When do you let points and miles expire

There has never been a loyalty or rewards program that I have not signed up for and as a result I literally have thousands of points spread out across hundreds of different programs, some of which I have only used once or twice. If you are lucky then these programs don't have expiration dates for your points such as with Delta SkyMiles but this is usually not the case. As a result, I have many points that are on the verge of expiring which begs the question: What should I do with these?

Should I get the United MileagePlus Club card

I am always looking for ways to get shortcuts to elite benefits without actually having to fly and have been considering applying for some of the co-branded airline cards for some time now. There are co-branded cards for almost every major airline offering various perks ranging from free checked bags to lounge access so it really comes down to your personal preference.

Chase Freedom Unlimited online application now available

As I mentioned in an earlier post, one of the next cards I was considering was the Chase Freedom Unlimited card (not to be confused with the Chase Freedom card) which became available last month. However, the only way you could apply for the card at that time was by visiting one of their branches directly or calling in and doing a PC (product change) from an already owned card. Since I had no interest in converting my current Chase Freedom card or standing in line for hours at a bank I decided to hold off on applying until applications became available online.

A few Chase Freedom updates

So as I alluded to in a prior post, one of the newer cards that I have been considering applying for is the Chase Freedom Unlimited card that is set to be available next month. However, it sounds like as of today you can apply for this card either through a secure message on their website or directly at one of their branches.

My first experience booking award travel

As mentioned I am relatively new to the points and miles game and just booked my first award tickets to Germany last week so wanted to share my experience. I had already done a fair amount of paid travel over the past year to various places in the US such as Hawaii, New York, Boston, Washington DC, Miami, Las Vegas, and Maine but had yet to make the journey across the pond which has always been a goal of mine. We decided to set our sights on Germany as our destination of choice, mainly because my spouse had lived for 4 years there near the Vilseck area while he was stationed in the Army so knew the area well and had many acquaintances that still lived there.