Parker, Author at Chaos and Carry-Ons

Miles & Points 103: How to Actually Book an Award Flight

In the last post, we talked about the shift that changes everything: moving from “how much can these points erase” to “what’s the best way to use these points.” That shift is where the real value in this hobby lives, and it all starts with transfer partners.

This post is the part where we stop talking in theory and just show you the process. We’re going to walk through exactly how we booked business class to Tahiti using points, step by step, including the parts that didn’t go perfectly and the numbers that have changed since we booked it.

A Week in Taiwan for Under $1,000: What We Actually Spent.

It’s always been our goal to travel more for less and to show others how they can do the same.

One of the biggest misconceptions about travel is that international trips have to be expensive. While they certainly can be, they do not have to be if you know how to use the right tools and strategies.

For our latest weeklong trip, we visited Taiwan and kept our out-of-pocket cost under $1,000. That’s $694.48 in cash and fees covering flights, accommodations, activities, and food, with our flights booked using miles.

Here’s exactly how we did it and what we spent.

Saving Money on Airbnb Without Points

Airbnb is one of the hardest things to “travel hack.” There are no points programs, no transfer partners, and no award charts to study. Most of the time, you just pay cash.

So, when we needed to book a week in Taiwan and wanted to keep costs as low as possible, I had to get creative.

How We Earn Enough Miles to Fly Business Class Every Year

earn credit card points for business class travel

Our goal with this blog has always been to show that travel is possible, how credit card points for business class travel can completely change the way people fly, and to be fully transparent about how we do it.

Earning and Using Rove Miles: How I’m Doing It

Rove is a new and upcoming shopping and travel platform, and I’m a big fan. There are always skeptics as new programs tend to overextend themselves, but I’m here for it and will be as long as it continues. This is how I’m taking advantage of what they have to offer and how I’m earning and using Rove miles.

How I Booked Taiwan for 37,400 Miles Round Trip Using a Delta SkyMiles Flash Sale

If you are trying to book a trip to Asia with points and miles, Delta is probably not the first place you look. In fact, if you’re in the miles and points game at all, you probably have Delta at the bottom of your list. But every once in a while, a SkyMiles flash sale shows up that is hard to ignore. This is exactly how I booked a Delta SkyMiles flash sale to Taiwan

JAL Account Waiting Period: Why You May Not See Award Flights on Desktop

If you recently created a Japan Airlines Mileage Bank account and cannot see award flights on desktop, you may be running into the JAL account waiting period. But, there is a way around, not the waiting period, but the availability.

Capital One Travel Booking Window: Mobile vs Desktop Differences Explained

If you are trying to book travel far in advance and the Capital One Travel booking window does not show as many dates as you expect, the issue may not be availability. It may be your device.