Travel Summary

29/09/2020

The 48 month clock is up on the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Here's how to strategize to earn the most points by downgrading, canceling, referrals, and more!

The 48 month clock has expired. So, should you cancel or downgrade your Chase Sapphire Reserve card? How can you earn the most points? Here's my thought process...

09/04/2020

United Airlines has been (illegally) refusing refunds to many. It can be even harder to get a refund when booking through Online Travel Agencies like Amex Travel, Chase, and Expedia. Here's how I was able to get a refund.
https://www.travelsummary.com/united-finally-provided-me-a-refund-for-my-ota-bookings-i-think/

A United Airlines refund has been tough to come by, as the airline has been giving vouchers instead. This is illegal per Department of Transportation...

25/03/2020

Given the Prolonged Impact of Coronavirus on Travel and the Economy, It's Time to Reduce Your Credit Card Annual Fees
https://www.travelsummary.com/its-time-to-reduce-your-credit-card-annual-fees/

Two months ago, few people could have imagined we’d be where we are now. Life here in California has seemingly …

28/02/2020

Who wants to go to Hawaii?! Here are the best ways to get there using your points and miles!

There are so many airlines and so many award programs that it’s hard to answer someone when they ask “which …

22/01/2020

How to Decide Between the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred After Recent Changes
https://www.travelsummary.com/how-to-decide-between-the-chase-sapphire-reserve-and-preferred/

With the higher annual fee, choosing between the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred isn't as easy as it once was, but here's how to calculate which is right for you...

18/01/2020

IMPORTANT: I DO NOT sell credit cards as an affiliate marketer! That means you can trust everything I say because I'm not getting paid by the banks I discuss. Ask other reviewers if they have the same policy! (hint: most don't) You've likely heard that Chase has made significant changes to the most popular travel card around, the Sapphire Reserve card. [ 2,402 more words ]
https://www.travelsummary.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-vs-amex-platinum-2020-comparison-and-review/

This post will compare benefits between these two cards so you can see which is more valuable or useful to you...

24/05/2019

One of my absolute favorite credit card perks is price protection, and specifically Citi's Price Rewind feature. Basically, if you buy a product with your eligible Citi credit card and the price decreases over the next 60 days, Citi will refund you the difference. The devil is in the details, so here's the longer version: [ 1,117 more word ]
https://www.travelsummary.com/maximizing-credit-card-price-protection-to-earn-points-miles/

One of my absolute favorite credit card perks is price protection, and specifically Citi’s Price Rewind feature. Basically, if you …

22/04/2019

I'm going to keep this somewhat brief, because really there's so much to see here that images alone won't do it justice. I took video and posted it on YouTube with my review and tips/recommendations (link embedded below) so definitely check that out when you have time. If you're a frequent traveler or reader of this website, you've probably heard some hype around the new Jewel at Singapore Changi Airport. [ 909 more words ]
https://www.travelsummary.com/review-jewel-at-singapore-changi-airport/

I’m going to keep this somewhat brief, because really there’s so much to see here that images alone won’t do …

09/01/2019

The last couple of weeks has seen some amazing fare "sales" that are so good, some people might call them mistakes. Round Trip Cathay Pacific first class for ~$800, round trip business class from the US to Australia for ~$1.5K, and more. Sometimes when I see these deals I post about them on my personal page to let friends know. [ 1,983 more word ]
https://www.travelsummary.com/tools-of-the-trade-things-that-will-help-you-travel-for-less/

The last couple of weeks has seen some amazing fare “sales” that are so good, some people might call them …

03/12/2018

The allure of the Amex Platinum card is clear – it offers premium benefits that should allow a cardholder to at least recoup the massive $550 annual fee that come with the card. One of those benefits is 5x membership rewards points on airfare bookings when purchased directly from the airline. It’s the highest bonus offered on airfare of any credit card. [ 1,294 more word ]
https://www.travelsummary.com/why-you-shouldnt-book-airfare-using-your-american-express-platinum-card/

The allure of the Amex Platinum card is clear – it offers premium benefits that should allow a cardholder to …

19/11/2018

Almost two weeks ago, American Express Membership Rewards added Avianca Lifemiles as a transfer partner at a 1:1 ratio. I was very excited about this new transfer partner when it was announced given the various good values and lack of fuel surcharges. When I wrote that post, I purposely left out specifying the amex to lifemiles transfer time, since I knew new additions can sometimes be challenging from a technical standpoint. [ 350 more words ]
https://www.travelsummary.com/amex-to-lifemiles-transfers-time/

Amex to Lifemiles transfers are supposed to be instant, but they take quite a bit longer than that. In fact, they may never end up in your account at all!...

