Alberta/Ontario/ Arizona
Posts: 3,393
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Just booked 4 business class tickets back from Paris to Toronto on points. Would have cost at least $20k. Probably a normal yearly savings for us.
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10-12-2016, 02:24 PM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Danmar
Just booked 4 business class tickets back from Paris to Toronto on points. Would have cost at least $20k. Probably a normal yearly savings for us.
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That's very impressive Danmar!
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10-12-2016, 04:37 PM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,358
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JDARNELL
Not too shabby!
JDARNELL
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Great job. We've just started learning how to play the credit card games and the possibilities are very intriguing.
__________________
Even clouds seem bright and breezy, 'Cause the livin' is free and easy, See the rat race in a new way, Like you're wakin' up to a new day (Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether lyrics, Alan Parsons Project, based on an EA Poe story)
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10-12-2016, 06:10 PM
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#8
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,178
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whatnot
I use Southwest for domestic & United for Int'l. Just signed up for the Marriott card so have a lot of points I can use. It really does ease the travel budget.
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The southwest travel companion is a good deal. My wife and I rotate getting the cards every two years so we have that as an option. Of the 14.5 RT tickets only 3 were travel companion.
I too have the Marriott card and the free night covers more than the annual fee. I used mine last year on a $275 room. I was jammed on a travel visit and it saved me. The IHG card is pretty good.
I prefer the credit card reward points instead of specific program credit cards because of the ease of transferring them if needed and the extra value gained by booking thru their system. Much more flexibility. From what I can tell there are 3 main banks that issues cards to support their own points program. I only use one of them.
Also check out the MS threads.
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10-12-2016, 07:18 PM
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#9
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,266
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People are really talking about the new Chase card with 100,000 miles just for getting the card, and a $300 travel credit each year. But, the fee is $450 a year and is not waved for the first year.
__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
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10-12-2016, 07:23 PM
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#10
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,266
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If you live in the Greater Seattle area you can get a free coffee and doughnut from Top Pot during the month of October if you have the Delta Amex card. It helps to defray the yearly fee. And the doughnuts aren't bad.
Quote:
Terms & Conditions
*Card Member and a guest may enjoy one complimentary doughnut and 12-ounce coffee beverage each from any Top Pot location in the Seattle area. Limit one (1) per Card Member and guest per day. Offer based on first come, first served while supplies last. Delta and American Express reserve the right to cancel the offer in their sole discretion and without prior customer notice due to any unforeseen circumstance.
This offer is non-transferable and good only for use by Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Members and his/her guest from October 1 through October 31, 2016. Offer valid at any Top Pot location in the Seattle area. Limit one (1) guest per Card Member. Guest must be present with the Card Member at time of redemption. Delta SkyMiles Credit Card must be presented to service representative upon ordering.
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__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
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10-12-2016, 07:39 PM
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#11
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,178
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuckanut
People are really talking about the new Chase card with 100,000 miles just for getting the card, and a $300 travel credit each year. But, the fee is $450 a year and is not waved for the first year.
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True. The card will actually give you $600 in travel credit the first calendar year. I just got my $300 for CY16. The 100K in points is a good deal. For my simple calculation I am viewing the cost of each point at .0045 cents per mile. my typical cost per mile is .007 cents. I anticipate that I will get over $2300 of benefit out of the points alone.
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10-12-2016, 10:02 PM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Spending the Kids Inheritance and living in Chicago
Posts: 17,099
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuckanut
People are really talking about the new Chase card with 100,000 miles just for getting the card, and a $300 travel credit each year. But, the fee is $450 a year and is not waved for the first year.
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I felt that $450 fee was a bit steep, since I had no firm plans to use the points, so I went with the Chase card that gives 50K points , and no fee for the first year. Just completed my $4K spending in 3 months
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10-13-2016, 12:49 PM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ATL --> Flyover Country
Posts: 6,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuckanut
People are really talking about the new Chase card with 100,000 miles just for getting the card, and a $300 travel credit each year. But, the fee is $450 a year and is not waved for the first year.
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I got this card and think it's pretty sweet. Sure, it's $450, but the 100,000 points are actually worth 150,000 ($1,500) if you redeem for travel on the Ultimate Rewards page..which has lots and lots of stuff on there. There hasn't been a location or an airline or a hotel that I have searched for and isn't on there and they do tend to have some good sales at times. Also, if you get the card NOW you can get the $300 travel credit this year (has to post by the close of the Dec statement) and then get it again come January, then cancel the card before it renews. So...$600 in credits, $1,500 towards travel on UR's page and also *unlimited* guests at Priority Lounges and they will reimburse for Global Entry.
