👋 Hi Reader,

Happy Saturday! Here's a sneak peak of today's newsletter:

• 🤔 Rethinking elite status and new points strategies
• 💳 Last call for free companion pass
• 🏖️ Earn 3x on Hyatt vacation rentals
• 🛍️ Earn up to 5k American Airlines bonus miles
• 🆓 Freebies: free coffee, kids workshops, pita chips
• 🏨 Save 25% on IHG with PayPal
• 💰 Easy $10 with PayPal and more!

I really hope you enjoy reading, and please don't forget to forward this to someone who might enjoy it too. (And if that's you, make sure to subscribe here please!). Thanks so much!

Chris

🤔 Rethinking Elite Status + Listener Wins

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With so many major devaluations, is chasing elite status worth it? I share my journey of earning elite status with 8 hotel and airline loyalty programs for 2025, weighing the pros and cons. Plus, find out how our podcast listeners saved $100,000+ in combined savings through smart points and miles strategies.

🇨🇭The Science City You Didn’t Know You Needed to Visit

Today’s newsletter is brought to you by… CERN Science Gateway​

Did you know that the World Wide Web was born in Geneva, Switzerland? Indeed, the first version of the Internet cropped up at CERN in 1989. Today the world-renowned center is home to the largest particle accelerator and to the CERN Science Gateway – a must-see hub for science enthusiasts that features hands-on exhibits, immersive virtual reality experiences, and live demonstrations.

Plan your visit and explore the cutting-edge world of physics and innovation at the CERN Science Gateway!

🛫 Travel, Points & Miles

💳 Last Call: Welcome Offers w/ Free Companion Pass

Welcome offers on credit cards are a great way to earn extra points and miles to travel for free—and it’s even better when you can bring a loved one along for free! Right now, there’s a last call on 3 personal airline credit card welcome offers that let you earn a free companion pass. More details here.

🏖️ Earn 3x at World of Hyatt Vacation Rentals

For a limited time, you can earn 3x points on qualifying stays at Homes & Hideaways by World of Hyatt between 3/19 and 7/6. World of Hyatt points are one of the most valuable hotel points, so I’d take advantage of this promo if you have upcoming travel. Registration is not required, but you do need to be a World of Hyatt member.

✈️ 25% Off Emirates' Partner Award Flights

Emirates Skywards is offering 25% off partner economy class awards on select airlines (including United Airlines domestic flights) when you book by 3/31 and travel by 1/6/26. Emirates is a transfer partner of almost all the loyalty programs, so this promo is worth checking out.

🇰🇷 Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines Expanding to South Korea

I love South Korea and I really want to go back, so I'm excited that Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines are launching 5x weekly, nonstop flights from Seattle to Seoul Incheon in September 2025. Plus, any new route makes the likelihood of good award deals so much better!

🏨 IHG Hotels: Save 25% with PayPal

IHG One Rewards members can save 25% on stays of 2+ nights when booked before 6/30 and paid with PayPal. Reservations must be made at least 7 days in advance and include a stay on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

🤝 American Airlines Status for Southwest Elites

If you have Southwest elite status, American Airlines is offering an instant status match to a higher tier: A-List members will be matched to Platinum status instead of Gold and A-List Preferred members will be matched to Platinum Pro status instead of Platinum. Apply for your status match before 6/30 to qualify.

🛍️ Earn up to 5k American Airlines Bonus Miles

Earn up to 5,000 American Airlines bonus miles by referring friends to AAdvantage eShopping. Get 500 bonus miles for every person who joins using your link and spends at least $75 before 4/6. Plus, they will earn 1,000 bonus miles in addition to the miles they would typically earn on their purchase. Here’s my referral link if you need one :)

🤑 Latest Deals

💰 Easy $10 with PayPal

There's a targeted offer for some PayPal users to earn 1,000 points (worth $10) when they spend $10 using PayPal. Click here to see if you're eligible.

🆓 Freebies: $10, Krispy Kreme Coffee, Kids Workshops

Here are some freebies this week, with some deals ending today:

• $5 Amazon credit: When you add your debit or credit card to your Amazon account (only if you haven’t already).
• $5 Shop Cash: When you create a Shop account or log in to claim your gift.
• Pita Chips at CAVA (3/29): For National Pita Day, make sure to sign up for CAVA Rewards here.
• Coffee at Krispy Kreme (3/29): With any purchase through Krispy Kreme Rewards.
• 8×10 photo print at Walgreens: With promo code COOLFREE.
• Kids workshop at Home Depot: Build a globe planter on 4/5. Register here.
• Kids workshop at Lowe’s: Design and assemble an herb greenhouse on 4/12. Register here.

🏕️ Annual AllTrails+ Membership for $17.99 (or Less!)

You can get a 1-year AllTrails+ membership for just $17.99 with code SUMMERNOW. Plus, the comments in this blog post include a few creative ways to get an even better deal!

🏦 $250 Bonus from Mercury Business

If you run a business, Mercury is offering a $250 bonus when you deposit $10K within 90 days using a referral link. Feel free to use my link and you'll also be able to skip the waitlist.

💻 Up to 93% Off Microsoft Windows & Office

Thanks to subscriber Charles for sharing that Groupon is offering almost every version of Microsoft Windows and Office for 77-93% off here (and that's before stacking it with any cash back portal offers).

🕵️ Great Finds

📺 Show Recommendation: Dope Thief

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I'm currently three episodes into Dope Thief and really enjoying the show. It's about two friends who pose as DEA agents to steal from drug dealers that end up picking the wrong target. It's free on AppleTV+.

🔤 Mentava Scholarship: Free Early Reading Program

Mentava is an amazing accelerated reading program for kids and they launched the Mentava Ambassador Scholarship to offer 10 families free access to their software in exchange for short video clips of their child using it. We love Mentava because of how quickly our daughter started reading 3-4 letter words.

Or if your child isn't ready to start reading yet, they have a free phonics-based Alphabet Sounds Book that we printed for our youngest daughter and she loves it!

P.S. If you are interested in Mentava, but not the scholarship, you should be able to get $50 off with the code ALLTHEHACKS.

💬 Parting Thoughts

As always, thanks so much for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s newsletter, and if you enjoyed it, please let me know why!

Chris