07/11/2018

American Express Membership Rewards has added Avianca Lifemiles as an airline transfer partner at a 1:1 transfer ratio. This is very exciting news, as Lifemiles does not charge fuel surcharges and has reasonable or very good rates on certain awards. Lifemiles is a far cry from what it used to be. You might recall reading here about various "trick" airports… [ 470 more words ]
https://www.travelsummary.com/american-express-points-transfer-lifemiles/

American Express Membership Rewards has added Avianca Lifemiles as an airline transfer partner at a 1:1 transfer ratio. This is …

05/11/2018

Travel Summary is back. For those that have haven't been here before, welcome! And for those that have, welcome back. After a several year odyssey that took me first through Boarding Area and most recently through Travel Codex (and even a write-up in Forbes, which was cool for me), Travel Summary has now officially returned. I won't go into any boring details as to why except to say that I left Travel Codex on wonderful terms. [ 498 more words ]
https://www.travelsummary.com/travel-summary-is-back/

After a several year odyssey that too me first through Boarding Area and most recently through Travel Codex, Travel Summary has now officially returned.

05/07/2016

I started this blog almost exactly four years ago with a completely different goal than what it ended up becoming. It started out of a sense of frustration that there were so many blogs dedicated to points and miles, but each one just repeated the same exact stuff the good bloggers came up with or wrote about first (if this sounds familiar, it's because the problem has actually gotten worse). [ 617 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.com/travel-summary-is-moving-but-not-far/

Travel Summary is Moving! (But Not Far) July 5, 2016by Travel Summary Leave A Comment I started this blog almost exactly four years ago with a completely different goal than what it ended up becoming. It started out of a sense of frustration that there were so many blogs dedicated to points and mile...

02/05/2016

Tahsir and I started TravelCon conferences to help teach people how to travel better. Our conferences were a heavily focus on earning points, but also included other tips and tricks as well. The two conferences we did received extremely positive feedback and we were excited to plan more conferences for the future. Our unique feature in our one-day TravelCon conferences was that attendees really got a chance to bond with each other, and it felt like a group of friends that continued beyond the conference itself. [ 483 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.com/travelcon-and-ftu-combined-in-orange-county/

TravelCon & FTU Combined In Orange County! May 2, 2016by Travel Summary Leave A Comment Tahsir and I started TravelCon conferences to help teach people how to travel better. Our conferences were a heavily focus on earning points, but also included other tips and tricks as well. The two conferences w…

27/04/2016

Planning an extravagant, jet-setting honeymoon using only points and miles is difficult. Here's how one travel hacker did it, just in time for the wedding.

21/04/2016

A few years back people went crazy when I posted about the Amex Platinum 100K Bonus. And for good reason - at that time, those points were worth quite a bit more than they are today (devaluations have taken their toll). Last year I took advantage of a 150K bonus offer for a Business Amex Platinum card, which would still be considered a huge bonus today even given devaluations. [ 421 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.com/the-biggest-credit-card-bonus-ive-ever-seen/

The Biggest Credit Card Bonus I’ve Ever Seen April 21, 2016by Travel Summary Leave A Comment A few years back people went crazy when I posted about the Amex Platinum 100K Bonus. And for good reason – at that time, those points were worth quite a bit more than they are today (devaluations have taken…

04/04/2016

I’m getting married this year, and that’s an extremely exciting thing because it means I get to take an amazing honeymoon trip that I saved tons of miles/points for. And I also get a wife, which is cool too (or so I’ve been led to believe). In all seriousness, this is something I’ve planned for …

25/03/2016

It's been a while since I wrote a non-points-related post, and I thought this topic would be a good one because I have PLENTY to say. It only became top of mind because of a post written by fellow Boarding Area blogger Muslim Travel Girl, who experienced a little extra questioning due to...well, you can be the judge of why exactly she was stopped. [ 2384 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.com/traveling-as-a-muslim-is-the-worst/

Traveling As a Muslim Is the Worst March 25, 2016by Travel Summary Leave A Comment   It’s been a while since I wrote a non-points-related post, and I thought this topic would be a good one because I have PLENTY to say. It only became top of mind because of a post written by fellow Boarding Area blog…

24/03/2016

Winner of the United Lounge Club Passes!
http://travelsummary.com/winner-of-the-united-lounge-club-passes-2/

Winner of the United Lounge Club Passes! March 24, 2016by Travel Summary Leave A Comment Thanks to all those that submitted entries into my drawing for two free United Lounge Club passes. There were a lot of great entries and I read every single one. I appreciate the feedback many of you gave with r…

18/02/2016

A Look towards the future of Manufactured Spend

We’re not even at the end of February yet, but 2016 has already been a very tough year for Manufactured Spending. My favorite tool to MS was Bluebird, but that’s not worthwhile anymore after account closures. We’ve heard of Citi credit card accounts being shut down, Chase becoming more restrictive f…

08/01/2016

It was a good, long run, but it looks like my favorite method for manufacturing spend is finally coming to an end. Today I received an email from Amex Bluebird titled "Termination of Funds Loading Capabilities On Your Bluebird Account". The email said following: "We are writing to let you know that we have observed unusual usage patterns on your Bluebird Account. [ 388 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.com/most-bluebird-and-serve-accounts-dead-for-manufactured-spending/

