Mistakes to AVOID Traveling w/ Points & Miles (What I Learned)
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- Опубликовано: 5 июл 2024
- From breaking my own rules, to missing out on credit card benefits, and having no way home up until the last minute, maximizing value for flights, hotels, and benefits is HARD.
Although I’ve been on over 15 flights to over 10 airports, saving over $37,000 over that time, I’m still learning and screwing up! So in this video, we’ll go over my trip to Japan, Korea, and New York, along with all the issues I’ve faced, my experience navigating them, and tips to reduce future headaches!
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JUMP TO SECTIONS 📚:
0:00 Points Travel Gone Wrong
0:37 How to fly to Japan in Business class for CHEAP
2:28 Stuck in Korea with no flight home
3:03 Award Search TIP
3:24 Points vs cash for flights, more mistakes
5:52 Options flying from Korea with cash
7:33 Best ways to fly from Korea (Turn of events!)
10:51 Problems returning from Korea
11:57 Issues with New York trip
14:34 Costly mistakes traveling with points & miles
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Question for you: How many trips have you been on that were booked w/ points & miles? What were your biggest learnings? 👇
damn! I cannot do what you did there. That sounded extremely stressful. kudos to you and glad it all worked out!
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I wouldn’t even try this in peak season. I know how tempting it is to score last minute business awards since they do open up availability. I am surprised P2 was okay with this.
Haha yeah, I think that's the other point I forgot to mention about it being peak season. FWIW, last time I found 3x ANA seats was first week of October! And my amazing P2 was good with it, as it was just me handle it all really haha
Kevin, I'm glad things worked out in your favor mostly. As you probably know June to July is very busy time for visiting most of Asia. Usually highest airfare during the year other than Christmas time. I'd never take the risk like you did, but if you are flexible with schedule, sometimes things will work out.
That's another great point about time of the year (last time finding 3x ANA Business was for early October)! Yeah it was a pretty high risk.. but really goes to show theory is one thing, doing everything 100% correct in practice is another! Everyone will have their own risk appetite and that's totally expected. Have you gone on a similar trip?
@@KevinYang I've visited Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Philippines. Not at the same time. I haven't used much points yet. I am thinking about visiting either Europe or Asia using miles for airfare and hotel soon. My usual favorite time to visit S.E Asia is January/February. Typically the best weather and low season for airfare.
@@SYS-ky7zk Very true, any specific spot in Europe or Asia as a next spot? Are you looking to use your points for one of these flights?
@@KevinYang It's not decided yet. Possibly Istanbul or Budapest if I decide on Europe. I should have at least enough points for Business class RT from US to Europe. In SEA, possibly Laos.
@@SYS-ky7zk Haven't been to any of those spots, but sounds like fun trips when you decide to go!
omg haha, I mean props to you for staying calm through all that but I could never
Haha yeah, everyone has different risk tolerances + consequences they're willing to stomach (in this case, high prices for economy), but worked out!
Do you have a video explaining how to change your backup ticket to business class? I booked an economy seat using lifemiles but seems like I can't change or cancel to get a business class seat when available.
I haven't personally used Lifemiles, but looks like you can change for $150 according to onemileatatime.com/guides/change-cancel-lifemiles-award-ticket/
Damn that just sounds stressful. I would not want to worry about that during a vacation but hey you got to fly business at a reasonable rate.
It's not for everyone! Fortunately it's something I enjoy (both points & travel, but also finding the best deals), and only took like a couple minutes a day, so at least that worked out! At the very least most the stress was gone after booking that refundable Delta flight
I don’t understand, I had the option to transfer points to aircanada for the same flight YVR to KIX but they were charging like 65k points per one way
I think for Aeroplan booking Air Canada itself, the points needed varies, so you'll have to find a day where the points is low enough for what you'd like!
Don't airlines in the destination country, at customs checkpoint, ask if you have a flight back? And some do verify this also. What happened in your case when you were in Osaka?
That's a great one, and yeah I've been asked before! I think going to Japan, we technically had a flight out (to Korea), and this time going to Korea they never asked!
@@KevinYang Wow, you got lucky then. Still very risky as they may deny you entry!
@@PingPingTravel Yeah true.. I guess technically someone could just book a refundable ticket!
I’m trying to get to Korea from Boston. Is air Canada the best option for redemptions? I’m new to the game !
It really depends! Check out Seats.Aero for a good starting point. What points do you currently have?
@@KevinYang 50k Bilt and 100k chase but this won’t be for another 9 months or so this trip
@@ChristianTroy02 Those are both good currencies to stock up on if you're eyeing those trips! I would definitely check out Seats.Aero, even if you don't pay for it, you can search in the next 30-60 days to see what your options are like. Flightconnections.com also helps you visualize what kind of routes you can take to get you from BOS to wherever you wanna go
Getting around JFK terminals is actually not that bad. Hopped between T8 and T4 in about 10mins with CLEAR + Precheck. The AirTrains are very reliable there.
Interesting, yeah I heard depending on the line it could work out, though I heard mixed things about getting through security at different terminals if you don't have a departing flight from there?
@@KevinYang the precheck agents are really chill about it. I’ve been to the “wrong” terminal at quite a few airports and haven’t had any issues thus far. Just tell them you’re here for the lounge, in case they ask. In fact, when I checked in to the Amex lounge at JFK T4, the receptionist acknowledged I was in the wrong terminal but just reminded me to depart from the lounge sooner than usual, so I have enough time to get back to T8.
@@vikashsamaga I'll keep that in mind next time I go, thanks Vikash!
I have 110k chase points, can I fly from California to Tokyo in first class?
First class will be hard to find availability, but 110k should be enough for at least one way First class!
I am currently in the debate of going for Chase or American Express as my mainstream card for travel.
Why not both? Start off with Chase cards like CFF/CSP, then go Amex with Gold and Plat to round it off!
I use Amex Plat, CSR, Ritz, VX, Citi Strada Premier, and BILT for travel
@@Re3iRtH How do you find your Amex Plat + CSR + VX combo? Do you get enough value from all of them?
@@KevinYang i get exceeding value from all of them except the amex platinum is borderline every year. Especially much so now since i'm based overseas and most of the credits cannot be used abroad.
@@Re3iRtH That's great to hear! Yeah the Amex coupon book takes some work to really fit in. And by cannot be used abroad, do you mean Amex has less acceptance for example?
The rook lucks out
First!
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