Travel hacks and advice

[MontuckyFried]

Don't know if this is a "hack" so much as a decent promo worth taking advantage of if you're a business traveler. I guess they do this a few times a year, but if you fly Delta they're doing that thing where you can rack up MQDs if you book your hotels (and car rentals) through them. $1:$1
I'm just a lowly Silver, but this is gonna get me to Gold in like a month or two between flights and hotels. If I keep at it whenever they're running this promo, I should be able to hit Platinum easy enough, all on the company dime.

https://carsandstays.delta.com/lp/b/...May25MQD.Hotel

Still renting my cars through National since I'm so close to hitting status on that one too. Executive Elite FTMFW!


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[Name Redacted]

If you are bored and looking ideas for places to travel and to do it cheap, go to google flights and enter the airport that you are leaving from and the dates but leave the destination open. I'll show you the cheapest flights available all over. Pretty fun way to start planning an off-the-cuff trip.

[El Chupacabra]

If you are bored and looking ideas for places to travel and to do it cheap, go to google flights and enter the airport that you are leaving from and the dates but leave the destination open. I'll show you the cheapest flights available all over. Pretty fun way to start planning an off-the-cuff trip.

Ooh. I need to try this.

[liv2ski]

Yup, the explore function. I have left the dates blank and try different departure airports for flying to Yurp. For the last 9 months flying out of Calgary or Vancouver has been much cheaper than the west coast USA. Recently saw some smokin deals from LAX to Rome direct on ITA.

[liv2ski]

O and I am talking Business class.

[Danno]

Yeah, I used that feature when Thanksgiving flights to warm places were crazy expensive. Discovered that there were much cheaper flights to, say, Rome, than to Cancun (even though the flight is at least twice the length). So I'm going to Rome instead of sitting on a beach.

[skaredshtles]

Yeah, I used that feature when Thanksgiving flights to warm places were crazy expensive. Discovered that there were much cheaper flights to, say, Rome, than to Cancun (even though the flight is at least twice the length). So I'm going to Rome instead of sitting on a beach.

Rome is so much better than the beach. Where else ya goin'?

[mc_roon]

https://matrix.itasoftware.com/search

This is the underlying tech that runs google's flight search with a ton of ability to customize search parameters. Convoluted and cumbersome, but you can find crazy deals

[dan_pdx]

Realized yesterday that if I pay for work expenses on my personal card from OR (no sales tax) and then submit for reimbursement, the company saves 10% on sales tax. Hack for getting airline miles? Going to talk to my supervisor and see if it has legs.

[Danno]

Rome is so much better than the beach. Where else ya goin'?

Turkish Airways through Istanbul. So we're gonna spend 3 nights there then 4 nights in Rome. Quick trip for that much flying but should be great, and for my kiddo's first international trip, it's so much better of a choice than Cancun.

[Danno]

Capitol One Venture X lounge changing access come February. I haz a very big sad.

[liv2ski]

I have read some pretty shit reviews on Turkish Airways, so I won't try them, but they have some deals occasionally. GLWTF.

[Danno]

My future son in law has flown them a bunch and said they are really good. :shrug:

Top 10 according to this: https://www.airlineratings.com/artic...lines-for-2025

[dan_pdx]

We've flown Turkish from Seattle to Istanbul and then on to other destinations twice in the last 2 years. Their staff at seatac all seem to be contractors who don't give much of a shit about anything, but the planes are pretty nice inside and the flight crews are good. We'll do it again because it is often the cheapest deal around.

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Edited to add: I remembered that last year we booked our flight with miles through my Chase card and there was some kind of bullshit confirmation and schedule change that neither Chase nor I was aware of. Only found out because I couldn't see my itinerary on the Turkish website and then had to get on the phone with everyone involved (which shockingly was incredibly irritating) to get it resolved. Something to keep in mind if you're not booking directly with the airline

[zion zig zag]

<p>

Capitol One Venture X lounge changing access come February. I haz a very big sad.

</p>
<p>
&nbsp;</p>
<p>
I just scanned the email. Looks like primary card holder still has full lounge access but any secondary/authorized users will have to pay a yearly fee? Is that the gist?&nbsp;</p>
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Also, Istanbul is very cool. Sounds like you have a tight schedule but Esphesus is awesome if you can swing it.&nbsp;</p>

[Danno]

I just scanned the email. Looks like primary card holder still has full lounge access but any secondary/authorized users will have to pay a yearly fee? Is that the gist?

Yeah, I think so, they can pay a yearly fee for additional cardholders or a per-visit fee for guests. My GF has the card and that has allowed her, myself, and my daughter to use the lounges when we travel. But come February, she won't be able to get us in for free.

[skaredshtles]

Turkish Airways through Istanbul. So we're gonna spend 3 nights there then 4 nights in Rome. Quick trip for that much flying but should be great, and for my kiddo's first international trip, it's so much better of a choice than Cancun.

Enjoy. I like Rome a lot. Make sure to wander through Piazza Navona at some point...

[El Chupacabra]

I just scanned the email. Looks like primary card holder still has full lounge access but any secondary/authorized users will have to pay a yearly fee? Is that the gist? </p>
<p>

That's what I read. I've had this Cap One Venture X since they came out with it, Mrs C is an authorized user and so has been able to use the lounge access when she's traveled without me.

They're also removing guest access for all Priority Pass lounges.

I suppose if you're going to travel at all, just pay the $125 extra for the authorized user to get lounge access - - a handful of uses per year and that pays for itself.

[anotherVTskibum]

Realized yesterday that if I pay for work expenses on my personal card from OR (no sales tax) and then submit for reimbursement, the company saves 10% on sales tax. Hack for getting airline miles? Going to talk to my supervisor and see if it has legs.

For purchases used in a sales tax state, the business is usually required to remit any tax that wasn't collected by the vendor; Vermont will check this if you get audited, I haven't been involved in sales tax audits elsewhere, so I have no idea what "normal" is or what the likelihood of getting caught in your state is. Delivery address will matter for physical goods.

If you want to use your personal card for the miles, I'd ask that way and not lead with the tax dodging. Personally, I'd want to consider carefully the possibility of something happening and the business being unable to cover the charges.

[bodywhomper]

Husband of my kids’ teacher used their personal cc for all work expenses to accrue miles. Guy was a land manager of a large ranch/private preserve. He and his family spent most of one summer (over a month) on a trip to Africa, all paid through accumulated points.

The corporate cards that we must use at my work for expenses are personal cards that are tied to the employee. We used to have cards that gave us miles (chase sapphire) and the company paid the annual fee. None of that is true now.

[Name Redacted]

I paid for a work trip with miles and had the company reimburse me with cash. The boss did not like it, but eventually compensated me and told me not to do it again. I spend 20-30k a month on my company card now so I rack up points pretty quick. Paid for a good portion of our last trip to Kauai.

[nickwm21]

…..why?


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