How to Fly Business Class for the Price of Economy: A Guide to Travel Hacking

Imagine sitting in a lie-flat seat, sipping champagne at 30,000 feet, on your way to Paris. The ticket price? $4,000. The price you paid? $50 in taxes and fees. This isn’t a scam; it is Travel Hacking.

In the US, credit card companies (like Chase, Amex, and Capital One) are fighting for your business. They offer massive “Sign-Up Bonuses” in the form of points. If you play the game right, you can travel for pennies on the dollar.

Rule 1: Treat Credit Like Debit

Before we start, a warning: If you carry credit card debt, this game is not for you. The interest rates (20%+) will destroy any value you get from points. You must pay off your balance in full every single month. No exceptions.

The Strategy: “The Churn”

The fastest way to earn points isn’t by spending money on coffee; it’s by opening a new card and hitting the Sign-Up Bonus (SUB).

• Example: A card might offer 60,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months.

• The Value: Those 60,000 points could be worth $750 in travel through a portal, or even $1,200 if transferred to an airline partner like United or Delta.

Don’t Hoard Your Points

Points are an inflationary currency. Airlines devalue them every year (meaning a flight that cost 50k points last year might cost 60k points today). The Golden Rule: Earn them and burn them. Take the trip. Make the memory.

Chase vs. Amex: Where to Start?

For beginners in the US, the “Chase Ecosystem” is usually the best starting point because of the 5/24 Rule (Chase won’t approve you if you’ve opened 5 cards in 24 months). Start with a general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, then expand to airline-specific cards.

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