Travel hacks and advice

[Pinned]

American switched to a spend based loyalty program a couple of years ago - I am not finding it any more difficult to earn status, just different. It requires a different strategy, but there are new avenues for qualification.

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

Smelta has a calculator up on their website to show what it takes to achieve new medallion levels:

https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles...tes????#status

My previous typical usage that got us to Platinum medallion would just crack Silver.

Fuck 'em. Looking at Chase Sapphire or Capital One Ventures cards right now.

[liv2ski]

Fuck 'em. Looking at Chase Sapphire or Capital One Ventures cards right now.

Yup, I told them to fuck off last year and went with the Sapphire Reserve card.

[Foggy_Goggles]

I've always been a light credit card user that doesn't carry a balance unless it is some type of emergency. We've always but our groceries and everyday expenses on a Southwest Card and redeemed for domestic travel.

I was just looking at https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/c...pphire-reserve

What is your general play to make it work? Some of the benefits and rewards look interesting but I don't know if I travel enough and spend enough to make it worth while.

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

Delta wants all travel purchases to go through their portal to earn points and status. Previously we were charging everything possible (our kitchen remodel got us a DeltaOne trip to yurp) on the Amex Skymiles card (and paying off monthly) to get miles and boosts, and the MQD waiver.

We book rental cars through costco, and stay at VRBO's and friends places (rarely hotels/motels), so the new SkyMiles requirements will be ridiculous to achieve and now cost more than it's worth.

We're going to go to the fattest points only card and redeem with whatever airline has the best deal. Lounge access was nice but it's not worth it anymore. We fly only with carry-on now so free baggage check isn't needed.

Still working it out but that's the plan.

[alpinevibes]

I've always been a light credit card user that doesn't carry a balance unless it is some type of emergency. We've always but our groceries and everyday expenses on a Southwest Card and redeemed for domestic travel.

I was just looking at https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/c...pphire-reserve

What is your general play to make it work? Some of the benefits and rewards look interesting but I don't know if I travel enough and spend enough to make it worth while.

Foggy, for you in Grand County: If you're flying out of DIA 2+ times per year, paying cash for the ticket (and DIA parking+destination car rental) and have time to use lounge access and especially if you have reason to sign up for Global Entry - you'll tip over the $550 value.

The Reserve was much more enticing when it offered 100k signup vs the 60k for the Preferred. We've had 10+ Preferred cards over the years but we've only had one Reserve as the Global Entry and Priority Pass credit didn't add anything to our situation and this was effectively a $250 card. To justify the Reserve, it requires that you're purchasing a few trips for cash, on an annual basis, to make the numbers work. The $300 travel credit is obviously low-hanging fruit that has many ways to take advantage of, but I wouldn't be surprised if 50%+ of Reserve holders don't actually meet the $300 each year. I'd rank the benefits as such below with my thoughts about their value/usability.

$550 annual fee
- $300 travel credit (for Airlines, Hotels, Timeshares, Campgrounds, Car rentals, Cruise lines, Travel agencies, Train/Bus/Taxis/Car, Toll bridges and highways, Parking lots and garages) - but that all depends on how the CC processor codes the transaction
- $100 credit for Global Entry (if you don't already have it currently and if you plan to travel internationally)
- $50+ for Priority Pass lounge access + $28 credit at participating airport PP restaurants (if you're nearby hub has a PP lounge you can use and if you're typical layover times allow for you to use it)
- 3-10x Chase UR spending multiplier (if you purchase through UR portal [unideal] and reliant on you booking cars/flights/hotels often, otherwise not much different from other cheaper travel cards)
- Instacart/DoorDash Credits [worth up to $215] (easy free money if you use these and/or live somewhere where they're actually available)
- Lyft/Peleton Chase UR spending multiplier (reliant on having a Peleton and being able to use Lyft where you live)

[zion zig zag]

Delta wants all travel purchases to go through their portal to earn points and status. Previously we were charging everything possible (our kitchen remodel got us a DeltaOne trip to yurp) on the Amex Skymiles card (and paying off monthly) to get miles and boosts, and the MQD waiver.

