Next month my family and I are headed to Japan and France on the way back for a four-week vacation. This big trip has been my goal ever since I started collecting points and miles. At first, I wondered if it would be possible. I wasn’t sure if I could ever rack up enough miles to do it, especially because I wanted to book flights for four people in business class.
We don’t want to scare you, but things can go wrong after you book an award but before you take the flight. The problem can happen immediately upon making the reservation or weeks and even months later. Your job isn’t done once you reserve the award flights you want. Instead, be vigilant. Check your reservations on a regular basis. Well show you why.
Hawaii is our own special gateway to the exotic world of Polynesia. Because it’s part of the United States, we don’t have to pack our passports or worry about communicating with locals in a foreign language. It’s a tropical paradise right in our own backyard, and every island in the archipelago is special. That’s why so many frequent flyers want to use their miles to fly to the islands. We’re going to let you in on four of the best values to get to Hawaii on the cheap.
United Airlines has good domestic coverage, with several hubs in the middle of the U.S. for varied domestic and international routing options, and a very wide network of international air and hotel partners through Star Alliance and individual partnerships.
With its ancient history and beautiful beaches, Egypt has low prices that seem unbelievable for a major tourist destination. Five-star hotels in Cairo start at under $100. All-inclusive seaside resorts are equally affordable. The Hilton Shark Bay Resort on the Red Sea is currently charging $93 for two people and $123 for four—food and drinks included.
Frequent flyer miles can be used for a number of things besides flying. You can book hotels, car rentals, and even train travel if you have the right mileage currency. Rail travel can be especially useful to navigate Europe once you get there on miles. European cities and towns are so close to one another that the state-of-the-art rail network there gives airlines a run for their money with its speed and efficiency.
Congratulations! You’ve decided to take the plunge into miles credit card land. It’s a nice plunge. I promise. There are gourmet meals on airplanes, luxury hotel rooms with private Jacuzzis, and lounges with sleeping cabanas and massages in your future.
Before I discovered the world of points and miles collecting, planning a weekend trip with a friend required some serious budgeting. I needed to start saving months in advance, and even then I was always shocked by the final cost. Back then, more often than not, my trips were short and local—and far from luxurious.
Want to do some serious diving on Fiji and see New Zealand? It’s possible in one trip because you can use fewer miles flying to Fiji via New Zealand than just flying straight there.
British Airways Avios is one of my favorite frequent flyer programs. The bargains that you can get with Avios are incredible if you use them to fly short hops as directly as possible.
When you think of Japan, budget travel is not what comes to mind. It may not be cheap to visit, but it is not extravagantly expensive either. And you only have to pay the taxes to fly to Japan if you are using miles. Here is how you do it.
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner was one of the most anticipated new planes when it was being developed in the early 2000s. The company was looking to replace its 767 aircraft with a more fuel-efficient midsize, long-range wide-body jet with twin engines.
Many travelers to Iceland feel that no trip there is complete without marveling at the spectacular Aurora Borealis. You can see the Northern Lights in the city Reykjavik, but in order to increase your odds of witnessing the spectacle, you should rent a car or join a tour of lights seekers.
American Express is one of the leading companies offering reward credit and charge cards. Some cards are branded and offer loyalty currency from airlines such as Delta and JetBlue or hotel chains like Starwood or Hilton.
Do you ever make it a point to do a bit of plane spotting when you’re at the airport? Most frequent flyers have a healthy respect for the aviation industry and are intrigued by the newest and most technologically advanced aircraft.
When you are trying to juggle a bunch of new credit cards to take advantage of lucrative sign-up bonus offers, there are some risks if you are balancing a few accounts.
Bali is a tropical island in Indonesia with beautiful landscapes. Mountains, beautiful beaches and world-class diving make it a paradise for many travelers.
For three years straight, American Airlines has won two of the top honors among frequent flyer programs: the Freddie Awards for Program of the Year and Best Elite Program.
One of the big disappointments with airline programs these days is that it seems almost impossible to be loyal enough to earn a reward ticket by flying without the benefit of some serious business travel. But it doesn’t mean you should write off traveling using points and miles.
