I just finished two weeks of heavy travel, going to FTU in Washington, DC; two mileage runs to Indianapolis; BAcon (BoardingArea conference) in Colorado Springs, and a visit to my family near San Francisco. In short, I’m glad to finally be home for a while. But during these trips, I reflected on my upgrade success this year on United Airlines, … [Read more...]
Car Rental Grace Periods Can Save You Money
May 10, 2013 By 3 Comments
I rented a car to visit FT University in Washington, DC, last weekend. Public transit was just too much of an ordeal to the host hotel, and a taxi would have cost the same. (Actually driving there from DCA was a nightmare, but I blame Google Maps for that.) My two preferred rental agencies are National and Hertz. National doesn’t have the best … [Read more...]
Answers to Reader Questions: Strategies for Closing Credit Cards
May 7, 2013 By 6 Comments
Today I'll answer some reader questions about credit cards. Many of us apply for several rewards cards over the course of each year, and it can be difficult to know when to trade off between cards with similar benefits or how to strategically apply for a new card while planning to close an old account. 3LeftTurns: I have the American Express … [Read more...]
Hyatt Weekend Stay Certificates for Those Without Status
April 30, 2013 By 4 Comments
Megan is planning her bachelorette party in Austin this summer and asked for my help researching a place for her and her bridesmaids to stay. Without me there, my elite benefits with various chains were useless. (I offered to tag along and confer said benefits when I heard there was a lingerie party, but my generosity was rebuffed.) Instead, I … [Read more...]
