Maximize Your Rewards: Chase 5X Bonus Categories for Q4 2024

 

Are you looking to boost your credit card rewards? One of the most effective ways to earn 5X points from Chase is by taking advantage of the rotating bonus categories offered by the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom cards. Each quarter, Chase selects four purchase categories that earn 5X points instead of the standard 1X or 1.5X points.

Historical Bonus Categories

In previous quarters, Chase has featured categories such as:

• Amazon purchases
• Warehouse club stores
• Gas stations
• EV charging stations

Q4 2024 Bonus Categories Revealed

Chase has just announced the exciting bonus categories for the fourth quarter of 2024:

1. McDonald's
2. PayPal
3. Pet shops and veterinary services
4. Select charities

Maximizing Your Rewards

While dining at McDonald's frequently might not yield significant points, the other categories present excellent opportunities to boost your rewards:

• Pet Expenses: With many people investing heavily in their furry friends, pet shops and vet services could lead to substantial bonus points.
• Charitable Giving: The fourth quarter aligns perfectly with end-of-year donations, making the charity category particularly valuable.
• PayPal Purchases: This category is a true winner! Use PayPal for most of your online shopping, especially holiday gifts, and watch your bonus points stack up.

Important Reminders

1. Activation Required: Don't forget to activate your credit card by December 14th. You can do this by clicking here or logging into your online account.
2. Earning Cap: There's a maximum of $1,500 in combined purchases across these categories that are eligible for 5X points.

Start planning your Q4 spending strategy now to make the most of these lucrative bonus categories!

If you don't have a Chase FREEDOM FLEX card yet, it might be a good addition to your wallet. It's a no annual fee card with a small bonus offer of just $150 for a $500 spend. 

But just a reminder, we never want to apply for the cards without a plan, join my Travel Coaching Program so we can design a custom plan for you to reach your travel goals. 

How To Hack Southwest Airlines Flights For Less

One of the benefits of the relatively new fare class Wanna Get Away Plus at Southwest Airlines is the ability to change your flight day of for FREE. It's called the FREE day of standby change. 

How To Hack Southwest Airlines Flights For Less 

Saavy travelers have figured out that "day of" means 12:01am. 

So theoretically, you can book a cheaper flight and then change your flight the night before at midnight to the flight you really want. 

This hack may only cost you $20 per ticket or just a handful of points and you could save up to $50 per ticket or thousands of points.

This hack means you don't have to hope that you qualify for a FREE change due to weather or a schedule change. 

How To Hack Southwest Airlines Flights For Less 

The only catch with this hack is that there needs to be a seat available on the flight and you may get a lousy boarding position. If you do get a lousy boarding position, you can try using an upgrade boarding from your Southwest Priority credit card or your Southwest Performance Business credit card. Both come with 4 upgraded boardings per year. 

If you don't have a Southwest Airlines credit card yet, you can use my referral link here to apply. However, if you are interested in earning the Southwest Companion Pass for 2025-26, sign up for my Travel Coaching Program first. It's affordable and personal to your travel goals. And I'm challenging myself to help 25 people earn the pass this January. Don't wait, there are only a few spots left! 

 

buy the wanna get away plus fare and then day of you can switch flights for free to any flight on the same day that has room in the wanna get away plus and wanna get away fares

1500 points or $20 difference between fares bwi-san dec. 14

Is The Southwest Companion Pass Next On The Chopping Block?

With all the changes Southwest Airlines is making next year like reserved seats, it makes me wonder if the Southwest Companion Pass is on the chopping block? 

No one has mentioned anything yet, I'm just thinking out loud here. And wondering if this January may be the last time we can earn the companion pass for a full two years. 

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best travel perks around since you can literally BOGO on any Southwest Airlines flight for up to two years. All you pay is $5.60 in taxes for the flight. 

You can change your companion three times in a calendar year and your companion can be a family member, neighbor, friend or anyone else you would like to fly with you. They must fly with you on the same flight. 

