Author: Kate
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Award Flight Deal Alert Services: Are They Right for You?
I subscribe to a popular flight deal alert service. Services like Thrifty Traveler Premium and Straight to the Points Award Alert Service send out emails whenever there’s a fare sale, an award space drop, or another opportunity to get travel at a great value, whether it’s with cash or points. One recent email highlighted the…
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It’s Go Time: Earn BOGO Flights for 2026 and 2027 with the Southwest Companion Pass
Author’s Note I’m republishing this post with updates for October 2025, in light of the current best-ever offer on the Southwest Performance Business card. This is the easiest path to the companion pass that we’ve seen all year, but hurry–this offer ends October 22nd. Tl;dr: One of the best deals in award travel, the Southwest…
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Courtyard Carolina Beach: Value and Family-Friendly Amenities
I thought I’d never open a Marriott card…but never say never. When Capital One announced changes to their Venture X lounge access in mid-2025, I knew we had to initiate the year-long process to obtain a Ritz-Carlton card to secure lounge access for our family. My P2 dutifully opened the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card,…
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Maximize Your Points: Booking a Dream Trip to Hawaii
Booking a trip to Hawaii is almost a rite of passage for points and miles people; it’s an aspirational destination that usually comes with a correspondingly high price tag. Unsurprisingly, it’s a popular points and miles destination, because you can get some incredible value for your points! Here’s how we’re doing it. Flights & Hotels…
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Wild Dunes Resort: Your Ultimate Guide to a Charleston Family Vacation on Points
My cousin’s family has been going to Wild Dunes for years. Every summer, I’d see their sun-kissed photos on my Facebook feed, a vision of sandy beaches and sparkling pools. But with rooms priced at $500 per night or more, a trip like that seemed out of reach for my family. Thanks to credit card…
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American Airlines Flights, Booked Three Ways: New Credit Card Welcome Offers
If you’re loyal to American Airlines, then this is a great time for you! Here are three outstanding welcome offers that allow you to book AA flights in three different ways. Barclays Aviator Red What’s unusual about this card is the minimum spend requirement: there is none. While most credit cards require you to spend…
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Turning Airport Layovers Into City Adventures: Amsterdam
In June of 2025, I embarked on my most ambitious and complex points-and-miles trip yet: an adults-only European getaway for me and my partner which involved nine flights in a period of just 11 days. You can read about how I booked this trip here, but in this three-part series, I’m reporting out on our…
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Grand Hyatt Barcelona Review: Hidden Gem for Travelers
In June of 2025, I embarked on my most ambitious and complex points-and-miles trip yet: an adults-only European getaway for me and my partner which involved nine flights in a period of just 11 days. You can read about how I booked this trip here, but in this three-part series, I’m reporting out on our…
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Points and Miles Luxury in Lisbon: A Two-Day Itinerary
In June of 2025, I embarked on my most ambitious and complex points-and-miles trip yet: an adults-only European getaway for me and my partner which involved nine flights in a period of just 11 days. You can read about how I booked this trip here, but in this three-part series, I’ll report out on our…
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Iberia Business Class Review: A321XLR Experience
I flew Iberia business class on the new A321XLR from Boston to Madrid for 34,000 Avios in June of 2025. (You can read about how I booked this trip here.) Overall, I found this to be a really good value and a positive experience. My ticket granted me access to the British Airways lounge, which…
Kate's on a Plane 