Questions My Beginner Friend Asked as She Applied for Two Credit Cards

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Today I was with my friend as she applied for two credit cards. Her knowledge of miles and points is average for an American, which is to say, it's almost non-existent.

The questions she asked me while we talked about which cards she should get were illuminating. They reminded me of a few facts that I'd like to drill into beginners' heads.

Master Thread: Off Peak Awards

Off peak awards allow us to stretch our miles further by booking discounted awards to select regions during certain pre-determined dates. Off peak awards are offered by several airlines, and this post will put all the off peak awards I know of in one place.

While off peak awards are often less desirable dates, there are some off peak dates that are actually my favorite times to visit a country.

DEAD: 6 First Class Seats on American’s Best Product

Update: The deal died within an hour of this post. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook to avoid missing these time-sensitive deals.

American Airlines' best Business and First Class is on its new 777-300ERs.

Super Cheap, Super Luxury Award on Qatar A380

Qatar Airways has begun flying its A380s from Doha to London and will begin service to Paris and Bangkok soon.

There are a lot of luxury options between the Middle East and Europe, so I want to focus on the route between Doha and Bangkok that begins December 1.

from gcmap.com

Award space is wide open on the Qatar A380 between Doha and Bangkok for two people in Business Class.

How to Earn and Spend 103,000 American Airlines Miles

All credit card offers in this post have expired, but they might come back. If they do they will appear --> Click here for the top current credit card sign up bonuses.

Getting both cards and meeting their combined minimum spending requirement of $3,001 will earn you 103,000 American Airlines miles when your US Airways and American Airlines frequent flyer accounts combine in the second quarter of 2015.
What Can You Do with 103,000 American Airlines Miles?
1. Take a Round-the-World Trip

a.

Integration Announcement of AAdvantage and Dividend Miles

All credit card offers in this post have expired, but they might come back.

American Airlines US Airways Combined Program Imminent?

US Airways and American Airlines legally merged in December 2013, but the two airlines maintain separate frequent flyer programs

Brand New Flat Bed Business Class Option Between United States and Australia

Qantas is refurbishing its A330s with "fully flat beds in business class." Right now the A330s serve the following routes.

Sydney-Melbourne
Sydney-Brisbane
Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane to Perth
Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane to Singapore
Melbourne/Brisbane to Hong Kong
Sydney-Bangkok
Sydney-Jakarta
Sydney-Manila
Sydney-Honolulu
Sydney-Shanghai

I have medium hopes for the new beds, which will roll out starting in December 2014. The reason I am not more excited is that the picture accompanying the press release looks to me like an angled lie flat beds, not fully flat beds.

This jives with my experience in business class on the Qantas A380.

Amazing Off Peak Awards to the Caribbean with AA/US Miles

You can get from anywhere in the United States to tons of destinations in the Caribbean for 20,000 US Airways miles roundtrip or 25,000 American Airlines miles.

The Caribbean from Google Maps

Both deals rely on the airlines' off peak award charts. US Airways' off peak dates are September 1 - 30. American Airlines' off peak dates are September 7 - November 14.

Both airlines, as well as Delta and United, normally charge 35,000 miles roundtrip in economy to the Caribbean.

Australia over Christmas and New Years on Miles

I get a ton of requests at my Award Booking Service for people who want to fly from the United States to Australia or New Zealand over Christmas and New Year's with their frequent flyer miles. Usually the request is to fly in Business or First Class.

I want to dissuade you from this goal because it is one of the toughest awards to book.

Last month I wrote "The Easiest Places to Get with Miles." Miles are awesome and can get you almost anywhere in the world cheaper and more luxuriously than most people realize.