Miles and Points: Fly to Europe for $95 + Tax, Donate Your Points to Hurricane Relief
American Airlines Miles
Barclaycard recently increased the sign-up bonus on its American Airlines AAdvantage miles earning credit card, the Aviator Red card, to 60,000 miles.
The card’s original sign-up bonus was 40,000 miles and was increased to 50,000 miles a few months ago. Even though it seems to be on an upward climb, I doubt the bonus will increase further.
So, if you’re interested in acquiring some American Airlines miles, this might be the opportunity.
The nice thing about Barclaycard is that there is no minimum spend requirement to get the bonus miles. Simply make a purchase – even a pack of gum – using the credit card and 60,000 miles will be deposited into your AAdvantage account. Unfortunately, the annual fee is not waived the first year, so you’ll owe $95 when your first statement comes due.
Still, $95 for 60,000 points is a pretty good deal.
A quick look at a roundtrip, economy class flight from Chicago to Paris over Valentine’s Day 2018 shows award pricing of 45,000 American miles plus $196.86 in taxes/fees.
Add the $95 annual fee and your total trip cost would be $291.86.
The least expensive, comparable itinerary would cost an eye-popping $2,753!
Using miles, obviously, can save an incredible amount of money. And, that savings can come as a result of one credit card sign-up bonus.
Of course, if your special someone will be accompanying you, he/she would have to get a card, and its associated bonus, too.
My only caveat to this offer is that I still am hesitant to recommend American Airlines miles. American has been very stingy with its release of award availability for the past year or so. While it’s loosened a bit in recent weeks, I still don’t trust that it will be easy to use those miles once they’re deposited into your account.
If interested, here’s the link to the current Barclaycard Aviator Red 60,000 mile sign-up bonus.
Donate Your Points to Hurricane Relief
I’ve received two emails offering the option of donating points to benefit Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
The Hilton Honors program is offering the opportunity to donate Hilton points via PointWorthy.com.
And Southwest Airlines – which always has an option for donating Rapid Rewards points to various charities – is promoting the donation option as well.
While I’m not positive, it looks as though Hilton and Southwest will convert your points’ donation to a predetermined dollar amount and donate the funds to the specific charity.
If cash is tight, but you’d still like to help those in SE Texas, donating points might be the way to go.
Southwest Airlines Donation Link.
