Author Archives: Andy Shuman

American Express Gold Card 50,000 Points Link and a Personal Story

Posted on October 6, 2018 by Andy Shuman • 6 Comments

You have a choice where to apply for the 50,000 points offer, but I’ll appreciate it if you use my referral link. A few months ago I received an offer to upgrade my American Express Green Card to the Gold Premier Rewards. The offer wasn’t all that great – for one thing, it didn’t… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bargains, Cheap Travel, Credit Cards, Miles and Points

Should You Apply for the New Barclays 64,000 Choice Privileges Points Offer? Part 1: Scandinavia

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Andy Shuman • 10 Comments

Folks have long believed that the Choice Privileges points and, by extension, Choice Privilege credit card are mostly good for Scandinavia. I have shared that belief for years until I’ve done my own more thorough research. After I did, I’ve found it not necessarily to be the case. Having said that, it’s true that… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bargains, Cheap Travel, Credit Cards, Miles and Points

Update 9.30: Hilton Honor Points Devaluation in Asia, Africa and the Middle East — Are There Any Deals Left?

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Andy Shuman • 4 Comments

Previous posts: New Hilton American Express Credit Cards FAQs: Points Bonus, Elite Status, Lounges, and More Should I Get the AMEX Hilton Aspire card? Part 1: $250 Resorts Credit Detailed Review Should I Get the AMEX Hilton Aspire card? Part 2: What Are Hilton Honors Points Worth in the Americas and Europe? For the… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bargains, Credit Cards, Miles and Points

Update 9.30: Hilton Honor Points Devaluation in the Americas and Europe, Are There Any Deals Left?

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Andy Shuman • 7 Comments

UPDATED 9.30.2018 This post has been thoroughly updated. Look for the red font. When you see it — it means BAD. Hilton has stealthily raised redemption levels on most of its Category 1-2 hotels. Sometimes you still have decent values despite the rate hike, but in many cases, these sweet spots are gone. We can… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bargains, Cheap Travel, Miles and Points

Delta SkyMiles Deals Are Making the Program Relevant Again

Posted on September 23, 2018 by Andy Shuman • 0 Comments

Delta is anything but boring. I believe I’ve written more about Delta since 2013 than any other airline. First, there was a SkyMiles award chart. That chart was infamously (and most of us believe intentionally) broken, not in theory, but in practice. In theory, you were able to take a free stopover on a… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bargains, Cheap Travel, Miles and Points

American Express 40% Transfer Bonus: Fly to Europe in Coach for 10,000 and in Business for 23,000 Points

Posted on September 21, 2018 by Andy Shuman • 9 Comments

UPDATED: I’ve thoroughly revised/rewritten this post because of the new American Express 40% Transfer Bonus and other changes. American Express is offering a 40% transfer bonus to British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia frequent flyer programs. I’ll refrain from covering the British Airways Avios because the BA Executive Club program has been covered ad… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Miles and Points

The M&T Bank $300 Bonus Offer (No Direct Deposit Required)

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Andy Shuman • 0 Comments

I don’t usually cover bank bonuses – that’s DoC’s purview, and he’s quite thorough about it. However, this $300 bonus from M&T Bank caught my attention for 2 reasons. 1. It’s free money 2. No direct deposit is required Now, I know not everyone shares my hatred for this particular hoop banks usually want… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Miles and Points

Virgin Atlantic Miles: Citi ThankYou 30% Transfer Bonus: Business Class for 39K Points to Europe, 35K to South America, 97K to New Zealand, or First Class for 85K (RT) to Japan

Posted on September 15, 2018 by Andy Shuman • 8 Comments

UPDATED: The AMEX MR 30% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic is gone. A lot of people don’t take Virgin Atlantic miles seriously and I used to be one of them. Virgin Atlantic is not everyone’s cup of tea. It adds god-awful scamcharges to award redemptions and its Upper Class is not all that awesome.… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bargains, Cheap Travel, Credit Cards, Miles and Points

My Mini Guide to Lençóis Maranhenses, the Most Unique Wonder of the World You’ve Never Heard About – Part 2: Costs and Logistics

Posted on September 15, 2018 by Andy Shuman • 4 Comments

“Anywhere in the world this place would be visited only for the dunes, even if there were no lagoons,” an angry gringo told me once. He had a point. Ricardo Freire, a Brazilian travel writer My Mini Guide to Lençóis Maranhenses, the Most Unique Wonder of the World You’ve Never Heard About: Part 1 Sorry… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Miles and Points, Miles and Points Trip Ideas, Trip Reports

Business Class to Australia / New Zealand for 120,000 Miles Round Trip!

Posted on September 2, 2018 by Andy Shuman • 11 Comments

Awards in Business Class to Australia are not easy to come by, but United has great award space for flights to Australia in Business next spring and summer (our spring and summer, that is). That includes both Sydney and Melbourne. Business Class to Australia Below is availability for 2 passengers for flights to Sydney… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Miles and Points

Author Archives: Andy Shuman

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