Travel and Points Q&A with Blogger Brian Kelly

Brian thinks that the travel content in general could be improved by implementing new technology, such as videos, to better serve the reader.  Brian also told us about his new Web app called “TPG Maximizer,” which was released at the end of February.  Using data from the user’s bank and credit card accounts, the app analyzes spending habits and offers suggestions on how to maximize points, or which new cards one should consider acquiring.

ADVICE FOR THE FREQUENT FLYER

According to Brian, there are quite a few big mistakes a frequent flyer can make in managing his points.  First and foremost, a flyer should never let his miles or points expire.  “It takes just a minute to reactivate the expiration clock.  You don’t need to fly; it’s a huge rookie mistake.”

Otherwise, he pleads with flyers to make an effort to use rewards cards strategically based on the type of transactions.  “So many people just use their Amex platinum card,” he said, pointing out that other cards frequently offer more points for the same transaction, including the less impressive-looking Chase Freedom Card. “Rethinking which credit cards you use is huge.”

Brian voiced concerns that too many travelers take an airline ticket at face value and don’t look into ways that they could save money.  “There are always ways to take advantage of discounts and avoid fees,” Brian told us.  “You can save by taking advantage of various sites, cards, promotions, and programs.”  Brian encourages travelers to fully research their options before committing to the first price they find for a flight.

Finally, when it comes down to award booking, Brian invites flyers to maximize the extent of their trip.  “People don’t realize they can tack on trips for free,” explained Brian.  “It takes coordination, but you can leverage routes on award tickets,” he continued, giving the unlikely sounding example of flying from New York to London with a stopover in Hawaii.

While many would say that planning ahead and booking travel far in advance is a safe way to ensure the lowest cost ticket, Brian told us that this isn’t always the best strategy.  “Life’s always going to throw curveballs.  People book too far in advance, need to change their tickets, then pay fees for the change.”

This same type of thinking leads people to believe that, as a flight looms closer, there won’t be any award tickets left.  “It’s the opposite, in fact,” said Brian.  “As the date gets closer and airlines realize they can’t sell any more tickets, they open up flights to award bookers.”

BRIAN’S TOP PEEVES

Many of the pet peeves Brian mentioned were already familiar to us – hard to reach outlets in hotels, claustrophobic aircraft seating, and losing points for changing an award – and his biggest ones not surprisingly related to Internet access both on the ground and in the air.

As a blogger, Brian counts on reliable and fast Internet, but he said that he is frequently disappointed, especially in hotels, where he maintains that in a few cases dial-up service in the 1990s was faster.  He also gets irritated when in-flight Wi-Fi is advertised but fails to function properly.  Because of his involvement with points and award redemption, Brian also hates when airlines force customers to redeem awards by phone, then charge them a fee for the convenience.

Before we exchanged goodbyes, Brian offered some insight into the future of miles and points: “Airlines are becoming profitable once again, but I firmly reject the notion that the era of miles and points is over.  There are more ways than ever to take advantage of miles and points.”

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