People are always asking “how do you do it”? in regards to traveling so much for so little. Rule #1 is PLAN EARLY! I’m starting a series sharing with you today how I’m getting my whole family to Ireland next summer for two weeks with almost nothing out of pocket. I thought it would be fun to go step by step so you can see the whole process, and see what steps might work for you!
To start,an amazing usage of Avios (British Airways) points a few months ago is travel to Ireland from Boston for just 25k miles round trip. Between the sign-up bonus offered for the BA credit card and 50% transfer bonus offered by American Express in May, I’ve racked up 189,000 BA miles so far.
Knowing most airlines release seats 11 months out, I decided to call BA today to see if they had flights available next June yet on the BOS-DUB flight, lo and behold, they’re booking out to the end of June 2013, so I was able to book four tickets one way for a grand total of 50,000 Avios and $20 tax! I’ll call back in a few weeks to book the return. I’m not worried about the IAD-BOS flights just yet…I may check Avios, or just buy them as tickets usually are less than $100 each way. I’ll wait to see if anyone offers a bonus!
Two questions
1. Is it better to book trips using avios one way as soon as seats are open? Or wait and book round trip. I want to go to England in August 2013
2 how do you collect your Amex point/miles? I currently have delta Amex. Is another card more flexible?
Thanks for the questions! My opinion regards avios is that there is no reason not to book one way…the fees are exactly the same. If you’re going in August 2013, book in Sept 2012. If you’re considering England, I would suggest booking US to Dublin via Aer Lingus and then booking a separate Avios ticket to your connection in England (or just paying cash if it’s cheap enough). You will save a ton on fees that way. You have to call BA to get the AL tix as they don’t book online.
2. I use the Platinum AMEX. The Gold Rewards is also very good, but I like the lounge access! The problem with the Delta AMEX is that the points all book to Delta. Membership rewards points are transferable across many programs, including BA.
Best of luck in your travels!
Two questions
1. Is it better to book trips using avios one way as soon as seats are open? Or wait and book round trip. I want to go to England in August 2013
2 how do you collect your Amex point/miles? I currently have delta Amex. Is another card more flexible?
Thanks for the questions! My opinion regards avios is that there is no reason not to book one way…the fees are exactly the same. If you’re going in August 2013, book in Sept 2012. If you’re considering England, I would suggest booking US to Dublin via Aer Lingus and then booking a separate Avios ticket to your connection in England (or just paying cash if it’s cheap enough). You will save a ton on fees that way. You have to call BA to get the AL tix as they don’t book online.
2. I use the Platinum AMEX. The Gold Rewards is also very good, but I like the lounge access! The problem with the Delta AMEX is that the points all book to Delta. Membership rewards points are transferable across many programs, including BA.
Best of luck in your travels!
I love your blog, Deal Mommy! I am actually planning a trip to Shanghai for summer 2013 and have to purchase 5 tickets total, for my husband and I and our 3 kids. We have great credit and have opened up several credit cards to get points. I am hoping to accumulate enough to fly free for all of us! I know it’s a big milestone. Right now we have 40K each of us from chase sapphire credit card, 50k southwest, 50k from united credit card and 50K delta. My question to you is how I consolidate all these points? What airline is good to travel to Shanghai? Do you have other suggestions to accumulate points?
thanks for your help!
Christy
Thanks, Christy, and what an awesome adventure for your kids! I spent a few months in Beijing (my family is foreign service) but never made it south. You’re going to need 80k each at a min. to fly all five for free. The URs from chase will transfer to United (Star Alliance), which is probably your best bet depending on your departure city. Here’s where you need to start getting creative. Can your husband get his own accounts for United and Chase? That’s 90k right there. Have a small business? Get an INK Bold from Chase for another 50k.
From there, charge EVERYTHING, and be sure to be using Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for all of your online purchases…even for groceries from walmart, drugstore.com, or target. I pretty much buy everything but milk and bread online (even produce and meat!)
If you can’t get to the full 400k, you may find it more cost effective to use free miles to get to LAX or SFO (here’s where your southwest or delta could come in handy), then pay for cheap tickets to Shanghai from there…it really depends on your departure city.
Thanks so much for that information, Deal Mommy! We will be departing from Chicago and I did find some good deals for United and American. My husband and I each are doing our own credit cards for unitied and Chase. I do plan on opening INK bold eventually too.
That is a great idea about Chase Ultimate rewards, I didn’t know you can purchase groceries online!!
I want to do a layover in Hawaii while going to Shanghai since my kids always wanted to check out Hawaii? Do you have any suggestions on how to do that?
thanks so much~
christy
How long is your trip? Devil’s advocate here, but are you sure? Chicago is a great gateway for Asia. If you want some beach time, maybe Thailand or Vietnam? The beaches are just as nice (I actually preferred Thailand to Hawaii) and if you’re doing reward tix you might be able to build it in for free. Hotels would also be a LOT less expensive.
Oh, yeah, and by the way, between Omaha Steaks, Harry and David, and Walmart/Target/Drugstore, I pretty much have packages coming everyday!
I love your blog, Deal Mommy! I am actually planning a trip to Shanghai for summer 2013 and have to purchase 5 tickets total, for my husband and I and our 3 kids. We have great credit and have opened up several credit cards to get points. I am hoping to accumulate enough to fly free for all of us! I know it’s a big milestone. Right now we have 40K each of us from chase sapphire credit card, 50k southwest, 50k from united credit card and 50K delta. My question to you is how I consolidate all these points? What airline is good to travel to Shanghai? Do you have other suggestions to accumulate points?
thanks for your help!
Christy
Thanks, Christy, and what an awesome adventure for your kids! I spent a few months in Beijing (my family is foreign service) but never made it south. You’re going to need 80k each at a min. to fly all five for free. The URs from chase will transfer to United (Star Alliance), which is probably your best bet depending on your departure city. Here’s where you need to start getting creative. Can your husband get his own accounts for United and Chase? That’s 90k right there. Have a small business? Get an INK Bold from Chase for another 50k.
From there, charge EVERYTHING, and be sure to be using Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for all of your online purchases…even for groceries from walmart, drugstore.com, or target. I pretty much buy everything but milk and bread online (even produce and meat!)
If you can’t get to the full 400k, you may find it more cost effective to use free miles to get to LAX or SFO (here’s where your southwest or delta could come in handy), then pay for cheap tickets to Shanghai from there…it really depends on your departure city.
How long is your trip? Devil’s advocate here, but are you sure? Chicago is a great gateway for Asia. If you want some beach time, maybe Thailand or Vietnam? The beaches are just as nice (I actually preferred Thailand to Hawaii) and if you’re doing reward tix you might be able to build it in for free. Hotels would also be a LOT less expensive.
I didn’t think about going to Thailand for the beaches! I think that is a great idea! We will do that instead of Hawai. do you have any suggestions on which airline would be best to do stopovers on the way to Shanghai. I heard that AA does not allow stopovers…not sure about United though.
Not sure about AA, but I’m pretty sure United will with no problem (meaning the entire Star Alliance) check leg by leg at united.com and then try to put it all together. The Points Guy has really good tutorials if you don’t see what you need on Million Mile Secrets. You may have to call instead of booking online. I had not one but two stopovers with Delta recently.
I didn’t think about going to Thailand for the beaches! I think that is a great idea! We will do that instead of Hawai. do you have any suggestions on which airline would be best to do stopovers on the way to Shanghai. I heard that AA does not allow stopovers…not sure about United though.
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