“Most People Are in Disbelief That I Don’t Pay for Airfare. I Mean Ever.”

Miles & Points Interview:   Spartan Traveler

How and when did you start collecting miles and points?

I started early with my first credit card out of college.  I remember either my mother or father having a rewards card for something like Southwest Airlines, so it ran in the family.  My first credit card had a $500 limit, but I maxed it out and paid it off every month to build credit.

Why did you start your blog?  What’s special about it?

I quit my job to travel around the world in 2011.  A lot of people told me I should be blogging about it, but I also had a deep-seated desire to process some of the things I was thinking through, not really about travel but about lifestyle and work choices.  What the other options were and what the framework for thinking about them should be.

My blog is a little different in that it’s not a travel blog, but a more of a reality check on what being a digital nomad is actually like.

What’s the one single thing people can do to get more miles?

Wait for the right offer, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s previous 100,000 point sign-up bonus, and earn lots of points at once.  Beyond getting new cards, the only way to get massive amounts of miles is to use rewards cards for business (but you also then have to build a business).

What’s your most memorable travel experience?

There are quite a few that stand out. I’d say either living in the jungle for 2 months in Sumatra or surfing the longest wave in the world in Peru.

What do your family and friends think of your miles & points hobby?

Most people are still in disbelief that I don’t pay for airfare.  I mean ever.

I think they assume I’m making a lot more money than I am.  But the reality is most of the time I fly from Europe to the US it’s the equivalent of about a $200 to $300 ticket each way, paid in miles.  It’s surprising how many people I run into who still aren’t clued into this.

Is there any tool or trick which you’ve found especially useful in this hobby?

I think one key is creating a good Google Sheets or Excel document for managing credit cards and miles, reminding me of things like credit limit, annual fee dates, etc.  Just keeping things organized.

What was the least expected way you’ve earned miles or points?

At a former job, I once negotiated a perk where all online advertising costs went through my personal credit card and I was reimbursed later.  Almost all the miles I’ve ever earned came from this one event.

What do you now know about collecting miles and points which you wish you knew when you started out?

Basically to not get caught up in the frenzy to get more points that you don’t need.  i.e. get a couple of the right cards and use them for everything, but don’t sign-up for 8 cards at once.  Most of us don’t actually travel enough to make this kind of thing worthwhile.

What would your readers be surprised to know about you?

I’m currently living in the Canary Islands which is about 62 miles off the coast of Morocco.

Any parting words?

I think credit card rewards programs for frequent flyer miles are the best travel perk ever invented, and you don’t have to do anything special to take advantage of this.  Just get a couple of the right cards, keep it simple, and keep your eyes out for screaming deals.

If you’d like to be considered for our interview series, please send me a note!