05.19.2023 - By Joseph Petrovic
Award Travel 101 community manager Allison Caraway discusses how she was introduced to travel and loyalty programs, her time traveling with family, some of her favorite programs, and a trip she's building to Singapore and Bali with friends she met from the community. Question of the week (from the group)! Eric Wood - I have a Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select that I've had for years (well over 48 months). I don't want to close it, but would love another bonus... Citi Product Change RulesAA MileUp - can help you earn AAdvantage miles 2x faster through Grocery store spendDouble Cash - 2x on everythingCustom Cash - 5x earnings on top eligible spend category each billing cycleRewards+ - 2x groceries/gas up to $6k annually. See how Allison flew Turkish Business class for 29K ThankYou Points.Citi no-fee optionsNEWS & ENHANCED OFFERSAmerican Airlines Now Offering Mileage Discount When Booking Round-Trip AwardsIHG Business 165KMaximize Chase Ultimate RewardsWHAT BONUSES DID WE GETAllison - BILT card and received 5x in first 5 daysTRIP UPDATESAllison - Baseball (19, adding DC, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland this year,) Belize, MSP, BaliJoe -Booked Premium Suite with Hyatt points and flights with Delta Skymiles and Southwest Rapid Rewards (CC rewards cover about $1,750 including Priority Pass restaurant benefit)Booked a night for P2 (Happy Mother's Day to her and all of the Moms here in AT101!) using an expiring Marriott 35K Free Night AwardHelped a buddy book Hyatt Regency Clearwater (expiring Category 1-7 Free Night Award) along with a few nights at Grand Cypress (2 Category 1-4 Free Night Awards), all on points totaling 27K Rapid Rewards and 20K Skymiles saved $1,850Working on an overnight in NYC with my son, I nabbed JetBlue Mint 4A & 4F "Throne Seats" LAS-JFK using 50K (ea) AA miles to cover ($2,400) - paid $400(25K vs 33K) United miles to book a mixed cabin award for less than economy. Used a trick (shared in AT201) to get Premium Economy instead of economyWHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW Allison’s Tip of the D Where To Find the Award Travel 101 Community
For questions, you can join us in the free 100,000+ member Award Travel 101 Community. For more intermediate and advanced strategies, join Award Travel 201 community To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at [email protected]. Our next meetup is located in San Antonio, TX on April 26–28, 2024. If you want a waitlisted ticket, see this post in AT101. Support the AT101 Podcast/Community