Think Your Way to Wealth » Travel

New Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Plus Visa- 20,000 Bonus Points Offer

RC — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 15:58:12 +0000

Southwest Airlines just revamped their Rapid Rewards program, going from a credit system (16 credits would get you a free flight) to a points based system, where you earn points based on they type of ticket you have (Wanna Get Away, Anytime, or Business Select tickets) and the amount of money you spend on your ticket purchase.

I just talked about the changes and details of the old rapid rewards program compared to the new program, and am still in the process of figuring out how they are rolling over old credits, etc., but you can see the features of the new program in that article.

As part of the new Rapid Rewards program, Chase has come out with a All-New Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Credit Card, and is currently offering a 20,000 point bonus after making your first purchase.

New Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Plus Visa Card

All-New Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Credit Card from Chase

With this card, you can earn 20,000 points toward free flights after your first purchase. You will also earn 2 points for every $1 you spend on Southwest flights, Rapid Rewards hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases. You’ll even earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Additionally, earn 1 point for every $1 in balance transfers – up to 10,000 points within 90 days of opening your account. Every year, on your Card membership Anniversary, you’ll also earn 3,000 points.

As I mentioned in my previous article, you can redeem your Rapid Rewards points under the new program according to the following based on the type of ticket:

Business Select: cost 120 pts per dollar of fare
Anytime: cost 100 pts per dollar
Wanna Get Away: cost 60 pts per dollar

Obviously, when redeeming your points, Wanna Get Away fares are the best bang for your buck. For the 20,000 bonus points, you could redeem them for $333 worth of Wanna Get Away fare- a very good deal, in my opinion, after only making 1 purchase with the card.

Here are some of the other details on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa:

NEW! Get 20,000 Points toward FREE FLIGHTS after your first purchase!
No Blackout Dates, Unlimited Reward Seats, and Points Don’t Expire.
Now you can redeem for International Travel.
Earn 2 Points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines purchases.
Earn 2 Points per $1 spent on Southwest Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases.
Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Get 3,000 Points every year on your Card member Anniversary that’s equal to $50 toward a Wanna Get Away® Fare. * September 11th Security Fee applies.

As with most airline rewards cards, there is an annual fee, which is $69 for this card. However, the 3,000 point bonus ( which is equal to $50 on a Wanna Get Away Fare) you will get on your card member anniversary will go a long way towards covering the fee every year- another perk that many airline cards do not offer.

If you fly Southwest airlines frequently, this is definitely a great airline miles reward card to have- particularly if you can use their rewards partners for car rentals and hotel reservations, where you will also get 2 points per $1 spent as you will with all of your Southwest Airlines ticket purchases.

Apply Now Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Credit Card from Chase

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The New Southwest Rapid Rewards Program- Changes and Details

RC — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:14:37 +0000

Southwest Airlines, one of the better rated airlines in the industry, recently announced its new Rapid Rewards program, due to roll out on March 1st.

Southwest is the airline I probably have flown the most often (although I don’t really fly all that often). Compared to other domestic carriers, what’s not to like about no baggage fees, and no change/cancellation charges (if you do it online, I know at least). A big part of it is that Southwest has a decent number of flights from New Orleans to places like Texas and Florida, the 2 places I travel the most often, so I was definitely interested in finding out the details of the changes.

Changes to Southwest Rapid Rewards Program

The major change is the conversion of “credits” for each leg of a flight to points based on the purchase price of a ticket and the type of ticket. The old program rewarded fliers credits for each leg of a flight, with 16 credits required to receive a free flight.

The ticket purchase price did not affect the credits you earned- so for a $59 one way flight you got the same 1 credit as a $200 one way flight.

The new program awards you points based on the type of tickets you purchase as well as the amount. So, if you pay more for a flight or upgrade the ticket type, you get more points.

Your old Rapid Rewards credits are still good, and will be converted to points 1 credit in the old system = 1200 points in the new system.

