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Video SRQ: Does Amex Count Buying Vanilla Reloads as an Eligible Purchase Towards a Spend Bonus

May 19, 2013

Our first question this week is from TPG reader Tony who is looking to meet spend bonuses by purchasing prepaid cards: “Some credit cards, such as the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card from American Express, define eligible purchases as ‘Eligible Purchases means purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits. Eligible purchases do [...]

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Video SRQ: Avoiding High British Airways Surcharges and Finding Award Availability

May 19, 2013

TPG Reader Eric is having trouble using Avios for a flight from New York to London: “How is it possible that buying an award ticket from NY to London this summer using Avios in coach costs more than purchasing the ticket outirght in cash? Those surcharges are ridiculous. Also, is there any Anytime option for [...]

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Video SRQ: Transferring Membership Rewards Points To Maximize A Bonus Without a Redemption in Mind

May 12, 2013

TPG reader Joe is intrigued by the current Amex 35% transfer bonus to British Airways which expires June 7: “Would it be smart to transfer points to British Airways Avios from American Express Membership Rewards with the current bonus if you don’t have a redemption in mind? I was going to transfer some anyway to [...]

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Video SRQ: Using a Business Credit Card to Separate Expenses

May 12, 2013

TPG reader John needs to separate his personal expenses from those he incurs from his college alumni club and wants to know what the best business card to do so would be: “I’m looking ahead to my next round of credit card applications and would like to add a Chase Ink or Amex business cards [...]

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Video SRQ: Should I Cancel The British Airways Visa Before the Annual Fee is Due or Keep It?

May 12, 2013

TPG follower Jake tweeted me this week worried that he may lose his Avios after canceling a card: “‪@thepointsguy‬ time to keep or cancel my British Airways Visa. I still have 91K Avios sitting around. Chase said I would forfeit if I cancel…is that true?” First off don’t worry –  you are not going to [...]

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Interview With The Go-To Easter Island Tour Guide: Paul Pownall

May 9, 2013

The few days we spent on Easter Island were the highlight of my mom’s and my Mother’s Day trip to Chile – thanks in no small part to our guide Paul Pownall, who had been suggested by numerous TPG readers. Paul took us all over the island to check out the famous Moai (stone heads) [...]

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Video SRQ: Maximizing Barclaycard Arrival Miles

May 5, 2013

This question comes from my mom, Suzanne, who recently applied for the Barclaycard Arrival: “What is the best way to you use your 40,000 miles that come with the Barclaycard Arrival after you reach the $1,000 in spend after 3 months?” One thing many people don’t realize is that Barclaycard Arrival miles are basically cash. [...]

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Video SRQ: How to Handle Getting Denied for Having Too Many Credit Inquiries

May 5, 2013

TPG reader Evan would like to know what he should do when his credit card application is affected by too many inquiries: “When churning and playing the credit card points game, how do you respond to banks that decline for massive inquiries?” This has happened to me many times before and usually can be cleared [...]

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Video SRQ: Should You Get The Amex Business Platinum For Pay With Points?

May 5, 2013

TPG follower Jeff tweeted at me during the week asking how to utilize American Express Pay with Points: “@thepointsguy I have 800,000 Membership Rewards points along with many hotel points and airline miles. Any advice on how to buy 4 tickets using Pay with Points for an upcoming trip for my family? I currently have [...]

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Video SRQ: How Do You Maintain Status On So Many Different Airlines?

April 28, 2013

TPG reader Michael is wondering how you can maintain status on multiple airlines while still frequently booking travel using miles: “I have only discovered your blog in the last year (since gaining status for the first time). It seems like you take a lot of trips on miles, so I wanted to ask (maybe naively) [...]

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Video SRQ: What is the Best Credit Card to Use to Book a Disney Cruise?

April 28, 2013

TPG Reader Jamie recently went on a Disney cruise with her family, but is now wondering how she could have been smarter about booking their trip: “My daughter turned five in March so my husband and I took our family of four on a Disney cruise, which we absolutely loved. I am now regretting not [...]

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Video Sunday Reader Question: Replacing Business Gold Rewards With Another Point Earning Amex Card

April 21, 2013

TPG reader Rachel has had the Business Gold Rewards card for a while, but is looking to open a new point earning American Express card: “I have a Business Gold American Express card that I signed up for some time ago in order to get the points – I really don’t need it though as [...]

