I’ve increased my travel hacking ability this year. With this year’s labor I will enjoy $27,007.38 worth of travel for free and been able to have insane and luxurious travel experiences that I did not at all associate with frugality. With these bookings I’ll be visiting:
- Seoul in First Class
- Nha Trang, Vietnam
- Tokyo
- Bangkok in First Class
- Koh Samui, Thailand
- Hong Kong in First Class
- LA
- Albany during Memorial Day for a wedding
- Erie, PA for a wedding
- Boston
- Hampton Beach
- Atlanta x2 (once during Christmas)
- Upstate New York during Christmas
All this was possible as a result of:
- 240,000 Delta miles (We were trying to get rid of)
- 117,500 British avios (50K from a BA credit card, 17.5K from a Chase card)
- 75,000 United miles (50K from a United credit card, 25K from a Chase card)
- 25,000 American miles(40K from an American Air credit card)
- 15,400 Jetblue points (Points I didn’t realize I had from flights over the years)
- $200 AmEx Delta Credit
I gathered a few of these sign up bonuses not knowing where I would use them, but that decision has worked out really well. To breakdown my savings:
Vietnam Trip
Delta First Class for $40 and 160,000 Delta miles round trip
(Real cost: $5,000)
SAVINGS: $4,960
Thailand Trip
Delta First Class for $20 and 80,000 Delta miles: Seattle to Seoul to Bangkok
(Real cost: $6,000)
Cathay Pacific First Class for $837.62 and 117,500 British avios: Bangkok to Hong Kong to LA
(Real cost: $14,633)
Delta $8 and $100 AmEx credit: LA to Seattle
(Real cost: $8)
SAVINGS: $19,975.38
Weddings
Albany, NY Round Trip during 4th of July holiday: $11.20 and 50,000 United miles transferred from Chase points
(Real cost: $750)
Erie, PA One Way: $5.60 and 25,000 United miles
(Real cost: $450)
SAVINGS:$1,183.20
Boston/Hampton Beach/Atlanta
Seattle to Boston: $5.60 and 15,400 Jetblue points I forgot about
(Real cost: $300)
SAVINGS: $294.40
Christmas
Upstate New York Business Class One Way: $5.60 and 25,000 American miles
(Real cost: $600)
Atlanta one way: $111 and $100 AmEx voucher
(Real cost: $211)
SAVINGS: $694.40
Not bad for an amateur.