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Travel Like ClooneyMaximizing Deals and Rewards During Residency Interview Season

Jack Short, M3

Travel is Rewarding in 2012

To drum up business in a down economy, airlines and hotels have killer deals

Travel companies want your loyalty, and will reward you for it

Traveling for interviews is the perfect opportunity to earn points and reward yourself

Travel Basics

Always compare and book flights + hotels online Most companies charge extra if you have to book by

phone

New airfares are often released on Monday or Tuesday

Monday is consistently the cheapest day to fly, Sunday and Friday are the most expensive

Try to avoid 3rd party websites and book direct with the airline

Start with Kayak.com and Southwest.com

Getting the Best Fares

Search early and often

Farecast from Bing.com may be helpful Offers prediction as to whether fares will drop or fall soon

If possible, avoid traveling on a Friday or Sunday

The best fare is the one that’s most convenient, no necessarily the absolute cheapest

You have two airports, MCI and STL. Use them both!

Getting to the Airport

Almost always cheaper and easier to drive to airport and park than to use MoX

KCI – cheap and easy economy parking, $6/day

STL – The Parking Spot offers a 20% off coupon online, all the time

Columbia Airport is still limited service and expensive for most destinations

Airlines

Always, always check Southwest separately, as their fares are not listed on other sites

A low fare does not always mean a low final cost – check the fees

Best to book direct with airlines

If you ever fly an airline, always sign up with their frequent flier program at booking. They’re all free!

Getting Felt Up by TSA

Security may or may not touch your rude bits. Get use to it

If you’re running short on time, some airlines have an option to purchase priority boarding and an express security line

Carry-on liquids limited to 3 oz. in a 1 quart ziploc? Not if you have any Rx, contact lens

solution, medicated face wash, etc.

Fee Avoidance and Deterrence

Fees are insane, so figure that in your math when comparing fares

Most common first bag fee, $25-40 each way

Fly with carry-on + backpack only, many good bags available for this

Change fee typically $150 + fare difference

Or just fly Southwest Zero bag fees for 2 bags, and zero change fees JetBlue, $0 bag fees, still has change fee

Using an airline branded credit card can waive bag fees on Delta and United

Hotels

Many more search options, but start with Kayak

Hotwire, when used in conjunction with BetterBidding.com, is your weapon of choice Forum that maintains a Hotwire and Priceline list of hotels by

state/region Allows you to identify the hotel based on location and amenities, as

Hotwire will not tell you the name of the hotel until you’ve bought it in full

Use TripAdvisor to make sure your hotel won’t be a drop point for a Colombian drug cartel

Best hotel rewards programs: Starwood Preferred Guest and Hyatt

Upgrade $20 rule

Frequent Flier + Hotel Points

Always sign-up for programs when you stay or fly, they’re free and lead to free rewards

Optimizing your business with 2-3 programs will exponentially increase your reward potential and earn you perks

The best deal in earning is with a branded credit card from your favorite airline or hotel

Partner programs, such as Rapid Rewards Dining, provide other opportunities to earn points

Earning Points / Miles

Miles or Points are typically only earned when you book direct with the company No points from Expedia, Hotwire,

Priceline, etc.

Use a top travel credit card to earn on everyday purchases, such as Step 2 registration

Partner agreements with airlines and hotels may allow you to earn more per trip

Earning “Status” with a company means big benefits free upgrades, waived baggage fees, points bonuses on purchases

Using Miles / Points

Best deal is to use points with the company and not a partner program (gift cards, etc.)

Southwest – Miles correlate with price of ticket

Other Airlines – rewards are at set mileage levels

Starwood – can book hotels for free reward nights, but also may use points + cash option Best deal in the reward world. Get very nice hotels for a small

amount of points + a nominal cash payment ($20-$50 per night)

Mind the expirations. Most programs points never expire as long as you have activity in 1-2 years. Buying an iTunes song with points counts as activity, as does getting a magazine with points, and so does using their credit card to earn miles

Best Airline Program – Luv Me Some Southwest

Rapid Rewards Program – earn miles for flying, dining, and with card

Credit Card – lookout for 50,000 miles with first purchase promo, equivalent to $800 in airfare Currently, promo is only 25,000 miles, or $400 Annual fee is $65

Often give drink coupons, free wi-fi, and other bonuses

Never any bag or change fees

Many non-stops out of KCI and STL

Best Hotel Program – Starwood Preferred Guest

W, Westin, St. Regis, Le Meridien, Sheraton, and Aloft hotels

Points + Cash option for booking

May transfer points to airline miles 1:1 with a 25% bonus

SPG American Express – best travel card in the industry 10,000 bonus points with first purchase, 15,000 additional

bonus with spending in 6 months Totals 6 free nights in hotel ~$1000 value Annual fee waived for first year, then $65 (cancel by end of

interview season to avoid this)

Parents may sign up free for the program and transfer miles to you

Other Card Options

Chase Sapphire Preferred – currently offering 50,000 chase points, equivalent to $625 in airfare May transfer these points 1:1 to many airline programs Annual fee of $95 waived for first year, must have

excellent credit

Capital One Venture – good overall miles earning card, but no significant bonus program to make this one worthwhile short term

When Things Go Wings Up

Travel in winter sucks, so make it suck less

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, don’t go to the line at the desk agent. Get on your phone and call the airline

Always ask about alternative airports Flying to LAX? Don’t forget LA also has airports in

Burbank, Orange County, and Ontario

If possible, don’t book the last flight out of a city

Insist on vouchers or other compensation when nothing works out

Apps for Travel

TripIt automatically tracks your travel plans, airport info, airline phone numbers, and itinerary Forward your confirmation emails to their server, and it

syncs to your phone and iPad

Airline apps can be useful, American, Delta, and Southwest

Award Wallet tracks all your points accounts and warns you of any possible expirations

TripAdvisor, Kayak, and Yelp all have mobile apps which are invaluable for travel

Taxi Magic for cabs once out and about town

Websites

ThePointsGuy.com maximizing your travel rewards

FrugalTravelGuy.com tips and tricks for getting the best deals and points

TripAdvisor.com hands down the best reviews for hotels, restaurants, and activities in a city

BetterBidding.com identify hotels on Hotwire

Up In The Air

Now that you’ve maximized your rewards, save some money on the interview trail, or put it towards a giant celebration trip after match day!

Your best asset in travel is flexibility and knowing how to work the system when things don’t go as planned

Happy travels and Godspeed on the interview trail!