Earning Credits With the New Rapid Rewards program:

There is a tiered system now based on the type of ticket as well as the amount spent, which will be based on the following:

Business Select: 12 points per dollar spent
Anytime: 10 pts/$1 spent
Wanna Get Away: 6 pts/$1 spent

Redeeming Your Rapid Rewards points under the new program:

Business Select: cost 120 pts per dollar of fare
Anytime: cost 100 pts per dollar
Wanna Get Away: cost 60 pts per dollar

So, a $200 Business Select flight would cost $200 x 120 pts= 24,000 points and for a “Wanna Get Away” flight, a $100 flight would cost $100 x 60 = 6000 points.

So obviously, when redeeming your points under the new Rapid Rewards program, it pays to book ahead and try to get the cheapest flight (Wanna Get Away, if available) you can in advance.

A few good points of the new Rapid Rewards program include:

No blackout dates
points don’t expire
You can purchase points to “top up” your account to qualify for a reward

Under the old program, credits expired 24 months after they were earned if they were not used.

New Rapid Rewards- Better or Worse?

Overall, the system probably makes it harder to rack up free flights on Southwest, particularly for those personal travelers looking for the cheapest travel, and those who travel shorter distances.

Flyers who fly for work and aren’t as concerned about cost, for example, or travel longer distances typically, will probably benefit from the new system similarly to the old one.

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How to Prepare for a Hurricane or other Weather Related Emergency

RC — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:46:43 +0000

I evacuated from the New Orleans area for Hurricane Gustav last Sunday with the wife and kids and I returned home on Thursday. Over the weekend, Tropical Storm Hanna moved up the east coast, and now, Hurricane Ike looks like it is headed to south Texas. But it is not just hurricanes that can cause you to lose power, damage your home, or cause you to have to leave you home for a period of time. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, snowstorms, wildfires and other natural disasters and emergencies all have the potential to cause serious disruptions to your daily life and routine for you and your family. Being prepared for these types of emergencies can keep your stress level down, and by planning ahead of time you can minimize disruptions and get through them safely.

Staying At Home

If you are at home or not evacuating, certain supplies are necessary if you lose power or become confined to your home for several days.

Water-have enough water for each person for several days

Non perishable food items such as canned goods

Flashlights, candles and matches become very important if you lose power

Batteries-for flashlights and other devices

Battery powered or hand crank weather radio- I bought a Midland WR300 weather radio for a relative a couple of years ago and they love it.

If You Evacuate

If you have to leave your home for several days, you need to make sure you take care of quite a few things before you leave and bring certain items with you besides clothes.

Know your destination-Have a destination, whether a friend or relative’s house or a hotel, know where you will go in advance.

Bring important papers-Birth certificates, social security cards, checkbooks, and other sentimental items should be taken with you.

Secure your home-Make sure you lock the doors and windows, and put away outdoor furniture, etc.

Unplug electrical devices-Even if you have surge protectors, unplugging electrical devices is a good idea in case of an electrical surge during a storm.

Pay bills in advance-Make sure you take care of upcoming bills before you leave.

Tap your emergency fund-Before I left for hurricane Gustav, I transferred a portion of my emergency fund from my ING DIRECT account to my checking account. Luckily, I did not have to use it, but I had it available if my evacuation became prolonged.

Plan on being gone longer than you think-Many people evacuated for Hurricane Katrina with only a couple of days worth of clothes, and ended up leaving for weeks.

Keep in touch with friends and family, as well as your supervisor- Let them know where you are going, and touch base with them once you reach your destination.

Bring important phone numbers- neighbors, and your insurance company are 2 examples of phone numbers you may need but might not normally carry with you.

Carry some cash-If businesses are without power, you may not be able to use a credit card. In times of extreme emergencies, cash can be essential for getting what you need.

