Video

https://youtu.be/yTHhpa-xal4

  • Click the profile picture in the upper-left corner and subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest explainer videos and travel vlogs!

Overview:

In this video, Lizi explains everything in two parts. Some of you may be wondering: why only two parts this time? Weren’t there always three? Did Lizi get lazy again?

Nonono, you’ll find that this video is longer than usual — Lizi is giving you more content for the same price!

Part 1:

I have a special attachment to AA miles, because Citi AA was the first airline co-branded card I ever got (even though my credit limit back then was only 1300 — I remember it clearly!), and it was also the card I applied for when it had a legendary sign-up bonus (around 2012) (back then the annual fee was still 85; now it’s 99, sigh...).

Back in the day, it was 75,000 miles after spending 1500 in six months, and 100,000 miles after spending 10,000 in one year! And the most unbelievable thing was — the application link somehow stayed alive and kept redirecting for a whole year.

Besides Citi AA, I’ll also briefly mention the legendary sign-up bonus from Barclays US (10,000 miles every year just for paying the annual fee), so everyone can see what an IMBA sign-up bonus looks like!

I’m guessing that kind of sign-up bonus will never come back... Nowadays, banks are getting more and more stingy with credit card sign-up bonuses. Offers that once weren’t even worth a glance are now being promoted as “Limited Time Offer.” It really proves something Lizi often says — changes usually make things worse: the waves behind the Yangtze push the waves ahead, and yellow weasels only give birth to little hedgehogs; each generation is worse than the last!

Part 2:

Let’s try searching for award tickets. Here, Lizi uses memory to summarize the mileage requirements for routes you may need:

  • Some short-haul domestic US routes: Economy starting at 5,000 + Tax & Fee (excellent value); recliner-seat Business starting at 25,000 + Tax & Fee (seems unnecessary).
  • Long-haul transcontinental US routes: Economy starting at 12,500 + Tax & Fee; recliner-seat Business starting at 25,000 + Tax & Fee.
  • US mainland to Hawaii: Economy starting at 20,000 + Tax & Fee; recliner-seat Business starting at 25,000 + Tax & Fee.
  • US to Europe (Lizi used MIA-LHR): Economy starting at 30,000 + Tax & Fee; Business starting at 57,500 + Tax & Fee; First starting at 57,500 + Tax & Fee. PS: When redeeming BA, watch out for BA’s fuel surcharges — they can be very exciting, in a bad way.
  • US to Australia (you can find Qantas and Fiji Airways): Economy starting at 32,500 + Tax & Fee; Business starting at 80,000 + Tax & Fee.
  • China to Doha, Qatar (Qatar Airways): Economy starting at 25,000 + Tax & Fee; Business starting at 40,000 + Tax & Fee (Business is a pretty good value. Would anyone like to try Qatar Airways’ Business class and write a review?).
  • China-Japan routes (Japan Airlines): Economy starting at 20,000 + Tax & Fee; Business starting at 30,000 + Tax & Fee (20,000 vs. 30,000? With a difference like that, do you still need to hesitate?). US-Japan routes (Japan Airlines): Economy starting at 32,500 + Tax & Fee; Business starting at 60,000 + Tax & Fee.
  • China-US routes: Economy starting at 32,500 + Tax & Fee; Business starting at 70,000 + Tax & Fee; First starting at 110,000 + Tax & Fee.

PS1: When searching for award tickets, try to use AA’s old search system whenever possible — the new version is painfully hard to use!

PS2: As always, the amount of award availability depends heavily on everyone’s “starting point,” so East Coast readers may be in for another painful moment.

Now you know why there isn’t a third part, right? Lizi has added subtitles to each part, so there’s no need to waste time on a summary at the end.

Related Articles

About Lizi

Hi everyone, I’m the biggest chestnut in the world and one of the authors of US Credit Card 101. I hope you’ll keep following my articles and our website.