Save $$$ WITHOUT credit card points

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What’s up, everyone—it’s officially the weekend!

And if you don’t feel as stoked to be here as I was last Sunday watching Usher, Lil Jon, and Luda DOMINATE the Super Bowl stage like it was 2005…

Then I’m sorry…

But I hope I’ll have you screaming YEAH by the end of this newsletter with all the great travel deals, news, and hacks 😎

Peace up, A-Town down.

✅ Check out our new elevated offers page that currently has 14 cards (🤯) with increased welcome offers right now!

✅ Snag a sizzling $49 deal from Southwest during their spring sale!

✅ Catch up on our latest YouTube video about booking a bucket list stay in the Maldives using only Hilton Honors points.

✅ Bless your ears with this week’s podcast that covers the concept of fifth freedom flights.

🏆 Favorite hack of the week: Why you should be BUYING points

That’s right. I said what I said. I’m here for the controversy.

If you’re wondering why I’m coming off all hot and bothered, it’s because this often results in really poor value, and we just don’t recommend doing it.

Dog giving side eye with text overlay "Don't you do it"

…except when we do recommend it 😏

There are certain situations where you can actually come out ahead and save literally hundreds and thousands of dollars by making smart purchases and redemptions of said points.

Earlier this week, I wrote about how you could save $320 a night to stay at the same luxury property in the Maldives that Kara and Nate did… just by buying Hilton points right now.

It’s actually crazy.

So rather than summarizing here, I think it’s worth revisiting that section in its entirety.

Go check it out 🤗

🏃🏻‍♀️ Runner-Ups

🥇 30% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic returns

A screenshot of the 30% transfer bonus with Virgin's airplane tail in the background

Y’all… FINALLY. A decent transfer bonus in 2024.

Starting on Sunday, February 18th, you can transfer ThankYou Points to Virgin with a 30% bonus through March 16th, 2024.

Virgin is a great airline, and it makes for an excellent option to jet-set across the Atlantic.

For example, you could score a flight from JFK to London for just 10,000 miles in economy 👇

But with that tasty 30% bonus, that means you’d only have to transfer 7,700 ThankYou Points from a card like this one.

And I already know what you’re thinking… ThankYou points aren’t the sexiest of points 🔥

We don’t talk about them as often as the other point currencies, but they still hold a ton of value.

I personally have this card, and I even used its ThankYou points to book a business class seat on the oh-so-dreamy Emirates—a 15-hour flight from Seattle to Dubai, in fact.

So yes, those points are very valuable—definitely don’t sleep on ‘em.

But if you’re like, “Eww, international travel. Who wants to do that?”

Fear not, because Virgin Atlantic is a SkyTeam member who has many partners… One of which is Delta 🤗

To reiterate, you can still take advantage of this transfer bonus to Virgin, but book a domestic route on Delta (via Virgin’s site).

So no matter what type of traveler you are or where you’re hoping to go, this is a solid transfer bonus to take advantage of.

🥈 Delta revamps its credit cards

Okay, woah. Delta has actually done something positive for a change! I know, shocker.

Despite all of the airline’s drama last year… I know there’s still a bunch of you Delta loyalists who just can’t… let… go…

But it’s true. The whole Delta SkyMiles program is just more cringe than it used to be with crazy lounge restrictions and HIGH spending galore.

But if you’re gung-ho on getting one of the airline’s credit cards, this is overall good news for you.

Oh, but let me get the one negative thing out of the way…

*Inhale*

They increased all their annual fees. On all the cards. BUT WAIT.

Before you close this newsletter in a total funk, let me highlight the good stuff that outweighs these higher annual fees:

Some cards now come with “MQD Headstarts” to help boost you toward elite status
New rideshare and dining credits are available
Companion Certificates have been enhanced
There’s a new Delta Stays credit (for use toward hotel bookings through Delta’s website)

And even though it’s the weekend, the banks still don’t like us to party too hard, so I can’t spill the tea on too many of these details.

Fortunately, we’ve got an entire card page that will fill in the gaps for each of the cards, so I’d go check it out if I were you 😎