<![CDATA[Old Soles Travel

<![CDATA[Old Soles Travel - Fly Free]]>Fri, 17 Feb 2023 18:08:58 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[A Better Way to Earn Delta SkyMiles through American Express Strategy]]>Wed, 25 Nov 2020 21:00:00 GMThttp://www.oldsolestravel.com/fly-free/delta

Full Transparency: We are not monetizing any of our content at this time. Opinions and product recommendations on this site are not those of the credit card companies suggested, being ours alone.

Our Favorite Strategy for Accumulating Lots (Hundreds of Thousands) of Reward Points for Use on Delta Airlines through American Express Gold Card and Two of the SkyMiles Cards

Delta the best U.S. airline for Floridians in most cases, as they have affordable prices and several routes out of local airports where other carriers are lacking. This is probably due to the proximity of Atlanta. Being based in Florida, Old Soles Travel flies with Delta regularly on both domestic and international flights and, therefore, value Delta points highly and seek to keep our balance of these points at an adequate level at all times.

Map of Delta's North American Routes from https://news.delta.com/route-map-us-canada

If you live in South Florida or near one of Delta's Hubs this is probably the best strategy for you to start with on your travel rewards journey, like it was for us.

The best strategy to do this without spending exorbitantly on annual fees is outlined here. However, this strategy is secondary to our Chase Trifecta strategies as the return on fees is lower with this plan. In fact, while we suggest three cards over the first two years to accumulate points, we only keep two of these cards active in our wallets.

Using this strategy for 2 years will earn roughly 206,500 points for the average American if they spend in accordance with the average spending documented in the 2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics Report. After the 2 year point there are other supplemental options in the form of additional American Express Cards, higher fee carrying Delta cards, Business cards, and even using Marriot Bonvoy cards to accumulate Delta points, but we suggest switching to Chase at some point unless you live very close to a Delta hub.

Below we suggest a timetable and strategy for individuals and couples to maximize their Delta Rewards.

Annual points earned by average American through this strategy if done right.

Year 1: 156,000 Points 95,000 Amex: 51,000 Delta
Year 2: 50,500 Points 40,000 Amex: 10,500 Delta

2-Year Total 206,500 Points 130,000 Amex: 73,500 Delta

To Learn more about how to earn roughly 200,000 points towards Delta Rewards flights in two years, click read more below.

Click "Read More" below to learn more about how to maximize your Delta SkyMiles Earning Strategy for Individuals and Couples

Individual’s Strategy for Maximizing Delta SkyMiles through American Express Cards

ASAP: Apply for the American Express Gold Card. This will be your card for all spending except during times when you are in bonus periods on the Delta Cards. The 4% on Groceries and Restaurants alone should earn the average American nearly 40,000 valuable Membership Rewards Points every year. The card currently comes in at 60,000 points worth roughly $1200 in travel which can be transferred to Delta if needed to purchase reward flights
Six months later, apply for the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card. Spend the $1,000 to earn the bonus and buy a ticket on Delta if you have an upcoming trip. The extra points and $100 credit make this a good time to do so. The current bonus is 50,000 miles for $1,000 spent in the first three months which is easy to do. Afterwards, only use this card to purchase travel for the extra points and travel protections
Six months later, apply for the Delta SkyMiles Blue Cards. Spend the $500-$1000 to earn the 10,000-20,000 miles bonus
Seven months later, decide whether or not to cancel the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card. This card has an annual fee of only $95, but it really comes down to if you receive enough value from the benefits to continue paying it. We chose to shut ours down as we only fly Delta once every couple years and the free baggage was not of enough value for us. If you fly at least 1 round trip on Delta per year, I would keep it.

