Queer and There

Category Archives for Queer and There.

Giveaway: 5 Pairs of Admirals Club Day Passes ($100 Value!)

by Harlan 94 Comments

It’s been real being featured on BoardingArea this week. I’ll be going back to Prior2Boarding after this weekend, but wanted to throw something out to express my gratitude.

To 5 lucky winners, I’ll be giving out a pair of Admirals Club day passes. Each pass is worth $50, and 5 winners will get 2 passes. So take a buddy along and save a deuce!

Win a pair of passes to the Admirals Club

Win a pair of passes to the Admirals Club

How to enter

To enter, leave a comment below.

In it, tell me: what’s your favorite Admirals Club AND favorite airport and why? If you’ve never been to an Admirals Club, just let me know your favorite airport and why it’s your fave.

Even though I won’t be featured on BoardingArea after Sunday, June 28th, the contest is open until 11:59pm ET on Saturday, July 4th. (Whoo hoo independence day!)

I’ll pick winners on Sunday, July 5th. So be sure to leave me your email when you comment, because I’ll notify you via email.

Da rulezAdmirals-Club-One-Day-Pass-Free-Giveaway

  • Must be 18 years old or older to use the pass and One-day pass visitors must hold a same-day ticket for airline travel that allows clearance through security for flight departure and access to the Admirals Club lounge
  • Only one comment per person
  • Must be a US resident
  • Winner will be determined via random.org and will be notified on Sunday, July 5th, 2015
  • Admirals Club pass doesn’t expire until 12/31/15

I just requested the passes, so it might take them a week or so to get here. I’ll aim to get them in the mail in early July, so be sure you don’t need them until mid-July or after.

Ways to keep up with the blog

Twitter and Instagram are my personal accounts, and I post on those the most so be sure to follow me on both!

I often write about things I find handy or ways to save money.  There are two ways to ensure you never miss a blog post:

Ways to support the blog

If you like what you see here, I appreciate any kind of support, whether it’s using my links for services I like, or to pick up a new travel rewards credit card.

I’m aggressively working toward paying off my student loans so any clickage is infinitely appreciated!

Bottom line

Giveaway! Feel free to share the link anywhere you like but remember only one comment per person.

I’ve had a blast on BoardingArea this week.  Follow me on Twitter and Instagram if you’d like to keep up with my travel adventures.

Check out services I like, or pick up a new travel rewards credit card if you’re in the market for one (or more!). All support is mucho appreciated!

Good luck!

Assessing the Benefits of FoundersCard

by Harlan 43 Comments

Also see: 

Update: You can lock in a FoundersCard membership for $295 a year through May 13th, 2016 when you sign-up with my link. This is $100 less than the usual rate!

So you guys know I’m been working toward FIRE (financial independence, retire early) lately. And part of that means ruthlessly cutting out extraneous spend.

So far, I’ve gotten rid of my gym membership, canceled credit cards that no longer serve me, and have cut back on my eating out (more trips to Costco!).

FoundersCard Benefits

You can stay

FoundersCard is $395 a year, which is a little “ouch.” I’m nearly due to the pay the annual membership dues again to keep the card for another year and I looked at it with an eye to cut it.

But, I’m going to keep it for another year.

Here’s why.

The AT&T Benefit

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Airbnb: Us and Them

by Harlan 3 Comments

Also see:

Many strong opinions

Many strong opinions

I’ve been meaning to talk about this for a while because it seems like there’s a lot of opinions about Airbnb these days.

Specifically, I’d like to talk about what it’s like being an Airbnb host, how it’s been staying at Airbnbs as a guest, and all the others that think it’s a great thing… and a terrible thing.

The users

People who book lodging on Airbnb tend to be millennials who aren’t looking for a traditional hotel.

The downsides:

  • You won’t receive points for your stay
  • There may or may not be a “welcome amenity”
  • There are NO “upgrades” – WYSIWYG
  • There may or may not be breakfast included
  • You’re at the mercy of an individual

The upsides: 

  • If you need multiple beds or rooms, it’s much cheaper than a traditional hotel suite
  • You can stay in real neighborhoods as opposed to tourist areas, and feel like a local
  • When it’s good, it’s great. People I’ve met are open and kind, and I didn’t miss the hotel experience
  • It’s usually more private. No elevators and desk areas to pass through
  • More negotiation is possible, especially in the off-season or for longer stays
  • Lots of obscure locations where there might not be hotels – get a unique experience

Now, if your host doesn’t show up to let you in or leaves you hanging… that’s a pretty bad scenario. Fortunately, Airbnb has lots of verification systems, and heavily encourage reviews.

