This blog article is part 3 of a 3 part series. To review the other 2 parts in this series, please click ONE or TWO. These blog postings are intended to show you how to apply the strategy, or in other words, see the strategy in action. However, if you would prefer to see a simple run down, please click VACATION PLANNING STRATEGIES - In Short.
There are many credit cards that provide miles that can be redeemed for flights. The special offers change so I cannot say the promotion I joined on is still available. However, there is a website called "Flyertalk" that has a wealth of information on finding the best way to travel. There is a forum on that site where members posts recent credit card offers. Those who subscribe to that forum will receive a notice by email. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credit-card-programs/1177334-special-credit-card-offers-master-thread-subscription.html)
When considering a trip to Fiji, I found that I could get tickets through American Airlines, by way of their affiliated partner. American Airlines appealed to me because it was a big company and flew to many different places giving me the flexibility to still use my points even if I chose not to go to Fiji, which is exactly what happened. Also, since American Airlines flew to many places, I knew that I had a good chance of fighting a ticket on American Airlines and that would be great since most airline affiliated credit cards give extra reward points when you purchase a plane ticket with their credit card.
We rarely fly since having kids so I knew that whatever credit card I chose, it would have to have a healthy sign-up reward bonus or we it would take us years to accumulate enough points to fund our airplane tickets. At the time, the best credit card for American Airlines was from Citi credit cards. About 80% of the points I have today came from the sign-up reward bonus. I was using my credit card to make up the difference when I decided against Fiji for the reasons stated earlier.[American Airlines also has an off-peak season where you can fly using less than 50% less of miles necessary for a regular flight. For example, see the chart.] http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/redeemMiles/american-airlines-award-chart.jsp.]
Now that I no longer had a need for the Citi credit cards I decided to stop using that card and opened 2 Southwest Airlines cards. Living in Los Angeles with most of our relatives in Southern California or Arizona, it made sense to have a credit card connected to an airline that was based in the West.
I opened up Southwest related credit cards. One was a regular and the other was a business card. You have to becareful to read the terms and conditions for the program. You don't want to accidentally open up two cards and be told you only get one sign-up bonus. That is why the Flyertalk forum is helpful. The members highlight the terms and conditions. They also give you tips and suggestions for getting around certain challenges.
The other benefit of Southwest Airlines is their companion pass. Once you accumulate a certain amount of points, you are entitled to designate a companion who flies free as your companion on any flights you fly for the rest of the year in which you are awarded a companion pass AND the following calendar year. Upon verifying that the bonus points that came with the sign-up offer, I applied for the Southwest Airlines credit cards. Then, within a few months, I received my free companion pass. This occurred in 2014. Through this companion pass I was able to knock out one of the flights to our trip to the Dominican Republic (DR). Southwest recently opened up flights to the Dominican Republic. Although SW does not fly directly from Los Angeles to DR, flights from LA and flights from DR both fly into many spots, including New Orleans, LA.
I have always wanted to visit Louisiana. So, I booked one flight from LA to New Orleans where we will spend a day and a half, then fly from New Orleans to DR.
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