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This week at Frequent Miler, read about how you can get on the status match bandwagon, analysis of a sweet spot award and a not-so-sweet-spot offer, the first few weeks of the upcoming Daily Getaways and more. Read on for the weekend recap.
How to get targeted for the best Amex welcome bonuses
Updated for 2019 with a link to check for targeted business card offers, this resource is full of good information on how to get targeted for the best possible welcome bonuses.
My take on everything new as of early May 2019
Greg shares his thoughts on everything from a 5/24 workaround to current promos, devaluations, and more. See this post for his brief summaries and reactions on a wide range of currently hot topics.
Free hotel breakfast & dinner at Nordic Choice Clarion Collection [Sweet-spot spotlight]
This week’s sweet spot spotlight focuses on one of the best uses of Choice Privileges points, which is timely since these points will go on sale soon through Daily Getaways. Buying just one package of points could easily save you hundreds of dollars in Scandinavia — and using points at a specific brand within the portfolio will get you both breakfast and dinner, which is a particularly strong value in most of the region.
From zero to hero on the status-match-go-round
A few current status match opportunities can open a path to go from zero status to top-tier in a few programs within just a couple of weeks. If you’re planning a trip to an area with a Caesars casino property this year, you could score a $100 dinner and a couple of free show tickets just from matching status you currently (likely) have. This post shows how I helped a family member go from no hotel points / status to top-tier in a couple of programs in about 2 weeks. With some luck, she may even end up with higher status than she had to start.
My hacked Hilton account has finally been restored
You may remember the story of Greg’s Hilton account being hacked. He had found out when he received a notification about it being time to check in for a reservation he hadn’t made. Hilton had apparently made it quite easy for someone to get control of his account more than once. See this update for the ultimate resolution. It’s always worth reading a story like this so you have an idea of what to do if something like this happens to you.
Daily Getaways 2019: First 3 Weeks Of Offers Announced
Daily Getaways starts on Monday, May 6th. While the deals have become diluted over the years, and the competition for the best deals has turned them into a lottery, there are always a few opportunities to get good value from these sales. Personally, I’m going to take a gamble on the Alamo rental days next week. It says that the certificates are delivered within 5 business days, but if I’m able to get a couple of certificates I’ll hope they come through sooner as I’ve got a good use in mind. The only other deal that excites me in these first few weeks is Choice Privileges points, which are a good enough deal that I’ll likely buy speculatively.
How much spend justifies that 25% ThankYou bonus?
The short answer: too much. In other words, I don’t think the new (targeted) offer from Citi to earn a 25% bonus when you combine a credit card with a Priority checking package is worth it for the vast majority of folks. In my opinion, the spend required to justify this one is just too much to commit unless you’re a regular MSer.
What should we write next?
One of the things I love about working at Frequent Miler is the freedom to write about whatever I find interesting in this hobby. While Greg and I often email back and forth about things that turn into post topics, most of the time we just write about what’s on our minds each day. Now and then a post is inspired by a comment or question from a reader. With this post, Greg is asking for more from readers, and I think it’s great: tell us what you want to hear about. I’ve found the range of responses really interesting thus far. While we probably won’t write about all the suggested topics, we’ve already covered a few and there will be more to come from the suggestion box.
Best business card offers that don’t add to 5/24
Speaking of topics suggested by readers, this is the first of the suggested topics from our Frequent Miler Insiders group: a summary of the best business card offers you should be considering if you’re on a quest to get or stay under 5/24. While some will debate whether or not it’s even worth the effort to slim down below 5/24, I think there are plenty of good business card bonuses to keep you busy while you wait and plenty of good Chase offers to make the wait worth your while.
That’s it for this week at Frequent Miler. Check back soon for our week in review around the web and this week’s last chance deals.
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