Written by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
There isn’t much to get excited about when you spot a toll booth ahead. But using a credit card that earns rewards can help soften the blow! The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, for example, earns 2x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel. Most of us think of travel purchases as airfare, hotel, and car rental, but Chase’s definition of travel is …
Continue reading “How to earn bonus points or cash back on tolls”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
The Federal Reserve conducted a survey of over 6,600 Americans in 2016 and found that the average monthly student loan payment is $393. So it’s no wonder that student loan payments are a large part of many people’s budgets. Like with all other types of expenses, those of us in the miles & points hobby are …
Continue reading “Can you pay student loans with a credit card?”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
In the past, Emirates’ loyalty program has had limited use for most people, even though it’s considered one of the nicest airlines in the world. Their award rates weren’t anything spectacular, but the real issue was the huge surcharges they tacked onto most award redemptions. But today, according to One Mile at a Time, Emirates …
Continue reading “Emirates significantly reduces fees for award flights”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
One of the many benefits to using a credit card versus a debit card or cash is the protections a credit card can offer. As a consumer and credit card holder, the Fair Credit Billing Act gives you the right to dispute certain charges to your credit card. This is meant to protect you from …
Continue reading “What is a chargeback on a credit card?”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
There’s something to be said about IHG points value and flexibility. With 5,600+ hotels worldwide, there’s a good chance you can find a location for your next trip, no matter where you’re going. Plus, IHG points are pretty easy to collect. With the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, you can earn 140,000 bonus points after …
Written by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
Family travel is a huge part of the miles & points world. Lots of people get into this hobby because they want to visit family, or they want to vacation with their family. As a mom and miles & points fanatic, I’ve already started getting my 4-year-old daughter into the hobby (albeit, unbeknownst to her) by …
Continue reading “Tips to give your kids a head start on their own miles & points journey”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
Opening a credit card and taking on credit is a financial decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Managing credit responsibly is the key to a healthy credit score — something that will have an impact on you throughout your life. With good credit, it’ll be easier to buy a car, qualify for a home loan …
Continue reading “How to choose the right credit card for you”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
One of my favorite ways to use British Airways Avios points is to book domestic award flights with American Airlines because you’re often able to book the same flight for fewer miles. I’ve done this before with flights between Dallas and Miami, and saved thousands of miles in the process. Here’s a quick reminder on …
Continue reading “How to book American Airlines flights with British Airways Avios points”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
There aren’t as many ways to earn Capital One miles as many other miles & points currencies, like Amex Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points. After all, Capital One has no dining program. There are no online shopping portals. There are no rotating quarterly bonus categories. And that’s part of what gives the program …
Continue reading “How to earn Capital One miles”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
Three hotel chains are Chase transfer partners: Hyatt, IHG and Marriott. But you might be wondering which transfer partner is the best. The best way to use Chase points for free hotel stays is with Hyatt — Hyatt points go further than most other hotel points. And they have many terrific hotels around the world, like the Miraval Arizona, Hyatt Zilara …
Continue reading “How and why to transfer Chase Points to Hyatt”
Read MoreTwo of the best Chase credit cards are the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® cards. The Sapphire Preferred is the best for beginners, with the Sapphire Reserve being the best for travelers, especially those looking for premium perks. Before you decide between which card is best for you, you need to be aware of Chase’s credit …
Continue reading “Guide to Chase Sapphire rules and restrictions”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
The quickest way to rack up loads of miles and points is by earning a big welcome bonus from one of the best credit cards for travel. For example, when you’re approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you’ll earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months …
Continue reading “How to use Venmo to meet credit card minimum spending requirements”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
We’ve all been there — your smartwatch (or other expensive item) dies just a week after its manufacturer’s warranty expires. Of course, paying extra for an extended warranty didn’t seem worth it at the time you bought it and now you’re out a few hundred dollars. Situations like this stink, but by using the right …
Continue reading “Best credit cards for extended warranty”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
We get a lot of questions about United’s policies and procedures, which isn’t surprising given they’re one of the biggest carriers in the U.S. United has made some policy changes because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we’ll review those…
Written by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
As ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft boom in popularity as alternative ways to get around, those types of purchases have become a more common bonus category for both cash-back cards and travel credit cards. As with any other kind of spending, you’ll want to make sure you’re using the right card to maximize the …
Continue reading “Best credit cards for Uber and Lyft”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
Rewards credit card welcome bonuses are the fastest way, hands down, to accumulate points and jump-start your next free adventure. So naturally, a common question is which bonus is the biggest or the best. First, it’s important to understand that not all miles and points are created equal – 150,000 points offered by one travel credit …
Continue reading “These are the travel cards with the best bonuses”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
The simplest credit card reward you can earn is cash back. With a cash-back card, you’re getting money back just for using a credit card. But if you’re not using the credit card with best cash-back rewards for your spending habits, you’re missing out on free money. Booking flights and hotels with rewards earned from …
Continue reading “Best cash back credit cards of May 2020”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
One of the best tips we can offer to anyone looking to earn free travel with miles and points is to maximize the rewards you earn with every purchase you make. With so many different credit cards available, including the ones we consider to be the best cards for travel, determining which card to use …
Continue reading “Best credit cards for online shopping”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
You have lots of options when it comes to earning Amex Membership Rewards points, which is always a good thing. But choosing the right card can be tricky because there are various factors to consider. If you’re looking for an Amex card, we’ve put together this comparison of the American Express® Green Card, American Express® Gold Card and The …
Continue reading “Amex Green, Gold or Platinum: What card is right for you?”
Read MoreWritten by Meghan Hunter @ Million Mile Secrets
With the American Express Pay Over Time program, you’ll get extra flexibility in how you use some of your Amex cards. It’s easy to enroll, and even better, Amex sometimes offers bonus points for enrollment — in fact, I recently received 20,…
