Travel Hacking Progress
Here's an update of all the travel hacking I have done.
Last updated: 2020-07-06
Credit card bonuses
| Credit Card | Date Acquired | Sign Up Bonus | Spending Requirement | Annual Fee | Benefits | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapphire Preferred | 3/11/2016 | 50,000 Chase points | $4k / 3 months | $95 (waived 1st year) | 2x Dining / Travel | Downgraded to Freedom Unlimited |
| United Explorer | 6/20/2016 | 60,000 United miles | $2k / 3 months | $95 (waived 1st year) | 2x United Free checked bag Improved award availability |
Downgraded to no-fee version |
| Sapphire Reserve | 8/22/2016 | 100,000 Chase points | $4k / 3 months | $450 | $300 annual travel credit 3x Dining / Travel Global Entry credit Priority Pass |
Keeping long-term |
| IHG Rewards Club | 1/1/2017 | 80,000 IHG points | $2k / 3 months | $49 (waived 1st year) | 5x IHG 2x gas / grocery / dining 10% redemption rebate Platinum status Annual night |
Keeping long-term |
| Hyatt | 1/4/2017 | 2 Free Nights (unrestricted) | $2k / 3 months | $75 (waived 1st year) | 3x Hyatt 2x airline / rental / dining Discoverist status Annual night |
Keeping long-term |
| SPG Personal | 4/2/2017 | 35,000 SPG points (equivalent to 105,000 Marriott points) | $5k / 6 months | $95 (waived 1st year) | 6x Marriott Boingo WiFi |
Upgraded to SPG Luxury |
| British Airways | 7/24/2017 | 100,000 BA miles | $20k / 12 months | $95 | 3x BA | Cancelled after 1 year |
| AAdvantage Aviator Red | 11/10/2017 | 60,500 AA miles | Single purchase | $95 | 2x AA Free checked bag Priority boarding 10% redemption rebate |
Cancelled after 1 year |
| SPG Business | 3/9/2018 | 35,000 SPG points (equivalent to 105,000 Marriott points) | $7k / 6 months | $95 (waived 1st year) | 6x Marriott Boingo WiFi Annual night |
Keeping long-term |
| Marriott Business Rewards | 4/20/2018 | 75,000 Marriott points | $3k / 3 months | $99 (waived 1st year) | 5x Marriott 2x airline / rental / dining 15 Elite credits Annual night |
Keeping long-term |
| AAdvantage Platinum | 6/12/2018 | 70,000 AA miles | $4k / 3 months | $95 (waived 1st year) | 2x AA / gas Free checked bag Preferred boarding |
Cancelled after 1 year |
| AAdvantage Aviator Business | 7/29/2018 | 70,000 AA miles | Single purchase | $95 | 2x AA Free checked bag Priority boarding 5% annual earning bonus |
Will cancel |
| SPG Luxury | 8/31/2018 | 100,000 Marriott points | $5k / 3 months | $450 (prorated first year) | 6x Marriott 3x resturants / airlines $300 annual stay credit Gold status Global Entry Annual night |
Keeping long-term |
| Venture | 12/1/2018 | 75,000 Capital One points | $5k / 3 months | $95 (waived 1st year) | 2x everything Global Entry |
Keeping long-term |
| United Explorer Business | 1/17/2019 | 75,000 United miles | $5k / 3 months | $95 (waived 1st year) | 2x United Free checked bag Improved award availability |
Cancelled after 1 year |
| Barclays Arrival+ | 4/13/2019 | 70,000 Barclay points | $5k / 3 months | $89 (waived 1st year) | 5% rebate on redemptions | Will cancel |
| IHG Premier | 2/21/2020 | 140,000 IHG points | $3k / 6 months | $89 | 4th night award free No FTF Platinum Elite Status Global Entry credit 20% discount on points purchases |
