Lazy Points of the Week
Story of the week
Save on gas with Amazon Prime. It was a bit of a slow news week, perhaps highlighted by the chance to save 10¢ per gallon at BP, Amoco, and AM/PM stations with a linked Amazon Prime account. You will need Prime, of course, plus an (free) BP Earnify account, but you can get the savings at the pump by using a linked payment method or phone number—opening an app at the gas station isn’t necessary.
Other card and points news
500 IHG points for downloading the IHG app. If you don’t have the IHG app yet, you can get it now and earn 500 IHG points for your troubles. That’s a fairly paltry sum, but I don’t look gift points in the mouth.
AA is catching line jumpers. The Washington Post reports that American Airlines is deploying technology to notify gate agents when passengers try to board the plane before their assigned group is called. I’ve never understood the appeal of spending more time in an airline seat than necessary, but hopefully this change works and helps impose some order on the boarding chaos.
AA will match Delta, United, and Southwest elite status. AA rarely offers a chance for frequent flyers with status with other airlines to switch over to AA, but they’re doing so now. Details here from TPG.
Free Wi-Fi on JAL (kinda). Japan Air Lines flights can be pricey, but thankfully it can be easy to book them with points via partners like AA and Alaska. We did. Now, those long international award flights will be a little better, as JAL is announcing Wi-Fi service on international flights. Unfortunately, economy passengers will only receive one hour free, but it’s better than nothing, and may be a great way to check your email halfway through a 10+ hour flight.
Sign-up bonus of the week
The AA Aviator Red card is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 60,000 AA miles after making a single purchase and paying the $99 annual fee.
It’s not the best we’ve seen and you may be able to get a few extra miles if you catch an offer from a flight attendant during a flight, but it’s an excellent deal and the one we used to take our first trip to Japan.
Previously highlighted bonuses with offers still available:
•5 free nights on the World of Hyatt card (ends 10/31)
•60,000 points + a $300 travel credit on the Chase Sapphire Preferred
•125,000 points on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
•60,000 points and a free night on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold
Lazy tip of the week
Afraid of flying? The New York Times recently published an article with tips and tools to help the air seem less scary. My favorite piece: the revelation of Turbli, an app that shows the turbulence expected on your route, so you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Personally, I watch downloaded Netflix shows on my Kindle Fire during the flight, but I find playing simple games like Sudoku calming during takeoff and landing.
From the archive
I was recently at a conference with a few dozen people, and at one point a presenter asked, “How many people in here have frozen your credit?” I was the only one to raise my hand. Freezing your credit is essential to prevent identity thieves from taking out unauthorized credit in your name. Read more about it here.