We book rental cars through costco, and stay at VRBO's and friends places (rarely hotels/motels), so the new SkyMiles requirements will be ridiculous to achieve and now cost more than it's worth.

We're going to go to the fattest points only card and redeem with whatever airline has the best deal. Lounge access was nice but it's not worth it anymore. We fly only with carry-on now so free baggage check isn't needed.

Still working it out but that's the plan.

Same same. And SkyPesos are damn near worthless now. I have a pile I need to burn and was looking at non-stops to AMS yesterday. 350k miles, per ticket in main cabin. JFC.

Looks like the top Chase and Capital One travel cards come with lounge access, but I have no idea what the lounges are like, or what airports so I'll dig into that. A yearly travel credit covers most of the fee, and you get 10:1 points for all travel related purchases, 3:1 for most other things? And it sounds like if you use the points in their ecosystem (book tickets through their portal) you get 1.5 to 1 redemption. So 10k points is worth $150, which seems a lot better than what I've seen with Delta lately, which is maybe 10k = $75ish (or less based on the AMS example above).

Anybody know if I cancel the AMEX now, do I lose Delta Platinum medallion for 2024 since I earned that through card spend MQD exemptions?

[alpinevibes]

Same same. And SkyPesos are damn near worthless now. I have a pile I need to burn and was looking at non-stops to AMS yesterday. 350k miles, per ticket in main cabin. JFC.

Looks like the top Chase and Capital One travel cards come with lounge access, but I have no idea what the lounges are like, or what airports so I'll dig into that. A yearly travel credit covers most of the fee, and you get 10:1 points for all travel related purchases, 3:1 for most other things? And it sounds like if you use the points in their ecosystem (book tickets through their portal) you get 1.5 to 1 redemption. So 10k points is worth $150, which seems a lot better than what I've seen with Delta lately, which is maybe 10k = $75ish (or less based on the AMS example above).

Anybody know if I cancel the AMEX now, do I lose Delta Platinum medallion for 2024 since I earned that through card spend MQD exemptions?

3:1 is for general use of the card, 10:1 is for booking through the Chase UR portal. My experience with the constraints of booking through the Chase UR portal is that the pricing is often not competitive versus other options online. So even with a 50% value boost, you may not be getting the best deal for the value of your UR points. But that boils down to how you value your UR points, what efforts you're willing to go to use/maximize them and if you just want a "free" trip. I'm firmly in the camp of only using UR points to transfer to United for redemption on award tickets.

The lounge thing is location dependent (only 10% of the network are in the US) but ultimately a great benefit if you are in a location and have the time to take advantage. One of the better perks is that Chase and CapOne card holders still get Priority Pass restaurant credits of $28 at participating airport restaurants.

Your Delta status should be fine and separate from closing a card. The only thing you're losing is unused MR points if they haven't been transferred or if that's your only AMEX card.

[muted reborn]

ZZZ, I dropped the AMEX a few years ago and went Premiere Ink and Saffire Reserve - I've never figured out where the damn lounges are. Delta's are almost always close by. Chase's always seem to be in a non-Delta area so a long way to go, or just don't exist int he airport I'm in. Admittedly I haven't looked hard for a couple years after trying to figure it out a few times. I have seen and used pop-up Chase lounges at events though, totally random but nice.

[Pinned]

For any of you looking to use SkyMiles on international flights, do not redeem them for travel on Delta if you want the best value. Redeem for travel on partner airlines, they'll go a lot further.

https://onemileatatime.com/guides/re...elta-skymiles/

[Mani_UT]

Delta always find a way to make FF benefits worse and worse.
I had the feeling that was coming as the system was so imbalanced. I kept accumulating MQM I cannot spend (platinum removes only 75k a year, diamond is nearly unachievable). For those that have lots of MQM, you will be able to do a one time conversion to MQDs to that nearly guarantees high status for 2025 if you have a pile.
After that (2026) it's hard to see how to make it work without 1- getting the reserve card in 2025 (1 to 10 conversion, vs. 1 to 20 for platinum) and 2- Doing most travel purchase and car rental through their system (a fairly shitty system I previously found unless the make it more seamless in the future).

