Why I will no longer actively accumulate American AAdvantage miles

Last week I spent a lot of time researching and eventually booking flights for this year’s trip to Europe. This will be our first visit outside the peak summer travel season I expected to have my pick of plentiful award flight and hotel options. I was partially right: there were far more choices than I typically find during the summer. I was miserably wrong, however, when I searched American Airlines in hopes of using my stash of American AAdvantage miles. But I found no saver-level business class space for the days we are traveling. For me, this was the last straw.

Points and Miles, Loyalty ProgramsDerek CookJanuary 24, 2019American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage miles, American Airlines, points and miles

Evaluating my credit card portfolio - Barclays

Since my pursuit of points and miles has resulted in many open credit card accounts, I recently began a top-to-bottom review of my overall credit card portfolio. In today's final entry in the series covering this review, I will consider the lone Barclays card products I hold.

Credit CardsDerek CookApril 21, 2018credit cards, credit score, points and miles, signup bonus, Barclaycard, AAdvantage Aviator Red MasterCard, AAdvantage miles

Bonus miles with American and Delta shopping portals

I love shopping portals and have written about them frequently. As we head into the Christmas shopping season, both AAdvantage eShopping and Delta Air Lines's SkyMiles Shopping are offering bonus miles by achieving certain spend thresholds.

Points and Miles, Loyalty ProgramsDerek CookNovember 7, 2017shopping portal, promotions, Delta SkyMiles, American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage miles, Delta SkyMiles Shopping, points and miles

Another spend promotion for the Barclaycard Aviator Red card

Promotions for the Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Red MasterCard have padded my American Airlines AAdvantage account in the past. Barclaycard is back with another opportunity to earn bonus miles by meeting certain spend thresholds during the last three months of 2017. Is this an attractive offer that I will pursue?

Credit Cards, Points and MilesDerek CookOctober 19, 2017AAdvantage Aviator Red MasterCard, promotions, credit cards, points and miles, AAdvantage miles, CitiBusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard, American Express Membership Rewards, Amex EveryDay Preferred Card

AAdvantage eShopping - still adding up the miles!

Recently, I received an update from American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping portal with my total points earned this year through the end of September and I have already surpassed the amount I earned in all of 2016!

Points and MilesDerek CookOctober 16, 2017shopping portal, AAdvantage miles, American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping

Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator: Round purchases to buy AAdvantage miles

Yesterday I received an email from Barclaycard introducing a very interesting program for its AAdvantage Aviator card. According to the email, I was invited to participate in a pilot for Flight Cents which allows you "to [round] up your purchases to the nearest dollar, and [turn] that rounded up amount into American Airlines AAdvantage® miles."

Credit Cards, Loyalty Programs, Points and MilesDerek CookSeptember 6, 2017Barclaycard, AAdvantage Aviator Red MasterCard, American Airlines, AAdvantage miles, Amex EveryDay Preferred Card

Back-to-school bonus miles

With back-to-school upon us, the shopping portals for both American AAdvantage eShopping and Delta SkyMiles shopping are offering bonus miles for achieving certain spend thresholds during the back-to-school shopping season.

Points and Miles, Shopping PromotionsDerek CookAugust 3, 2017shopping portal, American Airlines, AAdvantage miles, Delta Air Lines, Delta SkyMiles, American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping, Delta SkyMiles Shopping, promotions

Rewards portal shopping miles can add up!

In 2016 I earned 11,155 American Airlines AAdvantage miles just by shopping via the AAdvantage eShopping portal. If you want to enhance your rewards earning, I share just how simple it is for you to do the same!

Points and MilesDerek CookJanuary 27, 2017AAdvantage miles, American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping, shopping portal, points and miles, Cashback Monitor

European Gridiron Adventure: Getting there and back (Pt. 1)

For a recent trip to Europe, I took advantage of award tickets using American Airlines AAdvantage miles. Before I could actually identify and book flights, I had to do some research and preparation.

European Gridiron Adv.Derek CookOctober 12, 2016oneworld, Gateway airports, American Airlines, AAdvantage miles, Finnair, airberlin, Iberia, travel planning

Barclay AAdvantage Aviator vs. Citi/AAdvantage Platinum: Which to keep?

With the annual fee due on both my Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Red MasterCard and Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select Card later this month, I need to evaluate which of the two cards - if either - I will keep.

Credit Cards, Loyalty Programs, Points and Miles, PopularDerek CookFebruary 9, 2016Barclaycard, Citibank, Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select MasterCard, US Airways, AAdvantage Aviator Red MasterCard, AAdvantage miles, credit cards, credit card rewards