Is The Southwest Companion Pass Next On The Chopping Block?

The pass has saved me thousands of dollars. We have used it to fly to the East Coast dozens of times to places like Washington DC, New York, Florida, Nashville, Boston, Baltimore. We have flown to Cabo San Lucas, Cuba, Costa Rica, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, Hawaii and so many more places. 

Usually, you get the pass by earning 135,000 points in a single calendar year, but there are hacks to do this faster and way easier. I teach these hacks in my travel coaching program. 

Is The Southwest Companion Pass Next On The Chopping Block?

The new cohort launches in September which is the perfect time to lay the groundwork for earning the Southwest Companion Pass for 2025-26. That's two years of BOGO flights! 

In honor of 2025, my goal is to help 25 people earn the Southwest Companion Pass this January just in case this is the last chance. Consider joining this cohort if you are planning to travel to Hawaii or Disney or Costa Rica in the next two years. Enroll now in the Travel Coaching Program. The cohort launches Sept. 15th! 

How You Can Get Your Next Tour or Airbnb For FREE

 

Some places that you travel to like Diamond Beach in Iceland do not have chain hotels that you can book on points like Marriott, Hyatt or Hilton. Or maybe like our family of five, hotels are not a good choice because you need two rooms or you will be forced to eat out for every meal. 

How You Can Get Your Tour or Airbnb For FREE

So how can you get your Airbnb, Bed and Breakfasts and tours for FREE if you can't use points?

The secret is in the Capital One Venture credit card.  Current bonus offer ends Sept. 9th so read carefully. 

The Capital One Venture and Venture X credit cards include a travel eraser and travel credit through the Capital One Travel Portal. 

 

Let's explain: 

1. Travel Eraser - When you log into your Capital One account and click view rewards, cover travel purchases, you will see a list of qualified purchases. Any purchase that codes as travel will qualify to be erased like Airbnb, tours, rental cars etc. You can erase the whole purchase or just part of it. You can even erase some of the purchase and then when you have more points, erase the rest. You have three months to erase the purchase so start with the oldest ones first. The value is 1:1 so some would argue you can get more value out of your points by transferring them to an airline, but I believe this is personal to your strategy and goals. For example, I erased the hotel charge for our 5th person in Tahiti. We already had our flights and over water bungalow covered so this was a random travel purchase we could get for FREE. Worth it! 

2. Travel Credit in the Portal - The Venture credit card comes with a $250 travel credit with the current bonus offer which ends Sept. 9th and the Venture X always comes with a $300 travel credit when you purchase hotels or flights through the Capital One Travel Portal. In order to use this credit, you must book your hotel or flight through the Capital One Travel Portal which works great for independent hotels and bed and breakfasts. In the booking process, the portal will ask if you want to use your travel credit to cover the purchase. You do not have to use the entire credit on a single purchase.  

 

Some people are hesitant to book travel through third parties like the Capital One Travel Portal, but I have found it to work quite well. Even when my flight was cancelled due to weather last summer, I was notified by both the airline and Capital One of the cancellation and how to reschedule. 

Ending Sept. 9th, Capital One Venture credit card is offering a $250 travel credit, $100 Global Entry credit and 75,000 bonus points when you sign up. There is a $4,000 minimum spend and a $95 annual fee. So with the travel credit, you are actually making money on this card approximately $1,000. You can only get this bonus once every 4 years. We do not know how long this offer is going to last so don't wait. 

The Capital One Venture X card is a good option if you want airport lounge access for you and your authorized users. The current offer is 75,000 bonus points for a $4,000 minimum spend and a $395 annual fee, but it includes a $300 travel credit. 

If you need some help figuring out if this card will help you reach your travel goals, join my Travel Coaching Program. The next cohort launches September 15th and it's my personal goal to help my clients collectively save more than $100,000 in 2025. 

