Tag Archives: Frequent Flyer Miles

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2026 Travel Predictions Midyear Review: Which Predictions Came True?

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Good afternoon everyone, I hope your weekend is going well. As we approach the halfway point of 2026, I thought it would be fun to revisit my 2026 travel predictions and see how many have come true so far.  Predicting the future is never easy, especially in the travel and credit card world, but it’s always entertaining to look back and see what actually happened.

Below are my original predictions and a midyear update.  Predictions in green have come true, while predictions in red have not come true just yet… 

Airline Predictions (0 / 3):

  • Alaska Airlines will change the Global 25K Companion Award into a Global 25K Award Discount (valid for a single passenger). – Nope, Alaska Airlines has not made any changes to the Global 25K Companion Award. 
  • Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, or Delta Airlines will launch a debit card. – Nope, none of the 3 airlines has launched a debit card.
  • Southwest Airlines will not award Rapid Rewards Points on Basic Fares. – Nope, Southwest Airlines has not made any changes to earning points on Basic fares.

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Major Wells Fargo Rewards Program Changes: No More Combined Rewards Accounts, Gifting Rewards, or Automatic Redemptions

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Good morning everyone, I hope you had a great weekend.  I was reviewing my recent Wells Fargo Autograph Credit Card (originally the Bilt MasterCard) and there was a full page of changes to the terms and conditions of the Wells Fargo Rewards Program.  I figured these changes would be of interest to anyone who is currently earning and redeeming Wells Fargo Rewards Points.  Here is the full text:

IMPORTANT NOTICE OF WELLS FARGO REWARDS® TERMS AND CONDITIONS CHANGES

This notice includes important information about changes to the Wells Fargo Rewards® Program Terms and Conditions for Your Credit Card. All other aspects of the existing Wells Fargo Rewards Program Terms and Conditions and Addendum for Your Credit Card remain in full force and effect. Please read this notice carefully and keep a copy for Your records.

Effective Immediately:

Combining Rewards Account
We will no longer combine Rewards Accounts when You have multiple Credit Cards with the same Rewards currency. Separate Rewards balances will be provided for each of Your Credit Cards.

Effective June 30, 2026:

Travel Rewards Provider
Travel rewards provider will transition to Aspire Lifestyles (AMERICAS) Inc from Aspire Loyalty Travel Solutions LLC and will cover bookings made on and after June 30, 2026. Cruises will no longer be available as a travel option, and you must have an email added to Wells Fargo online banking for all bookings. Your ability to earn or redeem for all other travel rewards will remain the same.

To review terms and conditions for travel rewards go to www.wellsfargo.com/rewardterms

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Travel with Grant is Officially a Teenager & Other Life Updates

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Good afternoon everyone, and Happy Cinco de Mayo to all who celebrate! Back on May 1, 2013, Travel with Grant was born. I can’t believe it has already been 13 years. Where did the time go?!

This past year has been full of life-changing events, especially with the birth of my daughter, Madison, in August 2025. She is already 9 months old now. She hasn’t been on an airplane yet, but we have taken a few road trips up to Sacramento and down to Monterey and Carmel. She even enjoyed her very first hotel stay at the InterContinental The Clement Monterey on Cannery Row, just steps away from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Madison with her Sea Otter from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
P.S. We found her missing sock too!

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Redeeming Wells Fargo Rewards Points: My Plan of Attack

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Good afternoon everyone, happy Friday! This morning, I was looking at my Wells Fargo account and trying to decide what my long-term strategy (aka my plan of attack) should be for my stash of 62,320 Wells Fargo Rewards Points.  If you were a former Bilt Card 1.0 member, then there is a good chance your card was converted to the no annual fee Wells Fargo Autograph Credit Card.  I also currently have the $95 annual fee Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Credit Card.  Before I share my strategy, let’s quickly review the bonus categories and transfer partners for the Wells Fargo Rewards program.

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A Tale of Two Citi Strata Elite Credit Card Applications

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Good afternoon everyone, I hope your week is going well. First, a quick nod to the bookworms and literary buffs who caught the reference to A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.  Now let’s fast forward to this century.  In mid-December, Laura and I both applied for the Citi Strata Elite Credit Card because we were hoping to triple dip the annual benefits ($300 Hotel Credit and $200 Splurge Credit) in December 2025, January 2026, and again in January 2027 before the $595 annual fee was due. Unfortunately, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times” in terms of instant approvals.

The Results

My application: instant denial.  Laura’s application: pending.

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