How To Make Travel Chaos Easier On You

 Quick flight home

from San Francisco this week turned into travel weather chaos but I learned a few things that helped me navigate the changes more quickly.

I was notified of the changes for my Alaska Airlines flight through email, but there was a serious lag. I was actually sent a free $50 airport voucher for food and drinks BEFORE I found out my flight was delayed. That's when I decided to check the board to confirm the delay and saw my flight was actually cancelled. Hmmmm.

The app and flightaware.com still showed the flight delayed.

The Alaska Lounge rep told me to head to the Alaska service center, but the line was 50 deep so I hopped on the app.

The app immediately offered me several alternative flights to cities within 70 miles of my intended destination. I could check the flight board at the airport to see if those alternative flights were still taking off and I was able to rebook myself on an American Airlines flight leaving in an hour. Alaska even refunded 8,000 points when I booked the new flight.

That American Airlines flight ended up getting delayed as well, but I still departed that night instead of spending the night in San Francisco.

While I was changing flights, I was trying to help a woman in the service center line, but she had not downloaded the app and didn't have her confirmation code or loyalty number so we were not having much success. The Alaska rep ended up rebooking her on a flight leaving the next day and she was forced to pay for a hotel near the SFO airport. Sidenote, she had also checked her bag and could not get it back. Bummer.

I had access to both the Alaska Lounge with the Atmos Summit credit card lounge passes and The Club at SFO through Priority Pass with my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card.

I was disappointed with the food at the Alaska Lounge though the Whiskey Sour welcome drink was pretty tasty!

There was a waiting list for The Club at SFO so I spent the $50 voucher from Alaska on a sandwich, yogurt and protein bar from one of the restaurants. Since I still had a balance available, I bought some chocolate and pretzels. The credit showed up instantly on my credit card.

Then I got off the waitlist at The Club and my flight got delayed again so I went in and found a quiet place to work.

So lessons learned from this experience:

Always download the app for the airline you are traveling with. I was able to rebook myself from a cancelled Alaska flight to an American flight on the app and skip waiting in the huge line. The Alaska rep was surprised! She could only rebook on Alaska flights and Alaska refunded my miles thru the app

Check your credit card benefits, Atmos Summit sent me a $50 voucher to use in the airport during the delay

Lounge access is awesomea welcome drink and free food makes the delay much easier

Be flexible. I ended up flying to LA and renting a car for $32 instead of spending the night in a hotel

Another reason not to check bags. My carryon stayed with me.

The flight cancellation notice from Alaska Airlines eventually came through and cited Air Traffic Control Restrictions as the reason for cancellation. Since I did have to rent a car and pay for a half tank of gas, I filed a claim with Alaska Airlines. Stayed posted to see if I get reimbursed. If I had paid for my flight or just the taxes with my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, I could have filed a claim with Chase under trip delay reimbursement. But since I used my Atmos Summit credit card to pay the $6 taxes for this flight, I was awarded the $50 trip delay voucher to use in the airport.

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Book a 1:1 consulting call, download my ebook, custom tracker or Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process.

Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the coaching program. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

Last Chance To Get 100,000 Capital One Bonus Points

 

We just got word that this offer is ending January 5th! If you have been thinking about this one, don't wait.

 🔥 Capital One Venture X has a whopping 100,000 point bonus offer! Wow! This is the highest offer we have seen for this card. The minimum spend is also high at $10,000, but you have 6 months to reach that spend. 

Capital One Venture X Launches A 100,000 Bonus Offer

We love the Venture X because the annual fee is $395, but you get a $300 travel credit in the Capital One Travel Portal, 2x points on every purchase, $120 Global Entry credit, 10,000 bonus points on your anniversary valued at $100 and Priority Pass and Capital One lounge access. 

What can you do with 100,000 Capital One points? Oh so much. You can read about how I have used Capital One points in the past here. 

1. If you spend them in the portal or use them to erase travel purchases, they are worth $1,000 in travel

2. If you transfer the points to any of the dozen or so airlines and hotels,  they can be worth so much more. For example:

• 18,750 points on Flying Blue (KLM and Air France) from the US to Europe in economy 
• 16,000 Iberia Avios from the US to Spain (transfer to British Airways or Finnair and then transfer to Iberia)

Capital One Venture X Launches A 100,000 Bonus Offer

That's just a start to the incredible travel savings! If this card is too hefty, the Capital One Venture card carries just a $95 annual fee and right now offers a bonus of 75,000 points for a $4,000 minimum spend. 