Couple’s Strategy for Maximizing Delta SkyMiles through American Express Cards

ASAP: Person 1 should apply for the American Express Gold Card. This will be your card for all spending except during times when you are in bonus periods on the Delta Cards. The 4% on Groceries and Restaurants alone should earn the average American nearly 40,000 valuable Membership Rewards Points every year. The card currently comes in at 60,000 points worth roughly $1200 in travel which can be transferred to Delta if needed to purchase reward flights .
Three to Six Months Later, Person 2 should apply for the American Express Gold Card. This will be your card for all spending except during times when you are in bonus periods on the Delta Cards. The 4% on Groceries and Restaurants alone should earn the average American nearly 40,000 valuable Membership Rewards Points every year. The card currently comes in at 60,000 points worth roughly $1200 in travel which can be transferred to Delta if needed to purchase reward flights .
Six months later, Person 1 should apply for the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card. Spend the $1,000 to earn the bonus and buy a ticket on Delta if you have an upcoming trip. The extra points and $100 credit make this a good time to do so. The current bonus is 50,000 miles for $1,000 spent in the first three months which is easy to do. Afterwards, only use this card to purchase travel for the extra points and travel protections .
Three months later, Person 2 should apply for the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card. Spend the $1,000 to earn the bonus and buy a ticket on Delta if you have an upcoming trip. The extra points and $100 credit make this a good time to do so. The current bonus is 50,000 miles for $1,000 spent in the first three months which is easy to do. Afterwards, only use this card to purchase travel for the extra points and travel protections .
Six months later, Both people should apply for the Delta SkyMiles Blue Cards. Spend the $500-$1000 to earn the 10,000-20,000 miles bonus .
Seven months later, decide whether or not to cancel the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card. This card has an annual fee of only $95, but it really comes down to if you receive enough value from the benefits to continue paying it. We chose to shut ours down as we only fly Delta once every couple years and the free baggage was not of enough value for us. If you fly at least 1 round trip on Delta per year, I would keep it.

We have had great luck in finding value on international flights with our Delta SkyMiles, usually about 1.8 cents per point. This makes keeping the Blue card to ensure we keep them active important to us. We use it once per year and when we purchase anything through Delta, and we transfer points from American Express when we decide to fly on Delta.

Conclusion: When to Choose this Aproach to Accumulate Delta SkyMiles

If you are loyal to Delta, like many Americans, or, if you live near a Delta hub, this is a great and easy strategy to get a couple hundred thousand points in two years. These points are very valuable for flights, international and domestic if you are flexible and plan at least 180 days in advance. There are other more valuable strategies with Chase Credit Cards if you are more flexible on who you chose to fly with, but this is the best, affordable Delta specific option in our opinion and the one we used.

Please use the embedded links where possible. We receive a small reward on many of the products we promote which helps us educated travelers on how to travel better for less. Also, if this is helpful for you share it and consider sponsoring us on Patreon. Sponsorships start at $3/month, which is less than 1% of what you will earn by using this guide to make money for your travels.

Important: The instructions in this guide are based on current credit card incentives. We will periodically update them to keep them accurate, but there is no way to guarantee that the particular costs and incentives will be available at the time you choose to enroll in the services we suggest here. They could be better or worse. We are doing this as a service to you and may be compensated from other organizations for referring you to their services. Always read all credit card agreements and terms carefully before signing up, and remember to spend responsibly to avoid interest and finance charges.

These strategies can be a great tool to enrich your life and can improve your credit when used correctly, but irresponsible spending on credit cards can do just the opposite. We attempt to influence people towards what we think is the best strategy for them, but we are not experts or professional financial advisors. Please monitor your credit and spending. We suggest you adjust these schedules as needed to keep or advance your credit at the level you are targeting. We keep ours in the mid to high 700s at all times and find that easy to do through paying off all credit card debt every month, and never paying any creditors late. You should too.

Please leave us any questions below or contact us on our Facebook or Instagram accounts @oldsolestravel . We do our best to help you save money, travel more, and “Find Yourself on the Journey”.

]]><![CDATA[The Best Strategy to Supplement the Chase Trifecta for Avios Points on British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia]]>Mon, 23 Nov 2020 20:41:26 GMThttp://www.oldsolestravel.com/fly-free/avios

Full Transparency: We are not monetizing any of our content at this time. Opinions and product recommendations on this site are not those of the credit card companies suggested, being ours alone.

Guide to Flying Free all over through British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia Airlines Avios Programs starting with Chase Credit Cards and graduating to American Express after 3 years.

Note: This is intended as a supplement to the Chase Trifecta for those who travel frequently on relatively short hops anywhere in the World, or on long-haul flights that are available through Aer Lingus or Iberia. Other approaches are better for other people. See this Guide to decide which approach is right for you.

If you travel on short-distance hops within the U.S. or most anywhere in the World, this is by far the best strategy for you to make the most out of your credit card rewards. In fact, this is the current strategy that I am using to prepare my friends and family for our upcoming Alps and Oktoberfest trips, and several trips around Europe thereafter. It is amazingly lucrative for travel around Europe.

What makes this my favorite strategy to supplement the Chase Trifecta is fivefold:

This strategy earns roughly 500,000 points each person in 4 years
Reward flights and mostly inexpensive and distance based
The Avios partner network is extensive and reaches all over the world
Transfer between three programs allows for immense value
You can even take this further than 8 years since points can be earned on American Express and Marriot Bonvoy Cards.