Exciting News: Southwest's Mini Companion Pass is Here!

Get ready for an incredible travel opportunity, jet-setters! Southwest Airlines has just unveiled their new mini companion pass offer, and it's a game-changer for budget-savvy explorers!

The Ultimate Travel Hack: Southwest Companion Pass

Buckle up, because the Southwest Companion Pass is truly one of the most amazing travel deals out there. Picture this: bringing a friend or family member along on ANY Southwest flight to ANYWHERE the airline flies, for FREE (just pay the $5.60 taxes)! And the best part? This dream can last for up to two years!

Normally, you'd need to rack up 135,000 Southwest points in a single calendar year to snag this pass. Sounds daunting, right? But don't worry! We've got some insider tricks up our sleeves to make it happen faster and easier than you'd think. Our travel coaching program is packed with these golden nuggets of wisdom!

Is the Southwest Airlines Mini Companion Pass Your Ticket to Adventure?

Let's dive into this exciting offer:

1. Book a round trip or two one-way flights by September 5th for travel by November 20th. Use cash, points, or mix it up – the choice is yours! Pro tip: Already booked? No problem! Just cancel, register, and rebook to qualify.

2. Voila! A mini companion pass will appear in your account, letting you enjoy buy-one-get-one flights from January 6th to March 6th, 2025. Hello, winter getaway!

Why This Offer is a Travel Game-Changer

For most wanderlusters, this deal is a no-brainer! Here's why:

• Bridge the gap until you earn the full companion pass
• Perfect for family vacations in early 2025
• Ideal if you're short on time or points for the full pass
• Great for spontaneous weekend escapes

How to Snag Your Mini Companion Pass

1. Already have a flight? Try the cancel-and-rebook strategy. Check out the Wanna Get Away Plus fare for extra flexibility!

2. Planning a trip anyway? Register and book by September 5th and you will qualify for the mini companion pass!

3. Feeling adventurous? Book a super cheap round-trip from your hometown for a quick day or overnight trip. It's like a travel hack within a travel hack!

Ready to Elevate Your Travel Game?

If you're excited about the mini companion pass but want expert guidance, or if you're aiming for the full Southwest Companion Pass, I'm here to help so you don't make the #1 mistake. Join my travel coaching program launching September 15th. I'm on a mission to help 25 savvy travelers earn the Southwest Companion Pass for 2025-26 and save a collective $100,000 on future adventures!

Don't let this opportunity fly by – let's make your travel dreams take off together!

#TravelHacks #SouthwestAirlines #CompanionPass #BudgetTravel #WanderlustWednesday #TravelTips #AdventureAwaits #ExploreMore

Dreaming About A Trip To Italy? Check This Out

Are you dreaming about a trip to Italy for next summer? I just helped clients Mackenzie and Michael plan a dream honeymoon in Italy for almost FREE. Yep! That's right. 

As soon as they return, they will share the details about how they used points and miles to pay for this trip in our monthly group coaching meet. Yay! 

Perhaps you are next! Dreaming About A Trip To Italy? Check This Out

The September cohort of the Travel Coaching Program is launching soon! There are only 10 spots available so don't wait to check it out and get started. We will be having two challenges coming up this fall as well, details coming soon! 

Right now, though, there are two bonus offers that are ending soon that played a part in Mackenzie and Michael's strategy. 

• Capital One Venture card offering a bonus $250 travel credit right now and 75,000 bonus points, all for just $95 annual fee and $4,000 minimum spend. 
• Chase Ink Business Preferred offering 100,000 bonus points. $95 annual fee with an $8,000 minimum spend. Offer ends Sept 3rd

If you aren't sure which card is right for you or how you will use the points, join my Travel Coaching program September cohort and I'll help you come up with a personal strategy to reach your travel goals. 

