Any good ways of accumulating points without too much spending?(besides churning)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SEA
Programs: SPG Plt, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold, AA LT Gold
Posts: 417
Any good ways of accumulating points without too much spending?(besides churning)
I know Costco let you make big purchases(eg plasma tvs) and can give you a refund in cash. But I hear there's probably a limit to how much you can return in a period of time.
May purchasing big ticket items on a mileage card for a discount and reselling?
Any other ideas? Trying to rack up miles for an award ticket to TPE next spring.
May purchasing big ticket items on a mileage card for a discount and reselling?
Any other ideas? Trying to rack up miles for an award ticket to TPE next spring.
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator: American Express, Citi, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; HH Gold
Posts: 42,301
If you have an American Express Gold or Platinum charge card you can borrow points against future spending through a program called Points Advance. The limit is 15,000 for Gold cardholders, 60,000 for Platinum, and you have 12 months to earn back the advance, otherwise they become Purchase Points billed at $25.00 per thousand.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SEA
Programs: SPG Plt, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold, AA LT Gold
Posts: 417
If you have an American Express Gold or Platinum charge card you can borrow points against future spending through a program called Points Advance. The limit is 15,000 for Gold cardholders, 60,000 for Platinum, and you have 12 months to earn back the advance, otherwise they become Purchase Points billed at $25.00 per thousand.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BNA
Posts: 2,076
Sign up for classes at whatever local universities may be around, especially if you have already been a student there and have an account. Once you have online account access, pre-pay (or pay, if you're going to take something I guess) online, but make it something reasonable. A few days later, fill out the form in the business office to get a refund check.
I have two ex-schools within a couple miles of me, so I plan to rack up this fall. I did this last summer and fall at the closer of the two, paying $12kish each semester and then getting the excess back as a check ( I only took one 4 hour class each time, and at ~$7-800/hr the excess was quite a bit). I paid a similar amount this spring, then didn't take anything at all. Employer reimbursement make it even sweeter. Potentially a hassle, but considering UA MP's double miles for school expenses (up to the first $5k), it's worth it having the miles to burn to stay out of the steerage section.
I have two ex-schools within a couple miles of me, so I plan to rack up this fall. I did this last summer and fall at the closer of the two, paying $12kish each semester and then getting the excess back as a check ( I only took one 4 hour class each time, and at ~$7-800/hr the excess was quite a bit). I paid a similar amount this spring, then didn't take anything at all. Employer reimbursement make it even sweeter. Potentially a hassle, but considering UA MP's double miles for school expenses (up to the first $5k), it's worth it having the miles to burn to stay out of the steerage section.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA Plat, HH Gold, SPG Gold, HH Gold, Marriott Silver, Amex Plat, GlobalEntry, SW A-List Preferred
Posts: 866
#10
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: HHH , SAV
Programs: Delta, AA, BA, United, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond, SPG Marriott Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 997