Done right, this will result in roughly the following rewards for someone who spends at least the averages for Americans according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Year 1: 131,000 Points/Per Person                        131,000Chase
Year 2: 123,000 Points/Per Person                       70,000Chase:53,000 Avios
Year 3: 89,000 Points/Per Person 36,000Chase:53,000 Avios
Year 4: 149,000 Points/Per Person                       96,000Amex:53,000 Avios

4-year Total: 492,000 Points/Per Person 237,000Chase:159,000 Avios:96,000 Amex

Avios points can be very valuable, especially when flying less than 1150 miles per leg, and especially in Europe where flights less than 650 miles start at only 4,000 miles. This is a must do if you are planning to travel with multiple destinations on the same continent. However, if you use Avios points to fly across oceans you must transfer any British Airways Avios to Aer Lingus or Iberia to avoid fuel surcharges that are quite expensive. To avoid this, transfer some of your Chase or Amex points to another Airline partner for the transoceanic portions of the trip.

We tend to keep our Chase and American Express rewards separated from Airline rewards programs for flexibility and only transfer them to the Avios Programs when we need more points than we currently have in our Avios accounts.

Below, we will cover the schedule of how to best use this strategy to earn the most possible points over a 4-year period for an individual and for a couple below that. For the specifics on the Chase Trifecta, which will be the cards you get and use over the first 12-18 months, please see our more detailed blog on their specifics and why they are the best travel platform for vacation travelers here.

Click Below to Learn More About How To Easily Earn Nearly Half a Million Points in Four Years

Individual Strategy for the Chase Trifecta with the Avios Rewards Priority

ASAP: Apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card and charge everything possible on this for the first 3 months. This will be your Grocery Store card for the first year and the card you will use most all 4 years covered here.
Three to six months from receiving the Freedom Unlimited, Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and charge $4000 in the first 3 months. Thereafter, only use this card to charge Travel expenses for the protections and to transfer points.
12 months after receiving the Freedom Unlimited, Apply for the Chase Freedom Flex. This will be your grocery card for the second year, and you will want to use it for the 5% categories from now on .
6 months later, Apply for the Iberia Plus Card and use it for all purchases until you reach the $3000 bonus level. It will be tempting to try for the additional 50,000 points, but the additional $17,000 would be difficult to justify unless you have a $10,000 purchase to make in the first 6 months.
12 months after you receive your Iberia Plus card, apply for the Aer Lingus Card and use it for all purchases until you reach the $3000 bonus level. It will be tempting to try for the additional 50,000 points, but the additional $17,000 would be difficult to justify unless you have a $10,000 purchase to make in the first 6 months. After you receive this card, as long as you have had your Iberia card for over 1 year, transfer your Iberia Avios points to British Airways and cancel the Iberia Plus card.
6 months later, Apply for the American Express Gold Card. This card does come with a $250 annual fee, which is why we waited this long to get it, but the 4 points per dollar at Grocery stores and restaurants equates to roughly 38,000 points per year for the average American and these points are worth roughly $.02 each ($740/year back on food).
Six months later, apply for the British Airways Card from Chase and use it for all purchases until you reach the $3000 bonus level. It will be tempting to try for the additional 50,000 points, but the additional $17,000 would be difficult to justify unless you have a $10,000 purchase to make in the first 6 months. After you receive this card, as long as you have had your Aer Lingus card for over 1 year, transfer your Iberia Aer Lingus points to British Airways and cancel the Aer Lingus card.

