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I pretty much always book Basic fares. It works for me because I’ve racked up a good amount of points (thank you, welcome bonuses 🙌) and I know Southwest pretty well at this point. But don’t worry—no gatekeeping here. If you’re booking Southwest’s cheapest fares, here’s something you should know about getting your points (or flight credit) back when prices drop after  you book. And if you’re thinking, “yeah yeah, it’s probably in the fine print”… listen, I say this with love

A limited-time offer (ending 3/11/2026) is back on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card  from Chase , and it’s one of the best bonuses we regularly see on this card. Right now, new applicants can earn 5 Free Night Awards  after meeting the minimum spending requirement. If you use the certificates strategically, the bonus alone could easily cover a long weekend—or even a full vacation. Here’s everything you need to know. The Current Offer The current welcome bonus is: Ea

When a credit card application goes into review, it usually just means the bank wants a human to double-check something. Common reasons: Identity verification  – something didn’t match exactly. Recent card activity  – multiple new accounts or hard pulls. Too much credit with that bank  – they may need to reallocate limits. Internal rules  – like 5/24 with Chase or other issuer-specific policies. It doesn’t mean denial — just that the computer didn’t auto-approve it. Many pend

If you’ve been around this corner of the internet for any amount of time, you know we’re big Hyatt people. One of our favorite sweet spots has always been earning Chase points and transferring them to World of Hyatt for incredible hotel stays. But Hyatt just announced a major program update — and changes go into effect May 2026 . While I’m not quite as heartbroken as some in the points-and-miles world (more on that in a minute), it’s still definitely a bummer. Let’s break it

If you hold the right American Express card, the Resy dining credit  can be one of the easiest ways to offset your annual fee — and enjoy great meals along the way. In this guide, I’ll walk through: ✅ Which Amex cards offer Resy credits ✅ How much each credit is worth ✅ Exactly how to trigger it ✅ Where to find eligible restaurants Let’s dig in. What Is the Amex Resy Credit? The Resy credit is a statement credit you earn after dining at eligible restaurants on the Resy platfo

If you’ve been in the points and miles world for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard people say: “Just transfer your points to travel partners.” But what does that actually mean? Let’s break it down in the simplest way possible. 💱 Think of It Like Currency Exchange Imagine you’re traveling to Japan. You wouldn’t walk around Tokyo trying to pay for everything with U.S. dollars — you’d exchange your dollars for Japanese yen first because yen goes further there. Tran

We recently stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa  completely on points… and I genuinely fear I may never love another hotel as much as this one. It was pure magic. From the moment you walk into the open-air lobby—with ocean views and tropical breezes—you feel like you’ve arrived somewhere special. The resort has a stunning multi-level pool complex (complete with a lazy river and saltwater lagoon), direct access to Poipu Beach, incredible on-site dining, and beautifull

Note- offer below ends 2/26/2026 Let’s talk Hyatt hotels  ✨ Hyatt is one of the easiest—and most valuable—hotel programs to use with points. We personally stay at Hyatt almost every time we book a hotel because the points go far and the booking process is simple and predictable. Most people earn Hyatt points by transferring Chase points, but Hyatt also has its own credit cards  that earn Hyatt points directly. No transferring required. The Current Offer (and the Important Cla

This exclusive offer allows you to earn a Southwest companion pass with just ONE credit card for a limited time. There are three personal cards available, each with slightly different offers. All cards will grant a companion pass valid through 2/28/2027 once you meet the minimum spending requirements. Each card has unique spending and bonus criteria. Ready to get started? Let's dive in! Refresher- What is a Companion Pass? The Southwest Companion Pass (CP) allows you to name

I know how frustrating it can be to get a credit card denial. It happens to all  of us from time to time—even when you have good credit and pay your bills on time. So first things first: don’t panic . A denial doesn’t mean you did something wrong, and it definitely doesn’t mean you’re locked out of points and miles forever. Use this guide to figure out what your next move should be and how to turn a “no” into a smarter strategy. ✅ STEP 1: Stop. Do Not  Immediately Apply for A