[summit]

Just barely squeaked into United Gold again after they cranked the requirements... it's funny to look at the upgrade list on a hub flight and see 50 "elites" competing for 2 seats. Group 1 boarding is most of the aircraft.

What I really gain is free economy plus for me and a companion, and the 70lbs bag limit is so fucking useful on bike trips, or on a ski trip it can keep you in one bag instead of 2.

[jm2e]

I’ve never used a Club Lounge. I’ve never thought, “A $500/year credit card fee would have been worth it to get me in that club”. But I don’t fly a dozen times a year and when I do fly I try to keep layovers short. If I’ve got an hour, I get an over priced burger and a Starbucks and troll TGRz.
I have used the hourly hotels in Tokyo and Frankfurt for 4-6hr international layovers. Shit, shower, clean clothes, horizontal sleep are all way better than anything I imagine happening in the Club Lounges.


Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

I’ve never used a Club Lounge. I’ve never thought, “A $500/year credit card fee would have been worth it to get me in that club”. But I don’t fly a dozen times a year and when I do fly I try to keep layovers short. If I’ve got an hour, I get an over priced burger and a Starbucks and troll TGRz.
I have used the hourly hotels in Tokyo and Frankfurt for 4-6hr international layovers. Shit, shower, clean clothes, horizontal sleep are all way better than anything I imagine happening in the Club Lounges.


Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums

A $500/year CC didn't just get you into a lounge. They are nice but that would be stupid. That CC with a good spending strategy and reasonable miles would also get you a yearly free domestic RT companion ticket, free class upgrades, higher miles per dollar spent that can be used to reduce fare costs or get free travel, free checked bags, fee waivers, etc.

[plugboots]

^^^ Yeah and when I flew a lot, I would do anything to avoid dealing with one more fucking asshole/minimum wage dumb ass who works at the airports

[Foggy_Goggles]

Yeah, I kicked the tires a bit on those cards and its just not my style. I don't spend enough, travel enough or care enough to but the energy into juggling whatever you have to do to make it worth my while.

I'll just put my spending on the Southwest Card, work for my money and spend it when it feels right. Just give me my aisle seat forward of the wing, try not to crash the thing and pretty please try not to leave me stranded.

[riser4]

Southwest doesn't make sense for me. I don't want to drive to Boston or Albany for a domestic flight. It is sorely needed in the BTV.

[summit]

You folks up in northern New England with your regional cities and medium airports are decidedly at the mercy of the carriers that serve your local tarmac. But, on the other hand, you COULD drive 1-3 hours and have choices. Not so much of an option in the mountain west.

Even Denver really only has options to be carrier loyal (get status) by significant direct service from United and Southwest. Delta, American, and Alaska are only options if you have a tendency to fly particular regions like AK (AS) or East Coast (DL) or want to fly AA and route everything through LAX/ORD/PHX/DFW. I'm not counting Spirit/Frontier.

An interesting point was made to me by a doc with kids and family in South America, Israel, and the Caribbean: if you are flying with children, don't fly the major carrier from your airport with long directs. Instead, fly the carrier with the connections because you will get status easier, have shorter flights with lounges in-between, and are more likely to be upgraded.

[riser4]

You folks up in northern New England with your regional cities and medium airports are decidedly at the mercy of the carriers that serve your local tarmac. But, on the other hand, you COULD drive 1-3 hours and have choices. Not so much of an option in the mountain west.

Even Denver really only has options to be carrier loyal (get status) by significant direct service from United and Southwest. Delta, American, and Alaska are only options if you have a tendency to fly particular regions like AK (AS) or East Coast (DL) or want to fly AA and route everything through LAX/ORD/PHX/DFW. I'm not counting Spirit/Frontier.

