TRAVEL / FREQUENT FLYER TIPS

In my Inbox today:

Beginning January 1, 2014, you will earn Medallion status through a combination of miles or segments flown and your annual spending on Delta flights, which will be measured by Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs).

Specifically, here’s how you will qualify for Medallion status starting next year:

	To Reach 2015 SILVER Medallion Status		YOU WILL NEED		25,000 MQMs - OR - 30 MQSs		AND		$2,500 MQDs
	To Reach 2015 GOLD Medallion Status		YOU WILL NEED		50,000 MQMs - OR - 60 MQSs		AND		$5,000 MQDs
	To Reach 2015 PLATINUM Medallion Status		YOU WILL NEED		75,000 MQMs - OR - 100 MQSs		AND		$7,500 MQDs
	To Reach 2015 DIAMOND Medallion Status		YOU WILL NEED		125,000 MQMs - OR - 140 MQSs		AND		$12,500 MQDs

In summary, if you currently fly 75,000 miles in a year but spend less than $7,500 in a year on Delta marketed flights, you’d better start buying more expensive tickets!!

One VERY interesting “out” is that you if you have a Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express. Cardholders that spend at least $25,000 in a calendar year are exempt from the new MQD requirement in exchange for that annual fee. If you are way off from that annual MQD spend, paying $95 for this card doesn’t seem like a bad deal.

APPLY NOW for the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

-DG

Guest writer Lynne Mullins talking about the Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN (charge card):

Click here to APPLY NOW for the Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN

Consumers who sign up for a credit card that offers a reward program tend to take advantage of most ways to earn points to maximize their rewards. As a business owner or employee using a business charge card, you may not have realized you can not only earn rewards, but also gain additional savings for your business by paying for business supplies with a charge card. The American Express business card line was created specifically for business people wanting the convenience of a business-oriented charge card combined with the benefits of a rewards program. The American Express OPEN Savings program is a benefit automatically offered with all American Express business cards that gives additional discounts on products and services with participating retailers. This is a win-win situation for businesses!

Participating retailers in the OPEN Savings program offer 3 to 10 percent off of your total order, and you don’t have to enroll, you simply use your Amex card at a participating OPEN Savings partner. The credit will be applied to your balance on your next statement. Participating retailers include OfficeMax, Fedex Office, technology partner HPDirect.com and Hertz. Paying for these purchases using your Amex charge card ensures that you are earning valuable Amex Membership Rewards points while saving anywhere from 3 to 10 percent on your total bill!

Shipping through companies like Fedex and UPS and buying advertising/media-related purchases earns you two points per dollar spent when you pay for these products and services with your Amex card.

If you own a business, chances are the office supply budget is a significant part of your yearly expenses. An average office of ten or more people will spend approximately $5,000 per year in office supplies alone. This is not including printing, furniture, or cleaning products, which can add up to significant amounts of money. By using your Amex Business Gold Rewards card to pay for these types of purchases and utilizing OfficeMax, an Open Savings partner, you can earn one to point per dollar spent, as well as save up to 10 percent on purchases.

At OfficeMax, you can essentially buy items from all of the supply categories listed above in the store or from their website. Another way to save money and earn points is to use OfficeMax for your copying and printing needs. They can handle all printing needs, including business cards, presentations, stamps and more. With all of these products and services being purchased from an Open Savings partner, your savings will add up tremendously!Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $5,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card membership†.
- Earn points even faster to get more rewards for your business.
- 3X points on airfare purchased from airlines. 2X points at US gas stations.
- Up to $100,000 in each category per year, then 1 point.
- Terms and limitations apply.

- Reduce travel costs, show appreciation for employees and clients, and offset everyday expenses by using points to get something back and grow your business.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $175.

Apply online to qualify for this offer. See offer terms

Click here to APPLY NOW for the Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN

This expires TODAY – September 4th, 2012. The terms this time around are as follows:

You’ll get 10,000 Starpoints with your first purchase and another 20,000 Starpoints when you have spent $5,000 within your first 6 months of cardmembership.

What can you get with 30,000 Starpoints? You could get a 5 night stay in a Category 3 hotel! That could easily be worth $750 or more. Or 3 nights in a category 4 or 2 nights in a Category 5. Traveling to Asia? In a Category 1 or 2 hotel, these points could buy you 10 nights worth well over $1,000. It’s ALL about how you use the points.

If you have questions, please post in the Comments.

You can read all about and apply for the personal flavor of the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Credit Card from American Express here .

You can read all about and apply for the Business version of the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Credit Card from American Express here.

If you have a small business you CAN apply for both cards and get both bonuses – provided you haven’t gotten them before.

The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express is one of the best travel rewards credit cards out there. We go into the “why?” on the pages that review the Personal SPG Amex credit card and the Business version of the SPG Amex

But for the last two years (and now this makes three), American Express has launched an offer around this time offering more bonus points for a new cardmember.

It is back as of THIS MORNING and only until September 2nd, 2012 (so get on it – don’t “think” too long). The terms this time around are as follows:

You’ll get 10,000 Starpoints with your first purchase and another 20,000 Starpoints when you have spent $5,000 within your first 6 months of cardmembership.

What can you get with 30,000 Starpoints? You could get a 5 night stay in a Category 3 hotel! That could easily be worth $750 or more. Or 3 nights in a category 4 or 2 nights in a Category 5. Traveling to Asia? In a Category 1 or 2 hotel, these points could buy you 10 nights worth well over $1,000. It’s ALL about how you use the points.

If you have questions, please post in the Comments.

You can read all about and apply for the personal flavor of the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Credit Card from American Express here .

You can read all about and apply for the Business version of the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Credit Card from American Express here.

If you have a small business you CAN apply for both cards and get both bonuses – provided you haven’t gotten them before.

This is our biggest cash back offer ever for an American Express charge card.

$150 in Amazon gift cards! We’ve done $20, $50, even $100 on the Gold Card from OPEN. But never $150.

And what’s more, you’ll get 25,000 bonus points when you spend just $1,000 (*) in three months.

Now, the Platinum card DOES carry a $450 annual fee. And it’s not even waived the first year.

But the card has a ton of exclusive benefits, and if you were thinking about getting one anyway, maybe this free $150 in Amazon credit will push you over the edge.

For more information, and to apply, please visit our Business Platinum Card from American Express page.

To get the $150, be sure to use the specified link and enter your information so we can send you the reward.

* We got an email indicating this MAY change to $5,000 in three months, so perhaps best o get on this sooner than later – and please VERIFY the bonus on the Amex webpage before applying.

This card won’t be for everyone – but if you buy a lot of airfare and collect Membership Rewards points from Amex, check out the new American Express(R) Premier Rewards Gold Card.  The 3X points on airfare plus no annual fee the first year might make this a winner for you.

Using this link, you’ll also get 15,000 Membership Rewards(R) bonus points when you spend $1,000 in your first 3 months of Card membership (be careful where you signup, not all links offer this!!)

Card benefits:

• Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards(R) bonus points when you spend $1,000 in your first 3 months of Card membership
• Earn Membership Rewards points up to three times as fast: You can earn 3X points on airfare, 2X points on gas and groceries, and 1X points on everything else
• Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards bonus points when you spend $30,000 per calendar year.
• No annual fee for your first year, a savings of $175

Click here to signup for the American Express(R) Premier Rewards Gold Card