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🏝️ Never Miss Out On Points & Perks Again, Book a Safari Lodge On Points, and More!

🏝️ Never Miss Out On Points & Perks Again, Book a Safari Lodge On Points, and More!

Discover the latest news in the world of points.

PointsParadise
September 22, 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 9,100 subscribers now!

This week, I’m sending the newsletter out from The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Marriot Hotel, in Venice.

I’ve been enjoying Venice a little too much, which is why the newsletter came out on Friday this week instead of Thursday 😅.

We’ve wanted to go to Venice for a while, and when a promo came up, it was too good to pass on!

Using points + the 5th day free perk, we’re able to stay here for 10 days this time.

I was only able to book this because I used strategies from this newsletter and the points game, to maximize my points value.

👉 My goal for this newsletter and our Points Paradise community is to make sure everyone gets to go on amazing trips with their points as well.

Speaking of our community: one of the most asked questions is “How do I get more points to use?”

That’s great question, since more points = more free travel! And it’s hard to keep up to date on every new promotion tied to the programs or credit cards you use.

That’s why I’ve been SUPER busy making a platform that solves this, with PointsPal.

It makes sure you never miss out on free points & perks again, by sending customized alerts through email.

⭐ As a special thank you to you all for being part of the current Points Paradise community, PointsPal will be free forever for anyone who joins the Beta and gives feedback!

PointsPal is currently completely free to use and will be extension of the newsletter. This newsletter will always be around to help!

Note: it’s a brand new platform so there may be issues here and there. If there’s any, please let me know!

🗞️ News From This Week

Get 5% Cash-back On Holiday Purchases This Year: Chase Freedom Flex Q4 Categories Announced

The Chase Freedom Flex is one of my favorite cards to recommend.

It has no annual fee, yet gives 5% cash back on select categories, which makes it rare compared to other cards and a great option for most people.

Each quarter, Chase announced select categories that give an elevated cash back bonus, on up to $1500 in spend. And they just released the Q4 categories.

The Details: From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders can earn 5% cash back on PayPal, select charities, and wholesale clubs.

👉 Pro Tip: Make sure you enroll manually in the offer on the Chase website before buying your gifts! Chase and Amex both typically make you manually opt in, to get your rewards. People who don’t opt in, do not get the bonuses.

How To Book A Luxury Safari Lodge Experience With Points: JW Marriot Masai Mara Lounge Now Open For 2024.

One of my favorite parts of the Points Game is using points for experiences I would never buy without them.

Recently, I found one of those stunning trips. For just 100k points a night or 400k for 5 nights, you can stay at their luxury safari lounge and have an incredible experience.

Award availability opened up again for March and April. These are typically snapped up fast, so if you’re interested I’d check it out sooner than later.

Here’s the link to the Masai Mara Lodge along with the calendar view above.

👉 Pro Tip: Always aim for 5 night blocks at Marriot hotels (like the lodge above) if you can. That is because Marriot gives you the 5th night free when booking four nights in a row with points!

Maximize your Amex, Chase, and Citi Points With This Current List Of Transfer Bonuses Worth Up To 50%

I always keep an eye on transfer Bonus announcements from companies.

Transfer bonuses help you get more value out of your current points, for free. This means you can travel further on the same number of points you already have!

It’s hard to track them though, and the bonus promotions are usually only for a select time.

Here’s a list of the current promotions to watch, as well as when they expire.

For example: I usually book with Marriot Bonvoy for hotels. Normally, the Chase → Marriot conversion is 1:1. With the promo going on, its 1 → 1.5! That’s a 50% increase in the worth of Chase points when transferred, compared to normal.

American Express Membership Rewards

Partner Program: Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Bonus Amount: 25%
Expiration Date: Sept. 22

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Partner Program: Aer Lingus Aerclub/British Airways Executive Club/Iberia Plus
- Bonus Amount: 30%
- Expiration Date: Sept. 22
Partner Program: Marriott Bonvoy
- Bonus Amount: 50%
- Expiration Date: Sept. 30

Capital One Miles

Partner Program: Avianca LifeMiles
Bonus Amount: 15%
Expiration Date: Sept. 30

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Partner Program: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Bonus Amount: 30%
Expiration Date: Oct. 14

👉 The Points Pro Take: Before you book a big trip, always look at the transfer bonuses happening. You might find that your current points can be exchanged for 10% to 50% more value.

🏖️ Resource Roundup

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

Capital One Venture X Business Offer: Check out the new 150K Miles offer from Capital One for the Venture X Business Card.
IHG Flash Sale South East Asia & Korea: IHG is offering a flash sale for stays in South East Asia and Korea from October 10, 2023, to January 31, 2024. Book by September 25.
SimplyMiles Boost Your AAdvantage Miles: Earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points for everyday shopping with SimplyMiles, a card-linked program for Mastercard users.
Citi Dividend Unveils Q4 5% Cashback Categories: Citi Dividend cardholders can earn 5% cash back at grocery stores in Q4 2023, enhancing their rewards potential.
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.
Frontier’s Status Match from 45 Loyalty Programs: Frontier Airlines is offering a status match from 45 loyalty programs, with a verification fee of $99 for 20k and 50k applications, and $149 for 100k applications.
Double Your IHG Business Rewards Points: Earn twice the IHG One Rewards points on all bookings made from September 6, 2023, to December 31, 2023, and completed by June 30, 2024.
Accor-Flying Blue Linking Bonus Offer: Link your Accor ALL and Air France-KLM Flying Blue accounts by October 15, 2023, and earn 1,000 bonus miles and 500 reward points on bookings.
Bank of America $1000 Business Bonus: Bank of America offers a $1000 bonus for new business checking accounts with a minimum deposit of $30,000 within 30 days of account opening.
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.
Best Western Rewards 2x/3x Points Offer: Best Western Rewards members can earn 2x or 3x points for stays in North America and the Caribbean through November 20, 2023.