*Most* Bluebird and Serve Accounts DEAD for Manufactured Spending January 8, 2016by Travel Summary Leave A Comment It was a good, long run, but it looks like my favorite method for manufacturing spend is finally coming to an end. Today I received an email from Amex Bluebird titled “Termination of Fu…

23/11/2015

The best deal in MS is back again for Thanksgiving week! OfficeMax stores is giving $20 off instantly when you purchase $300 in gift cards or more in store. As I've explained many times before, this is the best deal in Manufactured Spending since you not only earn points, but you also get paid to do it. This deal, however, is even better because it doesn't seem to be limited, aside from the $1,800 transaction limit. [ 120 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.com/20-off-instantly-on-visa-gift-cards-w-no-limit/

$20 Off Instantly on Visa Gift Cards w/ No Limit! November 23, 2015by Travel Summary Leave A Comment The best deal in MS is back again for Thanksgiving week! OfficeMax stores is giving $20 off instantly when you purchase $300 in gift cards or more in store. As I’ve explained many times before, this…

28/10/2015

Did you buy your tickets for TravelCon 2: Vegas yet? The conference is on November 7th! Arguably the most useful and lucrative feature about the British Airways frequent flyer program was the value provided by short-haul flights. Just 4,500 Avios could get you between many different city pairs, including Los Angeles to San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and more. I even wrote a post about the… [ 236 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.com/british-airways-avios-devalue-no-more-4500-avios-flights/

British Airways Avios Devalue: No More 4,500 Avios Flights October 28, 2015by Travel Summary Leave A Comment Did you buy your tickets for TravelCon 2: Vegas yet? The conference is on November 7th! Arguably the most useful and lucrative feature about the British Airways frequent flyer program was the…

12/10/2015

About a month ago we announced that we were doing another TravelCon conference, with this one taking place at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. We had a great turnout and received amazing feedback from the first conference, most of which centered on it being a much smaller and more inclusive conference, so we decided that another one was definitely needed. [ 286 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.com/travelcon-ii-las-vegas-on-november-7-2015/

TravelCon II: Las Vegas on November 7, 2015! October 11, 2015by Travel Summary Leave A Comment About a month ago we announced that we were doing another TravelCon conference, with this one taking place at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. We had a great turnout and received amazing fee…

25/09/2015

Today only, Amazon is selling it's Prime Membership for just $67, a heavy discount on the regular $99 price for a full year of membership. This is a great deal that I'm taking advantage of myself and I recommend others do as well. [ 150 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.com/amazon-prime-for-67-is-a-great-deal-today-only/

Today only, Amazon is selling it’s Prime Membership for just $67, a heavy discount on the regular $99 price for a full year of membership. This is a great deal that I’m taking advantage of myself and I recommend others do as well.

26/08/2015

A couple of months back I announced that I'll be speaking at FTU Advanced in Dallas from 9/25 to 9/27, and I'm excited to announce that I have the opportunity to speak at another one later this year in Newport Beach, CA. Here are the current speakers for FTU Advanced Newport Beach: Matthew Klint (Live and Let’s Fly… [ 278 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.com/ftu-advanced-in-my-backyard-newport-beach-dec-4-6/

A couple of months back I announced that I’ll be speaking at FTU Advanced in Dallas from 9/25 to 9/27, and I’m excited to announce that I have the opportunity to speak at another one later this year in Newport Beach, CA.

26/08/2015

Usually merchant gift cards are not great for manufactured spending because the volume is just too small. When I manufacture spend, I want it to be worth my time and look for opportunities where I get a large number of points/miles. Sometimes, however, deals come along that present not just manufactured spend opportunities but also an opportunity to make money, usually in the form of rebates or cash back. [ 346 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.com/gift-card-deals-and-manufactured-spend-opportunities-galore/

Usually merchant gift cards are not great for manufactured spending because the volume is just too small. When I manufacture spend, I want it to be worth my time and look for opportunities where I get a large number of points/miles.

26/08/2015

National Car Rental isn't usually a program that we hear about too often, except for this time of year when they come out with their famous "One Two Free" promotion (registration required). As far as rental car promotions go, this one is one of the better ones that exists. They had the same promo a year ago and it's as lucrative now as it was back then. [ 303 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.com/nationals-one-two-free-and-a-giveaway-for-your-next-rental/

National Car Rental isn’t usually a program that we hear about too often, except for this time of year when they come out with their famous “One Two Free” promotion (registration required). As far as rental car promotions go, this one is one of the better ones that exists. They had the same promo a…

25/08/2015

National Car Rental isn't usually a program that we hear about too often, except for this time of year when they come out with their famous "One Two Free" promotion (registration required). As far as rental car promotions go, this one is one of the better ones that exists. They had the same promo a year ago and it's as lucrative now as it was back then. [ 303 more words. ]

http://travelsummary.boardingarea.com/nationals-one-two-free-and-a-giveaway-for-your-next-rental/

One Two Free Returns in 2015, plus a points giveaway to get you started!