RECENT POSTS
  • Benefits

    Status Match: World of Hyatt and MLife Rewards

    In this series of posts on Status Matching, I show you how to leverage your elite tier status in one loyalty program to obtain a similar tier in another. This article covers World of Hyatt and MLife Rewards. I actually didn’t have status in either program until a couple weeks ago. I’ll show you a back door that worked for me. MLife Rewards members earn valuable benefits and rewards at MLife Rewards Destinations. These include Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Delano, and The Mirage in Las Vegas, and The Borgata in Atlantic City. Higher tier status can earn you resort comps quicker than you normally would otherwise. Similarly, with higher status at Hyatt, you…

  • Benefits

    Status Match: Marriott Gold to National Exec Elite and Hertz PC

    This is the first in a series of posts on Status Matches. If you’ve earned elite status at a hotel chain, car rental company, or cruise line, competing chains might upgrade your status in their loyalty programs as well. Over the next few days, I’ll go over a few of these for you. First up, a timely one: Status Match your Marriott Gold Elite or Platinum Elite tier to National Car Rental (Emerald Club) Executive Elite. You can then match your new Emerald Club status to Hertz President’s Circle. That will give you top tier status in both car rental loyalty programs. Why is this timely? On August 18, 2018,…

  • United Airlines Planes at Gates
    Credit Cards

    Revamped Chase United Explorer Card Benefits

    Chase has added some new features and benefits to its MileagePlus Explorer Card while removing some others. The card also has a new name: the Chase United Explorer Card. Read on for a review of all the changes. Chase United Explorer Card 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 5,000 bonus miles after you add the first authorized user in the first 3 months $100 statement credit after your first purchase $0 intro annual fee for the first year, after that $95 New Benefits 2x Miles at restaurants and hotels $100 Global Entry or $85 TSA Pre✓ Application Fee Credit…

  • Benefits

    Chase Sapphire Reserve to Limit Priority Pass Guests

    In an effort to reduce costs, Chase is reducing some benefits of its premium Sapphire Reserve card. New Priority Pass Guest Limit In the “most inevitable change” category is the limitation on Priority Pass guests. The benefit will now match competing credit cards by limiting the number of free guests to 2. Additional guests will incur a $27 entry fee. You can read more about Priority Pass here. I always felt this benefit was too generous and that it would be the first one to be cut back. Good Bye Price Protection Chase is completely eliminating the Reserve’s Price Protection feature. With this feature, Chase would credit you with the difference…

  • Miles and Points

    Turning Rapid Rewards Into Amazon Gift Cards – Part 2

    A couple months ago, I wrote about finding a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards account that I didn’t know I had. That alone is not too surprising. I’m sure I have plenty of frequent flyer accounts that I don’t recall signing up for. What was surprising is the fact that I had 3,500 Rapid Rewards points in it. I have no recollection of how I earned 3500 points about 2 years ago, but there they were, ready to expire. So I earned another 1,000 points by filing a tax return with TurboTax via the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal. The 1,000 points activity extended the expiration of my Rapid Rewards points by…

  • Credit Cards

    Chase Freedom 2nd Quarter Bonus Categories

    The Chase Freedom credit card earns 5% cash back in bonus categories that change each quarter. The categories for the 2nd quarter of 2018 have just been announced. Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases from April 1 – June 30, 2018 in the following categories: Grocery Stores Paypal Chase Pay The Grocery Stores category specifically excludes Walmart and Target. Also excluded are discount stores, warehouse clubs, and some smaller merchants such as drugstores that may sell groceries. The PayPal category includes purchases made using your Freedom card with PayPal for purchases or sending money. With Chase Pay, you need to use your Freedom card with the Chase Pay…

  • Southwest Airline Plane Fin with logo
    Miles and Points

    Turning My “Found” Southwest Rapid Rewards Into Amazon Gift Cards

    Rapid Rewards is Southwest Airline’s frequent flyer loyalty program. I’ve never flown Southwest. I live in the northeast which, if my compass is correct, is in directly the opposite direction. Bad jokes aside, my local airports are not heavily served by the airline and for whatever reason, it’s just never worked out. Since I’ve never flown Southwest, it would stand to reason that I don’t have a Rapid Rewards account. A couple days ago, I realized that’s not true. Not only do I have an account, I have 3,500 Rapid Rewards points in it. How did I find out? Well, I received this email: I have no recollection of how I…

  • Priority Pass Card Image
    Benefits

    Priority Pass Adds New Restrictions at PDX Capers Locations

    In an effort to increase its footprint, Priority Pass has added restaurants and markets to its list of airport lounges. When dining at these participating venues, order off the menu as you normally would and Priority Pass will provide you and your guests with a credit toward your food and beverages. A full list of Priority Pass Restaurants and how the credit works can be found here. Priority Pass has added restrictions at 2 locations in Portland OR International Airport (PDX). In order to receive credit at Capers Cafe Le Bar and Capers Market, you are now required to show a valid outbound boarding pass for travel that day. This…

  • Benefits

    Priority Pass Adds Bobby Van’s Steakhouse at JFK

    In an effort to increase its offerings over the past few months, Priority Pass has begun to add restaurants to its list of airport lounges. The newest addition is Bobby Van’s Steakhouse in New York’s JFK International Airport (Terminal 8). Simply present your valid membership card, order off the menu as you normally would, and Priority Pass will provide you with a $28 credit toward your meal. Note that unlike other Priority Pass restaurants, members are limited to one guest at Bobby Van’s. Your guest will also receive a $28 credit for a total of $56 off your visit. You are responsible for gratuity. If you spent less than $28 per person,…