Couples Strategy for the Chase Trifecta with the Avios Rewards Priority

ASAP: Both people should apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card and charge everything possible on this for the first 3 months. This will be your Grocery Store card for the first year and the card you will use most all 4 years covered here .
Three months from receiving the Freedom Unlimited, person 1 should apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and charge $4000 in the first 3 months. Thereafter, only use this card to charge Travel expenses for the protections and to transfer points.
Three months later, person 2 should apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and charge $4000 in the first 3 months. Thereafter, only use this card to charge Travel expenses for the protections and to transfer points .
Twelve months after receiving the Freedom Unlimited, both people should apply for the Chase Freedom Flex. This will be your grocery card for the second year, and you will want to use it for the 5% categories from now on .
Six months later, Person 1 should apply for the Iberia Plus Card and use it for all purchases until you reach the $3000 bonus level. It will be tempting to try for the additional 50,000 points, but the additional $17,000 would be difficult to justify unless you have a $10,000 purchase to make in the first 6 months.
Three months later, Person 2 should apply for the Iberia Plus Card and use it for all purchases until you reach the $3000 bonus level. It will be tempting to try for the additional 50,000 points, but the additional $17,000 would be difficult to justify unless you have a $10,000 purchase to make in the first 6 months
Twelve months after person 1 receives their Iberia Plus card, Person 1 should apply for the Aer Lingus Card and use it for all purchases until you reach the $3000 bonus level. It will be tempting to try for the additional 50,000 points, but the additional $17,000 would be difficult to justify unless you have a $10,000 purchase to make in the first 6 months. After you receive this card, as long as you have had your Iberia card for over 1 year, transfer your Iberia Avios points to British Airways and cancel the Iberia Plus card.
Three months later, Person 2 should apply for the Aer Lingus Card and use it for all purchases until you reach the $3000 bonus level. It will be tempting to try for the additional 50,000 points, but the additional $17,000 would be difficult to justify unless you have a $10,000 purchase to make in the first 6 months. After you receive this card, as long as you have had your Iberia card for over 1 year, transfer your Iberia Avios points to British Airways and cancel the Iberia Plus card.
Three months later, Person 1 should apply for the American Express Gold Card. This card does come with a $250 annual fee, which is why we waited this long to get it, but the 4 points per dollar at Grocery stores and restaurants equates to roughly 38,000 points per year for the average American and these points are worth roughly $.02 each ($740/year back on food).
Six months later, Person 2 should apply for the American Express Gold Card. This card does come with a $250 annual fee, which is why we waited this long to get it, but the 4 points per dollar at Grocery stores and restaurants equates to roughly 38,000 points per year for the average American and these points are worth roughly $.02 each ($740/year back on food).
Six months later, Person 1 should apply for the British Airways Card from Chase and use it for all purchases until you reach the $3000 bonus level. It will be tempting to try for the additional 50,000 points, but the additional $17,000 would be difficult to justify unless you have a $10,000 purchase to make in the first 6 months. After you receive this card, as long as you have had your Aer Lingus card for over 1 year, transfer your Iberia Aer Lingus points to British Airways and cancel the Aer Lingus card.
Three months later, Person 2 should apply for the British Airways Card from Chase and use it for all purchases until you reach the $3000 bonus level. It will be tempting to try for the additional 50,000 points, but the additional $17,000 would be difficult to justify unless you have a $10,000 purchase to make in the first 6 months. After you receive this card, as long as you have had your Aer Lingus card for over 1 year, transfer your Iberia Aer Lingus points to British Airways and cancel the Aer Lingus card.

This will take you to the 4-year point where most strategies max out, but with Avios it can keep on rolling with any American Express card that gives you welcome bonuses in Membership Rewards points , with either or both of the American Express British Airways cards, and even with Marriot Bonvoy points. If you love Europe, or plan on Summering there like I do, keep this rolling for 7-10 years and you could earn hundreds of thousands more points.
This should earn the average couple anywhere from 900,000 and 1,200,000 points in less than 5 years. If you have a larger family it should be much more due to increased expenditures.

We are writing similar strategies for several of the other Chase Transfer Partners, if you prefer these carriers and will link them below as they are completed.

Please use the embedded links where possible. We receive a small commission on many of the products we promote which helps us educated travelers on how to travel better for less. Also, if this is helpful for you share it and consider sponsoring us on Patreon. Sponsorships start at $3/month, which is less than 1% of what you will earn by using this guide to make money for your travels.

Important: The instructions in this guide are based on current credit card incentives. We will periodically update them to keep them accurate, but there is no way to guarantee that the particular costs and incentives will be available at the time you choose to enroll in the services we suggest here. They could be better or worse. We are doing this as a service to you and may be compensated from other organizations for referring you to their services. Always read all credit card agreements and terms carefully before signing up, and remember to spend responsibly to avoid interest and fines.

These strategies can be a great tool to enrich your life and can improve your credit when used correctly, but irresponsible spending on credit cards can do just the opposite. We attempt to influence people towards what we think is the best strategy for them, but we are not experts or professional financial advisors. Please monitor your credit and spending. We suggest you adjust these schedules as needed to keep or advance your credit at the level you are targeting. We keep ours in the mid to high 700s at all times and find that easy to do through paying off all credit card debt every month, and never paying any creditors late. You should too.

