Points & miles writer since 2015. Digital nomad since 2017. I help travelers maximize loyalty rewards programs and credit cards. @awardwallet Editor-in-Chief
Joined May 2011
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6,490 Photos and videos
The new Chase Sapphire Preferred changes take effect today (higher earning rates, annual hotel credit > annual fee, even more travel protections).
As if that wasn't good enough, Chase just launched a best-ever 100k bonus! awardwallet.com/blog/increas…
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2026 FLIGHT LOG
🎫American Airlines AA782
🗺️Atlanta (ATL) to Los Angeles (LAX)
🛋️none (check-in line took too long)
✈️Boeing 737-800 (N804NN)
💺38"
🖥️none
🔌universal outlet USB-A
💰12,500 AAdvantage miles $5.60
💳Ink Preferred
📶$19/hr, $25/flight
☕PDB, hot breakfast
6
1
43
22,501
🎫Royal Jordanian RJ131
🗺️Amman (AMM) to Athens (ATH)
🛋️Royal Jordanian Crown Lounge (Oneworld Sapphire)
✈️Airbus A320-200 (JY-AYR)
💺29" (26" with pax reclined all flight)
🖥️none
🔌none
💰7,500 Alaska miles $82.20 taxes/fees
💳Alaska Summit
📶none
☕hot meal (two choices)
1
47,055
Chase just announced big changes to the Sapphire Preferred Card, including improved point earnings and boosted travel credits.
But the biggest news is what this refresh doesn't include... awardwallet.com/news/credit-…
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📰Another AwardWallet scoop: American Airlines just introduced dynamic award pricing for yet another partner. And the rates aren't pretty 😬
We reached out to AA earlier yesterday when we first caught it. And the silence since has been deafening.
awardwallet.com/news/america…
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2,823
2026 LODGING RECAP
JANUARY:
- Hotel nights: 27
- Redeyes: 2
- RV: 1
- Airbnb: 1
- Hotel brands: 7 (14 nights at Lindner, 5 Residence Inn, 2 Hyatt Place, 1 Tru, 1 Marriott, 1 HIExpress, 1 Hyatt Regency)
Cost:
- $870.86
- 49k Hyatt (4.03 cents per point)
- 28k IHG (0.61 cpp)
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5
4,477
APRIL
- Hotel: 23
- Redeye: 3
- Guesthouse: 2
- Camp: 1
- Apartment: 1
- Brands: 10 (Hyatt Centric, WorldMark, TRYP, Four Points, Hilton, Kimpton, Caption, Hyatt Regency, Moxy, Homes&Villas)
Cost:
- $1,256
- 108k Wyndham
- 5k Hyatt
- 2 Hyatt cert
- 2 IHG cert
- 1 Marriott cert
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📰 Scoop: Alaska is raising fees on award tickets soon. And Alaska is eliminating points earnings on Saver fares.
Here's when these changes go into effect and how to avoid the higher fees:
awardwallet.com/news/alaska-…
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7,024
2026 month-by-month flight recap:
JANUARY
- Flight miles: 15,213 (including 12,757 in biz/first)
- Flights: 8
- Airlines: 6 (American, British Air, Ryanair, Lufthansa, Turkish, Cathay Pacific)
- Airports: 11
- Cost: $2,075.02 plus 85k Turkish miles, 14k United, 12.5k AAdvantage
3
24
5,608
APRIL:
- Flight miles: 26,190 (including 17,143 in biz/first)
- Flights: 15
- Airlines: 8 (Airlink, FlySafair, South African, Qantas, Jetstar, Seair, Alaska Airlines, ITA Airways)
- Airports: 16
Cost:
- $831.72 out-of-pocket
- 137.5k Alaska points
- 95k Aeroplan
- 20k AAdvantage
1
3
4,880
MAY:
- Flight miles: 1,613 (including 807 in biz/first)
- Flights: 2
- Airlines: 1 (Royal Jordanian)
- Airports: 2
Cost:
- $120.80 out-of-pocket
- 22,500 Alaska points (15k in biz one-way, 7.5k in economy for the return)
Very quiet month after a ton of traveling in April 😅
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331
Rut roh. Amex just removed an airline transfer partner with zero notice.
This comes shortly after Amex lowered the transfer ratio to Emirates and Qantas — and shortly before it removes Etihad as a transfer partner.
Not a great look for the Amex program😬
awardwallet.com/news/amex-me…
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22
6,381
Southwest just launched new elevated card offers up to 90,000 bonus points.
If you're a Southwest flyer, Southwest cards are more useful than ever to get free checked bags, free seat selection, earlier boarding, and other Southwest perks;
awardwallet.com/credit-cards…
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Katie and I entered the Schengen Zone a month ago. At the time, FCO's EES system said I had 91 days left.
Today, I entered Schengen via ATH. After an hour wait (with announcements blaming EES for the wait), the immigration officer claimed the system said I had 93 days left 😂
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2
152
38,725
No attempt by @RoyalJordanian at having pax return seatbacks to upright position for meal service or landing. Kids moving between seats right before touchdown. Wild flight.
🎫Royal Jordanian RJ131
🗺️Amman (AMM) to Athens (ATH)
🛋️Royal Jordanian Crown Lounge (Oneworld Sapphire)
✈️Airbus A320-200 (JY-AYR)
💺29" (26" with pax reclined all flight)
🖥️none
🔌none
💰7,500 Alaska miles $82.20 taxes/fees
💳Alaska Summit
📶none
☕hot meal (two choices)
4
1
43
45,402
Hilton just launched new card offers up to 175,000 bonus points - with waived annual fees the first year on multiple cards.
Here are the full details: awardwallet.com/credit-cards…
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