We don't have an end date on this offer yet. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Book a 1:1 consulting call, download my ebook, custom tracker or Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process.

Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the coaching program. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

My 2025 Travel Year in Review: How Points & Miles Funded $14K+ in Adventures

On the island of Gozo in Malta

My 2025 Travel Year in Review: How Points & Miles Funded $14K+ in Adventures

December is the perfect time to look back and tally up the real-world impact of points and miles—specifically, how much actual cash they kept in my wallet.

And wow, 2025 delivered! 🌍

The Adventures

The year kicked off with gorilla trekking in Uganda with my family, followed by exploring the national parks of Eastern Rwanda. Both places absolutely blew my mind.

Then came six weeks volunteering in Israel—a truly transformational experience that shifted something fundamental in me.

Back stateside, I jetted off for a long weekend in Nashville with girlfriends. My second visit to the city, but my first time really diving in beyond the surface. The energy there is infectious!

For my birthday, I treated myself to an overnight at Joshua Tree National Park and scored an incredible behind-the-scenes tour of an original homestead. Desert magic at its finest ✨

July brought an unexpected gift: my cousin invited me to visit family in Rio de Janeiro. I tacked on a few extra days to finally see Iguazu Falls—which means I've now checked off all three of the world's great waterfalls!

August started with a New York City board meeting and visit to the floor of the stock exchange. Naturally I extended for Broadway shows and proper bagels 🥯

Late August meant a whirlwind family tour through Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles with my daughter. We kayaked in Canadian waters and squeezed in quality time with cousins across four cities.

Then came the big one: early October through mid-November exploring Spain, Portugal, Malta, Sicily, Cyprus, and the Canary Islands. Detailed guides for all these spots are in the works!

Beyond the Flights

The travel is just part of the equation. Factor in all those card credits—Lyft rides, food pickup through Dash, StubHub credits, airport lounge access, Edit hotel credits, and dining credits. Plus travel insurance reimbursement and one flight claim in Europe.

The Numbers

• 10 countries explored
• 37 flights booked
• 7 hotels (23 nights)
• 8 Airbnbs (32 nights)

Grand total saved: $14,460 💰

The experiences and memories? Those are priceless—but knowing I kept nearly $15K in my pocket while collecting them feels pretty incredible too.

---

Want more personal help planning your next trip? Email me about how I can help plan your next trip! Book a 1:1 consulting call, download my ebook, custom tracker or Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process.

Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the coaching program. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

Capital One Venture X Launches A 100,000 Bonus Offer

🔥 Capital One Venture X just launched a whopping 100,000 point bonus offer! Wow! This is the highest offer we have seen for this card. The minimum spend is also high at $10,000, but you have 6 months to reach that spend. 

Capital One Venture X Launches A 100,000 Bonus Offer

We love the Venture X because the annual fee is $395, but you get a $300 travel credit in the Capital One Travel Portal, 2x points on every purchase, $120 Global Entry credit, 10,000 bonus points on your anniversary valued at $100 and Priority Pass and Capital One lounge access. 

What can you do with 100,000 Capital One points? Oh so much. You can read about how I have used Capital One points in the past here. 

1. If you spend them in the portal or use them to erase travel purchases, they are worth $1,000 in travel

2. If you transfer the points to any of the dozen or so airlines and hotels,  they can be worth so much more. For example:

• 18,750 points on Flying Blue (KLM and Air France) from the US to Europe in economy 
• 16,000 Iberia Avios from the US to Spain (transfer to British Airways or Finnair and then transfer to Iberia)

Capital One Venture X Launches A 100,000 Bonus Offer

That's just a start to the incredible travel savings! If this card is too hefty, the Capital One Venture card carries just a $95 annual fee and right now offers a bonus of 75,000 points for a $4,000 minimum spend. 

We don't have an end date on this offer yet. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Book a 1:1 consulting call, download my ebook, custom tracker or Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process.

Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the coaching program. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

San Diego's Brand New Terminal One is Finally Here – And It's Spectacular! ✈️

San Diego International Airport just unveiled its gorgeous new Terminal One, and honestly, it couldn't have come soon enough! As someone who's traveled through the old terminal countless times, I'm thrilled to share that this transformation addresses every single frustration I had with the previous space.

Why the Old Terminal One Needed a Major Makeover

Let me be real with you – the old Terminal One was rough. Between the barely-functioning water stations that took forever to fill a bottle, the confusing dual security checkpoints (yes, I once had to exit and re-enter security because I chose the wrong line 🤦‍♀️), and the cramped, low-ceiling gate areas with zero lounge options, it felt more like an endurance test than the start of a vacation.

The limited food choices and overall dated feel made layovers feel longer than they needed to be. But those days are officially behind us!

5 Game-Changing Improvements in the New Terminal One

1. Local Flavors Take Center Stage 🌮

The dining scene has been completely transformed with beloved San Diego favorites like The Taco Stand, Luna Grill, Novacientos Grados by Tony Hawk, and Better Buzz Coffee. 

2. Security Made Simple

Gone are the days of security checkpoint confusion! The new terminal features one streamlined security checkpoint serving all gates. No more guessing games or accidental wrong turns.

3. Lounge Life is Coming Soon ✨

Two lounges are set to open: The Green Room near Gate 114 and The Studio near Gate 122. While they're not yet listed on the Priority Pass app, word is that The Studio will accept Priority Pass membership through American Express, Chase, and Capital One. Keep your eyes peeled for official announcements!

4. Bright, Airy Spaces That Actually Feel Good

The soaring ceilings and abundant natural light create such a welcoming atmosphere. You'll find diverse seating options throughout, with plenty of charging stations. The real showstopper? An outdoor deck complete with fire pits and lounge chairs – perfect for soaking up that famous San Diego sunshine before your flight.

5. Finally, Functional Water Stations! 💧

Remember those painfully slow water fillers that always had lines? The new terminal features multiple efficient water stations with strong flow. The bathrooms deserve a mention too – they're bright, clean, and equipped with individual hand dryers and those fancy makeup mirrors that make everyone look good.

Art That Catches Your Eye

The terminal showcases stunning local artwork, from the eye-catching jellyfish installation outside to the beautiful pieces adorning the interior walls and ceiling. It's clear that thought went into making this space feel uniquely San Diego.

Which Airlines Call Terminal One Home?

Currently, you'll find Southwest, Sun Country, Breeze, JetBlue, Spirit, and Frontier operating from the new Terminal One. There is plenty of parking nearby for $2.50 per 15 minutes for quick pickup and drop off.  Unfortunately there is no walkway access to Terminal Two, but there is a shuttle. There are also Rental Car Shuttles in front of the terminal. 

San Diego has truly outdone itself with this renovation. The new Terminal One transforms what was once a travel hassle into a genuinely pleasant experience. Whether you're heading out for vacation or returning home, this terminal sets the right tone for your journey.

Have you experienced the new Terminal One yet? I'd love to hear about your first impressions!

Alaska Airlines Brand New Loyalty Rewards Program

Big news today! Alaska Airlines is launching its new loyalty rewards program rebranded as Atmos Rewards. 

Here's what we know so far and an amazing 100,000 bonus point offer:

• Current Alaska loyalty members will keep their current loyalty account number. Hawaiian Air members who linked to their account to an Alaska loyalty account will keep their current number.  
• Atmos rewards are now points instead of miles 
• Ability to use Atmos rewards to book flights on 30 different airline partners including American, Iberia, British Airways, Japan Airlines and Finnair. 
• Ability to transfer Atmos rewards to 5 hotel brands including Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards, Wyndham Rewards, I Prefer Hotel Rewards and Shangri La Circle. 
• Three ways to earn points, you pick which one you prefer: distance, revenue or segment (you can change your preference once per year)

In honor of the new loyalty rewards program, Alaska also announced three new credit card bonus offers. All three cards are co branded with Bank of America. 