Long story short, my $450 has gotten me $1650 of free money.
__________________
FIRE'd in 2014 @ 40 Years Old
Professional Retiree
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10-13-2016, 02:29 PM
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#14
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,178
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ExFlyBoy5
I got this card and think it's pretty sweet. Sure, it's $450, but the 100,000 points are actually worth 150,000 ($1,500) if you redeem for travel on the Ultimate Rewards page..which has lots and lots of stuff on there. There hasn't been a location or an airline or a hotel that I have searched for and isn't on there and they do tend to have some good sales at times. Also, if you get the card NOW you can get the $300 travel credit this year (has to post by the close of the Dec statement) and then get it again come January, then cancel the card before it renews. So...$600 in credits, $1,500 towards travel on UR's page and also *unlimited* guests at Priority Lounges and they will reimburse for Global Entry.
Long story short, my $450 has gotten me $1650 of free money.
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Keep in mind you can do better than that in some places. For example you can transfer 5,000 points to Hyatt which cost you (5000 *.0045) $22.50 and get a room that would normally cost you $150. I just did this for three nights in Mesa AZ and it saved me a lot.
I do book thru the UR site if the deal is better that way vs transferring to a travel partner. I find that car rentals are especially good thru UR even on deep discounted weekends plus you pay non of the taxes and airport fees.
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10-14-2016, 07:20 AM
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#15
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,413
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JDARNELL
Keep in mind you can do better than that in some places. For example you can transfer 5,000 points to Hyatt which cost you (5000 *.0045) $22.50 and get a room that would normally cost you $150. I just did this for three nights in Mesa AZ and it saved me a lot.
I do book thru the UR site if the deal is better that way vs transferring to a travel partner. I find that car rentals are especially good thru UR even on deep discounted weekends plus you pay non of the taxes and airport fees.
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Are you sure you can avoid all the add-on taxes and fees? When shopping for a rental car in Phoenix recently, the price at the UR site was similar to the rental agencies' sites. Although taxes and fees are not charged by the UR partner, the small print says you may be charged taxes and fees by the rental agency.
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10-14-2016, 09:05 AM
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#16
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ATL --> Flyover Country
Posts: 6,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Another Reader
Are you sure you can avoid all the add-on taxes and fees? When shopping for a rental car in Phoenix recently, the price at the UR site was similar to the rental agencies' sites. Although taxes and fees are not charged by the UR partner, the small print says you may be charged taxes and fees by the rental agency.
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This is apples and oranges. I don't think there is much of a way to skip out of fees and taxes. BUT...I booked a resort for next May through the UR website and the points DID cover the fees that were tacked on.
__________________
FIRE'd in 2014 @ 40 Years Old
Professional Retiree
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10-14-2016, 01:32 PM
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#17
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2006
Location: west coast, hi there!
Posts: 8,809
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Another Reader
Are you sure you can avoid all the add-on taxes and fees? When shopping for a rental car in Phoenix recently, the price at the UR site was similar to the rental agencies' sites. Although taxes and fees are not charged by the UR partner, the small print says you may be charged taxes and fees by the rental agency.
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Do you have to pay the rental car costs up front? That is what happened to us for a Dollar rental in Hawaii through UR. I wondered what would happen if we didn't like the rental car they had for us (although the car worked out fine).
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10-14-2016, 04:58 PM
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#18
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,178
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Just looked and no tax on my rental for next week. Rate quoted was the same rate as on car rentals.com before the tax. When I get a car the balance at the counter is always 0 and they say that everything is taken care of. As for not liking the cars with full size I get a pretty good selection to include Dodge Chargers.
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10-17-2016, 08:34 AM
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#19
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 930
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I've got a bunch of Ultimate Rewards points that I've never used. Question for those people who have used them to book airfare - can you purchase some of the airline extras (like "coach comfort seats") if you book through UR? I usually like to book travel directly with the provider to avoid complications if there are any problems with the reservations or travel delays but I compared a few ticket prices for trips I'm planning and UR seemed to have better rates.
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10-17-2016, 09:20 AM
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#20
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Santa Paula
Posts: 4,077
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BA VISA card
We have been using the heck out of this card. Our last 3 International flights have been in Business Class. If I spend more than a certain amount, I get a free companion ticket. That reduces the miles required to almost a coach ticket each.
The other benefit is the ability to use the lounges, where we would arrive early and relax before our flight.
__________________
Retired Jan 2009 Have not looked back.
AA 60/35/5 considering SS and pensions a SP annuity
WR 2% with 2SS & 2 Pensions
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