Please leave us any questions below or contact us on our Facebook or Instagram accounts @oldsolestravel . We do our best to help you save money, travel more, and “Find Yourself on the Journey”.

]]><![CDATA[Supplement for the Chase Trifecta for Southwest Airlines Loyalists and Those Who Fly Frequently Across the United States or to Central America]]>Mon, 23 Nov 2020 18:37:08 GMThttp://www.oldsolestravel.com/fly-free/supplement-for-the-chase-trifecta-for-southwest-airlines-loyalists-and-those-who-fly-frequently-across-the-united-states-or-to-central-america

Full Transparency: We are not monetizing any of our content at this time. Opinions and product recommendations on this site are not those of the credit card companies suggested, being ours alone

Guide to Flying Free on Southwest Airlines through Chase Credit Cards

If your travel goals are within the Americas and you are loyal to Southwest Airlines, this credit card strategy can get you well over 250,000 miles in Southwest Rapid Rewards Points per person in the first two years. This is a supplement approach to our favorite credit card strategy. A more detailed description of why and how to fly free with Chase credit cards is available by clicking here.

Southwest Airlines is our favorite airline for flying to the West Coast, Mountain States, and Central America. Like many people, our first thought on how to earn points for Southwest Airlines was to get one of the three Rapid Rewards Cards by Chase. However, despite the very attractive bonus offers noted below, using the Chase Trifecta as your first and primary means of earning points on Southwest, both in the first 2 years and afterwards will almost always result in more point.

Another reason to wait on the Southwest cards is that all of the Rapid Rewards cards have annual fees, while two of the suggested Chase Freedom cards are free. On top of this, the Freedom cards have better spending categories and better welcome programs, and all the points can be transferred 1:1 to Southwest through the Chase Sapphire card. This results in hundreds of thousands more points over the life of the cards

This does not, however mean you should not get the Rapid Rewards cards. In fact, if you are loyal to Southwest for most of your flying, I would suggest all three at some point in the first 4 years of this strategy, dependent on how often you fly. Done right, this will result in roughly the following rewards for someone who spends at least the averages for Americans according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Year 1: 131,000 Points/Per Person                        131,000Chase:0Southwest
              Year 2: 111,000 Points/Per Person                        70,000Chase:41,000 Southwest
Year 3: 81,000 Points/Per Person                          40,000Chase:41,000 Southwest
              Year 4: 81,000 Points/Per Person                          40,000Chase:41,000 Southwest

Total for 4 years: 404,000 Points/Per Person 281,000Chase:123,000 Southwest

Southwest points can be very valuable, especially when Southwest is having a sale. This is because Southwest allow you to use your points at a rate of 1.5 cents to 1 point off of their current pricing. In fact, their fares can sometimes be as low as 5500 points each way. This can lead to dozens of nearly free short flights or several longer, round trips.

Therefore, we tend to keep our Chase rewards separated for flexibility and only transfer then to Southwest when we need more than we already have or in the first two years when we are primarily earning Chase Points.

Below, we will cover the schedule of how to best use this strategy to earn the most possible points over a 4-year period for an individual and for a couple below that. For the specifics on the Chase Trifecta, which will be the cards you get and use over the first 12 months, please see our more detailed blog here.

Click Below to Learn More About How You Can Earn Over 400,000 Points with Chase Credit Cards

Individual Strategy for the Chase Trifecta with the Southwest Airlines Priorit

ASAP: Apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card and charge everything possible on this for the first 3 months. This will be your Grocery Store card for the first year and the card you will use most all 4 years covered here .
Three to six months from receiving the Freedom Unlimited, Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and charge $4000 in the first 3 months. Thereafter, only use this card to charge Travel expenses for the protections and to transfer points.
12 months after receiving the Freedom Unlimited, Apply for the Chase Freedom Flex. This will be your grocery card for the second year, and you will want to use it for the 5% categories from now on.
6 months later, Apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card. This will get you free bags and extra points on Southwest purchases, as well as:

3000 points on your Cardmember Anniversary
No change fees

5. 12 months after you receive your Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card, Apply for the Rapid rewards Premier card. Do not upgrade, as this will limit your bonus! When you get the new card, transfer your points from the Plus card and cancel the Plus card, since there is no need to have both Southwest cards. You will get the following upgrades

6000 bonus points on your Cardmember anniversary
No foreign transaction fees
The ability to earn status points with transactions
No change fees

6. 12 months after you receive your Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card, Apply for the Rapid rewards Priority card. Do not upgrade, as this will limit your bonus! When you get the new card, transfer your points from the Premier card and cancel the Premier card, since there is no need to have both Southwest cards. You will also get the following upgrades:

7500 bonus points on your cardmember anniversary
4 upgraded boardings per year when available
$75 Southwest annual travel credit
20% back on inflight drinks and WiFi

This will take you to the 4 year point and max out your ability to use credit card bonuses to increase you points earnings on Southwest Airlines, unless they add further cards to their line or you start a business and move on to the Southwest Business cards.