Bleep happens of course, but when you’re coming off a long flight, you don’t want an excuse, you want to get in and settled.

Most hosts I know have a Plan B. And a Plan C. And a… yeah.

When I’ve stayed at Airbnbs, I’ve never had an issue getting in.

Be communicative, give a heads up if you’re delayed, and stay in touch. It’s all about the little things, but they go a long way.

Considering a suite in a hotel can be over $1,000, you can save yourself a bundle of money by booking an Airbnb. Especially in expensive cities like New York or San Francisco.

The hosts

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Is Living In Cities Worth It?

by Harlan 6 Comments

I recently discovered a blog called Financial Samurai that got me thinking. Particularly the articles about living in cities:

I’ve mentioned before that living in New York forever might not be in the cards for me as part of my path toward FIRE.

It’s simply a shift in priorities.

The Good Things About Living in Cities

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State of the Game: Is MS Worth It Any More, Cashback, Chase, and More

by Harlan 14 Comments

Also see: 

If you want a laugh, check out my previous “State of the Game” post. In it, I talk about looking forward to REDbird, loving Club Carlson, and wondering how Evolve Money would play out.

And now, REDbird is so, so over, I declared Club Carlson dead to me, and haven’t messed with Evolve Money since they started charging a 3% fee on credit card bill payments.

I also lamented the loss of Vanilla Reloads and Amazon Payments, and was just switching from Bluebird to Serve.

Manufactured spending

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Tomorrow: NYC Miles and Points Meetup! 6pm in East Village!

by Harlan 7 Comments

Grab a drink and mix

Grab a drink and mix

If you’re in New York, come geek out for a few hours with other points and miles aficionados.

We talk about our trips, routing rules, best redemptions, the pros and cons of various business/first class products, and other awesome topics.

I’ve always had a great time and look forward to meeting new peeps!

Here’s the link to RSVP.

The 411:

Professor Thom’s, 219 2nd Avenue, New York, NY (between 13 & 14 St)

Tuesday, June 23rd, 6-9pm

If you can’t make this one, join the Meetup group and come to the next one!

Bottom line

Come grab a brewsky and introduce yourself to other people who love points and travel!

Say hello if you see me!

Ibotta: Get Cash Back When You Shop

by Harlan 4 Comments

a group of plastic bottles with a pump

So… I’ve been getting into coupons lately. And ways to get cashback or maximize my spend as much as possible. I recently wrote about Paribus, which has already saved me some money on Amazon purchases.

And today, in my internet wanderings, I kept seeing this app mentioned over and over: Ibotta.

ibotta review

Loving Ibotta

I’ve already added it to the Services I Like page, but wanted to do a quick article about it, too.

What the hee haw is Ibotta?

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Gratitude / Life Changes

by Harlan 3 Comments

The times, they are a-changin’ (aren’t they always?).

Ah, the open road...

Ah, the open road…

Thank YOU!

I’m having a great time keeping up with the points and miles community here, and hopefully adding helpful information where I can. So I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone reading.

thank-youI’m continually blown away by the kindness of my readers and how many awesome people there are who are as into points and miles and credit cards as I am.

My links

Also wanted to say thanks for hitting up my referral links lately. They’ve been there for a sec, kinda hanging out in the sidebar. I was accepted into the CreditCards.com referral program – which is awesome because I don’t have to swear allegiance to any card(s) in particular. Most of the good ones are there, though. So thanks for clicking when you’re considering opening a new card. It’s a nice bonus for sure, and I appreciate the support!

Oh, and I have a page of Services I Like, too. I do posts from time to time about a cool service (like Paribus or Evernote), then I’ll post the referral link. I only add services I really love, so thanks for using those links, too!

Life stuff

Sunset in ABQ

Sunset in ABQ

So this kinda goes hand-in-hand with the call-out of the referral links. I’m slowly but surely doing these things with my life:

  • Building up this blog
  • Doing more freelance writing
  • Slowly making an NYC exit plan
  • Paying down my debt and saving up for a house simultaneously

These past 6 months, I’ve had to get a lot of different projects off the ground by leveraging my own money (See Smart Debt: Is carrying a balance ever a good idea?). I’m happy to report that these projects are going well. There have been some hiccups and unforeseen stuff, like there’s supposed to be with new ventures, and I plopped down my credit cards to keep the momentum going.

Sure, I earned some points in the process. But it was mainly a gamble. And I straddled the fine line between Smart Debt and plain ol’ Dumb Debt. So I’d like to ameliorate that.

