Episode Details

How We Planned London & Azores on Points

Season 1 Episode 42 Published 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Description

This summer our family is heading to London and the Azores — and before we go, I'm walking you through exactly how we're paying for it with points and miles. From 32,500 AA miles per person to a $1 flight (yes, really), this episode breaks down every flight and every hotel booking and shows you what this trip would have cost in cash versus what we're actually paying out of pocket. If you've ever wondered whether the points and miles game is worth it for a family, this one's for you.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why we paired London and the Azores together — and why we couldn't squeeze in a second island
How booking nine months out locked us into an ideal one-stop itinerary at 32,500 AA miles per person
The one-dollar flight from London to São Miguel — and why departure taxes matter more than you think
How we'll get home from the Azores with United miles and a cardholder deal
Finding a four-person hotel room in London (harder than it sounds)
How we used Amex points — a currency we were flush with but not using enough — to cover our Azores hotel stay
The full cash value of this trip vs. what we're actually paying

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome and Points Preview
01:32 Trip Setup and Constraints
03:22 Flights to London with AA Miles
06:36 Avios Deal and UK Departure Taxes
08:04 Flying Home from the Azores
10:36 London Hotel: The Standard with Hyatt Points
13:23 Azores Hotel: DoubleTree with Amex and Hilton Points
15:16 Total Costs and Takeaways
16:46 Wrapping Up

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