5 Reasons Why You Might Want To Visit Tahiti Instead Of Hawaii

Crystal clear water, colorful fish, over the water bungalows, lots of seafood, yep, Tahiti is gorgeous. And I'll let you in on a secret. I actually liked it better than Hawaii. Yep, I said it. 

And if you want to take a big trip next summer, now is the time to plan. 

Did you have FOMO watching your friends post photos from Hawaii, well, starting planning now for next summer and you can vacation in an even better location for almost FREE. 

First, let me tell you why I like Tahiti more than Hawaii. 

5 Reasons Why You Might Want To Visit Tahiti Instead Of Hawaii

#5 International Travel - this can be both a pro and a con. But for me, I love to travel internationally, it's really my jam. Tahiti is located in French Polynesia which is a French territory. What that means is that yes, you will need a passport and Global Entry is helpful, but it also means French wine, French cheese and fresh baguettes. Yum! It also means you can practice your French. For some, just leaving the country is a con, but this may be an easy way to start travelling internationally. It's safe, easy to navigate, direct flight from the West Coast, simple to use points and miles to snag flights, the people are friendly and helpful, English is used everywhere, credit cards are accepted almost everywhere and you can rent a car and driving here is also easy. Picture one road around the island. Easy! 

#4 Easy to use points and miles for flights and hotels - It takes a lot of points and miles to travel to Hawaii and Tahiti for almost FREE, but both are doable. I think there is actually more availability on flights to Tahiti just because it is less popular and less crowded. You can read here about how I used points and miles to save $15,000 on our family trip to Tahiti and Moorea. There are also inexpensive food trucks with huge portions on Tahiti and on Moorea, you can find local "Snack" restaurants with fresh fish for about what you would pay in the US. There are also grocery stores on both islands. For our family of 5, all of the meals we ate out cost about $20-$25 per person including one alcoholic drink. 

#3 Over the water bungalows - This is the bucket list dream for a lot of people and you can do this in Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora. And the best part is that you can use points and miles to pay for it, woohoo! We stayed at the Sofitel Resort on Moorea using Chase Ultimate Rewards and it was fantastic. Our stay included breakfast always a plus. Because we are family of 5 and the over the water bungalows allow a max of 3 people, we also booked a garden room. Booked both rooms on points and miles and shhhh, we all stayed in the OWB bungalow. 

The OWB bungalows are everything you think they are going to be

• Lounge chairs sitting on the deck over crystal blue water. 
• A ladder connected to your personal deck so you can snorkel and swim right off your bungalow. 
• Rays and colorful fish swimming below. 

Other hotels with OWB include The Hilton Moorea, Manava Resort in Moorea, Intercontinental in Tahiti and the St. Regis, Four Seasons and The Conrad in Bora Bora. 

#2 Rays, Sharks, Turtles and colorful fish - Yes, in Hawaii, you can see rays, turtles, sharks and colorful fish, but in Tahiti, I would argue that there are just more and the water is so crystal clear, you can see everything with your naked eye. The water is also warm and the islands are surrounded by reefs so the water is very calm and great for kids. My favorite tour was a 6 hour Sharks and Rays Lagoon Tour With Lunch by Moorea Miti tours. The tour includes a cooking lesson to learn how to make Poison Cru with real salt water and fresh coconut. You can book this through our partner Viator. 

 5 Reasons Why You Might Want To Visit Tahiti Instead Of Hawaii

#1 Stunning scenery and crystal blue waters - Besides the wildlife, the scenery is stunning just like in Hawaii, but it's not crowded and more accessible. You can drive to the black sand beaches, waterfalls, scenic views and mountain hikes. To me, Tahiti felt like what Hawaii was probably like fifty years ago. Very local, very calm and tranquil. Though there are tours and hotels, it's just not crowded. There are very few lines and nothing seemed sold out. 

If you would like help planning your Tahiti adventure or using points and miles to take this bucket list vacation, check out our website for travel advising and our new Travel Coaching Program. We would love to help you and your family make memories!