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-   -   Average Monthly Points (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milesbuzz/1431539-average-monthly-points.html)

lkar Jan 24, 2013 9:57 pm

My numbers probably look low in "k" because I am a bit strategic with VR. I already have a bunch of HH, so the 6x isn't a huge pull for me. I have a decent amount of expenses that, until BB, were zero points per dollar. So on those, even 1 point per dollar is good if it's on the right card. Like the US Airways card where $25k in spend is good for 10k EQM. I have 2 UsAirways cards, so working toward the EQM keeps me busy. I would rather have 5k US plus be 20 percent of the way to 10k EQM than get 30k HH for the same spend. Other than working toward the EQM, I use VR for credit card sign up spend and, at the end of the year, to hit any attainable, close threshold bonuses, like on the PRG or the original Ink Bold, which I still have.

Dr Jabadski Jan 24, 2013 10:07 pm


Originally Posted by lavag (Post 20118701)
5k at drugstores @6points/$1 on HHonors Amex. This one should be widely doable atm, but will be changing in the spring.


Originally Posted by Happy (Post 20119075)
Easy up till May when AMEX drops the drugstore 6x.

Thanks. I wasn’t aware that Hilton AmEx is 6/$ at drugstores.

farwest101 Jan 25, 2013 12:25 am


Originally Posted by brooklynmatt (Post 20117983)
All points are not created equal..

At the moment:

Manufactured
30K HH
10K UR
2K SPG
2.5K AA

Plus - 5K Shopping (Diverse portals)
Plus 2K Biz 3K Personal spend

New to the game, but pushing ~80K per month, mostly UR/MR (~60K) from nonbusiness spend (on business cards - go figure). (Rest comes from UA/AA/HA).

VRs finally arrived mid-month and that's making life much easier. A few months to get my programs going and 100K seems possible. I'm gunning for you ADK! :D

Agreed. All points aren't created equal. Those HHonorpesos are worth a fraction of an UR/MR (~1/6th or less for the aspirational redemptions I'd be using them for). Once I saw the comparable redemption value, I stopped bothering with Hilton for the most part (although I do grab 24K/month using Amex @ CVS for grins - but I only value them at 4K).

extremeromance Jan 25, 2013 2:56 am

About 50k Ultimate Rewards a month from business expenses. I don't get into any kind of manufactured spend, gift cards, vanilla reloads or anything else to draw attention :)

schley Jan 25, 2013 3:12 am


Originally Posted by rajuabju (Post 20117898)
Def. an interesting topic. Curious to see who the true "heavy hitters" are...

My monthly averages are:

20k/month from BankDirect (AA Miles)
15k/month for business related (Ultimate Rewards)
20k/month for personal spend (various)
10k/month manufactured spend (various)

My manufactured spend was crazy high during the Mint Days. And I also get probably 1/3 of my points from sign-up bonuses.

Is your name Allen Iverson? Can you give us examples of this?

babypuwet Jan 25, 2013 3:38 am


Originally Posted by noelr (Post 20117995)
I'm just getting in to manufactured spend, but I'm already up to around 25k UR each month plus 1-2k in actual spend. Don't know what took me so long..

can you provide insight on how to manufactor so much in spend?

brooklynmatt Jan 25, 2013 5:39 am


Originally Posted by farwest101 (Post 20119762)
New to the game, but pushing ~80K per month, mostly UR/MR (~60K) from nonbusiness spend (on business cards - go figure). (Rest comes from UA/AA/HA).

VRs finally arrived mid-month and that's making life much easier. A few months to get my programs going and 100K seems possible. I'm gunning for you ADK! :D

Agreed. All points aren't created equal. Those HHonorpesos are worth a fraction of an UR/MR (~1/6th or less for the aspirational redemptions I'd be using them for). Once I saw the comparable redemption value, I stopped bothering with Hilton for the most part (although I do grab 24K/month using Amex @ CVS for grins - but I only value them at 4K).

Yeah they aren't as valuable but still very good for aspiration all travel for me- eg next trip 4 nights Conrad Maldives and Condrad Tokyo for 290k of course I'd rather have 290 spg but still have value to me axon cat 7s like these.

prestonv Jan 25, 2013 6:14 am

Average Monthly Points
 
40k from 2 ink cards
20k from surpass cvs spending
10k from hotel spending
10k from 5k BIS flying (DL gold)
10k from AMEX Delta cards
15k average from CC sign ups

This total is for 2 people who keep gold status on delta and take 2 FC INTERNATIONAL TRIPS
PER YEAR


100k per month approx

prestonv Jan 25, 2013 6:18 am

Average Monthly Points
 
Edit to last post

2 FC trips per year almost completely on points.

DL AMEX spend more like 5k per month

80% spend is manufactured with VR

rajuabju Jan 25, 2013 6:34 am


Originally Posted by schley (Post 20120140)
Is your name Allen Iverson? Can you give us examples of this?

lol

My personal spend is on cards such as HHonors Surpasss which gives 6x on groceries & drugstores, Chase Sapphire which gives 2x for dining, PenFed Visa which gives 5x for gas, etc...

The actual Dollar amount for personal (and every other category I listed) is lower.

Like most others, getting 5x-6x for gift cards, doing some Bluebird, AP, etc... for the manufactured spend.

AlohaDaveKennedy Jan 25, 2013 6:47 am

Good luck to you, provided you are not Cardinal Fang, of course.:D


Originally Posted by farwest101 (Post 20119762)
I'm gunning for you ADK! :D


bangkokiscool Jan 25, 2013 8:06 am

Why does this thread exist? Is the need to brag or engage in a "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" so urgent? Whatever momentary pleasure may exist in that, I can't help but wonder how this thread reads to a Cardinal or marketing analyst looking for ways to devalue, whether now or any time in the future since FT threads live on and on...

cronin85 Jan 25, 2013 8:10 am

That's insane how much manufactured spending some of you guys do!

I am pretty new to the game and I signed up for HHonors AMEX (non-surpass one) 2 weeks ago. When I signed up it said 6x on drugstores, but when I received paperwork it doesn't mention that anywhere nor does it mention it on the website when I look at the app now. I guess I'll have to call AMEX to verify.

jrreynolds Jan 25, 2013 8:26 am

Points from Bank Direct
 
I see that several folks are getting 18.5K - 20K of points per month for Bank Direct.

I am unaware of what that program is all about.
Can someone point me in the right direction to get that kind of generating.

thanks

Dr Jabadski Jan 25, 2013 8:28 am

While “mine is bigger than yours” threads are generally pretty silly, this one has been very enlightening, thanks to all. I never did the mint and thus far I’ve not yet done prepaid/reload cards. As such, my manufactured spend is a whopping 108 :D (one hundred and eight, not a typo) miles per month from Audience Rewards Trivia (12 miles per cycle x 3 programs x 3 times per month). Reads like I should get familiar with the OD and CVS and WG stores in my area ... and blue is my favorite color! Thanks again.


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