Tag Archives: Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

My Travel Predictions (Both Good and Bad) for 2014

2014 New Years

My Travel Predictions (Both Good and Bad) for 2014

Happy holidays everyone!  As 2014 quickly approaches, I wanted to share my predictions for 2014, regarding airlines, hotels, and credit card rewards.  Feel free to agree, disagree, or share your own comments below.

Airlines:

  • British Airways – I think the 4,500 and 7,500 (maybe even 10,000) Avios award prices will go away or the entire award chart will be revamped.  The current prices are just too good.
  • Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines – since there has been a lot of fighting over routes to/from SEA and SLC, I think Alaska will no longer allow you to earn or redeem miles with Delta.
  • American Airlines and US Airways – after the merger, we will see some new “enhancements” (aka devaluations) to the new award chart.  Maybe off-peak awards will be changed or removed.
  • Southwest Airlines and AirTran – hopefully the merger goes through smoothly and quickly.  I look forward to using Southwest Rapid Reward Points for flights to Hawaii, Mexico City, and other tropical destinations south of the border.  I also think the 50,000 Southwest Rapid Reward sign up bonus will no longer count for companion pass status, it is just too easy to get Companion Pass.
  • Hawaiian Airlines – merge with another airline, maybe JetBlue or Alaska Airlines.
  • Lufthansa  – revamp their award chart after everyone signs up for their credit card.
  • Virgin Atlantic – miles will be transferable 1:1 with Virgin America and Virgin Australia.

Hotels:

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My New Chase Freedom Visa Signature came with Chase Blink (Visa PayWave NFC Chip)

Chase Freedom

My New Chase Freedom Visa Signature came with Chase Blink (Visa PayWave NFC Chip)

First off, it appears that there is a Chase Freedom Visa credit card (like the one shown above) and then there is a Chase Freedom Visa Signature credit card.  I received the Visa Signature card and it is really reflective, not the flat light blue from the picture above.

Anyways, when I was looking at the back of the card, I noticed the sideways WiFi signals and asked the Chase rep on the phone about it.  He said it was Chase Blink.  What the heck is Chase Blink?

Chase-Freedom-Back-PayWave

A quick Google search lead me to this page, where it says very little about Chase Blink.

Chase Blink Home Page

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The Flight Deal: Use British Airways Avios for Flights To/From CLT / DCA / PHL / PHX (Starting 3/31/14)

The Flight Deal Logo

The Flight Deal: Use British Airways Avios for Flights To/From CLT / DCA / PHL / PHX (Starting 3/31/14)

It is no secret that I love The Flight Deal.  I have scored some great deals from that website including my round trip flight from Miami to the Galapagos Islands for $380 and from Mexico City to Easter Island for $550.

They have done it again with this epic post All Nonstop US Airways Flights from Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Phoenix and Charlotte with British Airways Avios Starting March 31st, 2014.

Here are some of the gems they identified:

  • Charlotte -> Toronto (4,500), Montreal (7,500), Cancun (7,500), Grand Cayman (7,500), and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (7,500)
  • Washington, D.C. -> Bermuda (7,500), Halifax (7,500), Montreal (4,500), and Toronto (4,500)
  • Philadelphia -> Aruba (10,000), Bermuda (7,500), Cancun (10,000), Freeport (7,500), Grand Cayman (10,000), Montreal (4,500), Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (10,000), Punta Cana (10,000), Quebec City (4,500), Santo Domingo (10,000), St. Marteen (10,000), San Jose, Costa Rica (12,500), and Toronto (4,500)
  • Phoenix -> Anchorage (12,500), Honolulu (12,500), Lihue (12,500), Kona (12,500), Maui (12,500), Puerto Vallarta (7,500), Cancun (10,000), and Cabo San Lucas (7,500)

You can go from Phoenix to all 4 airports in Hawaii for 12,500 British Airways Avios each way!  That’s pretty sweet dude!

PHX to Hawaii Avios

Are there any routes you are especially excited about?  Let me know in the comments below.

How I Saved 80,000 Hilton HHonors Points for $136 (IHG Christmas Promo)

IHG Christmas Logo

How I Saved 80,000 Hilton HHonors Points for $136 (IHG Christmas Promo)

(Hat Tip to Loyalty Lobby’s post)

Merry Christmas everyone! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  IHG is having a 48 hour Christmas promo that is scheduled to end tomorrow night (Tuesday, November 26).  If you have any plans to be in Europe from December 16, 2013 through January 26, 2014, take a look at this promo.

Here are the prices (Euros or Pounds):

  • Holiday Inn Express® £25 per room or €25 in Europe
  • Holiday Inn® £35 per room or €35 in Europe
  • Crowne Plaza® £45 per room or €45 in Europe
  • Hotel Indigo® £65 per room or €65 in Europe
  • InterContinental® Hotels and Resorts £125 per room or €125 in Europe

IHG Christmas

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PSA: Chase Ink Card Annual Spending Limit and PayPal Debit Card

PSA TWG

PSA: Chase Ink Card Annual Spending Limit

A few readers have asked me some good questions, so I thought I would answer them for everyone.  Since I am sure most of you have at least one Chase Ink Business Credit Card, you are probably aware of the $50,000 annual spending limit for 5x categories (office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable services).

The terms of the card state that your spending limits apply annually and Chase defined annual as:

“Annually” means the year beginning with your enrollment date through the first statement after the anniversary of your enrollment date, and each twelve billing cycles thereafter.) There is no maximum number of points that can be earned on net purchases earning 1 base point, or the additional 1 point on chase.com/ultimaterewards bookings.”

So to clarify, you have 12 months (12 billing periods) before your annual spending limit is reset.  $50,000 / 12 months = $4,167 per month at 5x categories and 2x categories.  If you have a Chase Ink Cash or Ink Classic, $25,000 / 12 months = $2,083 per month at 5x categories and 2x categories.

Compare Ink Cards

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