by PointsGuru | Apr 13, 2016 | Virgin America Elevate
When you see an opportunity to earn extra bonus points or miles for doing almost nothing you should always take them up on the offer while it lasts. Even if you do not fly the airline often or if they are not in your city yet. You never know when Virgin America could be in your city. They are offering 500 free points just for joining their airline loyalty program.
Virgin America’s promotion is called “Flights With Benefits,” and through it you can earn 500 bonus points for joining their rewards program called Elevate. You can also earn 500 bonus points for referring your friends to Elevate up to a maximum of 2,500 bonus points or 5 people.
Sign up here for the promotion. Valid for new member sign-ups through May 31, 2016, with bonus points posting within 4-6 weeks. After you sign up make sure to go here for 250 more free points.
Virgin America Elevate points are worth around 2.2 cents each towards the cost of a revenue ticket on Virgin America, so 500 Elevate points are worth around $11. This is similar to the value of Southwest airline points which would be higher than American Airlines per redemption.
Once you get your free Elevate points from Virgin America keep in mind that they expire after 18 months of inactivity. One way to rack up additional points is through American Express Membership Rewards transfers with a current promotional transfer bonus of 50%. You can also earn with over 700 retailers in their Elevate Fly Store online earning up to 10 points per $1.
by PointsGuru | Apr 11, 2016 | Bank of America, Capital One, International Travel
When traveling internationally you really have to plan months ahead not just in booking your rewards points but be able to strategize what cards you will take with you. You need to know way ahead of time so you can make sure you apply for those cards and have them in your wallet in time for overseas travel. A good credit card and ATM/Debit Card are two of the most important things to carry with you right after your passport.
If you have traveled to foreign countries you should now that ATM cards that carry foreign transaction fees can really add up and sometimes be shockingly high. While I normally prefer to use my credit cards to earn points with a no international transaction fee credit card there are some situations you must use cash abroad. The best way to get cash is to use the ATM and not any kind of currency exchange that you see lined up near the baggage claim and along the streets of many tourist destinations.
Capital One 360 Checking Debit Card
You may remember this account which changed over from what used to be the ING Direct Electric Orange. Capital One 360 debit card no longer charges any Foreign Transaction Fees since the change. Comparable cards charge at least 3% charge to this 0%. Keep in mind that the ATM you use may issue a surcharge which is generally a flat fee. This tops our list for No Foreign Transaction Fee debit cards. (more…)
by PointsGuru | Apr 11, 2016 | Taxi Rideshare & Rentals
A new rewards program came out from Uber this year for their top riders. This program for the most loyal riders gives you the best treatment possible when you take a ride. You should receive exclusive Uber experiences with top quality cars, high rated drivers, special giveaways, and more.
How to Make the VIP List:
1. Sign up for Uber
2. Take 10+ trips this month
3. Enjoy the VIP perks next month
4. Continue this trip trend monthly to keep VIP access (more…)
by PointsGuru | Mar 29, 2016 | Taxi Rideshare & Rentals
When it comes to getting around town whether you are going out on the town for the night, drinking for happy hour, or traveling with your family the best ride is with ride sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. Uber and Lyft are part of a sharing economy that gets us normally a brand new car picking us up instead of a old run down taxi. The best part is that we can call Uber or Lyft by pressing a button on our iPhone, Windows Mobile, or Android smart phone and it tells us when the driver will arrive.
Register here to get up to $50 in credits from Lyft towards your first 10 rides. Lyft is similar to Uber but it’s a bit more personal where you can add more to your profile and know more about the person driving you. They can sometimes be cheaper as their surge rate seems less than the competition most of the time. A surge rate is when they do not have many drivers or they are busy on a big holiday such as Memorial Day Weekend at 10pm or 2am.
$5 Off Lyft in New Orleans
Never miss a jazz solo, beignet, or parade, because Lyft is now live in the Crescent City. Whether you’re partying your way down Frenchmen street or eating your weight in crawfish, Lyft will get you wherever you need to go. Get $5 off your first ride in New Orleans with CODE:GOODTIMESROLL. Valid for 1 ride with max $5 discount. Offer valid until 5/30.
Uber Promos
Register here to get a $15 credit for Uber towards a Free Ride. Make sure that Promo code ubervip4me is entered. Uber is an amazing on-demand car service that is replacing taxi’s and they have service in most cities across the country.
Bonus Cash Back and Starwood Points
If you have the Capital One Quicksilver card or the Capital One QuicksilverOne card, you’ll get 20% back on all Uber rides through April 30, 2016. This is an amazing discount off the popular Uber service. If you’re stayed at a Starwood hotel you can also get bonus points once you sync your Uber account. (more…)
by PointsGuru | Mar 9, 2016 | International Travel
The United Arab Emirates turned nasty Wednesday as a massive storm whipped through the desert nation, causing damage throughout the capital, Abu Dhabi. The downpour quickly overmatched the drainage systems according to CNN leaving motorists stranded in standing water on city streets.
The storm, which contained strong winds, frequent lightning and even some hail, caused all flights to be suspended Wednesday at Abu Dhabi International Airport and disruptions at Dubai airport. Wind gusts reached hurricane strength — 75 mph (120 kilometers per hour) — at nearby Al Bateen Executive Airport. Emirates flights to Chicago and Seattle were some of the flights canceled today.
While the UAE airports look amazing on the outside and inside deep down they are still third world with no regulated roofing for protection for travelers. The Middle East does not seem too prepared to handle rain as these storms have caused part of the roof to collapse at Abu Dhabi Airport today:
Several events were cancelled or suspended for the day, including Abu Dhabi Expo and Dubai Canvas festival activities.
