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
Rewards
| 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $6,000 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $6,000 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.