There are lots of other things you can do to prepare yourself for a hurricane or other weather related emergency. But by planning ahead and following a few of the basics, it can make things go a lot easier and help you get back to normal quickly.

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Frugal Things to Do in New Orleans, Louisiana

RC — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:41:14 +0000

New Orleans is open for business! While much of the city is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, there are still plenty of frugal things to do should you ever find yourself down in “The Big Easy”.

Image by DoctorWho

Mardi Gras

- One of the greatest free celebrations in the U.S., Mardi Gras lasts for about two weeks preceding Mardi Gras Day, or Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras Day is the culmination, and the last hurrah before the beginning of Lent. The weekend before Mardi Gras and Mardi Gras Day are the biggest days, with parades going all day. Check out the French Quarter the weekend before through Mardi Gras Day for a look at the wild side- although I would not recommend bringing kids-especially at night! Most parades follow the traditional uptown route down St. Charles to Canal St. (Adjacent to the French Quarter) in New Orleans. For a more family oriented version, head out to the suburbs to Metaire, (only about 15 minutes from downtown) where parades and the Mardi Gras atmosphere are a little more family friendly. You can bring food and beverages out to the parades with you, as many locals do, and don’t forget to bring a few chairs!

Dates for the next few years (Mardi Gras Day)

2009-February 24, 2010-February 16, 2011-March 8, 2012-February 21

Audubon Zoo

-One of the better zoos in the country, located right next to beautiful Audubon Park. Check out the elephants, white tiger, white alligator, and the swamp exhibit. Playground areas available for children as well. Make a day of it!

Admission $12.50 adults, $7.50 for kids (Note- you can bring your own food and drinks)

Ride the Streetcar

-The New Orleans streetcar system was expanded in the late 90′s but suffered during the flooding of Hurricane Katrina. The price is the same as bus fare, $1.25. You can go from Audubon Park uptown, to the French Quarter, and then south down Canal Street and end up at City Park.

Check out the routes here.

Walking tour of the Garden District

- For about $10 to $15, you can take a 2 hour walking tour along the stately oaks in one of New Orleans’ most beautiful neighborhoods. A little pricey, but well worth it.

Garden District Tour

Nighttime Entertainment-Go Where the locals go (Fauborg Marigny-Frenchman Street)

-Right off the edge of the French Quarter, is a little hidden gem of nightclubs, bars, and restaurants, much of which is located on Frenchman Street. Away from the tourist-oriented French Quarter, prices of food, drink, and admission are quite a bit lower.

Minor League Baseball

- The New Orleans Zephyrs, a Triple A affiliate of the New York Mets, play in their own baseball stadium in Metaire, LA. Tickets are priced from about $6-$8, and the concessions aren’t as high priced as at professional sports stadiums.

Parks

- New Orleans has two great parks,1300 acre City Park and Audubon Park. Have a picnic, and relax under the stately oak trees. City Park has a great Botanical Gardens, Sculpture Garden, picnic areas, lagoons, and lots of oak trees. Audubon Park is home of the Audubon Zoo, and includes a gold course as well.

Fishing

- The Greater New Orleans area has great fishing just about year round, both fresh and saltwater. Lots off people fish and crab right off of the shore of Lake Pontchartrain, which can be done very cheaply. You can fish for speckled trout, redfish, offshore for tuna , grouper, and other big game fish (although offshore fishing can be expensive) or freshwater for bass.

Beignets and Cafe Au Lait at Cafe du Monde

- Located down in the French Quarter, get your cafe au lait and beignets for just a few bucks.

French Quarter Festival

- One of my favorites, a two day music festival that is free. There are 4 or 5 stages in the French Quarter and along the Riverfront with free live music, and great food and drinks available at fairly reasonable prices.

