Earning Airline Miles and Hotel PointsBy Rom

Topics• Why collect airline miles and hotel points?

• Ways to collect airline miles and hotel points

• Credit cards and credit score

Thanks Points and Miles!

Why collect airline miles and hotel points?

• Take nearly free vacations to visit friends and family.

Why collect airline miles and hotel points?• Free hotel stays. (18,000 Hyatt points per night @ Hyatt

Waikiki Beach)

Why collect airline miles and hotel points?• Nearly free honeymoons. 35,000 Chase Ultimate

Rewards points and $100 per person for round-trip flights to Turks and Caicos.

Why collect airline miles and hotel points?• Fly international first or business class. 62,500 American

Airline miles and $300 per person one-way.

Why collect airline miles and hotel points?• Stay at hotels I could never afford. Retail price $800+ for

free!

Ways to collect airline miles and hotel points• #1 - Traveling for work

IHG Loyalty Program• Free nights starting at 5,000 points to 50,000 points a

night.• 50,000 points for a night at IC Thalasso Bora Bora.

Ways to collect airline miles and hotel points• #2 - Hotel Promotions

• Example: IHG Big Win Promotion

Ways to collect airline miles and hotel points• 1,000 Points – “Try one and done” –  Stay at any IHG

hotel• 2,000 Points – “Book with us” – Book 2 separate stays• 4,000 Points – “Stay more & earn more” – Stay 4 nights

at IHG hotels• 8,000 Points – “Win in a weekend” – Stay 2 Saturday

Nights• 10,000 Points – “Explore our brands” – Stay at 3

different IHG hotels• 25,000 Points – “Win big” – Complete all of your

personalized offers

Ways to collect airline miles and hotel points• How to sign up:

• http://win.ihg.com

Ways to collect airline miles and hotel points• #3 - Credit Card Sign up Bonuses

What about your credit score?• Know what makes up your credit score.

My Credit Score• Applied for at least 20 credit cards over the last 2 years.• Paid in full and on time 100% of the time.

Important info about credit cards• Start slowly. Apply for 1 or 2 credit cards at first.

• Stay organized.

• Don’t apply for more than 1 credit card if applying for a home loan.

•MOST IMPORTANT TIP: PAY BALANCES IN FULL AND ON TIME (65% of score)

Best Hotel Credit Card• IHG Rewards Visa Card

• 80,000 bonus points after spending $1000 in first 3 months.• Free night every year at any IHG hotels. (Cert may be

redeemed online.)• No fee 1st year, then $49.• No foreign transaction fees.

• Sign up link: https://www.mychasecreditcards.com/ihg/inhotel80k

Best Personal Credit Card• Chase Sapphire Preferred

• 40,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $3,000 in 3 months

• Points transfer airlines and hotels.• No Foreign Transaction Fees• First year annual fee waived, second year $95

Best Business Credit Card• Chase Ink Bold

• 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $5,000 in 3 months

• No foreign transaction fees• 5X points on office supply stores, and on cellular phone,

landline, internet, and cable TV services• Trick: Buy $50 gas cards and Amazon gift cards at Office Depot

• $0 annual fee first year, 2nd year $95 (worth the fee)

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards• Example redemptions:

• 25,000 United miles roundtrip to CONUS locations. 60,000 to Europe. 35,000 to Caribbean.

• 25,000 British Airways Avios from west coast to Hawaii.

• Southwest – 1 point = 1.67 Southwest credit.

• Hyatt – 5,000 – 22,000 Hyatt points per night.

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Other Important Info• Be flexible with your dates.

• Award flights subject to availability.

• Stay organized. Don’t miss payments.

• Collect transferrable points. i.e. Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Starwood Preferred Guest points, AMEX Membership Rewards points

Ways to collect airline miles and hotel points• Charge EVERYTHING to credit cards. Maximize each

dollar spent.• 2X points on dining and travel with Chase Sapphire

Preferred• 5X points on office supply stores, cable TV, internet, and

cell phone bill.

Conclusion• Why collect airline miles and hotel points?

• Save lots of money.• Travel to places you could normally not afford.• It’s fun.

• Ways to collect points.• Travel for work.• Hotel promotions.• Credit card sign up bonuses.• Daily credit card spend.