Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is almost done! The last two weeks Greg, Nick, and Stephen competed to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines. But who completed the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
Update: Reader NK3 points out that this offer also includes an additional 2x everywhere this year. That means that ordinary spend will earn 4x Choice privileges points through December 31, 2021. According to the offer terms, these points may not post until 2-3 billing cycles following December 31, 2021. Still, that’s potentially a great deal if you value Choice points.
- You will earn an additional 2 points for every $1 spent on Net Purchases made on the Card Account with transaction dates through December 31, 2021. To receive the additional 2 points, your Card Account must be open and in good standing at the time of fulfillment. Please allow 2-3 billing cycles following December 31, 2021 for the additional points to be deposited into your Membership account. This offer may be canceled at any time without notice.
Original post follows.
Earn up to 75,000 Choice Privileges with just $2K spend with the newly-increased offer available on the Choice Privileges Visa. While Choice Privileges doesn’t regularly get a lot of love in the loyalty rewards community, the program does sometimes offer opportunities to get fantastic value out of the points. If you can keep your eye out and pick and choose the right circumstances, this offer could be pretty attractive.
The Offer & Key Card Details
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
70K Points ⓘ Non-Affiliate 70K after $1K spend in first 3 monthsNo Annual Fee Alternate Offer: Choice members may be targeted for a higher offer FM Mini Review: Decent bonus for a no-annual fee card, but not a great keeper unless you value the Choice Gold Status Earning rate: 5X at Choice Hotels ✦ 3X at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone plans ✦ 1X everywhere else Card Info: Mastercard World Elite issued by Wells. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Noteworthy perks: Automatic Gold status ✦ Cell phone Protection ($25 deductible, $800 max per claim) |
Quick Thoughts
Choice Privileges is the rewards program of brands like Comfort Inn, Quality inn, Clarion, and Cambria Suites. While those brands don’t generally scream luxury, the program does offer some opportunities for outsized value.
Those who would travel to Scandinavia can get impressive value out of a bonus like this since some Nordic Choice properties offer not only free hot breakfast but also a free dinner. While many travelers expect exotic locales like the Maldives and Bora-Bora to feature steep prices for food and drink, those who have been to Scandinavia know that it isn’t only remote islands where you’ll experience sticker shock; free dinner in a country like Norway could save you a bundle. On my last overnight layover in Oslo, I paid 16K points for a room that would have been north of $250. The airport hotel I chose wasn’t anything special, which made me all the happier to have used 16K points from a less popular program rather than lay out out the extra cash.
Even here in the US you can sometimes run across great deals with Choice. When my wife surprised me with reservations at The French Laundry a couple of years ago, I ended up booking us a 2-bedroom suite at the Hotel Napa Valley (pictured above) for 12K Choice points per night. While it looks like this hotel is now 25K-30K per night, it was a great deal at the time given that each room was pretty unique (and getting 3 nights here for just $2K spend would still be a pretty solid deal given cash rates in the $250-$300 range). It wasn’t necessarily as luxurious as it looks from the street (it was sort of a mix of B&B and motel with most of the rooms housed in separate out-buildings in the back that looked more like apartments), but the rooms were each unique (we saw a few while we were there and each had its own touches) and there were fire pits where guests could socialize at night. It was a standout value for our needs; I’d stay again.
You won’t find that kind of value or unique property all the time, but now and then you can do well with Choice points. I wouldn’t necessarily prioritize stocking up on Choice points since they can always be purchased for less than a cent each with the cash & points trick, but picking up 75K points with such little spend could nonetheless be an excellent value for those versed in the program and willing to sit on the points and wait until opportunity knocks.
H/T: Doctor of Credit
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Anyone having the extra points post ? Assuming some people might get them posted later this month
Nope, guess I need to call.
There’s now a discussion on the insiders Facebook group about this.
Thanks, I’m not getting anywhere with the flyertalk rep for chase points or the credit card rep.
Just want to mention that the eMail I received from Choice says to: “apply by September 2, 2021 to take advantage of this exciting offer.”
In 2019, I used Choice points for a Choice Privileges Preferred Hotel in Vienna, Austria, that was going for about $500 a night. It’s a #1 hotel on Trip Advisor (Hotel Sans Souci Wien). Finding an agent who knew how to book this was frustrating, but eventually I found someone who made it happen. There are values to be had!
I will say this. Choice Privileges and Barclay’s customer service can be frustrating. Once I spend up my CP points, I will cancel my card.
Nick, it might be a good idea to pick up this CC with the sign up bonus. You never know when Choice Hotels might add a new Vacasa-like partner to get outstanding value.
According to the RRVs (https://frequentmiler.com/reasonable-redemption-values-rrvs/), Choice Privileges points are worth 0.81 CPP (Hotel Hustle Median Observed Value (as of 11/14/2017)). Therefore, 75,000 Choice Privileges points are worth ~$607.50.
I received an offer by email that had one extra perk. Like this offer, you get 50K points after $1K spend and another 25K points after another $1K spend (so 75K after $2K spend). However, you also get and extra 2 points per $ (so 4 points/$ total) for all spend until the end of the year.
Interesting! I see that, also. Will update!
Actually, I see that at the link we already had — I had missed that in the details. Thanks for pointing it out!
NK3.. did you do the offer? Did your bonus 2x points post? I just received by 3rd statement after 12/31 and no bonus 2x has posted.
Does the Barclays Choice card have a once-in-a-lifetime limit? I could never quite decipher the Terms and Conditions regarding this point
Similar question. I got this card ~6 years ago and still have it. Can I get a second/cancel the current card and get another bonus?
It’s unclear with Barclays. In the past, Barclays used to allow multiple of the same card (many of us had multiple US Airways Dividend cards back in the day). However, they seem to have stopped allowing that for the Aviator card (in some cases people have been unable to get it again even a year or two after cancelling). I’m not sure where they stand on the Choice card.
If anyone becomes aware if you can get a second card and receive the 75K, please post. I would like to receive an additional 75K points to spend before I leave the program.
While it’s kind of a glitchy program, you can also use Choice Privileges points to book Preferred Hotels Group properties. I’ve done it a couple of times because I have a large points balance, but the value may not be attractive to everyone. WARNING: If you use Choice points to book a Preferred property, always call the hotel well in advance to verify that they have your reservation AND that it was done with points. Let my experience be your guide.
https://www.choicehotels.com/choice-privileges/redeem-points/hotel-partners