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A Math Nerd’s Quest to Become A Points & Miles Millionaire – Why Stop at Miles and Points?
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A Math Nerd’s Quest to Become A Points & Miles Millionaire – Why Stop at Miles and Points?

The points & miles hobby is at the cross roads of travel loyalty programs and credit card rewards. Some travel hacking purists only believe in airline and hotel currencies. As for me, this game is about saving money in whichever way possible. Maximizing the value of a purchase sometimes involves receiving rewards in different shapes and forms. Cashback and statement credits, anyone? If you don’t look at your options holistically, you may be missing out!

Why Do People Think I’m Always Traveling?

Why Do People Think I’m Always Traveling?

I can’t remember the last time that I was out with friends, family, or coworkers, and someone hasn’t made the comment “you seem like you’re always traveling”. That always cracks me up. Sure, through the nature of having a travel blog I’m sure that I talk about my travels more often than the average person, but I really don’t feel like I travel all that often.

A Math Nerd’s Quest to Become A Points & Miles Millionaire – Status & Perks
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A Math Nerd’s Quest to Become A Points & Miles Millionaire – Status & Perks

When I began collecting credit cards, I focused exclusively on the “points and miles” hobby. My goal was to accumulate measurable currencies that could be redeemed for free travel, and I paid no attention to other benefits that may have come with the cards. I didn’t know much about them, and I didn’t think I would keep the cards long enough to take advantage of them. These “soft” benefits of travel credit cards, however, were like the sides on my steak plate. I couldn’t ignore them forever. And, when I finally paid attention, some of them turned out to be a wonderful surprise.

Should I Credit My Upcoming British Airways Business Class Flight To Alaska Or American Airlines?
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Should I Credit My Upcoming British Airways Business Class Flight To Alaska Or American Airlines?

A few months ago I was able to jump on a great deal for Business Class tickets aboard British Airways from San Francisco to Europe for just $1,700. Although it’s a little bit less of a great deal when you factor in the $250 that British Airways is asking for in order to select seats in advance. At the time, it was a no-brainer for me to credit this flight to Alaska Airlines, since I’d need the elite qualifying miles to re-qualify for status, and as an existing elite I’d receive a 100% bonus. But now things are a bit more complicated …

A Math Nerd’s Quest to Become A Points & Miles Millionaire – Manufactured Spending
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A Math Nerd’s Quest to Become A Points & Miles Millionaire – Manufactured Spending

Manufactured Spending (MS) is a big part of the points and miles hobby. It’s a collection of techniques where you pretend to spend the money that you don’t have, in order to generate points. The general concept is that you buy cash-equivalent instruments with a reward-earning credit card, and then convert those instruments to cash in order to pay off the credit card balance.

A Math Nerd’s Quest to Become A Points & Miles Millionaire – An Accounting Exercise
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A Math Nerd’s Quest to Become A Points & Miles Millionaire – An Accounting Exercise

Now that I am a points & miles millionaire, I wish I were a real millionaire. The truth is, there’s a pretty big difference between the two. How, then, do I quantify my treasure chest of travel currencies? In this article, I will share how my thought process evolved.

Am I The Only Person Excited To Try “Jetihad”?

Am I The Only Person Excited To Try “Jetihad”?

I’m off to India in the coming weeks, and as excited as I am to visit a new country (and attend an Indian wedding), in true #AVGeek form I’m even more excited to fly a new airline.

But while my return flight from India is booked in First Class on Etihad, it’s worth noting that it will actually be on one of the Boeing 777-300ER planes wet leased to Etihad from Jet Airways. In other words, the seat, food, and service really won’t be the same as that offered on standard Etihad flights.

The Math Behind My Singapore Airlines Award Redemption To Singapore and India

The Math Behind My Singapore Airlines Award Redemption To Singapore and India

In case you hadn’t realized, I’m a math nerd (as are some of my coworkers). That means that numbers weigh heavily into any decision I make around getting the best value out of my miles. In fact, I even built a model that tells me when it makes sense to use miles or spend cash for a specific ticket. For my upcoming trip to India, I dusted off the model to compare a few different options. Here was the situation.

A Math Nerd’s Quest to Become A Points & Miles Millionaire – Introduction
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A Math Nerd’s Quest to Become A Points & Miles Millionaire – Introduction

Hi everyone! This is Peter, Terence’s coworker and fellow actuary. Some time ago, he introduced me to the hobby of points and miles. And wow it’s been a learning process! Looking back at how I see the world differently, now, I’d like to give back to the community by sharing my experiences. Terence has generously allowed me to ramble on contribute to this blog. So here I am, as the first guest writer on Hungry for Points, on a mission to bring you a unique perspective on this hobby.

Travel Hacking SFO… the Daily Commute Edition
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Travel Hacking SFO… the Daily Commute Edition

If you read this blog and follow others in the Boarding Area, you’ve probably invested hundreds of hours optimizing your experience in the air. But, have you done the same with your daily commute at a lower altitude? Now that Citi Thankyou Premier has taken the lead to include gas in its “travel” bonus category, it’s time for someone in this hobby to write about America’s favorite mode of travel: cars.