The years following, you can either consider adding other airline cards, the American Express Trifecta or just enjoying the 40,000 estimated annual miles you will earn by using the Chase Trifecta for all your purchases, if you spend in accordance with the U.S. BLS average spending for Americans.

Couples Strategy for the Chase Trifecta with the Southwest Airlines Priority (Roughly double the points of the individual strategy due to double bonuses and more money spent)

1.  ASAP: Both people should apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card and charge everything possible on this for the first 3 months. This will be your Grocery Store card for the first year and the card you will use most all 4 years covered here .

2.  Three months from receiving the Freedom Unlimited, person 1 should apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and charge $4000 in the first 3 months. Thereafter, only use this card to charge Travel expenses for the protections and to transfer points.

3.  Three months later, person 2 should apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and charge $4000 in the first 3 months. Thereafter, only use this card to charge Travel expenses for the protections and to transfer points.

4.  12 months after receiving the Freedom Unlimited, both people should apply for the Chase Freedom Flex. This will be your grocery card for the second year, and you will want to use it for the 5% categories from now on.

5.  6 months later, person 1 should apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card. This will get you free bags and extra points on Southwest purchases, as well as:

3000 points on your Cardmember Anniversary
No change fees

6. Six months later, person 2 should apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card.

2. Six months later, person 1 should apply for the Rapid rewards Premier card. Do not upgrade, as this will limit your bonus! When you get the new card, transfer your points from the Plus card and cancel the Plus card, since there is no need to have both Southwest cards. You will get the following upgrades

6000 bonus points on your Cardmember anniversary
No foreign transaction fees
The ability to earn status points with transactions
No change fees

8. Six months later, person 2 should apply for the Rapid rewards Premier card. Do not upgrade, as this will limit your bonus! When you get the new card, transfer your points from the Plus card and cancel the Plus card, since there is no need to have both Southwest cards.

2. Six months later, person 1 should apply for the Rapid rewards Priority card. Do not upgrade, as this will limit your bonus! When you get the new card, transfer your points from the Premier card and cancel the Premier card, since there is no need to have both Southwest cards. You will also get the following upgrades:

7500 bonus points on your cardmember anniversary
4 upgraded boardings per year when available
$75 Southwest annual travel credit
20% back on inflight drinks and WiFi

10. Six months later, person 2 should apply for the Rapid rewards Priority card. Do not upgrade, as this will limit your bonus! When you get the new card, transfer your points from the Premier card and cancel the Premier card, since there is no need to have both Southwest cards.

This should earn the couple anywhere from 750,000 – 1,000,000 points in less than 5 years. If they have a family it should be much more due to increased expenditures.
This will take you to the 4 ½ year point and max out your ability to use credit card bonuses to increase you points earnings on Southwest Airlines, unless they add further cards to their line or you start a business and move on to the Southwest Business cards.
The years following, you can either consider adding other airline cards, the American Express Trifecta or just enjoying the 80,000 estimated annual miles you will earn by using the Chase Trifecta for all your purchases, if you spend in accordance with the U.S. BLS average spending for Americans.

We are writing similar strategies for all of the other Chase Transfer Partners, if you prefer these carriers and will link them below as they are completed.

United Airlines
Avios Partner Airlines (Our Current strategy at Old Soles Travel)

Please use the embedded links where possible. We receive a small commission on many of the products we promote which helps us educated travelers on how to travel better for less. Also, if this is helpful for you share it and consider sponsoring us on Patreon. Sponsorships start at $3/month, which is less than 1% of what you will earn by using this guide to make money for your travels.

Important: The instructions in this guide are based on current credit card incentives. We will periodically update them to keep them accurate, but there is no way to guarantee that the particular costs and incentives will be available at the time you choose to enroll in the services we suggest here. They could be better or worse. We are doing this as a service to you and may be compensated from other organizations for referring you to their services. Always read all credit card agreements and terms carefully before signing up, and remember to spend responsibly to avoid interest and fines.

