Best way to have miles for big trips
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 76
Best way to have miles for big trips
Besides the handful of miles I get on credit card applications, how can I build my miles up with a particular company? Whether its united, us or AA so that I have enough miles to take my wife with me to other parts of the world in business class.
50,000 miles with each company just doesn't cut it
50,000 miles with each company just doesn't cut it
#3
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 20
Besides the handful of miles I get on credit card applications, how can I build my miles up with a particular company? Whether its united, us or AA so that I have enough miles to take my wife with me to other parts of the world in business class.
50,000 miles with each company just doesn't cut it
50,000 miles with each company just doesn't cut it
CO is easier to get miles on because you can open sapphire, ua and ink bold cards for you and your wife so you have a few cards to collect from
#6
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: South NJ
Posts: 263
#7
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 297
A few ways:
1. Start using online shopping portals, especially the Chase UR mall. These miles convert to UA and you can really rake in chunks of miles at a time, especially on big purchases.
2. Use the category bonuses you have on each card. Chase Sapphire gives you 2x points on travel and dining, Ink Bold gives you 5x on office supplies and telecommunications stuff (cellphone, internet, etc.) Put the right spending on the right cards. It'll add up quick.
3. Sign up for more cards, including getting your wife in the game. If both of you open up 2 Citi/AA cards, that is 200k between the both of you.
4. Chase has lots of cards that can get you UA miles. Sapphire is at 40k, Freedom is 30k, Ink Bold is 50k. Again, double dip with your wife getting the cards too and you'll have plenty of miles.
1. Start using online shopping portals, especially the Chase UR mall. These miles convert to UA and you can really rake in chunks of miles at a time, especially on big purchases.
2. Use the category bonuses you have on each card. Chase Sapphire gives you 2x points on travel and dining, Ink Bold gives you 5x on office supplies and telecommunications stuff (cellphone, internet, etc.) Put the right spending on the right cards. It'll add up quick.
3. Sign up for more cards, including getting your wife in the game. If both of you open up 2 Citi/AA cards, that is 200k between the both of you.
4. Chase has lots of cards that can get you UA miles. Sapphire is at 40k, Freedom is 30k, Ink Bold is 50k. Again, double dip with your wife getting the cards too and you'll have plenty of miles.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 76
Do chase UR only transfer to United? And is it easy to convert miles from different chase cards to United?
My wife is going to get in the game in a few months when her credit is higher. Working hard to build it up. Only about 640 now.
And once we do double dip, how do we book reward tickets together?
My wife is going to get in the game in a few months when her credit is higher. Working hard to build it up. Only about 640 now.
And once we do double dip, how do we book reward tickets together?
#9
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,546
I read the OP a little differently - he said "take my wife with me to other parts of the world in business class" - I think he was saying "I want to go on lots of trips, I know there are people who do that, but how do I? How do these people get hundreds of thousands, or millions, of miles?"
That, unfortunately, is very hard to do. Overseas business class is 100,000 miles and up, 200,000 miles is very doable but 400,000 is hard, and you can't always get tickets at the minimum miles price.
Some people fly an awful lot, and most FF programs give bonues of 100% or more to their top tier, so someone flying 150,000 miles a year might earn 300,000 miles or more. There also are some people who are just plain rich, or run a lot of business spending through their credit cards, and charge millions of dollars a year.
One option is to buy points. Flyertalk is not a place to do that, but I work for a company with about 5,000 professionals on our campus and an active bulletin board. I have found many people who don't really know the best ways to use their points, and have found a fair number of people to buy Amex and Chase points from for 1.25 cents. At that rate, you can get a couple of overseas business class tickets for $2500 plus fees, which isn't too bad.
That, unfortunately, is very hard to do. Overseas business class is 100,000 miles and up, 200,000 miles is very doable but 400,000 is hard, and you can't always get tickets at the minimum miles price.
Some people fly an awful lot, and most FF programs give bonues of 100% or more to their top tier, so someone flying 150,000 miles a year might earn 300,000 miles or more. There also are some people who are just plain rich, or run a lot of business spending through their credit cards, and charge millions of dollars a year.
One option is to buy points. Flyertalk is not a place to do that, but I work for a company with about 5,000 professionals on our campus and an active bulletin board. I have found many people who don't really know the best ways to use their points, and have found a fair number of people to buy Amex and Chase points from for 1.25 cents. At that rate, you can get a couple of overseas business class tickets for $2500 plus fees, which isn't too bad.
#10
Formerly known as iahsumr
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 520
Some good suggestions here. I would just highlight a few brief ways to start. CC apps are great for a quick infusion of miles. The Ultimate Reward points that were posted are a great way to do that. If you and your wife both do a couple of those, you will be well on your way. I agree with shopping via the UR portal and maximizing the bonus categories on those Ultimate Rewards earning cards. There is some huge value there. Also participate in dining programs.
Participating in promotions can also get you large numbers of miles relatively quickly. The US Airways Grand Slam is a great example, and you can realistically get 100,000 - 200,000 miles from that (if you and your wife both participate). There is some out of pocket cost to do that, but the miles you can in return are well worth the investment (for many folks). If it comes back this fall, check it out and see if it makes sense for you.
Hope that helps some and good luck!
Participating in promotions can also get you large numbers of miles relatively quickly. The US Airways Grand Slam is a great example, and you can realistically get 100,000 - 200,000 miles from that (if you and your wife both participate). There is some out of pocket cost to do that, but the miles you can in return are well worth the investment (for many folks). If it comes back this fall, check it out and see if it makes sense for you.
Hope that helps some and good luck!
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 76
Best way to have miles for big trips
Thank you guys very much for your help! I've been trying to learn all this stuff in last few weeks. I got denied by chase for Marriott card. So I can't apply for another chase card for another 5 months. Called reconsideration line multiple times. Only have the freedom. But feel like I'm missing out on so much without the Ink or Sapphire. Working on building my credit right now. Credit karma has mine at 730, credit sesame only 660
#12
Formerly known as iahsumr
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 520
Thank you guys very much for your help! I've been trying to learn all this stuff in last few weeks. I got denied by chase for Marriott card. So I can't apply for another chase card for another 5 months. Called reconsideration line multiple times. Only have the freedom. But feel like I'm missing out on so much without the Ink or Sapphire. Working on building my credit right now. Credit karma has mine at 730, credit sesame only 660
#14
Formerly known as iahsumr
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 520
It earns UR points just like the Sapphire Preferred and Ink Bold only you don't have the ability to transfer to hotel and airline partners unless you first transfer those UR points to a Sapphire Preferred or Ink Bold account. So, save them until you (or a spouse) has access to one of those accounts.
#15
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: CLD
Programs: ua S, marriott P, hilton G, ihg P
Posts: 579