PointsParadise
Posts
🏝️ Fly To Europe On Everyday Spending, Get Elite Status For Free, and More!

🏝️ Fly To Europe On Everyday Spending, Get Elite Status For Free, and More!

Discover the latest news in the world of points.

PointsParadise
September 28, 2023

👋 Welcome Back!

If you’re new to Points Paradise, welcome to the community! Otherwise: welcome back to your go-to source for points updates. Our community is up to 9,800 subscribers now!

Like I mentioned last week, I’m in Venice and am leaving in a couple days.

Using the points I built up over the past half year helped create this, especially the welcome bonuses from 2 cards I opened.

If any of you have favorite places in Venice, I’d love to hear them! Reply to this email with them, would love to check them out before I leave.

👉 My mission with this newsletter and now PointsPal.io is to make sure all of you have the potential to go on trips with points too!

For everyone who is new: PointsPal is a free tool that makes sure you never miss out on free points & perks again, by sending customized alerts through email.

I’m so excited to launch PointsPal next week in the official Beta. So many of you have already signed up and sent me ideas, thank you!

If you haven’t signed up, you should! Because: I'm giving a $100 Delta gift card to one random person who gives feedback by October 15th!

I’ll have more details on the feedback part next week, stay tuned!

🗞️ News From This Week

Ends Today! Grab a 50% Discount on Southwest Flights for Fall & Winter with Cash & Points.

I love using Southwest for domestic flights. They’ve only had good service for me, plus they tend to have amazing deals from time to time.

Just this week, they announced another massive promo with 50% off flights this Fall and Winter!

I’m going to a wedding in November and scooped a DTX → NYC for literally half off, and used my Chase Sapphire Reserve to bank points.

Important Note: not all routes apply and some are filling up fast, so be sure to double check that the promo code works on your route before checking out. You’ll see a "slash” in the price.

Deal ends 11:59 PST 09/28, and is super easy to use. Just use code WOW50.

Here’s how to book:

Visit Southwest's booking page using the promo code through this link.
Use promo code "WOW50" if not auto-applied in the form field.
Discounts cover both Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus tickets—change or cancel for free travel credit.
Also valid for bookings with Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
There are a few blackout dates, so make sure the dates your looking at apply.

👉 Pro Tip: If you’re looking to go to Hawaii during the winter, now’s the time to book! I see one ways for under $100 and roundtrips for under $150, depending on where you’re flying from.

Fly To Europe On Just Your Grocery Spend: Using The Capital One Venture Rewards Card.

I’ve been eyeing the Capital One Venture Rewards as my next card, since it’s got an amazing bonus currently.

It has a very low annual fee compared to other travel cards ($95) but gives you 75k miles on $4k in spend in the first 3 months.

That’s around ~$800 in travel value when booked through their travel portal, for a $95 annual fee that’s a huge return!

Roundtrip flights from the US → Europe are around there, or even lower if you catch a deal.

The bonuses it gives outside of the welcome offer are good as well, including 5x miles per dollar when booked through the Capital One Travel portal, and 2x on other eligible purchases.

👉 Pro Tip: Capital One has over 18 transfer partners, meaning you can take the miles you earn on the Venture Rewards and transfer them to British Airways, Accor, Quantas, Air France, and more.

Here’s How To Get Alaska Airlines or JetBlue Elite Status For Free. If You’re a Delta Frequent Flyer.

If you think you had a bad week, read this story on Delta. Their recent Frequent Flyer program changes were so bad, that the CEO came out today and apologized!

This was great for flyers in general, as other airlines companies have pounced on Delta’s mistake.

If you’ve never heard of status matches: Airlines offer "status matches" to people with special perks on one airline.

This lets them get similar perks on another airline to encourage them to switch.

In this case, JetBlue and Alaska both want Delta Airlines’ customers. So they’re making it easy for them to get status, so they stop flying Delta.

These programs are awesome and include perks like:

Bonus Points on Flights
Free Checked Bags
Partner Lounge Access
Complimentary Alcohol and Wifi
And more!

Jet Blue’s status match is here and Alaska Airlines’ match is here

👉 The Points Pro Take: This is a great opportunity for anyone with Delta Elite Status. And be sure to check all of your credit cards, to see if they give Delta Status or equivalent ranking. You’d be surprised at how many premium cards do!

🏖️ Resource Roundup

A quick roundup of the top offers, deals, and more that you should know:

Hilton Amex Offer $200 Credit for $1000 Spend: Get a $200 statement credit with Hilton when you spend $1000 on your Amex card.
Chase Offers Earn Up To 10x Points: Chase cardholders can earn up to 10x points on select categories from October 1 through December 31, 2023.
Delta $20 Starbucks Giftcard on $300 Purchase: Buy $300 in Delta gift cards and receive a $20 Starbucks gift card from 9/25/23 until 9/29/23 11:59pm EST, or while supplies last.
AmEx Enterprise Offer $50 Credit on $250 Spend: Spend $250 at Enterprise with your AmEx card and receive a $50 statement credit.
Amex Offers $100 Off inKind Subscription: American Express is offering a $100 statement credit for an inKind annual subscription, providing 20% back on dining purchases paid with the app.
Southwest Airlines 50% Off All Tickets: Southwest Airlines is offering a 50% discount on all tickets using the promo code WOW50.
LATAM’s Paid Elite Status Match Offer: LATAM is offering a paid elite status match with no flying required.
Breeze Airways 25% Off and Bonus Points: Breeze Airways offers a 25% discount on base fares and a bonus of 5,000 points with the promo code SOEXTRA.
American Airlines Up to 200,000 Bonus Miles: Book a cruise with American Airlines and earn up to 200,000 AAdvantage bonus miles.
Amex’s $100 Cashback on Alaska Airlines: American Express cardholders can now save $100 on Alaska Airlines flights when they spend $500 or more, thanks to a new Amex offer.
Choice Privileges Sweet Spots Free Nights: Choice Privileges offers discounted reward nights at select hotels through November 30, 2023, with Sweet Spot redemptions starting at just 8,000 points.
Capital One’s $15 Google Pay Bonus: Capital One is offering a $15 statement credit when you spend $20 or more using Google Pay with your Capital One credit card.

