Rocking Shopping Portals for Huge Rewards | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep291 | 1-24-25
Jan 24, 2025
auto_awesome
Listeners dive into the latest strategies for maximizing rewards through shopping portals. Discover how one savvy user earned a Southwest Companion Pass and the recent perks of the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold card. The episode also discusses the bumps of earning miles with SAS and navigating Virgin Atlantic's award charts. Gift cards, cashback strategies, and common portal myths are unraveled, along with tips on using popular shopping portals like Rakuten. Unlock the secrets to stacking rewards effectively and optimizing your purchasing power!
Using shopping portals effectively can maximize rewards on everyday purchases without changing costs, as demonstrated by practical user experiences.
Implementing strategic credit card tactics can lead to significant travel benefits, as illustrated by a listener's success with the Southwest Companion Pass.
Recent changes in credit card features and transfer rates highlight the importance of staying informed to capitalize on valuable reward opportunities.
Deep dives
Maximizing Rewards Through Shopping Portals
Shopping portals provide an excellent opportunity to earn additional rewards when making online purchases. By navigating through these portals, consumers can earn points, miles, or cash back on purchases they would typically make, without altering the original cost. The episode emphasizes the ease in utilizing shopping portals effectively, as demonstrated by a personal anecdote where a family member strategically checked for portal offers before purchasing kids' clothing. The discussion highlights the significance of being proactive in exploring these avenues to maximize rewards on everyday spending.
The Power of Loyalty Strategies
The episode includes a listener's success story regarding the earning of the Southwest Companion Pass using a specific credit card strategy, showcasing how informed tactics can lead to significant benefits. This strategy involved maximizing point collection through understanding the timing of credit card offers and spending requirements. It's noted that meticulous attention to detail is crucial in executing such strategies to avoid pitfalls that can derail plans, such as receiving points early. The example illustrates how well-crafted financial strategies and patience in the rewards world can yield substantial travel perks.
Updates on Hilton Gift Cards
The podcast discusses the current status of Hilton gift cards, which have garnered attention for their potential to unlock rewards. However, many users report complications when attempting to use these cards at various Hilton properties, as not all hotels handle them consistently. Some properties may treat the gift card payments differently, even leading to situations where users are unable to fully apply the card's value to their bills. Despite some success stories, the inconsistency suggests caution, and travelers are advised to attempt using gift cards well in advance of check-out to avoid misunderstandings or frustration.
Chase Marriott Bold Card Enhancements
Recent developments regarding the Chase Marriott Bold card introduce a pay-yourself-back feature that allows cardholders to redeem points against qualifying travel purchases. This feature includes the ability to erase charges made for expenses directly incurred with airlines or Marriott hotels. The value of points for this redemption has been pegged higher than standard reasonable redemption values for Marriott points, offering cardholders a beneficial option. It signifies a shift towards more flexible redemption practices, which can enhance the value of points for frequent travelers.
Citi's Transfer Ratio Update
A peculiar alteration in the transfer ratio from Citi ThankYou Rewards to Air France’s Flying Blue program is addressed, sparking intrigue among frequent travelers. An unexpected 25% transfer bonus was implemented, akin to a promotional rate, raising questions about the permanence of such changes. The episode reveals that this adjustment was mistakenly viewed as a standard change rather than a temporary promotional offer. Travelers are encouraged to remain vigilant about such adjustments, as they can provide significant opportunities if capitalized on promptly.
Upcoming Changes to Qantas Frequent Flyer Program
The podcast highlights an impending devaluation of the Qantas Frequent Flyer award chart that is set to take effect soon. Although the devaluation is expected to be around 20%, the airline is praised for providing advance notice to its members, allowing them to strategize effectively. In a sea of programs that may not communicate changes transparently, Qantas’s proactive approach is seen as commendable. While the devaluation is generally disheartening, the increased advance notice is appreciated by the loyal customer base, as it upholds transparency.
In today's episode we'll discuss what's up with Hilton gift cards, we'll intensely debate Virgin Atlantic award charts, cover 2 different points millionaire promos, then finally, we'll tell you how to earns tons of rewards through shopping portals.
(01:29) - One reader reports on their success with the Southwest Companion Pass with just one of the Southwest business cards when it had the elevated 120k offer.