These strategies can be a great tool to enrich your life and can improve your credit when used correctly, but irresponsible spending on credit cards can do just the opposite. We attempt to influence people towards what we think is the best strategy for them, but we are not experts or professional financial advisors. Please monitor your credit and spending. We suggest you adjust these schedules as needed to keep or advance your credit at the level you are targeting. We keep ours in the mid to high 700s at all times and find that easy to do through paying off all credit card debt every month, and never paying any creditors late. You should too.

Please leave us any questions below or contact us on our Facebook or Instagram accounts @oldsolestravel . We do our best to help you save money, travel more, and “Find Yourself on the Journey”.

]]><![CDATA[United Airlines Supplement for the Chase Trifecta]]>Mon, 23 Nov 2020 18:00:56 GMThttp://www.oldsolestravel.com/fly-free/united-airlines-supplement-for-the-chase-trifecta

Full Transparency: We are not monetizing any of our content at this time. Opinions and product recommendations on this site are not those of the credit card companies suggested, being ours alone

Guide to Flying Free on United Airlines through Chase Credit Cards

Note: This is intended as a supplement to the Chase Trifect for those who are loyal to United Airlines or who predominantly fly on the Eastern Seaboard. Other approaches are better for other people. See this Guide to decide which approach is right for you.

If your travel goals are within the United States with some trips to Europe sprinkled and you are loyal to United Airlines, this credit card strategy can get you well over 236,000 miles in Southwest Rapid Rewards Points per person in the first two years. This is a supplement approach to our favorite credit card strategy. A more detailed description of why and how to fly free with Chase credit cards is available by clicking here.

United Airlines is our favorite airline for flying to and around the portions of the United States East of the Mississippi River. This is due to a many smaller airports being included in their route map from Orlando and a strong international route map from Orlando and New York City.

Like many people, our first thought on how to earn points for United Airlines was to get one of the three MileagePlus Cards by Chase. This is a viable option here for the short-term, but if you try to continue long-term with just United cards, you will cost yourself hundreds of thousands of points that you could have earned by utilizing the Chase Trifecta. Here, we have devised a strategy that will earn the average American as much as 236,000 points in the first 2 years per person. Then we extend the strategy through the 4-year mark producing another 100,000 points over that period.

It is rare for us to suggest that you get a credit card that is cobranded before starting with the Chase Trifecta because the Freedom cards have better spending categories, and all the points can be transferred 1:1 to United through the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. However, the current 70,000 mile welcome bonus on the United Explorer Card and the free baggage is too hard to pass up for frequent flyers of United

Therefore, we are recommending a different approach to United points than we usually do. While we usually use cobranded cards to supplement the Chase Trifecta, we suggest that you start with the United Explorer card in this strategy and long as the welcome bonus remains 60,000 points or higher.

Done right, this will result in roughly the following rewards for someone who spends at least the averages for Americans according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

              Year 1: 116,000 Points/Per Person                        40,000Chase:76,000 United
              Year 2: 120,000 Points/Per Person                        120,000Chase:0 United
Year 3: 61,000 Points/Per Person                         40,000Chase :21,000 United
              Year 4: 40,000 Points/Per Person                          40,000Chase:0 United

Total for 4 years: 337,000 Points/Per Person 240,000Chase:97,000 United

Click below to Learn More About How to Earn 337,000 Miles with Chase Credit Cards

mIf you use all your Chase points by transferring them to United, this will get you an average of $3,370 worth of rewards flights, which is nearly triple your reward if you only use the United MileagePlus cards for the same expenses. However, if you use the Chase points for other flights and hotels, you will get more value. Therefore, we tend to keep our Chase rewards separated for flexibility and only transfer them to United when we need more than we already have in United points.

Below, we will cover the schedule of how to best use this strategy to earn the most possible points over a 4-year period for an individual and for a couple below that. For the specifics on the Chase Trifecta, which will be the cards you get and use over the first 12 months, please see our more detailed blog here.