Here’s why the Chase Sapphire Preferred® is the best beginner travel credit card in 2026 — and how its perks easily offset the $95 annual fee. ✈️ Why It’s a Must-Have for Travel Rewards It’s beginner-friendly, packed with value, and helps you earn flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points which are some of the flexible points you can earn in the reward travel world. 💰 Sign-Up Bonus + Earning Potential Right now you'll earn 75,000 points  after meeting the minimum spend — worth

💳 The Hidden Goldmine of Travel Points (That No One Told Me About!) When I first started dabbling in the world of credit card points, I thought I was doing pretty well. I had my fancy new personal card, a few thousand points rolling in, and I was feeling very  jet-set. But then I discovered the real jackpot: business credit cards. We’re talking huge  bonuses, insane perks, and the best part? Opening or closing them barely makes a dent on your personal credit. Game. Changer.

Ready to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass? Here’s Exactly How to Do It You might be wondering: Which cards should I open? How much will it cost? How do I earn enough points—and when? Let’s break it all down step-by-step so you can time everything perfectly and maximize your rewards. First, the basics: You’ll need 135,000 qualifying points  within a single calendar year to earn the Companion Pass. Once you have it, your designated companion flies with you for nearly free  (ju

One of the most common things I hear when I talk about earning travel rewards is: “I’d love to get into points, but I don’t spend enough to meet the minimum spend.” And honestly? That’s a valid concern. So before we go any further, let’s make one thing VERY clear: 🚫 You should never  spend extra money just to earn points. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. No flight, no hotel, no bonus is worth debt or financial stress. Full stop. But… here’s the part most people don’t real

If you’ve been in the points-and-miles world for even five minutes, you already know: Chase Ultimate Rewards® are some of the most valuable points you can earn. They’re flexible, easy to redeem, and insanely powerful when used for travel. That’s why you’ll constantly see travel creators and award-booking pros talking about the Chase Ink Business®  lineup. The Chase Ink Family at a Glance There are 4 cards  in the Ink Business family: Card Annual Fee Earns Ultimate Rewards? Ca

Airbnb may not have a traditional loyalty program like the big hotel chains, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck paying cash every time you book a stay. With the right credit card strategy, you can  use points to cover your Airbnb bookings — it just takes a little creativity. Here’s how to do it. Use a Travel Card That Lets You Redeem Points as a Statement Credit Some travel-rewards cards allow you to make a travel purchase — like an Airbnb stay — and then go back and “erase”

Got a credit card that reimburses the application fee for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry? Use it.  Seriously. You’re literally leaving free travel perks  on the table if you don’t. 👀 What’s the difference between TSA PreCheck and Global Entry? ✅ TSA PreCheck This program is run by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and is focused on departing  flights from U.S. airports. It gives you access to expedited security screening lanes — fewer removals of shoes/be

It’s no secret that one of the best ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards®  points is by transferring them to Chase’s travel partners. This essentially turns your UR points into airline miles or hotel points—often unlocking far greater value than using them through the Chase Travel Portal. Below is a reminder of all the current airline and hotel partners , each transferring at a 1:1 ratio : 🛫 Airline Partners Aer Lingus AerClub (Ireland) Air Canada Aeroplan Air France–KLM Fl

Log into your Chase account and find the place where your points are located. Select Redeem" Under the "Travel" dropdown, select "Transfer to Travel Partners" This takes you to the page where you can choose which travel partner you’d like to transfer your points to. Before transferring points, make sure you have an account with the airline or hotel loyalty program you plan to use. In most cases, it’s as simple as linking your existing membership number—but if you’re new to th

One of the biggest reasons I love Chase Ultimate Rewards® points  is their flexibility — you’re never locked into just one airline or hotel program. Here are a few of my favorite ways to stretch those points for maximum value: ✈️ 1. Transfer to travel partners This is where the real magic happens. This is number one way I recommend you use your Ultimate Reward points. You can transfer points to 13 travel partners , including: Airlines:  Southwest, United, JetBlue, Air Canada