Tag Archives: Alaska Airlines

Planning your Cabo San Lucas Trip (from Orange County)

Southwest Share The Spirit Logo

Planning your Cabo San Lucas Trip (from Orange County)

If you haven’t already, please read New Southwest Airlines Routes (Orange County to Cabo).

Anyways, since flights are relatively cheap from Orange County (SNA), I convinced my brother to go with me for a short weekend getaway.  Since Southwest points will be devalued started April 1, I strongly recommend burning your stockpile before then.  Southwest has free change and cancellation fees, so there is no excusing to hold onto your Southwest points now.  With that said, flights from SNA to Cabo San Lucas (SJD) are only 11,400 points round trip plus $85 in taxes/fees starting August 10.

SWA Cabo

For those without massive stockpiles of Southwest points, round trip flights can be had for $315.  Much cheaper than $400+ flights on US Airways connecting in Phoenix.  Continue reading →

Updated List of my 23 Open Credit Cards

Updated 3/25/2014 @ 10PM: New cards added and old cards updated.

Which Credit Card

Grant’s Credit Cards

Keeping track of your credit card numbers, expiration dates, customer service numbers, sign up bonuses, annual fees, and more is important.  If you want to keep track of all your credit cards, feel free to download and use my Credit Card Organizer Template.xlsx file.

Chase:

  1. Ink Bold MasterCard Business – opened in April 2012, paid $95 annual fee after reconsideration call offered statement credit
  2. United Airlines – opened in May 2012, paid $95 annual fee after reconsideration call offered miles
  3. Marriott Premier – opened in August 2012, paid $85 annual fee for free night certificate
  4. Hyatt Hotel – opened in November 2012, paid $75 annual fee for free night certificate
  5. Southwest Premier – opened in August 2013, received Companion Pass
  6. IHG Hotel – opened in November 2013, moved credit from Marriott Premier card
  7. Freedom – converted from Sapphire (Basic) in December 2013 (read post)
  8. Ink Bold Visa Business – opened in March 2014, planning on closing my Ink Bold MasterCard before the annual fee posts
  1. Amazon – closed November 2012, moved credit line around
  2. British Airways – closed November 2012, moved credit line around
  3. Sapphire Preferred – downgraded in August 2013 to Chase Sapphire (Basic)
  4. Sapphire Basic – converted in December 2013 to Chase Freedom credit card

See the entire list here.

Travel with Grant Meet Up Next Saturday Night (March 29) at In-N-Out (Tustin District)

In-N-Out Logo

Travel with Grant Meet Up Next Saturday Night (March 29) at In-N-Out (Tustin District)

For those of you free next Saturday night (and located in Orange County / LA County / San Diego County), come join me and a few of my travel-hacking friends for a “meat meet and eat” at In-N-Out.  Myself and Travel Summary hosted our first meet up at this In-N-Out a few months ago (link) and I have been getting requests for another one ever since.  I haven’t talked to Travel Summary about this, but I was planning on meeting there from 6-8pm, but the last one lasted until close to 10pm since we had so much to talk about.

In-N-Out Address

If you are interested in attending, please leave a comment below so I can see how many people are interested. Continue reading →

a woman with blonde hair and a green shirt

5 Credit Card Applications, 4 Approvals, 3 Reconsideration Calls, 2 Business Cards, and 1 Pending Application

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I did a 5 card app-o-rama early Thursday morning and here are my thoughts, suggestions, tips, tricks, and ways to improve your reconsideration calls.

Always have a plan and stick to your plan.  You don’t have to sign up for credit cards the first day or week to get the sign up bonus.  Most bonuses last a few weeks or months and often come back a few times throughout the year.  I always recommend waiting at least 3 months since your last credit card application (or app-o-rama in my case) before your next app-o-rama.  My last app-o-rama was on November 18 (link) and I got the following 6 cards:

  • US Bank Club Carlson Personal Credit Card
  • Bank of American Alaska Airlines Personal Credit Card
  • American Express Platinum Mercedes Benz Personal Credit Card
  • Citi Dividend Cash Back Credit Card (converted old Citi AA Card)
  • Chase IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card
  • Hilton Honors™ Surpass® Card from American Express (upgraded from American Express Hilton HHonors Credit Card)

Since my last app-o-rama, there have been a few new cards on my radar.  When planning your app-o-rama, make a list of all the cards you want to get.  Then organize them in the order in which you want to get them.  Ask yourself, “If I could only get 1 card, which card would it be?” For me, that was an easy question.  I am going for the Citi American Airlines Executive Credit Card with 100,000 American Airlines miles after spending $10,000 in 3 months.  Continue reading →

My 2014 Resolution: Travel Somewhere Every Month!

Happy New Years 2014

My 2014 Resolution: Travel Somewhere Every Month!

Good morning 2014!  I hope you all had a fun and safe New Years Eve, from wherever you are.  It’s January 1st and time to make your New Year’s resolution.  This should be something fun and exciting, not something boring like losing weight or cleaning out the garage.  Which is why (for the second year in a row), I have decided my 2014 New Years Resolution is to travel somewhere every month.  Here is how I did in 2013:

  • January – 2 weeks in Europe (Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Paris, Munich, Cologne, and Brussels).
  • February – Albuquerque, New Mexico for 4 days by myself, such a strange city.
  • March – Honolulu for a week (First Class via IcelandAir/Alaska Airlines deal) for my brother’s Spring Break (you’re welcome Davis!).
  • April – Delaware to visit a friend and drove to FTU DC / Tyson’s Corner.
  • May – nothing :(, well, I started Travel with Grant on May 1.
  • June – nothing :(
  • July – Vancouver and Whistler for 2 weeks with my parents and brother.
  • August – nothing :(
  • September – FTU Tampa for the weekend with my friend Jim.
  • October – Galápagos Islands for a week with Jim (great deal from Miami for $380 round trip).
  • November – Las Vegas Hilton Timeshare for the weekend and Carmel / Monterrey Bay for Thanksgiving week.
  • December – Does driving to Six Flags Magic Mountain count?  I got a season pass!

This  photo should sum up my travel for 2013.  Any questions?

GC Map for 2013

What is your New Years resolution for 2014?