Tag Archives: Travel

a blue sign with white text

Friday Funny: ChatGPT Brainstorms New Top Tier Elite Status Name Above Hyatt Globalist

Posted on by . 6 Replies

Good afternoon everyone.  As I was going on my daily walk listing to my favorite miles and points podcast, I thought of a crazy idea.  With the recently announced changes to the World of Hyatt Milestone Rewards Chart, and the addition of the Ultimate Free Night Award at 150 elite nights, I thought about Hyatt Globalist elite status.  Since Hyatt Globalist elite status is achieved once you hit 60 elite nights, but the new Milestone Rewards chart goes up to 150 elite nights, it seems like there is a big hole for Hyatt to come up with a new top tier status that supersedes Globalist.  As a reminder, the current elite status tiers are called:

  • Discoverist (achieved with 10 elite nights)
  • Explorist (achieved with 30 elite nights)
  • Globalist (achieved with 60 elite nights)

With elite status tiers that start with the letters D, E, and G (I guess Hyatt decided to skip F words), maybe the new top tier would start with the letter H.  I decided to ask my AI friend ChatGPT for help.  Here is our conversation:

Grant: Hyatt elite status tiers are Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist. What is the next status tier that starts with the letter H?

ChatGPT: Actually, the Hyatt elite status tiers don’t currently include a tier that starts with the letter H after Globalist. As of my last update, Globalist is the highest tier within the World of Hyatt program. There might be future changes or additions to their tier system, so it’s worth checking directly with Hyatt for any updates or new tiers that might have been introduced since then.

Continue reading →

a close-up of a logo

My Las Vegas Weekend: Linq Hotel, Caesar’s Diamond $100 Celebration Dinner & 2 InKind Restaurants

Posted on by . 2 Replies

Good morning everyone, happy Friday!  Last weekend, I was in Las Vegas with my family.  I haven’t visited Las Vegas in probably 2 years, so it was nice to be back for a visit.  I flew Avelo, the new low cost airline, from Sonoma / Santa Rosa Airport (STS) to Las Vegas (LAS) and then took an Uber to the Linq Hotel (the hotel with the Linq High Roller observation wheel).  I used my Caesar’s Diamond elite status when booking the room so I got a good deal on the room and paid no resort fees due to my elite status.  After checking in, I went to the Caesars Rewards desk and asked for a new rewards card (my old card expired January 2023).  I then checked to see what promos I had available and there was a coupon for 2 free tickets to the Linq High Roller observation wheel and my $100 Celebration Dinner.

a cityscape with a ferris wheel

Continue reading →

a black and white logo

Timeline of American Express Hilton Surpass Credit Card 170,000 Hilton Points Sign Up Bonus

Posted on by . Leave a reply

Good afternoon everyone, I hope your week is going well.  Last month, I wrote Timeline of Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red Credit Card 75,000 American Airlines Miles Sign Up Bonus and thought I would do a similar post on my American Express Hilton Honors Surpass Credit Card.  I signed up for the credit card through the no lifetime language link on October 26 and was able to get the card approved by calling the American Express reconsideration department by closing my no annual fee American Express Hilton Honors Credit Card.  The sign up bonus was 170,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $3,000 in 3 months.  I received the card in the mail in early November.

a screenshot of a credit card

Continue reading →

a woman with blonde hair and a green shirt

December Credit Card Dilemma: AMEX Platinum or AMEX Gold?

Posted on by . 6 Replies

Good afternoon everyone, happy Friday!  My wife and I have a $6,000 bill that is coming up in the next few weeks, so we (mostly me) are trying to figure out which new credit card to get to pay the bill (and earn a new sign up bonus along the way).  Traditionally in December, this is the time of the year that most travel hackers focus on spending the holidays with their friends and family setting themselves up for a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass in early January or getting a new American Express Platinum Card for the opportunity to go for the “Triple Dip” – where you can use the new card benefits at the end of 2023, again in 2024, and one more time in early 2025 before the annual fee is due.

My wife currently has a Chase Southwest Airlines Priority Credit Card and I am over Chase 5/24, so the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is off the table for us.  My wife has never had *any* American Express cards as the primary account holder, but she is an authorized user on a few of my AMEX cards.  The “Triple Dip” on the AMEX Platinum seems like a no brainer, but AMEX has messed up our plans by adding a “Family Rule” on the American Express Gold Card that says:

You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Premier Rewards Gold Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express, American Express Platinum Card® by Charles Schwab, The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley or previous versions of these Cards.

Basically, if she gets the AMEX Platinum, she will not be eligible for the AMEX Gold sign up bonus in the future.  So this is where the dilemma comes in.  Should she go for the “Triple Dip” on the AMEX Platinum and forgo ever getting a sign up bonus on the AMEX Gold?  Or should she get the AMEX Gold now and then apply for the AMEX Platinum in the future (maybe in December 2024)?

Continue reading →

blue letters on a white background

4 Buy Miles / Points Promos Ending Soon: United (100%), Hilton (100%), Air Canada (100%) & JetBlue (70%)

Posted on by . 2 Replies

Good afternoon everyone, happy Friday!  I was working on my Buy Miles & Points Page and found 4 offers that end this month.  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 4 offers that end soon.

Up first, United Airlines is offering up to a 100% bonus, depending on the number of United Airlines MileagePlus Miles you purchase.  This offer expires on November 20.

a screenshot of a website

Continue reading →