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We’ve been talking a lot lately about unique uses for Citi ThankYou points such as transferring to Leading Hotels of the World, but how do you accumulate these points? That’s what we’ll talk about in today’s episode of Frequent Miler on the Air.
How to Amass Citi ThankYou Rewards
Mailbag
(01:20) – During Ask Us Anything, Greg said that Amex to Hilton transfer bonus would have to be 70% to match standard Chase to Hyatt transfer value. One reader thought of a situation where a 1.7 cents per point value could be reached via Bilt to Virgin Atlantic 125% transfer bonus for Platinum members.
Watch our recent Ask Us Anything here.
Card News
(07:53) – Hilton Aspire resort credit-eligible hotel list shrinks
Read more about the Hilton Aspire resort credit eligible hotel list changes here.
(09:29) – Targeted 120,000 Membership Rewards points Business Platinum upgrade offers
Read more about the 120K Membership Rewards points Business Platinum upgrade offers here.
(13:36) – Venture X and Venture X Business Cards: Hertz President’s Circle status NOT ending 12/31.
Read more about the Venture X card here, and the Venture X Business Card here.
Crazy Thing Double Header
(14:50) – What crazy thing did Nick and Greg do? (They missed the 70K Hawaiian card bonus change to 50K, hours before discussing it on the podcast.)
(15:10) – Listen to our conversation about the Alaska / Hawaiian merger here.
(17:21) – What crazy thing did Barclays do?
Mattress Running the Numbers
(21:15) – Targeted IHG double elite night credits on up to 2 stays through 12/31/24 (Read more here.)
Awards, Points, and More
(28:01) – Wells Fargo Rewards® points now transfer to Virgin
(29:02) – Targeted Avianca LifeMiles sale – 200% bonus (through MONDAY 9/30) (Read more here.)
(31:46) – AA Targeted promo to get Loyalty Points when spending AA miles
(32:37) – Melio business bill payment service now has paid membership tiers
Read more about Melio here.
(35:28) – Pepper Rewards adds point history and pending point information
(39:23) – Spirit updates, including removing redemption fees and free wifi for Gold members
Main Event: How to Amass Citi ThankYou Rewards
(40:55) – ThankYou Rewards quick overview and basics
Find out about unique rewards you can get with ThankYou points here.
(46:23) – Welcome bonuses
Learn more about the Strata Premier card here.
Learn more about the Double Cash card here, and the Custom Cash card here.
(50:54) – Earn through spend…
(1:01:02) – Targeted Bonuses
(1:02:44) – Retention Bonuses
(1:07:19) – 2 person (or “2 player”) strategy
Question of the Week
(1:10:10) – A reader won 50K American Airline miles from a work event and is considering accumulating more…
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Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder
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Thanks for the tip on checking if Barclays correctly or incorrectly allocated the new Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard with my existing HawaiianMiles account (which has 100k+ miles). Sure enough, they created a “new” HawaiianMiles account (or at least one I have never seen before).
I am going to call Barclays to see if they can simply change it. They may want to send an updated physical card. My expectations are low. 🙂
But, as you can transfer HawaiianMiles to friends and family, my backup plan would simply be to do that extra step (a la Chase points consolidation), once I earn enough Mastercard HawaiianMiles (e.g. for the 70k sign-up bonus).
You guys are so amazing. Thanks for all your wisdom.
Per matching cc name to ff accounts, this is especially true if you get airline tix through the cc travel portal. I had a nightmare scenario when my plat amex was in the (not legal) name I always use for everything– my biz, my income taxes, my hotel accounts, my CCs, my life. Everything except my driver’s license, passport and ff accounts (and real estate, of course).
When I bought a ticket on DL through the amex travel portal it was issued in my cc name. After 2 very lengthy phone calls I was able to CHANG THE NAME ON MY Plat card and then get ticket reissued. That was the only solution according to amex.
It was a huge PITA, but I’m glad I caught it before I tried to check in. I’ve already fought TSA on this name discrepancy and they are pretty damn obstinate and obtuse. The difference is identical to going by Willy-Bob when your legal name is William Robert. Duh.
I recently used thankyou points with my prestige for a 4 night stay at a Hilton Garden Inn in Times Square. The rate total was $772 minus the 4th night free bringing it down to $607. I used 60,000 thankyou points instead of cash. After checking in, I asked them to add my Hilton Diamond number and they told me I now had $30/day in food credits. I also was given a late checkout. After the stay, I also recieved a ton of Hilton points for the stay and 10% thankyou points back due to my Citi Rewards Plus card! Quite a steal I think, as rates in Times Square were at least $160/night. AND I also avoided the dreaded “destination fee” of $30/night.
Well played! And a good reason to always try to get your hotel membership perks/points even when you supposedly can’t.
Virgin allows a person to transfer points from one’s own account to any other Virgin member for a flat $15 fee. I’ve done it multiple times.
Ooh, right. I forgot about that one!