ATMOS REWARDS™ ASCENT VISA SIGNATURE® CARD

• $95 annual fee
• $4,000 minimum spend in 120 days 
• 80,000 bonus offer
• Use points only to book on Alaska and Hawaiian Air
• $99 companion certificate good on Alaska and Hawaiian air
• free checked bag

Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card

• $395 Annual Fee
• $6,000 Minimum Spend in 90 days
• 100,000 Point Bonus Offer 
• 25,000 Point Companion Certificate
• Ability to use points to book on any partner airline 
• Global Companion certificate 
• 8 Alaska Air Lounge Passes 
• Free checked bag
• Free onboard WIFI
• $120 Global Entry credit 

Atmos Rewards Visa Business 

• $70 Annual Fee
• $5,000 minimum spend in 90 days 
• 80,000 Point Bonus Offer 
• $99 companion certificate good on Alaska and Hawaiian Air if you spend $6,000 on the card during the year
• Free checked bag

My recommendation with these offers is to apply for the Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card because the points can be used on any partner airline which makes the points almost transferable. 

Plus you get the Global Companion Certificate. Alaska Airlines points are usually very valuable and easy to use. Since the program is distance based, you can get some good deals. 

It's exciting to see how this program develops and grows. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Not ready to dive into the coaching program, download the ebook or custom tracker or book a 1:1 consulting call with me.  I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

Lounge Full? Visit Multiple Airport Lounges During Your Layover

Lounge capacity issues are real and incredibly frustrating! But here's something you might not know: you can visit multiple lounges on the same day, or even enjoy one while you're on the waitlist for another. Several credit cards offer free membership in the Priority Pass Lounge network which offers entry for you and up to two guests into more than 1,700 lounges around the world. 

Recently, I had a three-hour layover at JFK in New York. I wanted to check out the Chase Sapphire lounge, but the line stretched on forever. I decided to add my name to the waitlist anyway. The agent estimated a 20-40 minute wait, which operates through text notifications—and you only have 10 minutes to reach the lounge once they text you. While some lounges let you join waitlists through the Priority Pass app, this particular Sapphire Lounge requires in-person sign-up.

Lounge Full? Visit Multiple Airport Lounges During Your Layover

Ten minutes isn't nearly enough time to switch terminals, but it's plenty of time to visit another lounge within the same terminal. Terminal 4 offers several Priority Pass network options:

• Air India Lounge
• Virgin Atlantic
• Hello Sky
• Chase Sapphire - restricted hours for non Chase Sapphire card members

I headed downstairs to the Hello Sky pop-up lounge. No line whatsoever—I checked in quickly and walked right in. The space is compact but not overcrowded, and I immediately found a comfortable couch with a nearby charging station. An attendant approached within moments and offered me a glass of wine. What a welcome!

The food and drink selection pleasantly surprised me, featuring both hot and cold options plus an impressive variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. A large monitor, computer, and printer were available for business needs. The only downside to this pop-up lounge? No restroom facilities inside.

Lounge Full? Visit Multiple Airport Lounges During Your Layover

After 40 minutes of relaxation, my phone buzzed with the text I'd been waiting for—time to head to the Chase Sapphire Lounge. I gathered my belongings and headed upstairs, passing a Capital One Lounge along the way.

The Chase Sapphire Lounge was busy but manageable when I arrived. An attendant immediately seated me at a spot with charging capabilities. The amenities included hot and cold food buffets, an extensive drink selection, and an espresso machine. There's also a full-service bar with a QR code menu featuring items like hamburgers, grilled cheese, and french fries.

The takeaway? You have numerous options available, so explore them all and don't hesitate to visit multiple lounges during a single layover!

How to Get Access

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card: This remains the best way to access the Priority Pass lounge network. The current offer includes 100,000 points for meeting a $5,000 minimum spend requirement. While the $795 annual fee might seem steep, the credits and benefits provide excellent value. We hear this offer is ending soon! 

Capital One Venture X Credit Card: This alternative offers access as well, currently providing 75,000 points for a $4,000 minimum spend. The $395 annual fee comes with fewer benefits compared to the exceptional Chase Sapphire Reserve offer.

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. Not ready to dive into th coaching program, download the ebook or custom tracker or book a 1:1 consulting call with me.  I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

Should You Hang Onto Your Chase Sapphire Reserve?

 

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has been my favorite credit card for quite awhile. Even when the annual fee increased to a whopping $550 a few years ago, I held onto it. But today Chase announced that the annual fee is going up again, this time to $795. So now the question is should you hold onto it? I'll tell you right now, the answer is yes!