Will cancel |
Hotel Redemptions
| Hotel | City | Chain | Cash Price | Point Price | Price CPP | Cash | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyatt Andaz Tokyo | Tokyo, JP | Hyatt | $619.44 | Free night | 0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Park Hyatt Tokyo | Tokyo, JP | Hyatt | $606.02 | Free night | 0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Hyatt Place Itasca | Itasca, IL | Hyatt | $110.00 | 5,000 | 2.20 | $0.00 | |
| Hyatt Regency Chicago | Chicago, IL | Hyatt | $690.26 | 15,000 | 3.04 | $234.80 | |
| Country Inn & Suites | Minneapolis, MN | Radisson | $181.70 | 38,000 | 0.48 | $0.00 | |
| Holiday Inn | Eagan, MN | IHG | $138.72 | 13,500 | 1.03 | $0.00 | |
| Hyatt Regency O'Hare | Rosemont, IL | Hyatt | $193.85 | 4,000 | 3.28 | $62.70 | |
| Holiday Inn | Skokie, IL | IHG | $144.00 | 9,000 | 0.99 | $55.25 | |
| Hampton Inn Joliet - I-55 | Joliet, IL | Hilton | $109.63 | 21,000 | 0.52 | $0.00 | |
| Holiday Inn & Suites O'Hare | Rosemont, IL | IHG | $169.19 | 18,000 | 0.94 | $0.00 | |
| Hyatt Place Itasca | Itasca, IL | Hyatt | $169.95 | 4,500 | 3.78 | $0.00 | |
| Intercontinental Tokyo Bay | Tokyo, JP | IHG | $239.56 | 50,000 | 0.48 | $0.00 | Free night cert |
| Hyatt Regency Tokyo | Tokyo, JP | Hyatt | $290.77 | 12,000 | 2.42 | $0.00 | Free night cert |
| Crowne Plaza Suites MSP | Minneapolis, MN | IHG | $377.91 | 67,500 | 0.56 | $0.00 | |
| Holiday Inn | Eagan, MN | IHG | $150.66 | 13,500 | 1.12 | $0.00 | |
| Holiday Inn Express Rolling Meadows | Schaumburg, IL | IHG | $120.09 | 4,500 | 2.67 | $0.00 | |
| Hyatt Regency San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | Hyatt | $433.97 | 20,000 | 2.17 | $0.00 | |
| Hyatt Place San Jose Downtown | San Jose, CA | Hyatt | $250.93 | 8,000 | 3.14 | $0.00 | |
| Holiday Inn Express Cannery Row | Monterey, CA | IHG | $258.93 | 45,000 | 0.58 | $0.00 | |
| Manchester Grand Hyatt | San Diego, CA | Hyatt | $359.02 | 10,000 | 1.90 | $169.40 | |
| Holiday Inn Laguardia | Queens, NY | IHG | $183.66 | 35,000 | 0.52 | $0.00 | |
| Hyatt Place New York/Midtown-South | Manhattan, NY | Hyatt | $568.24 | 20,000 | 2.84 | $0.00 | Purchased points @ 1.71 cpp |
| Andaz 5th Avenue | Manhattan, NY | Hyatt | $564.34 | 25,000 | 2.26 | $0.00 | Purchased points @ 1.71 cpp |
| Holiday Inn & Suites Joliet Southwest | Joliet, IL | IHG | $118.03 | 8,500 | 0.74 | $55.00 | |
| Hyatt Regency Tokyo | Tokyo, JP | Hyatt | $533.93 | 17,000 | 3.14 | $0.00 | Purchased points @ 1.67 cpp |
| Sheraton Grand Hiroshima | Hiroshima, JP | Marriott | $641.13 | 70,000 | 0.92 | $0.00 | 2x 35k free night certs$186.50 fee for extra person + club lounge access (reimburse with Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant $300 card credit) |
| ANA Crowne Plaza Chitose | Chitose, JP | IHG | $221.70 | 25,000 | 0.00 | $221.70 | Reimburse with Arrival+ credit |
| ANA Crowne Plaza Chitose | Chitose, JP | IHG | $295.46 | 25,000 | 1.18 | $0.00 | |
| Hyatt Regency Osaka | Osaka, JP | Hyatt | $157.00 | 8,000 | 0.00 | $157.00 | Reimburse with Arrival+ credit |
| Hyatt Regency Osaka | Osaka, JP | Hyatt | $572.00 | 16,000 | 3.58 | $0.00 | |
