Comments on: How I am using Credit Card Rewards Points and Airline Miles to Earn my ‘Round The World Award ticket

By: The Value of Starwoods SPG points Part 1 | Tim's Adventures

The Value of Starwoods SPG points Part 1 | Tim's Adventures — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:38:56 +0000

[...] the Starwoods Preferred Guest Program (SPG) as my rewards program of choice. I’ve discussed how I am using the SPG program to save up for an around the world award ticket and why I carry the SPG Amex and the Schwab Visa card as my primary cards. My articles on [...]

By: Travel Cards Part II | THINKchua

Travel Cards Part II | THINKchua — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:30:23 +0000

[...] cards and Tim has promised to show me other ways to extract value from the SPG/Rewards programs (one strategy here). I do still believe that cash in hand is better than rewards points, therefore, even for the [...]

By: Carla

Carla — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:17:16 +0000

If you’re going to focus on American, make sure you register your cards with rewards network/idine to get miles where you eat, use the AAdvantage shopping portal, and shop at Vons/Randalls/Safeway!

By: morriswt

morriswt — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:40:49 +0000

Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll definitely keep this as a possibility. I was going to originally convert SPG – LAN miles as the conversion rate is better and do some of my RTW ticket there. Looks like OneWorld is a better / redemption friendly program compared to Skyteam. Of course I don’t have any status in Oneworld (yet), but hopefully I can get to Platinum or Exec Platinum level next year.

By: Gardyloo

Gardyloo — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:49:47 +0000

You might consider converting SPG points to AA miles, then look at AA “Oneworld” Awards – http://tinyurl.com/mjvc3a

Using the Oneworld award you could come close to your original route for around 190K miles in business. Use the Great Circle Mapper – http://gc.kls2.com/ – and the Oneworld timetable to figure a route that stays below 35K flight miles (counting all stops and connections) – otherwise it goes to 220K for business.

By: morriswt

morriswt — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:52:19 +0000

Dan,
Thanks for the comments. Hopefully we will cross paths. Once I have a more definite route planned, maybe we can swap routes and where the two might intersect. I can already relate to the plight of cold weather and trying to escape it as I live in Minneapolis. With SPG points, I am not sure if it is the same airlines and bonuses as the US SPG program, but start google searching LAN airlines and converting SPG points to LAN miles.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:45:07 +0000

Hey Tim. Thanks again for sharing. Appreciate all the legwork you’re doing—it’s saving me a tonne of research. I’ll be sure to share any tips that I come by. I agree that leveraging SPG points and air miles, etc, in other programs is they way to go. Some companies, like Air Canada, are currently offering generous bonuses if you transfer those points into their programs. So — you’re planning on leaving in a little over two years. So are my wife and I — well around 23 months anyway. Wonder if we’ll cross paths while traveling?