How We Flew
First Class
on our Honeymoon
From Chicago, Illinois to Bangkok, Thailand for
$18.00
(in Taxes and Fees)
Travel Rewards Honeymoon Flight Path from Chicago Illinois, to Bangkok, Thailand.
Yup, you read that correctly, and we got the receipt to prove it!
So, how did we do it?
So glad you asked.
A strategic combination of credit card travel rewards points and miles. It was kind of like extreme couponing - travel edition. We applied for two credit cards each, over the course of six months, and then combined the travel rewards points and miles from those cards to purchase our flights.
If that sounds like a lot of work...
you're right, it was!
Click below and we'll do ALL of the heavy lifting and create a custom points plan just for you.
Actual Receipt for our flight to Bangkok, Thailand for our Honeymoon!
At this point, you might be thinking:
“Well, I have my trusty, one and only, travel reward credit card that I purchase everything with and I’ll just save up the miles or points to buy my flights.”
I thought exactly the same thing.
Let me hit you with some facts:
- The average wedding costs about $25,000 (ours definitely cost more, sorry Mom and Dad).
- Even if we had put every dollar related to our wedding on one travel rewards credit card, we would have accrued only 25,000 points (assuming a 1:1 ratio on dollars spent per point earned).
That, my friends, is only about 31% of the points needed to fly from Chicago to Bangkok in Economy Class for ONE person. I don't know about you, but I think a solo trip to Bangkok makes for a lonely honeymoon.
Enter Our Points Plan
By using our points plan,
we were able to get TWO FIRST CLASS tickets without putting any extra purchases on our credit cards.
We ALWAYS pay off the entire balance of every credit card, every month.
What's it going to take to get from Chicago to Bangkok (per person)?
First Class: 99,000 Miles per Person
Tax: $9.00
Here's What We Did:
So. Much. Research.
- Research where we want to go and how we are going to get there using points.
- Do even more research on the best travel rewards credit cards.
- Plan which cards to apply for, and when!
- Earn each cards' Welcome Bonuses by hitting the required spend within the required time frame.
- Combine the Points and Miles from the two cards to buy our First-Class tickets to Bangkok!
Total Points Accumulated: 127,000
60,000 Welcome Bonus Points +
60,000 Welcome Bonus Miles +
4,000 (points on dollars spent +
3,000 points on dollars spent
Here's What We Can Do For You:
We make it easy!
-
Custom Points Plan
We will design a custom points plan package for you (and your significant other) to help you earn enough travel rewards points to travel to your dream destination (like your honeymoon spot!) for (almost) free.
-
Step by Step Guide
We will provide step-by-step instructions on how you can earn the most travel rewards points possible.
-
Fly for (almost) free!
We'll help you book the trip to maximize your travel rewards points and hit you with some travel tips to make the most of your adventure.
*What do we mean by "almost" free?
The airlines usually tack on additional taxes and fees after points are applied.
In case you missed it!
If we had tried to put all of our wedding expenses on one travel reward card we would have only earned about 25,000 points instead of 127,000 points.
We spent 7,000 and got 127,000 points instead of $25,000 for 25,000 points.
That's 18x more points per dollar spent.
If We Had Paid for the Flight in Cash...
- First Class: $5,441 per person or $10,882 as a couple.
- Economy Class: $1,460 per person or $2,920 as a couple
- It took us 36+ hours to get from Chicago to Bangkok. Travelling in First Class and having access to the airport lounges made a HUGE difference.
But really, having our caricature drawn out in palm fronds, that also includes our dog on our bed, now that's priceless!
And now, you might be thinking...
"Okay, cool, but I don't want to tank my credit just to score some (almost) free flights."
Yeah, been there, thought that too.
Check out these articles for more info on your
Credit Score
1. Checking your credit score will NOT hurt your credit score!
- Let me help bust this insidious myth that merely checking your credit score online damages your credit score.
- Free services like Credit Karma will provide you with your credit score and WILL NOT impact your credit score.
- If you have good or better credit (about 700+) then you can open a couple of Travel Rewards Credit Cards, no problem.
- *Even if you think, "I've always paid all of my bills on time, my credit should be perfect"; It's always a good idea to keep an eye on your credit score.
2. Opening new credit cards actually helps your credit score in the long run.
- The first thing a lender will check is your credit score; when a lender pulls your credit score, it's called a hard check. This type of pull on your credit score is what causes the temporary dip.
- This is where the common confusion comes into play. A hard check on your credit by a lender temporarily impacts your credit score; an individual checking their own credit online (or a soft check) does not impact their credit score.
- After a hard check, your credit score usually bounces back in 3-6 months.
- The best part?! Your credit score actually improves as you will have
- Better credit ratio (how much you're allowed to charge vs how much you actually charge)
- Maintain a perfect payment history across multiple accounts
- Continue to diversify your credit report (additional and varied lines of credit).
3. Will opening 1-2 credit cards hurt my credit score?
- 1-2 credit cards, only a temporary tiny dip that bounces back and benefits you in the long run; but if you go nuts and open 5-10 at the same time, that will certainly send up some red flags on your credit score.
Most Importantly: Never carry a balance on your credit cards. Like ever.
- Your payment history makes up 35% of your credit score. Nothing will hurt your credit score more than carrying a balance on your credit cards AND you will also incur an interest rate charge on the balance, which is also not fun.
The Bottom Line
We want to help you fly for (almost) free on your honeymoon too!
or
on your next vacation, spring break, retirement celebration, or anywhere really!
The sooner you sign up, the farther we can take you.
Erika Flynn Ringling
The Points Plan, LLC
Minimalist travel guru. I fully credit my stronger biceps to lifting my very full carry-on suitcase in and out of the overhead compartment because I'm scared to check a bag and never see it again. My focus is always on the experience, the food, and the people, and how they all combine to create a unique culture.