Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Jun 27th 2019, 7:04 am
#1006
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,111
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
I flew SFO->MAN one way including meal for $170 in mid-May. Quite a remarkable fare so I can forgive them that the service and meal were minimal!
It's too bad the Virgin Atlantic non-stop to Manchester only lasted one summer season. Thomas Cook is for sale so there must be at least some doubt as to whether this service will exists down the road.
It's too bad the Virgin Atlantic non-stop to Manchester only lasted one summer season. Thomas Cook is for sale so there must be at least some doubt as to whether this service will exists down the road.
Jun 27th 2019, 8:46 am
#1007
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,111
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Bit late in replying here but didn't see anyone else responding. I used my Costco (Citibank) contactless visa card in UK and it worked great (as contactless)! I used it in the London Underground, grocery stores, etc. They do have rather pathetic limits compared to the US, though - something like 30 GBP or similar. But still - worked great for simple purchases. Morrison's grocery stores wouldn't take ANY of my other cards; not my visa debit card, my visa credit card, nor my MC credit card. So it was a Godsend for groceries!
Jun 27th 2019, 3:08 pm
#1008
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Your $170 flight was with Thomas Cook? Wow, that's really good! How did you find it? I've been using Kayak, and others, but the last deal I got ($650 or so) was on their website. I really don't have to go on any particular day or week, so I need to find these deals! I'm flying over there every few months now so I need to really save where I can!
Last edited by Giantaxe; Jun 27th 2019 at 5:03 pm.
Jun 27th 2019, 7:48 pm
#1009
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 9,965
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
Bit late in replying here but didn't see anyone else responding. I used my Costco (Citibank) contactless visa card in UK and it worked great (as contactless)! I used it in the London Underground, grocery stores, etc. They do have rather pathetic limits compared to the US, though - something like 30 GBP or similar. But still - worked great for simple purchases. Morrison's grocery stores wouldn't take ANY of my other cards; not my visa debit card, my visa credit card, nor my MC credit card. So it was a Godsend for groceries!
Jun 27th 2019, 10:56 pm
#1010
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
https://www.ft.com/content/445a308c-...1-cd4d49afbbe3
Last edited by Giantaxe; Jun 27th 2019 at 11:00 pm.
Apr 27th 2020, 8:41 pm
#1013
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2012
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 91
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
I read this article this morning, https://thepointsguy.com/news/use-mi...ne-bankruptcy/. At the time it was still possible to do non-flight redemptions with Virgin Atlantic miles, poor redemption rates but maybe better than nothing?
Apr 29th 2020, 1:50 pm
#1014
Septic Sprout
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
May 4th 2020, 12:37 pm
#1015
In the pink
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,324
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
I have 120k. I thought about Hilton, but like you I will wait a while and see what happens. Keep us posted if you hear anything.
May 5th 2020, 3:33 pm
#1016
Septic Sprout
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
To be honest I'm not currently watching things quite as closely as I used to, but will definitely report back if I see anything. I mostly keep up by following a few specialist travel bloggers on Twitter.
May 5th 2020, 3:57 pm
#1017
In the pink
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,324
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
May 23rd 2020, 1:15 pm
#1018
In the pink
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,324
Re: Traveling cheaply and well using miles and points
May 28th 2020, 3:19 pm
#1019
Septic Sprout
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