Then, I’d like to save up a nice down payment for a house somewhere that’s… Not New York. I was thinking a cabin in the woods in Vermont, or a little house in northern New Mexico, or… I’ve been tossing around a few places.

Mountains and lake in Vermont

Mountains and lake in Vermont

I’d like access to American Airlines at the nearest airport, an easy mortgage, and enough services that I can still do my art projects on the side. So that could be a lot of places. Definitely a small to mid-sized city. That’ll be a huge and welcome change.

Future travels

Getting back to travel, I’d like to focus domestically this summer. Yeah!

I was thinking of visiting Chicago, and/or flying into Vancouver, and making my way down to NorCal with stops in Seattle and Portland. It’s been far too long since I’ve visited Chicago, and I’ve never been to Oregon…

And this winter, I was thinking of an extended visit to Central America, a region I’ve never explored.

In general, I’m assessing my priorities and figuring out what I can do with this writing and blogging stuff. I’m working to fit everything in and to grow everything together.

Bottom line

So that’s it. Just wanted to say thanks for using my links – it’s been a real boost and a great support for me these past couple of months, especially as I figure out what’s next and how to grow from here.

Thank you – one of the most powerful phrases there is!

The Perils of Blogging, Quick Defense of MMS, My First BuzzFeed Article, and More!

by Harlan 5 Comments

AKA my first digest?

The Opportunity Cost of Being a Miles and Points Blogger via Miles for Family. This hit home for me in a big way. It’s why I try my best to keep blogging fun instead of a chore. I only write when I have something interesting to say. Otherwise, I keep my trapped closed. And that’s how I deal with generating new content. Must reiterate, if you like a blog, use their affiliate links if they have them, comment when you really love something, and interact with them. It’s the little things that make it all worth doing.

Via comments… There’s been some mud-slinging onto Million Mile Secrets and how they often don’t post the best links to credit card offers. A few thoughts about that… As always, do your due diligence. A quick Google search will in fact tell you the best offer. MMS has a mother-in-law rule where they lay out exactly how they try to give readers the best links, even if it doesn’t earn them anything. Finally, am I being naive here? Can anyone actually point out an instance where they’ve intentionally misled readers? I think it’s all hot air, and that they’ve actually done no wrong. Also see: The Opportunity Cost of Being a Miles and Points Blogger.

The Beginner’s Guide To Earning Airline Miles via BuzzFeed. I’ve been contracted to write a series of points & miles related articles for BuzzFeed Travel and this is the first one from the pipeline! It’s meant to be spread far and wide across the land, so feel free to share the link anywhere you see fit. Hopefully, it’s a good intro to this hobby, so send to your friends who are still putting everything on debit cards.

How to pick your Aer Lingus seats on an Avios booking via Points with a Crew. Useful info, and ties into my recent post about getting your Aer Lingus confirmation number from Royal Jordanian. And, as I get ready for Ireland, you may want to check Aer Lingus award space to have your own trip to the Emerald Isle.

Quick blogroll.

Want to express admiration for Rapid Travel Chai. Stefan has the right idea about things, and his passion for travel shows through to the surface in all of his posts. Aside from being a great writer and photographer, and an avid traveler, he’s a great guy. Highly recommend his blog.

Check out The Jetsetter’s Homestead, too.  I’ve been having a blast interacting with Jennifer on Twitter. Also be sure to check out the rest of my Prior2Boarding crew. Lots of interesting tidbits scattered about, and a good rabbit hole to fall into if there ever was one.

One more to add: Doctor of Credit. Will has an awesome, thorough blog pertaining to the credit side of our hobby. A daily read and a mainstay on my feedly.

That wraps up my 1st “digest” – very cool. Kinda fun to post random thought in an unsorted order. I might have to do that more often.

Oh and one final note! If you are in NYC, please join us on the evening of April 22nd in the East Village for the Reach for the Miles meetup! Would love to meet new NYC peeps!

Thoughts on Authenticity within the “Points Game”

by Harlan 9 Comments

What is it?

What is it?

(Get ready for a jumble of unorganized thoughts.)

Pushing credit cards on blogs isn’t a new trend. But what is new is that more readers are starting to react to the constant pushing of credit cards.

Affiliate links

I tried to get affiliate links. I kinda sorta have them (see the front page or this link about getting a rewards credit card). I’m also kinda sorta glad I have them in a roundabout way – so no fear and/or responsibility of having 55 affiliate links in one post (yes, that has really happened). I’m grateful when people use them but there’s no expectation there, and it doesn’t drive my content. It’s a “nice to have”, not a necessity.