Individual Strategy for the Chase Trifecta with the United Airlines Priority

www.referyourchasecard.com/18f/ZPNPTWZJH2ASAP: Apply for the United Explorer Card and stop using any other cards until you have spent $6000 on this card over the first 6 months. This is the highest intro offer United has had in some time. It will get you at least 76,000 MileagePlus points.
Six months later, or as soon as you have reached your $6,000 bonus spend, apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card and charge everything except travel expenses on this for the first 3 months. This will be your Grocery Store card for the first year and the card you will use most during the 4 years covered here.
Three to six months after receiving the Freedom Unlimited, Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and charge $4000 in the first 3 months. Thereafter, only use this card to charge Travel expenses for the protections and to transfer points.
12 months after receiving the Freedom Unlimited, Apply for the Chase Freedom Flex. This will be your grocery card for the second year, and you will want to use it for the 5% categories from now on.
6 months later, Apply for the United Gateway card. This is a free card that comes with an easy 20,000-point bonus at this time. I would only use it for the introductory period, however, as the spending categories are weak.
In year 4, you should consider the United Infinite card if and only if they are waiving the annual and have a great introductory bonus at the time. While this would be a great card for someone who flies United 10 or more times per year, it is a top tier travel card that does not compete with the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the American Express Platinum.

This will take you to the 4 year point and max out your ability to use credit card bonuses to increase you points earnings on United Airlines, unless they add further cards to their line or you start a business and move on to the United Business cards.

The years following, you can either consider adding other airline cards, the American Express Trifecta or just enjoying the 40,000 estimated annual miles you will earn by using the Chase Trifecta for all your purchases, if you spend in accordance with the U.S. BLS average spending for Americans.

Couples Strategy for the Chase Trifecta with the United Airlines Priority

1. ASAP: Person 1 should apply for the United Explorer Card and stop using any other cards until you have spent $6000 on this card over the first 6 months. This is the highest intro offer United has had in some time. It will get you at least 76,000 MileagePlus points.

2. Six months later or as soon as you have spent the $6000 for the welcome offer, both people should apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card and charge everything possible on this for the first 3 months. This will be your Grocery Store card for the first year and the card you will use most all 4 years covered here.

3. Three months from receiving the Freedom Unlimited, person 1 should apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and charge $4000 in the first 3 months. Thereafter, only use this card to charge Travel expenses for the protections and to transfer points .

4. Three months later, person 2 should apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and charge $4000 in the first 3 months. Thereafter, only use this card to charge Travel expenses for the protections and to transfer points.

5. 12 months after receiving the Freedom Unlimited, both people should apply for the Chase Freedom Flex. This will be your grocery card for the second year, and you will want to use it for the 5% categories from now on.

6. 6 months later, Both people should apply for the United Gateway card. This is a free card that comes with an easy 20,000-point bonus at this time. I would only use it for the introductory period, however, as the spending categories are weak

7. 6 months later, person 2 should apply for the United Explorer Card and stop using any other cards until you have spent $6000 on this card over the first 6 months. (Bonus spend may be only $3000, and the bonus may be less;

8. In year 4, you should consider the United Infinite card if and only if they are waiving the annual and have a great introductory bonus at the time. While this would be a great card for someone who flies United 10 or more times per year, it is a top tier travel card that does not compete with the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the American Express Platinum.

This should earn the couple anywhere from 600,000 – 700,000 points in less than 5 years. If they have a family it should be much more due to increased expenditures.

This will take you to the 4 ½ year point and max out your ability to use credit card bonuses to increase you points earnings on United Airlines, unless they add further cards to their line or you start a business and move on to the United Business cards.
The years following, you can either consider adding other airline cards, the American Express Trifecta or just enjoying the 80,000 estimated annual miles you will earn by using the Chase Trifecta for all your purchases, if you spend in accordance with the U.S. BLS average spending for Americans.

We are writing similar strategies for Several of the other Chase Transfer Partners, if you prefer these carriers and will link them below as they are completed.

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Important: The instructions in this guide are based on current credit card incentives. We will periodically update them to keep them accurate, but there is no way to guarantee that the particular costs and incentives will be available at the time you choose to enroll in the services we suggest here. They could be better or worse. We are doing this as a service to you and may be compensated from other organizations for referring you to their services. Always read all credit card agreements and terms carefully before signing up and remember to spend responsibly to avoid interest and fines.

These strategies can be a great tool to enrich your life and can improve your credit when used correctly, but irresponsible spending on credit cards can do just the opposite. We attempt to influence people towards what we think is the best strategy for them, but we are not experts or professional financial advisors. Please monitor your credit and spending. We suggest you adjust these schedules as needed to keep or advance your credit at the level you are targeting. We keep ours in the mid to high 700s at all times and find that easy to do through paying off all credit card debt every month, and never paying any creditors late. You should too.

Please leave us any questions below or contact us on our Facebook or Instagram accounts @oldsolestravel . We do our best to help you save money, travel more, and “Find Yourself on the Journey”.

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