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Sunday Reader Questions

Video Sunday Reader Question: When Does Airline Elite Status Start and End?

December 16, 2012

TPG reader Spencer asks: “I’ll move up from Delta Medallion Silver to Gold next year… but will I still be a Silver for flights in January and February or will my level up be recognized as soon as the new year hits? My Silver status says it’s valid through February 2013.” Elite status qualification and [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: What Ever Happened With Your Swiss First Class @United Fiasco?

December 9, 2012

Travel blogger and friend Parag from @FrequentFlyerU Tweeted me this past weekend with “@thepointsguy What ever happened with your Swiss First Class @United fiasco?” For those of you who don’t remember, in September I was supposed to fly from Miami to Nice via Zurich on a United airlines business class saver award using 50,000 Chase [...]

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(Video) Sunday Reader Question: Avoiding Credit Annual Fees and Keeping Points

December 2, 2012

TPG reader Serena asks: “Many of the cards have a $0 introductory annual fee, but then some sort of annual fee after that.  Do you keep the card after a year and pay the annual fee, or transfer your points and close the account once the year is up?  And does that do anything to [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Maximizing the Amex Platinum $200 Airline Rebate

December 2, 2012

TPG reader Ken asks: “I have an American Express Platinum card and as the end of the year approaches I did not want to waste the $200 airline incidental expense credit.  Do you have any recommendations on how to best utilize this credit.  I have thought about trying to use the credit to pay a [...]

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(Video) Sunday Reader Question: What Exactly Does the ANA Search Tool Show?

November 18, 2012

One of today’s questions came from TPG reader Yun, and is about the kinds of awards that come up when searching for Star Alliance availability using the ANA tool: “When you are searching for Star Alliance availability with the ANA search tool, how do you know what level award it is. I see the availability [...]

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Video Sunday Reader Question: Points Strategies For People Living Abroad

November 11, 2012

TPG reader Michael asks a question a lot of readers living abroad have: “I currently reside outside the US (I live in China), and can’t seem to take advantage of most of the ideas and tricks you always write about since they work best if you live in the US (bonus categories, groceries, Office Depot, [...]

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Video Sunday Reader Question: How To Avoid Hitting Diamond So I Can Rollover Delta Miles

November 11, 2012

This interesting question about elite status – which is on a lot of people’s minds this time of year – comes from TPG reader Sarah: “As the end of the year approaches I know most people are striving to make it to the next elite tier. I have the opposite issue. I miscalculated my flights through [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Worth Doing a Mileage Run?

November 4, 2012

TPG reader Chris asks: “I am currently sitting at roughly 42,000 American Airlines miles for the year and am trying to figure out if it is worth it to make a mileage run to hit Platinum status. I did sign up earlier this year for the promo with AA that offered bonus miles or 500 [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Credit Oneworld Miles With American or British Airways?

November 4, 2012

Update: The current offer for the British Airways Visa is 50,000 Avios when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months. TPG reader Nachama asks: “I have a question about the Oneworld Alliance. I think I’ve mastered the Star Alliance, but haven’t spent a lot of time banking Oneworld points. Who should I make my primary Oneworld [...]

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(Video) Sunday Reader Question: Should I Redeem Amex Points for Travelers Cheques?

October 28, 2012

This week TPG reader Steven asks for advice on how best to redeem his American Express Membership Rewards points: “I currently have about 110,000 points in Amex. I am deciding between paying for a trip to Orlando with points or getting Amex Travelers Cheques. What is the best option, or are their other options that [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: The Best Credit Card for Balance Transfers (And Free Credit Card Spend)?

October 21, 2012

TPG reader Orlando asks which card is best for balance transfers: “Quick question, what is the best credit card for balance transfers? I’m trying to consolidate all of my credit card liability into one card, but can’t seem to find the right one.”  In my opinion the Slate Card from Chase is the best credit card [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: How Can Europeans Avoid British Airways Avios Fees?

October 21, 2012

A reader from Italy named Terry writes in this week asking: “I am based in Rome and now have 335,000 Avios in my British Airways Executive Club account. I already know that it is not a very good idea to route anything through London due to fees. I found some interesting deals to other destinations [...]

