My 10 Best Posts of 2014

This year I was able to lower my standards enough to scrape the bottom of the post barrel to get “10 best posts”. This barrel scraping is now an annual tradition (I did 2013, and 2012), and it would be easier if I could just rewrite and update the United Routing Rule Secrets every year (like I did this year), but my standards are barely above that.

I proud to say, these posts are some of the least mediocre content in the last year. Actually, for this annual “best of” I try to pick posts that are completely original content, for whatever that’s worth. If you for whatever reason like this nerdy blog, then you’ll love these posts. Ladies and gentlemen, here are the only 10 posts I wrote this year that I thought were good/original.

 

1) ANA Stopover Secrets

ANA’s award chart is completely changing from a distance based program to region based program in April. So you’ll have to book some of their incredible tickets, including 4 stopovers on a domestic trip for 22,000 miles. The problem is that most people think you need to book a roundtrip for these amazing prices. They may get better though, with a little trick.

Read: ANA Stopover Secrets.

 

2) The Complete Guide to United Routing Rules

I believe I’m the first person on the internet to have such a post, and even to figure out certain rules. A lot of original work/content is in this, and so it is probably the post I am most proud of in 2014.

Yes, it’s a nerdy detail of all the “rules” of United and maybe not that interesting for people not planning a United trip. You tell me though.

Read: The Complete Guide to United Routing Rules

 

3) Unveiling Flying Blue Award Chart

Flying Blue has been one of the most underrated mileage programs that exists. But after a little investigation I was able to find a ton of gems. Here I make the first complete Flying Blue award chart, I list all fuel surcharges with partners, list which airlines are bookable online, attempt to better define zones, and list some great redemptions along with some tricks.

Read: Unveiling Flying Blue Award Chart

 

4) What I didn’t say about United Open-Jaws

I came out a while ago saying that open-jaws are no longer allowed on stopovers and have since been proven right and confirmed by United’s fare rules. However, I notice that a lot of routes allowed open-jaws in Hawaii still. This is the only time you could open-jaw both on the stopover and destination. Except I came up with some very interesting ways of routing such a ticket. Check out some of these bazar routes I came up with, with big open-jaws from Hawaii.

Read: What I didn’t say about United Open-Jaws

 

5) Best Use Of Amtrak

People really like this post probably because Amtrak isn’t the main goal of a lot of miles-collectors, however there are some incredible uses. We’re talking train tickets for 1,000 points and points transfer 1:1 from United.

But even if you are thinking about international travel, there are some incredible options with Amtrak to Choice, since the transfer is 1:3. So a 10,000 point hotel in Venice would require the equivalent of 3,333 Amtrak or Chase points.

It requires some hoops, like the credit card, (and some loop-holes in the comments), but it could totally be worth it for some of the many lesser known but awesome Choice Hotel Points redemptions.

Read: Best Use of Amtrak

 

6) Complete Guide to the Caribbean Hopper 

Why go to one caribbean island when you can go to at least two for the same price? That was my thought. We originated this route (as far as I know) with a oneway ticket to Puerto Rico via Aruba and Panama for 17,500. But the better use may be a stopover in a second island instead of a 23 hour layover.

And while the “Caribbean Hopper”, as I call it, is discussed a few times here, this is without a doubt the most comprehensive look at all your routing options and miles/points options.

Read: Complete Guide to the Caribbean Hopper

 

7) Analyzing Credit Scores for Rewards Cards

This is without a doubt the most comprehensive post on what credit score you need for a rewards card and what banks are using for card applications that I’ve seen. I took user samples of credit scores and card applications and used a good ol’ spreadsheet to make the charts. Pretty simple.

But the most interesting data (to me) was why people get declined. And the largest reason people got declined was negative marks on a credit report, like late payments. That took 33.3% and another 15.6% for bankruptcy! So nearly half of  all declines are negative reports on people’s credit score. And technically another 9% is high credit utilization.

Read: AnalyzingCredit Scores for Rewards Cards

 

8) Indonesian Hopper

The Indonesian Hopper started as a concept when I was looking at the Korean Air Award Chart and they list a discount for flights within Indonesia on Garuda for 20,000 miles. They probably were thinking, “Jakarta to Bali is a simple undersold route” and weren’t thinking that someone would actually use a stopover and open-jaw.

But technically the same route is available for 22,000 miles and 4 stopovers with ANA miles. OR 20,000 miles with Flying Blue miles but starting from anywhere in SE Asia. Still, the concept originated in the Indonesian Hopper with Korean Air Miles post.

Read: Indonesian Hopper with Korean Air Miles

 

9) Best Use of Lesser Knowns: JAL / Malaysia / Singapore / Korea / Asia Miles / ANA’s New Chart

One thing I’ve always enjoyed doing is writing about airline miles that are lesser known programs. Yet, for example, Singapore Miles are some of the easiest miles to earn since they transfer from Chase UR, AMEX MR, Citi TY, and SPG points. All four major points transfer options.

If you want to hear about all of your options with these miles, here’s my dissection of each of these programs:

• Using JAL with 7 stopovers
• Best Use of Singapore KrisFlyer Miles
• Best Use Malaysia Airlines Enrich Miles
• Best Use of Korean Air Miles
• Best Use of Asia Miles
• Best Use of ANA’s New Award Chart

 

10) Complete List of Airline Award Charts and  List of Airline Stopover and Routing Rules

Some of these award charts I made myself and some have multiple award charts and I wanted to clarify which is which. So if you bookmark this page and want to make sure you’re going to the right award chart, it has most all airline award charts. And as for the list of stopover and routing rules, it’s pretty self explanatory.

Read: Complete List of Airline Award Charts and List of Airline Stopover and Routing Rules

 

Conclusion

There are other posts I thought were good this year, and hopefully you do too. :-p I’ll list a few more interesting ones, that didn’t make my top 10 but I debated it.

• 3 Awesome United Miles Hopper Flights
• One amazing award with Virgin Elevate
• Lufthansa Transpacific Hopper

And if you want to check out last year’s lists, check out 7 Posts of 2013 You Shouldn’t Miss, and also the previous year’s My Top 9 Posts of 2012. Although I’d like to think that my content has gotten better with time. So maybe stick to this post. :-p Also, check out the posts in the side bar. I have my “Complete Guides”, “InfoGraphics” and a list of “Resources” in one place.

As always, a BIG thanks to the readers who made this all possible. I’m truly blessed to have you all, and appreciate your comments and support that has flooded us in 2014! It’s why we do what we do and love it.