French Quarter Festival info

For Frugal Things to Do in other Cities, Check out the Money Life Network’s Frugal Things to Do In Series

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10 Money Saving Vacation Tips

RC — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:16:07 +0000

I will be leaving this morning to join my wife and two small kids at the beach, they left on Monday but I couldn’t get away from work until today. Vacations can be a wonderful way to spend quality time with your wife and/or children and relax, but traveling costs have skyrocketed, so making the most of your money when going on vacation makes even more sense (or cents) than ever.

1. Make plans that require reservations far in advance to get good deals- The closer to your vacation you book your flights or hotels, etc., the higher you are likely to pay.You may find some last minute deals, but usually if you are planning a get-away you don’t want to risk not getting a flight or other reservation, so this strategy is not always attractive.

2. Save up the money to pay for the vacation ahead of time- This sounds like a no-brainer, and many people do it, but I would guess that just as many do not. I think that people are less likely to save up for shorter, “long-weekend” type trips because they don’t seem like such a big deal, but if you don’t save ahead of time you can spend a lot of money on a long weekend and end up putting it on your credit cards or getting into debt on your trip.

3. Stay with relatives or friends- A large portion of expenses for a lot of vacations can be lodging. By staying with someone, such as a friend or relative, you can eliminate that from your expenses. If you’re feeling really adventurous (and you are single), consider couch surfing.

4. Go at off peak times- Hotels and tourist destinations often slash their prices by 50% or more during off peak season. Plan you trip to the beach after labor day, and you may save a bundle.

5. If driving, drive when traffic is light- Avoid rush hour traffic when passing through cities, stop and go traffic can greatly reduce your fuel economy.

6. Stay somewhere you can cook your own meals- You can save a whole lot of money by cooking your meals and not eating out the whole duration of your trip. Find a hotel or condo with a kitchenette so you can do the cooking.

7. Get someone to watch your pets instead of boarding them- Boarding a cat or a dog can cost $15 to $20 a day. Asking a friend or relative to take care of your animals while you are gone can save you money.

8. Get someone to drop you off at the airport if possible- If you are flying, parking at the airport for a few days or a week can add up to a hefty sum in parking fees. Ask someone to drop you off and pick you up, you can return the favor to them when they travel as well.

9. If you are driving, prep your car with basic car maintenance and practice gas saving driving techniques for maximum fuel efficiency.

10. Also, when driving, map out your route to minimize the total miles you will be driving. Use online tools to find the cheapest gas prices anywhere in the country.

Image by rayced

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How to Earn or Save Money While Traveling on Business

RC — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:08:09 +0000

1. Use a cash back or rewards credit card

Make all of your reservations with a rewards credit card–for air travel, hotels, and rental cars, as well as gasoline and meals while traveling. You can earn cash back, mileage, or other rewards while still be reimbursed by your employer. Even if you are self-employed, you can still adopt these strategies to put something back in your pocket.

2. Sign up for travel-related Rewards Programs

Most airlines, hotels, rental car companies have rewards programs for frequent customers. Whenever possible use the same airline, hotel, or car rental agency to maximize your rewards.

Examples: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Hilton Family of hotels, Holiday Inn hotels, Hertz

3. Bring snacks and something to read in your carry-on if you’re flying.

Don’t get sucked in to buying a magazine, or worse yet an overpriced book or airport food while you are waiting in the airport. Bring something from home to read (even if you bring a laptop) and snacks to hold you over until you reach your destination.

4. If you’re on per diem, eat lightly and make money.

Occasionally, I travel on per diem (a daily fixed rate for meals). When this happens, I usually try to eat light, and put a little extra money in my pocket by the end of the day.

5. Combine Business with Pleasure–plan a vacation or weekend getaway

If you are traveling somewhere remotely interesting on your company’s nickel, have your spouse or family join you near the end of the trip. In most cases, your hotel room has plenty of room for an extra person or even people. They can sightsee for the last day or so while you’re tending to business, and then you can extend your stay a few days and take advantage of the free travel for you to reach the destination, and only have to pay for whomever is joining you.

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