🎫Priority Boarding

Hyatt's “Pay My Way” has been available for a while now, allowing you to combine points + cash as a payment method. More recently, a far superior payment option, suite upgrades via points, has become increasingly available across Hyatt properties. The costs are as follows:

• Regency/Grand Club upgrade: 3k points per night

• Standard suite upgrade: 6k points per night

• Premium suite upgrade: 9k points per night

Here’s how you can find some insane, outsized value (courtesy of my girlfriend who discovered this first).

At Alila Napa Valley, cash rates for the Estate View Suite range from $2.5k-$3.0k. When you view rates by points, however, you’ll see an “Lp Suite Pts Upgrade” option that lets you get that same room for $703 + 6k Hyatt points. Very interesting.

I couldn’t believe my eyes - the implied $ per point is out of this world. I went through the rest of the booking flow and got the following results:

• Cash rate for 2 nights: $6,673.31

• Lp Suite Upgrade Rate: $1,618.56 + 12k Hyatt points

Only 12k Hyatt points? Absolutely mind-boggling.

A difference of $5,054.75 / 12,000 Hyatt points = 42 cents per point.

If you search for Hyatt point values, you’ll see estimates of 1.7 cents to 2.8 cents per point. We just achieved forty-two.

As a reference point, some of the most highly-coveted first-class flight redemptions are less than that: $20,000 for 110k points = 18.2 cents per point.

That being said, you definitely won’t be finding these deals growing on trees. But with some effort, you may be able to find sweet spot locations where cutting the costs of luxury stays by 50-75% aren’t out of the question.

Next time you see “Lp Suite Pts Upgr”, run the numbers!

⏳️Final Boarding Call - Time-Sensitive

Easy Southwest BOGO for 3 Months (expires 08/30)

This deal gets you a Southwest Companion Pass valid from 01/08-03/08/24. Companion Pass is one of the best travel deals that exist - it’s literally BOGO flights for 1 companion (only pay taxes).

If you have domestic flights coming up, this could be an easy win.

• Book a round-trip or 2 one-way flights by 08/30.

• All flights must fly by 09/30

If you have existing Southwest flights, they don’t count. However, if prices for your existing flights haven’t changed much, you can easily cancel, get the travel funds, and use that to immediately rebook.

Southwest BOGO for 2 Years (method expires 09/04)

Usually, the Southwest Companion Pass requires 135,000 Southwest points and is best achieved via multiple credit card bonuses. Luckily, you can get it with a single card bonus right now.

For organized people who plan ahead, you can easily turn 135k Southwest points into 20-40 domestic one-way flights that cost ~3k-6k points each, for you and a companion. Be proactive!

Until 09/04, the Southwest Premier Business Credit Card gives:

• 120k points split into:

  • 60k points after spending $3k in the first 3 months

  • 60k points after spending $15k total in the first 9 months

Here’s the strategy:

1. Open the card by Sept 4 (gives you until Dec 3rd inclusive to spend your first $3k)

2. Change your credit card statement date to be on the 1st of the month

3. Spend ~$2.9k by November 30th, before Dec 1st statement closes

4. Spend the last $100 Dec 1 - 4, ensuring your points hit Jan 1st

5. Spend the remaining $12k at your leisure

You want the first 60k points to hit Jan 1st because 1) points count for the calendar year they’re earned in and 2) Southwest Companion Pass gives you the remainder of the current year + the entirety of the next calendar year.

That’s ~2 years of Companion Pass with a single card (120k points + 15k points from the $15k in spend). Normally, it’d take 2-3 cards!

As mentioned above, you need a referral link offer to see the extended 09/04 offer date. The one we’ve included here is from one of our community members - please pay it forward if you’re feeling generous!

☁️Cloud 9 - Vacation Inspiration

I sound like a broken record talking about doing the Maldives on points, but I haven’t seen prices this low for Le Méridien Maldives since I did 5 nights @ 150k points during its opening promo in 2021.

I’m sure you don’t need me to sell you on a trip to the Maldives. It’s definitely a trek to get out there so if you do end up going, consider allocating some time for Dubai or a nearby country!

If you’re a Marriott member (just make an account), you get the 5th night free on 5-night stays. From the end of April through May 2024, you can find 5 nights at Le Méridien Maldives for ~170k points (cash rates ~$2.4k).

While both Chase/Amex points transfer 1:1 to Marriott, it may be better to just sign up for the newest Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offer which gives 5 free night certificates, up to 50k points each, and can be topped off with an additional 15k points each if needed.

If you have points to spare though, availability is wide open from Aug 2023 to Jul 2024. Most of these are beach bungalows, but if you look hard enough, you may be able to find some overwater rooms.

Move quickly, these will go fast!

How to check prices & book:

• Go to marriott.com

• Search Le Méridien Maldives

• Select dates and check the “My dates are flexible” box

• Check the “Use Points/Certificates” box

Just remember that there’s a ~$500 mandatory fee per person to charter your round-trip seaplane to the island!

📜Link Menu

How and why airplane legroom got so tight.

This Delta passenger’s bag got absolutely shredded on the way to Athens.

Wells Fargo $325 checking bonus - $1k direct deposit in 90 days, and $500 direct deposit to waive the monthly fee. Wait 2-3 months after receiving the bonus to close your account. Can be repeated every single year.

Donate to Stand Up To Cancer and get 25x-50x AA points/dollar.

If you still drink Starbucks 🙄 you can get 1k Delta miles by visiting the same store 3 times in one week. Enrollment ends 09/12/23.

Register for 3x points for Hyatt Vacation Club stays through 11/21/23.

🤡Meme

🧵Tweet of the Week

Memories and experiences are so much more precious when shared with loved ones. It can also be terrifying to travel alone!

Share Fly EnPoints with friends and family so you can travel-hack to your next destination together!