| ANA Crowne Plaza Chitose | Chitose, JP | IHG | $300.00* | 20,000 | 1.50 | $0.00 | Estimated cash price |
| ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa | Beppu, JP | IHG | $1,003.93 | 60,000 | 1.67 | $0.00 | Free night cert |
| Hyatt Place Tokyo Bay | Chiba, JP | Hyatt | $266.42 | 15,000 | 1.78 | $0.00 | Free night cert |
| Grand Hyatt Fukuoka | Fukuoka, JP | Hyatt | $336.60 | 15,000 | 2.24 | $0.00 | |
| Sheraton Grand Tokyo Bay | Chiba, JP | Marriott | $263.16 | 50,000 | 0.53 | $0.00 | Free night cert |
| ANA Crowne Plaza Nagoya | Nagoya, JP | IHG | $616.19 | 49,500 | 1.24 | $0.00 | Purchased points @ 0.5 cpp |
| ANA Crowne Plaza Nagoya | Nagoya, JP | IHG | $577.96 | 49,500 | 1.17 | $0.00 | Purchased points @ 0.5 cpp |
Airline Redemptions
| Airline | From | To | OW / RT | Cash Price | Point Price | Point Type | Price CPP | Cash | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | MDW | SAN | RT | $458.00 | 30,383 | Southwest | 1.47 | $11.20 | |
| ANA | ORD | HND | OW | $704.00 | 35,000 | United | 1.95 | $22.28 | |
| JAL | HND | HKD | RT | $208.79 | 9,000 | BA | 2.26 | $5.14 | |
| ANA | NRT | SJC | OW | $704.00 | 35,000 | United | 1.95 | $22.28 | |
| AA | SJC | ORD | OW | $223.10 | 10,000 | BA | 2.18 | $5.60 | |
| United | ORD | SJC | OW | $500.00 | 12,500 | United | 3.36 | $80.60 | Flight for my sister |
| Southwest | SAN | SJC | OW | $58.98 | 3,000 | Southwest | 1.78 | $5.60 | |
| JAL | ORD | NRT | RT | $1,525.00 | 60000 | BA | 2.24 | $178.86 | |
| JAL | HND | FUK | OW | $98.69 | 4,500 | BA | 2.14 | $2.57 | |
| JAL | OIT | HND | OW | $98.69 | 4,500 | BA | 2.14 | $2.57 | |
| United | ORD | OKC | OW | $405 | 10,000 | United | 3.24 | $80.60 | Flight for coworker's mother |
| AA | ORD | MSP | RT | $281.40 | 12,000 | Iberia | 2.18 | $20.20 | |
| Southwest | MDW | MSP | RT | $97.96 | 5048 | Southwest | 1.72 | $11.20 | |
| AA | ORD | SJC | RT | $421.40 | 23,000 | Iberia | 1.74 | $20.20 | |
| JAL | HND | SFO | OW | $4,167.50 | 54,000 | AA | 7.64 | $39.91 | Flight for my girlfriendBusiness class |
| AA | ORD | SAN | RT | $346.41 | 23,000 | Iberia | 1.42 | $20.20 | |
| AA | ORD | LGA | RT | $176.41 | 17,000 | Iberia | 0.82 | $37.63 | |
| AA | JAX | ORD | RT | $368.40 | 17,000 | Iberia | 2.05 | $20.20 | Flight for coworker's mother-in-law |
| JAL | ORD | NRT | OW | $10,040.00 | 80,000 | AA | 12.45 | $80.60 | First class |
| JAL | HND | HIJ | RT | $593.00 | 27,000 | BA | 2.14 | $15.84 | 3 people |
| JAL | HND | CTS | RT | $992.00 | 24,000 | BA | 4.05 | $20.76 | 2 people |
| JAL | NRT | ORD | OW | $2,752.00 | 60,000 | AA | 4.50 | $50.03 | Business class |
| Amtrak | OSD | IRV | OW | $18 | 800 | Amtrak | 2.24 | $0 | Train |
| AA | SNA | ORD | OW | $168 | 11,000 | BA | 1.48 | $5.60 | |
| AA | ORD | SAN | OW | $168 | 11,000 | BA | 1.43 | $11.20 | Date change = double cash fee |
| ANA | HND | CTS | RT | $520 | 20,000 | United | 2.60 | $0 | 2 people. Estimated cash price. Returned to NRT. |
| ANA | HND | OIT | OW | $222.35 | 10,000 | United | 2.22 | $0 | 2 people |
| Solaseed | OIT | HND | OW | $243.26 | 24,326 | CapOne | 1.00 | $0 | |
| JAL | HND | FUK | RT | $1,039.00 | 30,000 | AA | 3.46 | $0 | 2 people, 6k MR transferred for 2k AA |