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Video Sunday Reader Question: Getting to Australia Using AA Miles or SPG Points

April 21, 2013

TPG reader Margo has both American Airlines miles and Starwood Preferred Guest points but is unsure how she should use them to get to Australia: “I signed up for Award Nexus to search for flights for a trip we are taking to Australia in mid September. Although we have plenty of American AAdvantage miles, we [...]

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Video SRQ: What Credit Cards are Best for Big Spenders ($100k+)?

April 14, 2013

TPG reader Laura sent in a question via my Facebook page this week about how to strategize some big annual credit card spending. “What credit cards do you recommend for someone who spends over $100,000 a year on credit? Should I get a bunch of cards or stick with the top 3?” You might not [...]

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Video SRQ: Deciding Between the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve and the Chase Hyatt Visa

April 14, 2013

TPG reader Jeff would like some help deciding whether to get the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve card or the Chase Hyatt Visa: “Since the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve came out I’ve really wanted to pick it up. I want to get a card with SmartChip technology and am debating between getting it and Chase Hyatt [...]

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Video SRQ: Can I Earn Points on Prepaid Cards?

April 14, 2013

TPG reader Ruth asked what options there are for earning points and miles if you have poor credit: “For those who have bad credit who want to get a prepaid credit card, is there one where points can be earned as well ? If so, which one?” Unfortunately there are no prepaid cards that give [...]

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(Video) Flight Review: AA 777-300ER JFK – GRU in New First Class and a Behind the Scenes Tour of the Plane

April 4, 2013

As I posted the other day, I spent my Tuesday night flying from JFK to Sao Paulo in Brazil aboard one of American Airline’s new 777-300ER’s so that I could experience the airline’s new first class product. I posted in real-time on  Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with live updates from the trip. But I also [...]

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Video SRQ: How Does Southwest Airlines Deal With Fare Changes

March 31, 2013

This week on Twitter, TPG follower Laura wanted to know how Southwest Airlines deals with fare changes: “@thepointsguy do you know how SWA does fare changes? Say my flight drops in price and I want to rebook?” Southwest makes it very easy to change your ticket, without having to pay extra fees. All you have to do is call up [...]

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Video SRQ: Preparing for a Trip During a Time of Political Conflict

March 31, 2013

TPG reader Marie will be traveling to Japan this summer and wants to know how she should prepare for possible tensions between the US and North Korea and how it may affect her trip: “My friends and I are all set to travel to Japan this July.  I personally booked an award ticket via United Airlines [...]

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Video SRQ: Can You Buy A Roundtrip Ticket And Not Take The Return Flight?

March 17, 2013

TPG reader Cathrine is looking to take a trip to Paris and has enough points to get herself there, but not enough points for the flight home: “I have enough points to redeem for a first class ticket to Paris from LAX.  But I don’t have enough points for a return flight to the US, [...]

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Video SRQ: What Are British Airways Avios Worth?

March 10, 2013

TPG reader Dani has racked up some British Airways Avios and tweeted me with a question about how much they’re worth: “What would you say is the dollar value of British Airways Avios points (for less frequent flyers than yourself)?” As with all things points- and miles-related, the value of Avios depends on what you [...]

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Video SRQ: Can You Get To Europe in Business For 200,000 United Miles Any More?

March 10, 2013

TPG reader Eric is apparently having a hard time booking business class award tickets to Europe for his parents using 200,000 United miles, prompting him to ask: “I am trying to book a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe for my parents who never travel and never splurge on anything luxurious. They really deserve this trip! I [...]

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SRQ: How Can I Keep My Corporate Amex Membership Rewards Points After Closing an Account?

March 3, 2013

TPG reader Todd has been smart about using a corporate credit card to accrue American Express Membership Rewards points, but now that he’s changing jobs, he’s got to decide what to do about them. Here’s his question: “I am changing companies and am being told by Amex Membership Rewards that the points I’ve accrued on [...]

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SRQ: Whether Or Not to Use The British Airways Travel Together Companion Ticket

March 3, 2013

TPG reader Rhoda has earned a British Airways Travel Together Companion Ticket thanks to spending on her British Airways Visa, but now she wants to know whether it’s worth using it because of BA’s huge fees and taxes. Here’s her question: “I’m wondering if you can provide me with some insight about how I should [...]

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