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(Video) Sunday Reader Question: Ways To Use The US Airways 100% Shared Miles Bonus

October 14, 2012

Today I’m answering two question from TPG readers Manav and Stratos who both asked about the US Airways 100% Share Miles Bonus. Manav asked: “As a Star Alliance Gold (United 1K) member, would I get access to the the same inventory when booking an award flight on a Star Alliance partner using US Airways Dividend miles through US [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Can I Get the Ink Bold and the Ink Plus?

October 14, 2012

TPG reader JP wants to get another business credit card (and sign-up bonus!): “I have a question about a business credit card I would like to apply for. I have the Chase Ink Bold charge card and earned the 60,000-point bonus back when there was a promo. I am ready to apply for another card [...]

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Sunday Reader Questions: Any Good Debit Card Rewards Programs Left?

October 14, 2012

TPG reader Edward asks a more general question about debit card reward programs: “I was reading your blog while looking for a debit rewards program. Can you recommend any debit card rewards programs?” Unfortunately, while debit cards used to be a lucrative way to rack up points, the Dodd-Frank act has made miles- and points-earning [...]

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(Video) Sunday Reader Question: What is the Best Way to Maximize Earning Delta MQMs?

October 7, 2012

This week I decided to answer a question from fellow New Yorker, Kirk, who asks about maximizing Delta MQMs: “I fly JFK to SFO at least once a month and am looking for a way to maximize the MQM (Medallion Qualifying Miles) I earn. I will hit Gold Medallion status on the return leg of [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Is It Possible to Buy a Car Using a Credit Card to Maximize Points?

October 7, 2012

TPG reader Rob asks: “Are there any creative ways to pay for a new or used car with a credit card – i.e. say you want to pay cash for that new Volvo SUV, or the new BMW, or Chevy or Audi for that matter, is there a way to pay for the entire purchase [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Is It Worth It to Redeem for First Class Over Business Class On An Award to Paris?

September 30, 2012

TPG reader Jacob is in a great situation – he’s raked in a ton of American Airlines miles and wants to redeem them for a premium-class ticket to Europe. His question has to do with how to get the best value out of his hard-earned miles (and which airline to redeem them on) now that [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: To Consolidate Frequent Flyer Miles or Not?

September 30, 2012

TPG reader Ryan asked a question this week about booking a family trip using miles and points: “My family and I are moving to London next year and I’ve been trying to build up enough points so that we can travel over on award tickets. By that time we will have easily built up enough miles [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: What is the best way to unload Membership Rewards points?

September 23, 2012

Limited Time Offer: The British Airways Visa 100,000 Avios sign up offer is back until February 27, 2013. Update: The offer for the British Airways Visa looks to be still available publicly for the moment, though we cannot verify it since it is not one of our affiliate links. This week TPG reader Dawn asked for advice on how she should [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Which Credit Card is Best for Large Purchases?

September 23, 2012

TPG reader Craig is looking for advice on which credit card is best to make a big purchase on: “I am looking to make a fairly expensive purchase for my parents’ anniversary and wanted to see what credit card (of the ones I have) would help me get the best value in terms of points.  [...]

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(Video) Sunday Reader Question: Best Strategy- Chase Ultimate Rewards vs Starwood Amex vs Hyatt

September 16, 2012

This week TPG reader John asks a question comparing the value of Ultimate Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest points as well as the Starwood and Hyatt programs: “Do you value Ultimate Rewards points or Starwood points more? Would it be beneficial to use Ultimate Rewards points for airline awards and Starwood for hotel or Ultimate Rewards for [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: How to Prepare For a US Airways and AA Merger

September 16, 2012

TPG reader Nancy asks a question about the possibility of a merger between US Airways and American Airlines: “With the possible upcoming merger of US Airways and American Airlines, is now a good time to get both a US Airways and American Airlines credit card to take advantage of the bonus from each before one [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Donating Miles to a Friend

September 16, 2012

TPG reader John asks an interesting question about the best way to transfer miles to a friend in need: “I have a friend who just received news that he has stage 4 cancer.  His treatment will require travel from South Florida to New Jersey.  So many of us want to give away travel points from Amex, [...]

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