Category Archives: Continental Airlines

Reader Tips: 50,000 point Sapphire Preffered and 60,000 mile United Explorer links

Posted on March 24, 2012 by | 51 Comments

Update:  The best offer for the Chase Sapphire Preferred currently is for 40,000 points.

[I get a referral for the link to the 50,000 point Chase Sapphire Preferred in this post, and Emily and I are very grateful to all readers who use our link.  I just got approved for my Chase Sapphire Preferred yesterday!]

Million Mile Secrets readers have written in with links to two offers which aren’t easily available publicly.

1.   Chase Sapphire Preferred.   On Wednesday, I shared that a reader was unable to find the 50,000 point offer on the Chase website and that this was an indication that the 50,000 points offer was going to reduce to 40,000 points.  I also noted that the 50,000 point offer was still available using my affiliate links (Emily & I are always grateful to readers who use our link). Continue reading →

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Posted in Chase, Continental Airlines

Potential Extra 25,000 Points for Recent Continental Credit Card Holders

Posted on March 13, 2012 by | 26 Comments

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A few weeks ago, I wrote that applying for the Continental OnePass credit card with a 25,000 mile bonus could prevent you from getting the bonus on the United Explorer card later on.  That’s because the Continental OnePass card would convert to the United Explorer card and since Chase usually allows you to get the sign-on bonus only per card type, it wasn’t clear if you’d be eligible to get the bonus again.

Well, a number of readers who already had the United Explorer card applied for the Continental OnePass card and were approved. Continue reading →

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Posted in Chase, Continental Airlines

Clarification on the Continental 25,000 Mile Credit Card

Posted on February 28, 2012 by | 40 Comments

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I’ve received lots of email over my post suggesting that it is best to not apply for the Continental One Pass card for 25,000 miles even though that card will no longer be available in a few days.

To clarify commonly asked questions

Once the Continental card converts to the United Explorer card (because Continental and United are merging), you will likely NOT be able to get the sign-on bonus for the United Explorer card. Continue reading →

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Posted in Chase, Continental Airlines, United Airlines

Careful with the Continental OnePass Card – 25,000 miles now could cost you much more later

Posted on February 24, 2012 by | 35 Comments

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Be very careful in deciding whether to apply for the Continental credit card now for only 25,000 miles (30,000 miles if you add an authorized user) because it could prevent you from a higher sign-up bonus later on.

This card pays me one of the highest commissions, but I can’t recommend it without serious qualifications.  In fact, I’m not linking to the card in this post, but as many of you know, you can find the card (& best offers for other cards) listed in the Airlines Credit Card tab on the blog.

Like The Man of a Thousand Places, I recommend that you don’t do anything (unless you are comfortable with the risks which I explain below).  You should have applied for this card in the months leading up to the completion of the merger.  Not a few days before it disappears. Continue reading →

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Posted in Continental Airlines, United Airlines

1 Million in 1 Year: How I Earned 1 Million Miles & Points From Credit Card Bonuses in 2011

Posted on January 30, 2012 by | 76 Comments

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 [I currently earn a referral for only 2 out of the 16 cards mentioned in this post - The American Express SPG card and the Citi Thank You Premier card which  Emily and I both applied for.  As always, we are very grateful to the readers who apply for those cards using the links on the blog!]

When CNN Travel interviewed me in November 2011, I had earned only~900,000 miles and points for the year.

But I ended 2011 with over 1 million miles and points from credit card sign-up bonuses, and my credit score is still above 730.

That’s worth $10,241 if you assume a very conservative value of 1.5 cents per SPG point,  1 cent per airline mile, & 0.6 cents per Hilton and Priority Club hotel point.

Credit Card Churn

Daraius & Emily at the Holiday Inn Phi Phi, Thailand

Much more importantly, Emily and I have had terrific memories thanks to miles and points such as traveling to India in First Class, having a weekend proposal in London, visiting Brazil during Carnival, surprise birthday getaways, flying to see our families more often, and taking our parents on trips they otherwise wouldn’t have gone on. Continue reading →

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Posted in Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, American Express, Bank Of America, Barclays, Business Credit Cards, Chase, Churning, Citibank, Continental Airlines, Credit Cards, Denial & Reconsideration, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton HHonors, Southwest, Starwood (SPG), US Air, Virgin Atlantic

Continental & United Airlines Credit Card Strategy

Posted on December 19, 2011 by | 70 Comments

 [ I do get a referral if you apply for the Continental One Pass card using the links in the blog.  The current bonus is 25,000 miles, which isn't the best bonus.]

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I’m getting lots of questions on the Continental One Pass Plus credit card via email (should I apply for it and when to cancel existing Continental credit cards).

A lot of readers are also receiving targeted offers for a 60,000 miles United or Continental card, and are wondering whether they should apply for the card, so I thought I’d write a post on it.

Background

As many of you know, Continental airlines is merging with United and soon the Continental credit card along with its sign-on bonus (40,000 miles or 60,000 miles if you’re lucky and received a targeted offer) will disappear.

But by applying for the Continental credit card while it is still around will get you extra Continental miles which will soon be United miles. Continue reading →

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Posted in Continental Airlines, Credit Cards, United Airlines

American Airlines wants to make it harder to check your account balance

Posted on October 21, 2011 by | 17 Comments

 

Gary from View from the Wing wrote about how American Airlines has sent letters to AwardWallet and other mile & hotel point tracking sites asking them to stop providing information on American Airlines’ mileage balances to their users.

I use AwardWallet and love being able to update both Emily and my frequent flyer and hotel accounts with just 1 click!  Using a service such as AwardWallet, UsingMiles, or GoMiles makes it very easy to keep track of the 40+ accounts which Emily and I have. Continue reading →

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Posted in Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Skymiles, Jet Airways, Southwest, United Airlines, US Air

Another 100 Free Continental Miles

Posted on July 2, 2011 by | 7 Comments

 

There is another opportunity to earn 100 extra Continental miles! Continue reading →

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Posted in Continental Airlines, United Airlines

2 Little Known Secrets About Chase Ultimate Reward Points

Posted on July 1, 2011 by | 63 Comments

 

The Chase Ultimate Rewards program allows you to transfer points to various partners, including Continental, British Airways, Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, and Amtrak.

But did  you know that you can transfer Chase Ultimate Reward points from your account to airline and hotel partner accounts in someone else’s name and that the transfer will take place instantly?!

Chase Sapphire Ultimate Rewards
Chase Sapphire Ultimate Reward Points Transfer Instantly

Continue reading →

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Posted in British Airways, Chase, Continental Airlines, United Airlines

100 Free Continental Miles

Posted on June 12, 2011 by | 5 Comments

 

Million Mile Secrets reader Larry shared – Thanks, Larry! – another opportunity to earn 100 free Continental OnePass miles via a comment on an earlier post about a similar opportunity.

These offers are supposedly targeted to Chase Continental Credit Card owners, but I’ve usually received the bonus, even though I don’t currently have a Chase Continental credit card. Continue reading →

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Posted in Chase, Continental Airlines