This weekend I'll be visiting Chicago and the total cost of flight and accommodation is $124.34. My husband is going on business and his flight (same time frame) is approx. $600. How is that possible you ask? I am flying using Airmiles and staying using Marriott hotel reward points.
What It Cost:
Flying to Chicago from Toronto during low season (this weekend): 1150 miles
Tax for the flight: $124.34
Two Night's Accommodation using Marriott Rewards: 60 000 hotel reward miles
Not everyone is a frequent traveller and therefore not everyone can accumulate frequent flyer miles or hotel frequent user points but everyone can use Airmiles for everyday purchases.
Here's how I collect Airmiles, and I admit I could be better at collecting:
I use an Airmiles Mastercard which does have an annual fee of around $40 (so I guess you could add that to my cost above if we want to be picky).
I also use an American Express Airmiles card which has no annual fee.
I use my credit cards for almost everything that I purchase even small purchases under $10. For every $20 you get a mile - it all adds up.
Most of my mile collections come from the credit card purchases. I am getting rewarded for things that I purchase anyway.
I shop at the LCBO for my wine purchases and when we buy beer we also buy it from the LCBO instead of the Beer Store (I think I rack up quite a few miles at the LCBO).
I use my Airmiles card at every store that accepts them for purchases I am planning on making.
When I buy shoes, I generally buy them from the Shoe Company.
When I can I shop at Rona for home decoration and repair.
To become a Gold member which entitles you to additional benefits you only need to shop at 5 sponsors and collect 1000 points within a given year.
What I could do better is visit more of the stores that offer reward miles such as Shell for gas and Metro for groceries but I admit I don't manage my points collection as well as I could. Think about how much faster I could be earning rewards if I were to manage my purchases even more.
My suggestion is to start collecting if you are not already and you could be on a weekend getaway to Chicago or wherever for under a couple hundred bucks, that's what I call affordable travel!
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