🗺️ Pro Tip of the Week

How To Get Room Upgrades For Free, Using Your Credit Card Loyalty Program

Why Room Upgrades?

Room upgrades can significantly enhance your travel experience. Imagine relaxing in a more spacious room, enjoying a superior view, or indulging in additional amenities. Best of all, these upgrades sometimes come without any extra cost!

The Strategy for Success

While there's no guaranteed method to get a room upgrade, here are a few strategies that may boost your chances:

Loyalty Programs: Many hotel chains have loyalty programs that reward frequent guests with room upgrades. If you're not already a member, consider joining - it's usually free!
Credit Card Perks: Certain credit cards offer complimentary room upgrades as part of their benefits. Check with your card issuer to see if you qualify.
Ask Directly: Sometimes, all you have to do is ask! Mention that you're interested in a room upgrade when checking in. If one is available within your budget, hotel staff are often happy to accommodate.

Expert Tips on Requesting Upgrades

Navigating the upgrade conversation can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Here are some tips:

Politeness Pays: Remember, you're asking for a favor. Always be polite and courteous to the hotel staff. A good attitude goes a long way!
Timing is Key: Consider checking in later in the day. By this time, the hotel has a better idea of their occupancy and may be more willing to offer upgrades.
Special Occasions: If you're celebrating a special occasion, like a birthday or anniversary, don't be shy to mention it. Hotels often provide upgrades to help make your celebration even more special.

Next time you book a hotel stay, remember these tips, and you might just find yourself enjoying a little extra luxury. Happy traveling, and here's to hoping your next check-in brings a pleasant surprise!

✈️ Reward Reminder of the Week

Understanding Credit Scores And Card Eligibility

The hunt for the best credit card rewards can be both exciting and rewarding. However, before diving into the world of points, miles, and cash back, it's essential to understand how your credit score might affect your eligibility.

What is a Credit Score?

A credit score is a numerical representation of your creditworthiness, based on your credit history. It considers several factors including payment history, debt levels, and the length of your credit history. Lenders, including credit card issuers, use this score to gauge the risk of lending to you. The better your score, the more trustworthy you appear to potential lenders.

How to Check Yours?

Annual Credit Report: By law, you're entitled to one free report annually from each of the three main credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to access your reports.
Credit Card Providers: Some credit card issuers offer their members free access to their credit score as a part of their service.
Third-party Services: Websites and apps like Credit Karma and Credit Sesame provide free credit scores and credit monitoring services.

Remember, regularly checking your credit does not harm your score!

Which Credit Cards for Which Credit Score Range?

300-579 (Poor): At this range, your choices might be limited. Consider secured credit cards where you provide a deposit as collateral. These cards can help you build or rebuild your credit over time.
580-669 (Fair): There are several credit cards available for those with fair credit. While they might not offer massive rewards, many still provide cash back opportunities and other benefits.
670-739 (Good): This range opens up a broader selection of reward cards, including many with significant sign-up bonuses and premium perks.
740 and up (Excellent): With an excellent credit score, you'll have access to some of the best credit cards on the market, boasting impressive rewards rates, travel perks, and more.

🌎 Community Corner

Trying to decide whether to get the Amex Gold or Platinum. Is there a reason to have both? Or should I just pick one? And which one is better?

- Question from a subscriber

My Answer:

Good question and one that a lot of people have.

The short answer is go with the Platinum if you’ll use its premium travel perks & credits. Else go with the Gold if you think there’s a chance you won’t, as the Platinum annual fee is no joke!

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Amex Gold:

Dining and Groceries Focus: The Gold card offers substantial rewards on dining and U.S. supermarkets, making it ideal for those who spend considerably on food.
Travel Perks: While not as extensive as the Platinum, it still provides benefits like a $100 airline fee credit.
Lower Annual Fee: It has a lower annual fee compared to the Platinum card.

Amex Platinum:

Travel Enthusiasts: The Platinum card is designed primarily for frequent travelers. It offers extensive travel perks, such as access to various airport lounges, Uber credits, and hotel status upgrades.
Higher Reward Rate: It generally offers a higher reward rate for flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel.
Higher Annual Fee: With its myriad of benefits, the Platinum card comes with a notably higher annual fee.

Bottom Line: If your spending is geared more towards dining and groceries, and you prefer a lower annual fee, the Gold card is your best bet. However, if you're a frequent traveler looking for premium travel benefits and can justify a higher annual fee, the Platinum card is the clear winner. Always assess your spending habits and preferences before committing.