It’s what George at Travel Blogger Buzz pointed out time and time again – and maybe what caused him to pull out of blogging? (Although he never really stopped. I love his posts.)

I will tell you the 2 blogs that really pulled me into this hobby: The Points Guy and Million Mile Secrets. 2 “titan blogs.” I still have TPG on my feedly, but only check MMS from time to time.

I appreciate how TPG has been throwing in posts centered around destinations, truly helpful tips and tricks, and other good little nuggets – in addition to the posts laced with affiliate links. I don’t mind those posts because the other stuff is worth it.

For MMS, it’s simply targeted to beginners. I respect it as a great, valid starting point for those entering into the hobby. They definitely have their voice and circles/arrows, but dang it, those circle and arrows helped me to understand what to look for as a beginner. So props to them for knowing their audience.

Content

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Club Carlson eliminating free night for award stays on June 1st

by Harlan 2 Comments

This changes things

This changes things

Ever have those moments where everything is turned upside down in an instant? Where everything you thought you knew went out the window in a split second?

Club Carlson devalues

That happened to me this morning when I saw that Club Carlson will be eliminating its free award night for credit card holders on award stays, effective June 1st.

That makes this post about how much the annual bonus is worth, um… worthless.

This benefit is literally the only reason I have the US Bank Club Carlson Visa. And I’ve been such a fanboy about it here on Out and Out for so long. In fact, I’ve been geeking out about staying with them in Ireland for about a month by now.

I’ve gone out of my way to stay in their properties. But, given their tiny footprint, they can’t compete with Hyatt or Starwood (similar footprint) or with the big guns (IHG, Marriott, Hilton).

Some of their Category 1 and 2 properties will still be good deals, but those are few and far between, and in some really far-flung places.

The elimination of the free award night brings them more in line with Hilton and IHG prices, which they can’t compete with. Period.

Their only saving grace is the generous earning ability with the co-branded credit card. But given the sparseness of their hotel network, I’m not sure if it’s worth it any more.

Bottom line

I’m torn between hanging on to the US Bank Club Carlson Visa for one more year just to get the anniversary bonus one more time, then canceling and… dumping them right now out of spite.

I’ll probably hang on to it, but my spending on it will drop like a stone.

I think I’ll turn to Hyatt now as my primary chain, and not go out of my way for Club Carlson any more. If one of their properties work, then great… but when I have the choice, I won’t make them my go-to any more.

Very, very disappointed. But can’t say I’m really surprised.

My prediction for next devaluation: sadly enough, American’s AAdvantage program.

Does this news affect your relationship with Club Carlson? Will you burn your points and dump the card when June 1st rolls around? 

HT to Frequent Miler for breaking the news!

Aer Lingus business class seats showing up as economy on United website?

by Harlan 11 Comments

A-ha, so now I’m finally getting to it: the crux of all my recent Aer Lingus posts.

I noticed that when selecting Aer Lingus business class seats on the United website, they are showing up as being in the U fare bucket – which is economy class.

I was perturbed about paying for business class seats (with Avios) only to see that I’d maybe been booked in the wrong fare class.

However, I called British Airways and Aer Lingus to verify that I am indeed in a business class seat. But then I went to look again on the United website to make sure it wasn’t just a glitch.

For this dummy booking, I selected economy class to Dublin and business back from Dublin.

Aer Lingus fare buckets on United

Aer Lingus fare buckets on United

It looks like economy is being booked into the T bucket and business is being booked into U – but U is economy.

I plugged in the record locator into the Royal Jordanian website, and sure enough, their system displayed the same information.

EI booking on RJ site

EI booking on RJ site

But, it still says business on the BA website.

Aer Lingus booking on BA website - business, confirmed

Aer Lingus booking on BA website – business, confirmed

Bottom line

Just in case anyone else got in (or wants to get in – space is still very open) on the lucrative amount of award space on the Aer Lingus BOS-DUB route and had the same questions I did…

Of course, I’ll be pretty miffed if it does actually end up being economy, but 6 hours over the pond isn’t so bad. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again if I have to. I’d be a tyrant to get my Avios back, though.

But that’s worst case scenario stuff. I’m gonna let this be a trust fall with British Airways and assume they’ll catch me (there is a good joke and punchline in here somewhere…).

Has anyone else noticed this mislabeling on the United website? Even better, has anyone flown the flights and can confirm they are indeed in business class? 

Either way, I will have Aer Lingus trip reports soon enough. Looking forward to it, and to visiting Ireland, so very much.

Stay scrappy out there!