An interesting point was made to me by a doc with kids and family in South America, Israel, and the Caribbean: if you are flying with children, don't fly the major carrier from your airport with long directs. Instead, fly the carrier with the connections because you will get status easier, have shorter flights with lounges in-between, and are more likely to be upgraded.

I definitely make the drive if I'm doing an international trip. Montreal is very close, 1.5 hrs I've only used it for Europe , however there are a lot of people we know that use it for flights to the US. I need to get my passport renewed . Of course one friend had her car stolen in Montreal while she was on vacation. Its mostly not worth driving three or four hours for domestic flights.

Regarding flying with kids, that's an interesting take. He's a doc so he makes more money than I do. I had to go with direct after driving to airports 4-6 hours away to be able to afford Europe flights with a kid. Starting an international trip in BTV sucks on so many levels. And typically the flights with humane transfer times cost a fortune. My kids are adults now. It's their problem.

[old goat]

We pay for most stuff on a Wells Fargo visa card that gives us flights on most airlines. (I think there are a few that don't participate) We spend enough to have gotten flights to and from Europe in coach covered.
Wells no longer cares if you tell them you're leaving the country. They have their own security algorithms, which are of course secret. No problems using the card on a 3 week trip involving UK, France, Germany, and Belgium.
They cover the currency conversion fees for us--amounted to about $100 for the trip.

In 3 weeks of travel by plane, subway, train and tram in countries we don't speak the language (including the UK) zero problems paying for and using public transport, except for fucking BART from Richmond Amtrak station to SFO--where the phone app to pay didn't work.

For Tahoe area folks, I noticed that Virgin Atlantic has a RNO--LAX--Heathrow connection that might be appealing.

[Toadman]

I’ve never used a Club Lounge. I’ve never thought, “A $500/year credit card fee would have been worth it to get me in that club”. But I don’t fly a dozen times a year and when I do fly I try to keep layovers short. If I’ve got an hour, I get an over priced burger and a Starbucks and troll TGRz.
I have used the hourly hotels in Tokyo and Frankfurt for 4-6hr international layovers. Shit, shower, clean clothes, horizontal sleep are all way better than anything I imagine happening in the Club Lounges.


Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums

Had lounge access back in the day when I was a road warrior and racking up 200k-300k year in FF miles. It's nice to have if you are traveling every week. Especially if you have a long layover or a flight gets canceled and you're sitting around in the airport for 5,6,7 hours.

[riser4]

We pay for most stuff on a Wells Fargo visa card that gives us flights on most airlines. (I think there are a few that don't participate) We spend enough to have gotten flights to and from Europe in coach covered.
Wells no longer cares if you tell them you're leaving the country. They have their own security algorithms, which are of course secret. No problems using the card on a 3 week trip involving UK, France, Germany, and Belgium.
They cover the currency conversion fees for us--amounted to about $100 for the trip.

In 3 weeks of travel by plane, subway, train and tram in countries we don't speak the language (including the UK) zero problems paying for and using public transport, except for fucking BART from Richmond Amtrak station to SFO--where the phone app to pay didn't work.

For Tahoe area folks, I noticed that Virgin Atlantic has a RNO--LAX--Heathrow connection that might be appealing.

Smartphone in Europe opens a whole new world.

[jm2e]

If they're going to charge extra for baggage on so many flights, why isn't there some way to get a credit for not checking baggage on flights where checked bags are included?
I'm headed to Singapore for a few days and won't be checking anything, because we're staying with family and it's hot as ballz there. Ballz. I feel like I should get a few hundo back, but nobody's listening to this guy. Maybe I could hang out at the ticket counter and sell my baggage slots?

[bennymac]

Heading to Singapore? Sell those luggage spots on Craigslist man - get your whole trip paid for I bet.

[riser4]

Heading to Singapore? Sell those luggage spots on Craigslist man - get your whole trip paid for I bet.

What could go wrong?