🗺️ Pro Tip of the Week

How Smart Travelers Use Airline Award Hold Policies To Maximize Travel Value

As many of you may know, making the most out of your credit card points and travel rewards requires a healthy combination of strategy, flexibility, and an eye for a good deal.

But did you know that you could further maximize your award ticket bookings by utilizing an often overlooked feature - holding award tickets?

What Are Award Ticket Holds?

Holding an award ticket allows you to reserve a seat temporarily, giving you a chance to finalize your plans, transfer points, or consider various options while securing a good deal.

How Does It Work?

Every airline has its own set of rules regarding ticket holds. Some, like American Airlines, allow free 5-day holds on award bookings. Others, like Turkish Airlines, offer up to 72 hours. Here are a few pointers to guide you:

American Airlines: AA allows a 5-day hold on award bookings, offering you the time you need to transfer points from partners, or think over your plans.

Virgin Atlantic: VA lets you hold tickets for up to 48 hours.

Air France/KLM: Allows you to hold tickets for 48-72 hours.

Lufthansa: Up to 6 days, though dependent on the agent you talk to.

Get the Most Out of Your Hold:

Have a Plan B: Utilize the hold feature as a means to secure a backup option while you finalize your plans or wait for a better opportunity.

Transfer Points: If you need to transfer points from a credit card program (like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards), putting a hold on your award ticket ensures that your seat doesn't disappear while you wait for the transfer to process.

Monitor Prices: If you're not yet certain about your booking, a hold can buy you some time to monitor prices and ensure you're getting the best possible deal.

Avoid Rushed Decisions: With the hold in place, you can avoid making rushed decisions, allowing you to make sure all elements of your trip align perfectly.

✈️ Reward Reminder of the Week

How Double Dipping On Points Programs Earns You More Rewards With No Extra Spend

Double Dipping on points programs is a strategy that most people forget, but shouldn’t!

It’s a great way to build up points that gives you more points for a small amount of planning.

What Is Double Dipping?

Double dipping in credit card rewards involves earning points, miles, or cash back from both your credit card company and the merchant's loyalty program on a single transaction.

This could mean earning airline miles from a credit card's travel category and additional points from the airline's own loyalty program when you book a flight.

Real Examples Of Double Dipping Points:

Staying at Hotels with Loyalty Programs: Suppose you have a co-branded hotel credit card, like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, that gives you 6x points for every dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy hotels. You're also a member of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. Whenever you stay at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel and pay with your Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card, you earn both the 6x points from your credit card and points from the Marriott Bonvoy program.
Using Shopping Portals for Online Purchases: Say you have an American Express card that gives you 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases. You want to buy a new laptop from Best Buy. If you go through the Amex shopping portal, you may get an extra 2 points per dollar spent at Best Buy, allowing you to earn a total of 3 points per dollar on your laptop purchase.
Booking Flights via an Airline's Website: Suppose you have a travel rewards credit card that offers 3x points on airline purchases. You book a flight directly on Delta's website and are a member of Delta's SkyMiles program. You will earn points from your credit card for the purchase and miles from Delta's program for the same booking.

Remember, the goal with double dipping is to strategically align your spending habits with credit cards and loyalty programs that complement each other.

This way, you maximize rewards for purchases you'd make anyway.

🌎 Community Corner

I travel a couple times a year, but have never actually used an airport lounge.

Are they worth it? What do you get from them? Are the benefits any good?

- Question from a subscriber

My Answer:

Great question! Airport lounges can indeed elevate your travel experience, especially if you're someone who travels a few times a year or more. Here's a rundown of what they typically offer and why they might be worth considering.

Comfort: Airport lounges offer a quiet and comfortable space away from the hustle and bustle of the main terminal. They often have more comfortable seating, quieter areas, and more space to stretch out or even catch a nap.

Food and Drink: Most lounges offer complimentary food and drinks. The quality and selection can vary, but generally, it's a step up from what you'll find at most airport terminals. This can range from snacks and light fare to full meals, with some lounges even offering local delicacies. Complimentary alcoholic beverages are often available too.

Amenities: Lounges frequently offer amenities like free Wi-Fi, charging stations, clean restrooms, showers, and sometimes even spa facilities.

Service: Lounges often provide dedicated customer service desks where you can get help with flight changes, upgrades, and other travel issues without waiting in long lines.

The value of lounge access really depends on how much you'll use it and what you want from your travel experience. If you often find yourself with long layovers, want a quieter place to work or relax, or simply enjoy the convenience of free food and drinks, lounge access could be a great addition to your travel routine.

Many premium travel credit cards offer complimentary or discounted lounge access as part of their benefits, so check if any of your current cards offer this perk. Alternatively, you could consider a lounge membership program like Priority Pass, which provides access to lounges worldwide for an annual fee. Happy traveling!