Tag Archives: Alaska Airlines

a black text on a white background

My Wildly Ambitious 2020 Airline, Hotel & Credit Card Predictions

Good afternoon everyone.  Generally, at the end of the year, I like to review my travel predictions for the past year and make new predictions for the coming year.  After a long streak of poor prediction performance (2018 prediction results, 2017 prediction results, and 2016 prediction results), I decided not to make any travel predictions for 2019.  But my predictions are coming our of retirement / hibernation today.  I really recommend reading the travel predictions that Stephen at Frequent Miler made, especially his top 5 predictions:

  1. Capital One To Add Virgin Atlantic As Travel Partner
  2. Amex Membership Rewards To Transfer To JetBlue On A 1:1 Basis
  3. Free Breakfast For IHG Spire Elite Members
  4. Citi To Allow Card Referrals
  5. Chase And/Or Amex To Increase Referral Limits

I am going to piggy back on his predictions and add a few of my own.  So without further ado, here are my travel predictions for 2020

My 2020 Airline Predictions

  • Alaska, American, Delta, or United will introduce a “Cash and Miles” payment option for award tickets.  Clarification: This is not to be confused with Delta’s “Pay with Points” option where you get 1 CPP for each Delta SkyMiles for paid flights.  I’m thinking more along the lines of the way British Airways and Avianca do it for award tickets.
  • Allegiant Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Sun Country will announce a merger, but I’m not sure who will merge with who.

Continue reading

a black text on a white background

6 Buy Miles / Points Promos Ending Soon: Marriott (30%), Alaska (50%), Etihad (30%), Hilton (100%), IHG (80%) & Hyatt (40%)

Good afternoon everyone.  I was working on my Buy Miles & Points Page and found a few offers ending soon.  Always check the math to make sure that buying miles & points makes sense for you.  Do not buy miles & points speculatively unless you have a use in mind.  With that said, here are 6 offers that end in December.  Up first, Marriott Bonvoy is offering a 30% discount, when you purchase at least 2,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points.  This offer expires on December 22.

a screenshot of a website

Continue reading

a woman with blonde hair and a green shirt

Why Do We Keep 16 No Annual Fee Credit Cards?

Good afternoon everyone, I hope your weekend is off to a great start.  A few days ago, I wrote a post titled I Paid $4,588 in Credit Card Annual Fees in 2019 – Was it Worth it?  In that post, I shared the 21 credit cards that I plan on keeping and how I justify paying the annual fees on those credit cards.  I felt bad for the 16 no annual fee cards that Laura and I have and decided to write a post about them too.  Roughly half of the no annual fee credit cards were downgraded / converted from a credit card with an annual fee.  Besides the rewards that some of the no annual fee credit cards provide, keeping no annual fee credit cards open long term is good for your credit score.  It improves the length of credit history (average age of accounts), which represents 15% of your total credit score.  It also helps with the amounts owed (your credit utilization ratio), which represents 30% of your total credit score.  Lastly, it helps with payment history (paying your credit card bills on time), which represents 35% of your total credit score.  For more info, check out this Doctor of Credit page.

a colorful circle with white text

Image source: https://www.kiplinger.com/article/credit/T017-C000-S002-how-your-credit-score-is-calculated.html

Continue reading

a woman with blonde hair and a green shirt

I Paid $4,588 in Credit Card Annual Fees in 2019 – Was it Worth it?

Good morning everyone.  As we approach the end of the year, I decided to take a look at my credit card spreadsheet and see how much my wife and I paid in annual fees this year.  I removed all the no annual fee credit cards and here are the 26 credit cards that have annual fees (sorted alphabetically).  I will break down this list into cards that I am 99% sure that I will cancel, 99% sure that I will keep, and the 50/50 cards that I might keep or cancel.  Read through this post and let me know if you agree or disagree with my thinking.

a table with white text

Continue reading

a blue text on a white background

Up to 20% Off Alaska Airlines Flights for Starbucks Rewards Members; Alaska Priority Boarding on National Ugly Sweater Day

Good afternoon everyone.  I have some good news for Starbucks Rewards members and Alaska Airlines flyers.  On December 12, Alaska Airlines and Starbucks are partnering for a special Happy Hour “that will spread a ‘latte’ holiday cheer.”  Starbucks is offering customers a BOGO (buy one, get one) free on any handcrafted beverage (grande or larger) from 2 – 7pm.  Alaska Airlines is also giving away 6 trips during a special #AlaskaHappyHour, but you need to follow @alaskaair on Twitter for details on how to win a trip to an iconic Starbucks location + $100 Starbucks gift card.  Also, Starbucks Rewards members can receive up to 20% off flights anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.  The discount code will be shown in the Starbucks App (iOS or Android) and you need to enter that discount code when you book your Alaska Airlines flights (discount code expires at 11:59pm PT on December 13).

You need to book through alaskaair.com/happyhour and use discount code IFLYALASKA.  See complete terms and conditions below.

a screenshot of a red and white advertisement

Continue reading