Should You Hang Onto Your Chase Sapphire Reserve?

But let's break down the benefits and dig deeper. 

Now worth and value are very personal. What's treasure for me, maybe trash for you. But let's see if we can investigate the changes and benefits and see if it's worth it for me and that might help you decide if it's worth it for you. 

How do I use this card right now? 

• I charge all of my travel and dining to this credit card. Why? 
• Currently, it earns 3x points on dining and travel. It also has amazing travel cancellation, rental and interruption insurance. I made a claim a few months ago and though it took several times uploading the same documents, they eventually reimbursed me. I always charge rental cars to this card because it earns 3x points and has awesome car rental insurance so I can pass on the insurance offered by the rental agency. 
• Moving forward, it will continue to earn 3x points on dining and 4x points on travel booked directly with airlines and hotels. But other travel like car rentals, Airbnbs, and tours will only earn 1x points so that's disappointing. 
•  I combine all of my Chase points onto this card to use them in the Chase Travel Portal. Why?

• Currently, when you book in the portal, you earn 5x points on airlines and 10x points on hotels. When you use your points to purchase, the points are worth 1.5 in the portal. 
• Moving forward, when you book in the portal, you will earn 8x points on all travel purchases booked through the portal. Current cardholders will still be able to get 1.5 value for points in the portal for a two year grace period. But the card is moving towards a "points boost" up to 2x points on certain travel purchases marked with a rocket ship. We are unsure right now how much travel will be eligible for a boost. 
• $300 Travel Credit - I use this credit every year since it is automatically applied to travel purchases. Though it's not really a benefit, it does bring down the annual fee by $300. 
• Moving forward, this credit will remain so it brings the annual fee down to $495. 
• Global Entry credit - you can use this once every four years so it's valued at $30 per year as a benefit. 
• Moving forward, this benefit remains. 
• Priority Pass Lounge and Sapphire Lounge Access - remains a benefit on the Sapphire Reserve. 
• Moving forward, there's no change 
  
• Earns 5x points on Lyft and 10x points on Peloton. 
• Moving forward, there's no change. 

Should You Hang Onto Your Chase Sapphire Reserve?

Other changes: 

• Authorized users - price is going up from $75 to $195 per user. I don't recommend adding authorized users to any cards, but if you want to, Capital One Venture X allows you to add authorized users for free and let's them use the lounge access, but we hear this benefit may be ending. 
• You could only hold one Sapphire card at a time. 
• Moving forward, you can hold both cards at the same time. This could be huge! The Sapphire Preferred has an annual fee of $95 and is one of my favorite cards. I usually advise my couple clients for one person to hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the other to hold the Reserve. Now one person could hold both. Instead of downgrading, you can just apply for the other Sapphire card and get the welcome bonus again. 

• Other new credits:
• $500 credit to use on Edit Hotels (Chase curated list).(split in two $250 credits) A quick search showed most properties were 5 star and came with perks like breakfast and $100 property credit. 
• $300 credit on StubHub or Viagogo
• $300 in monthly Doordash promotions 
• $300 credit at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables (split in two $150 credits)
• $250 annual credit for Apple TV and Music 
• $120 Doordash membership 
• $120 Peloton Membership 
• $120 Lyft in app credits 

If you spend more than $75,000 on the Reserve card annually, then you will earn some added benefits  like status at IHG and Southwest, $500 Southwest travel credit, and $250 credit at The Shops at Chase. 

Chase says the refreshed Chase Sapphire Reserve will offer $2,700 value of benefits, but the question is how many of these benefits will you actually benefit from? 

It's enough to make your head spin, but rest assured, if you already have this card, the new benefits will kick in June 23rd and you won't get charged the increased annual fee until after October 26th 2025 when your annual fee is due.  

So if your annual fee is due July 1st like mine, you will end up in the sweet spot. You will get to enjoy the new benefits until July 2026 and the old benefits until October 26th 2025, but only pay the old annual fee of $550. Then you can decide if you want to pay the increased annual fee next year. 

If you don't have this card yet, you could apply before June 23rd to lock in the $550 annual fee. Right now, it offers 60,000 bonus points for a $5,000 minimum spend. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. Or book a 1:1 consulting call.  I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities.