Deal stacking: What TPG staffers are really buying on Cyber Monday
Whether you are shopping to save on new luggage, a flight, a hotel stay, new Apple products or whatever else is on your wish list, now is the time to save on purchases. It's been a few days of fast, furious and sometimes very solid deal shopping. While we expect the deals to begin winding down soon, it's not too late to get in on some of the best prices of the year for some travel-related offers and products.
If you don't know where to start, here are some Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers that TPG staffers have been purchasing — and how staffers are maximizing those purchases.
Related: These are the best Cyber Monday travel deals
Discounted Apple AirPods Pro
Purchase for $200 (originally $249).
The popular Apple AirPods Pro normally cost about $250 but are on sale for Cyber Monday for about $200 on Amazon.
That's already a good discount, but I was able to make it better by stacking a targeted discount of 40% off (up to the maximum $60 off) by using 1 Amex Membership Rewards point. This means I ordered the new AirPods for just $140.
On top of that, thanks to another Amex Offer, I earned 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on the purchase; at a valuation of 2 cents each, this is another $14 in rewards earned on the purchase.
Review: Apple AirPods Pro (second generation)
25% off Fairmont hotel stays
Fairmont hotel stays are discounted by 25% using a Cyber Monday offer. While it isn't as exciting as our summer Fairmont stays at Banff and Lake Louise in Canada, I booked the overnight we needed at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport at a discount.
Best of all, it's cancelable if our plans change, so it was a risk-free discounted booking that I could even use some Accor points toward.
25% off Air Canada flights
Air Canada has an interesting Cyber Monday offer that started at 30% off flights but has now dropped to 25% off; it will decrease to 20% off once the public makes a certain number of bookings. Even at 25% off, this dropped the price of the flights we needed to Vancouver, British Columbia, to the lowest price I'd seen, so we locked those in for next summer, too.
You will need to use the discount code for the relevant discounted amount to get the reduced price.
Discounted Nordstrom gift card
My kryptonite is unquestionably Nordstrom — that store almost always has what I want and more. Paying less for Nordstrom splurges is always a goal of mine. So, my husband bought a $100 Nordstrom gift card at Amazon while it offered an included $15 Amazon credit. This is still available on Amazon using the code NORDSTROM.
The deal became even better because we could stack savings by using 1 Amex Membership Rewards point to drop the cost by $60 — plus the $15 Amazon credit.
Purchase a Nordstrom gift card with a bonus Amazon credit.
New Apple laptop and free $250 gift card
TPG's senior aviation reporter David Slotnick has been eyeing a new Apple laptop for some time; although Apple laptops are on sale at a number of retailers, the one he wanted was available directly from Apple. He had a 6% cash-back offer from Capital One on Apple purchases that he stacked with the Apple Cyber Weekend offer of a free $250 Apple gift card with purchase.
TPG's managing editor Clint Henderson was also shopping for an Apple laptop and he went for a 2020 MacBook Air on Amazon for $799 ($200 off retail); he then saved another $10 using 1 Amex point, and he earned 5 Membership Rewards points on the purchase using an Amex Offer (up to 2,500 bonus points).
Purchase a discounted MacBook Air for $799 (down from $999).
Discounted Adidas with lots of points on the side
TPG's marketing director Caroline English stocked up on discounted Adidas gear for her family.
Thanks to the Cyber Weekend sales, she was able to get about $600 worth of Adidas gear for $250 and thanks to an Amex Offer, she earned 4 points per dollar on the purchase. Adidas is also in the Rakuten cash-back portal for 20% cash back (or 20 Amex points per dollar), so you can really stack the savings if an Adidas purchase is in your immediate future.
Purchase discounted Adidas products.
Bonus points on an IHG stay
IHG is having a Cyber Monday sale that provides 10,000 bonus points after every two nights, so TPG editor Christine Gallipeau rebooked a stay she had already planned at the same cash rate. Christine was able to double dip and should get an extra 3,000 IHG One Rewards points for the booking since she had previously registered for a promotion to book a stay to celebrate her birthday.
Register and book now for an extra 10,000 points.
Discounted AirTags
This has been the year of the Apple AirTag. I'm not sure if Apple purposely created the product for travelers to track their checked bags, but that is absolutely what is happening. TPG's senior aviation reporter Zach Griff stocked up on another four-pack of AirTags while they were discounted to $79 over the weekend on Amazon. That price seems to have returned to $95, but if you have any of the targeted offers to use some points from Chase or Amex to drop the price, that could still be a good deal.
Additionally, if you need just one AirTag, that price is down to $24 from a retail price of $29. Apple AirTag accessories are also still discounted for Cyber Monday.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.